Originally Roll Away The Stone was released on The Hoople LP by Mott The Hoople, was a big hit as a single, and Hunter performed the song often during his solo career. The song actually out sold All The Young Dudes. Hunter wrote the song during rehearsals near Kings Road during the Mott LP sessions but thinking it could be a hit the song was held by CBS for the next record.
To Ian's horror, as a big fan of Leon Russell--he even asked Russell to produce him once that didn't work out since Russell was in litigation with Shelter Records--released a song with the same title although they are two completely different tunes.
The musicians and singers can have a bit of fun with this one during the section about a rockabilly party when a female voice can chime in responding to the lead vocal.
The song is included in a medley on Rick Derringer & Friends.
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At 46:42 the song starts on the Derringer version:
https://youtu.be/NvQ79Bx26rs
Roll Away The Stone
(Ian Hunter)
Baby if you just say you still care
Follow you most anywhere
Roll away the stone, roll away the stone.
And, in the darkest night,
I'll keep you safe and all right
Roll away the stone, roll away the stone
Won't you roll away the stone
Why be cold and so alone?
Won't you roll away the stone
Don't you let it die
No matter if fools say we can't win
I know I'll fall in love again
Roll away the stone, roll away the stone
So sing - we still got a chance
Baby in love and sweet romance
Roll away the stone, roll away the stone
Won't you roll away the stone
Why be cold and so alone?
Won't you roll away the stone
Don't you let it lie
There's a rockabilly party on Saturday night
Are you gonna be there
(Well I got my invite)
Gonna bring your records
(Ohh, will do)
Made it!
Won't you roll away the stone
Why be cold and so alone?
Won't you roll away the stone
Don't you let it die
Come on roll
Come on roll, yeah
Come on roll
I want you to roll
Come on..... yeah
Come on rollRoll Away The Stone which closed the original album also saw original guitarist Mick Ralphs' guitar repaced by Bender's lead and seems weaker in comparison.
| Roll Away The Stone (album version) | 3:10 | Originally a single (with Mick Ralphs on guitar) and an album track (with Ariel Bender on guitar). The album version was originally on The Hoople, also on London to Memphis, Ballad of Mott - A Retrospective, The (MTH) Collection, The Essential Mott The Hoople, Super Hits, Old Records Never Die, Shades of Ian Hunter - The Ballad of Mott The Hoople, The Collection and The Very Best of Ian Hunter. |
| Roll Away The Stone (single version) | 3:10 | The single version can be found on Greatest Hits, All The Way From Memphis, Gold, The Golden Age of Rock n Roll, Mojo Presents, Roll Away The Stone, All The Young Dudes - The Anthology, The Journey, The Golden Age 1969-1997 and The Very Best of Mott The Hoople. |
| Roll Away The Stone (live 14th December 1973) | 3:31 | This live version (recorded Hammersmith Odeon, London England) is on Live (30th Anniversary Edition). |
| Roll Away The Stone (live 13th April 1974) | (5:15) | This live version (recorded Santa Monica Civic Center, Los Angeles CA) can be found on Two Miles From Live Heaven, the In Performance box set and the compilations All The Young Dudes 2-CD compilation, An Introduction to Mott The Hoople, Essential Young Dudes - Live And More, Hoopling - Best Of Live and on Walkin' With The Hoople. |
| Roll Away The Stone (live 8/9th May 1974) | (3:51) | This live version (recorded Uris Theater, New York City NY) can be found on All The Young Dudes - The Anthology and on Live (30th Anniversary Edition). |
| Roll Away The Stone (live 1st October 2009) | 4:24 | This live version (recorded Hammersmith Apollo, London England) is on Hammersmith Apollo 2009. |
| Roll Away The Stone (live 17th November 2013) | 4:14 | This live version (recorded O2 Apollo, Manchester England) is on Live 2013. |
| Roll Away The Stone (live 11th September 1981) | (9:20) | Originally a Mott The Hoople track. This live version (recorded Dr. Pepper Music Festival, Pier 84, New York NY) was originally issued on the Ian Hunter Rocks video (VHS/Laserdisc only). The video (DVD) can also be found on It Never Happened (box set only); the audio can be found on From The Knees Of My Heart (not on the box set). |
| Roll Away The Stone (live 29/30th January 2002) | 5:03 | This live version (recorded Sentrum Scene, Oslo Norway) was issued on Strings Attached. |
| Roll Away The Stone (live 28th May 2004) | 3:13 | This live version (recorded The Astoria, London England) was released on The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nuthin' But The Truth. It can also be foud on Greatest Hits Live In London. Not on the box set. |
| Roll Away The Stone (live 12th June 2004) | 3:15 | This live version (recorded at the Bikini, Barcelona, Spain) was released on Bag Of Tricks (Vol 2) (box set only). |
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