Often there is a funny, comical, or humorous song on releases and Lisa Likes Rock 'n' Roll is a good example of one but it also has the cuteness factor going for it; also, references in the song can be understood as one of Ian's tributes to rock 'n' roll. Wango-tango is a song by rocker Ted Nugent and a music series by LA radio station KIIS-FM, "Peppermint" was a popular NYC discotheque open from 1958-1965 and the launchpad for the global Twist craze, Be-Bop-a-Lula is a rockabilly song recorded in 1956 by Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps, while Peggy Sue was released by Buddy Holly in 1957.
The cuteness is supplied with the saying "You're my daddy," difficult to get but finally said by Mick Ronson's daughter four or five-year old Lisa. The song has been described carrying the radiator and tin-can rattle of Bo Diddley. The Ronsons lived with the Hunter's part of the time and Ian wrote this kid's song for her but it was not easy to get her to say the phrase correctly. The families were so close if anything had happened to Mick and Suzi Ronson the Hunter's would have taken her in. Ian relates he knew he was taking a chance with a fun song like this: easy for The Rolling Stones to do but a chance to take for a lesser known artist such as Hunter.
There is a live version from 1981.
Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
Los Angeles radio station KIIS-FM
The Peppermint Lounge was a popular discotheque located at 128 West 45th Street in New York City that was open from 1958 to 1965, although a new one was opened in 1980. It was the launchpad for the global Twist craze in the early 1960s.
Be-Bop-a-Lula" is a rockabilly song first recorded in 1956 by Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps.
Peggy Sue" is a rock and roll song written by Jerry Allison and Norman Petty, and recorded and released as a single by Buddy Holly on September 20, 1957.
Lisa Likes Rock n' Roll
(Ian Hunter)
There's a wango-tango
at the peppermint inn
I'm gonna be there
Shakin' my thing
be bop a lula
little Peggy Sue
we both got company
don't know what to do
but that's alright
yeah that's OK
In the middle of the night
here's Lisa
CHORUS:
Lisa likes rock 'n' roll,
she plays it every day.
Down by the drugstore
everybody say
She turnin' on the radio,
she's shootin' up the stereo,
puttin' on a video,
she's sayin' let's go let's go
Lisa won't marry me,
she says she's only four.
Her mum don't like me,
she says I'm too mature.
Down at the disco,
I go solo
and the girls don't wanna know,
I've been too slow.
And that's alright,
and that's OK,
in the middle of the night.
Here's Lisa.
CHORUS
And when you see her
you wish you could hear her.
Ain't no one can beat her.
She goes yeah, yeah, yeah
yeah, yeah, "You're my daddy."
I know Lisa likes rock 'n' roll
I know Lisa likes rock 'n' roll
I know Lisa likes rock 'n' roll
I know Lisa likes rock 'n' roll
I know Lisa likes rock 'n' roll
I know Lisa likes rock 'n' roll
I know Lisa likes rock 'n' roll
I know Lisa likes rock 'n' roll
Yeah!
Ian Hunter LP/CD: "Short Back 'n' Sides"
Sleeve and track listing
Chrysalis CDCHR 6074.
Review
At the end of 1980 Ian returned to the studio to record the follow-up to Schizophrenic and Welcome To The Club. Mick had effectively stopped playing live earlier in the year, and Ian himself was unsure which (musical) direction to take. He got Mick Jones as producer, and on paper the fusion of Mott The Hoople with The Clash should have produced a phenomenal album.
I'll make no bones about it - I hate this album. The material is mixed, and the production (and all the sound effects Mick Jones added) IMO ruined the good songs on it. At the time Ian liked the album, with Mick using different production techniques in the studio. But today he hardly ever plays material from it, a sure sign that it ain't up there with the best.
The 2-CD set offers excellent packaging and excellent sound quality. The original album is on one CD, and a second CD ("Long Odds and Out-takes") containing alternate mixes and unreleased material from the Chrysalis era.
| Lisa Likes Rock 'n' Roll | 3:56 | Originally released on Short Back and Sides, also on the compilations The Best of Ian Hunter, From The Knees Of My Heart, Shades of Ian Hunter and The Singles Collection 1975-83. |
| Lisa Likes Rock 'n' Roll (live 26-28th October 1981) | 4:12 | This live version (recorded at the Old Waldorf, San Francisco CA) was originally issued on If You Wait Long Enough For Anything, You Can Get It On Sale (box set only). |
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