The Journey is an Ian Hunter song from the Mott The Hoople Brain Capers LP this live recording release is from 2004. The epic introspective song about London's Archway known as Suicide Bridge had been a concert favorite for Mott but due to its length was cut from the set; we only have this one solo live cut. The lyrics are unsettling and vague enough to hint at madness and mayhem as the biblical forty days and forty nights unfold while the "angel screamed in my nightmare ride" concluding that:
Everybody's got a journeyIan Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
The Journey
(Ian Hunter)
All the changes they will take their time
In the morning dust they'll begin to rise
Halfway to a borderline
Well I can see the end
For the very first time
Well I know I lost just a little bit on the journey
When my mind's been split by little things that didn't fit on the way
Oh I know I lost just a little bit on the journey
'Cos I'm trying so hard to get going
There's a man on a bridge called suicide
And he hides his head while the coast is dark
And the river drags and the water sways
Oh his rags've seen better days
And I guess he lost just a little bit on the journey
For his mind was split by little things that didn't fit on the way
(Oh) Yes I know he lost just a little bit on the journey
For every gift he had to give
For every life (yeah) he had to live
Well they meant nothing without her to guide him on his way
Well he told her he was a leader
Of a well respected [load]
But when he tried to leave her
Well she looked right down her nose
Many times he tried to make her believe in herself
But she wouldn't listen to a word he said
Well he followed her though the darkness
All the chances I take
He followed her though the wilderness
Her mystery to break
Many times he tried to make her believe in herself
But she wouldn't listen to a word he said
So for 40 days and for 40 nights
Well they tied my hands made see the light
And the angel screamed in my nightmare ride
And the changes left (yeah) but they will take their time
And I guess I lost just a little bit on the journey
Yes I know I lost just a little bit on the way
I know I lost just a little bit on the journey
Oh I know I lost just a little bit on the journey
Yes I guess I lost just a little bit on the way
Yes I know I lost just a little bit on the journey
(Everybody's got a journey)
Mott The Hoople LP/CD: "Brain Capers"
Sleeve and track listing
Angel Air SJPCD160.
Sleeve variations
Atlantic CD sleeve
Review
Mott's last album for Island is a belter. Needing an injection of craziness that was lacking on Wildlife they reluctantly joined forces with Guy Stevens once again and the result is a raw, heavy metal punk album six years ahead of its time.
Of the pre-Bowie albums, this is easily the fans' favourite. Like Mad Shadows, this was recorded live in the studio, and all the tracks were laid down in about four days. Live tapes from the time show just how well this album captured their live sound.
Opener Death May Be Your Santa Claus is frantic (check out the exuberant "Wooo!" at the end). Darkness Darkness features Mick Ralphs on vocals and is a guitar-driven rocker and noteworthy for not featuring Verden at all. The Journey is one of Ian's epic ballads and it is an interesting exercise to compare this to the alternate version recorded a few weeks earlier (included as a bonus track).
Sweet Angeline is another rocker, one that would remain in the live set to the end. Second Love is interesting - the first of Verden Allen's compositions Mott recorded and beautifully sung by Ian. The Moon Upstairs is another full-tilt rocker with is in part a message of defiance to Island: "We ain't bleeding you, we're feeding you, but you're to f***ing slow".
The LP closed with The Wheel Of The Quivering Meat Conception, with is another end-of-session-jam tape reclamation job, this time as an earlier take of The Journey descends into complete chaos.
Bonus tracks here are the non-LP single Midnight Lady and an earlier version of The Journey (which is more acoustic than the LP version).
Sleeve notes as always are excellent, as is the sound quality. The CD also reproduces the original LP cover (albeit in miniature).
| The Journey (live 28th May 2004) | 5:22 | Originally a Mott The Hoople track. This live version (recorded The Astoria, London England) was released on The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nuthin' But The Truth and on Behind The Shades. Not on the box set |
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