Saturday Gigs is a celebration of Mott The Hoople and was originally a 1974 single which was their swan song reminiscing about the band chronologically through the years. Ian thought it should be a huge hit but it stalled at #41 in the charts and the song broke the camel's back of the band. Mick Ralphs was gone by this point although had it been a hit maybe Mott would have continued. It gave Hunter more confidence that he could write hits and his songwriting was strong.
The song appeared consistently in Hunter solo live sets.
Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
Saturday Gigs
(Ian Hunter)
Sixty-nine was cheapo wine,
Have a good time,
What your sign?
Float up to the Roundhouse
On a Sunday afternoon.
In Seventy we all agreed
A King's Road flat was the place to be 'Cause Chelsea girls are the best in the world for company.
In Seventy-one all the people come
Bust a few seats but it's just in fun
Take the Mick out of Top of the Pops
We play better than they do
(yeah, yeah, yeah) In Seventy-two we was born to lose We slipped down snakes into yesterday's news
I was ready to quit
But then we went to Croydon
Do you remember the Saturday gigs?
We do, we do
Do you remember the Saturday gigs?
We do, we do
The tickets for the fantasy were twelve and six a time
A fairy tale on sale
Oh, Seventy-three was a jambouree
We were the dudes and the dudes were we.
(oh oh oh oh oh)
Did you see the suits and the platform boots?
(oh dear, oh boy, ...)
In Seventy-four on the Broadway tour We didn't much like dressing up no more
Don't wanna be hip - but thanks for a great trip.
Do you remember the Saturday gigs?
We do, we do
Do you remember the Saturday gigs?
We do, we do
But now the kids pay a couple of quid
'Cause they need it just the same
It's all a game
A grown-up game
But you got off on those Saturday gigs
And we did, we did
'Cause you got off on those Saturday gigs
And we did, we did
And we got off on those Saturday gigs
And you did, you did
And we got off on those Saturday gigs
'Cause you did, you did
Don't you ever forget us
We'll never forget you
We're going to sleep now
You better be good, right? (ha ha ha)
See you next time [...?]
So long for now
| Saturday Gigs | 4:20 | Originally a single, it can be found on the compilations Greatest Hits, The Collection, All The Young Dudes - The Anthology, The Essential Mott The Hoople, Gold, The Golden Age of Rock n Roll, The Journey, Shades of Ian Hunter - The Ballad of Mott The Hoople, Mojo Presents, Old Records Never Die, Roll Away The Stone, the 2006 CD reissue of The Hoople, The Very Best of Ian Hunter, The Golden Age 1969-1997 and The Very Best of Mott The Hoople. |
| Saturday Gigs (alternate version) | 4:28 | An alternate version (in which Mick Ronson plays some synth) can be found on Ballad of Mott - A Retrospective. |
| Saturday Gigs (live 1st October 2009) | 6:37 | This live version (recorded Hammersmith Apollo, London England) is on Hammersmith Apollo 2009. |
| Saturday Gigs (live 17th November 2013) | 5:41 | This live version (recorded O2 Apollo, Manchester England) is on Live 2013. |
| The Saturday Kids | 6:01 | This early draft of Saturday Gigs can be found on All The Young Dudes - The Anthology and on the 2006 CD reissue of The Hoople. |
| Saturday Gigs (live 29/30th January 2002) | 6:29 | Originally a Mott The Hoople track. This live version (recorded Sentrum Scene, Oslo Norway) was issued on Strings Attached. |
| Saturday Gigs (live 28th May 2004) | 1:23 | 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 and Greatest Hits Live In London. Not on the box set. |
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