The Walkin' With a Mountain rocker was released on Mad Shadows, featured often in live sets, on Welcome to the Club and is an up tempo song with a segue into The Rolling Stones track Jumpin' Jack Flash. The original release for Mott The Hoople needed something fast and the song was written in about ten minutes. In Olympic Studios Guy Stevens said a rocker was needed so Ian immediately launched into this two-chord obvious song and Stevens was delighted. Mick Ralphs wrote Rock and Roll Queen on demand for the band in 1969 and this one came similarly. One day, Hunter saw a guy leaning up against a lamp post on his bike with a little radio strapped to his crossbar listening to Half Moon Bay which inspired Ian. Another related memory for Hunter was a letter to Rolling Stone claiming that Bob Dylan was trying to sound like Mott. Early on, Mott didn't think that highly of themselves but these songs were inspiring these chaps and rockers such as this are the result.
On Welcome to the Club two songs are stitched together both Walkin' and Queen.
There are three live versions from 1979 and one from 1981.
Also recorded at the Park West, Chicago IL 22nd June 1979 on Collateral Damage. It is a medley with Rock 'n' Roll Queen.
Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
Walkin' With a Mountain
(Ian Hunter)
A mountain train's coming down the track
She ain't wasting time
She's carrying me cause I'm going back
Right to the Delaware line
She knows well I ain't been anywhere
Because I crawl back every time to her
Walkin' with a mountain
Walkin' with a mountain
Troubles and tears
I'll take it in years
I left so many behind
I may be a train rearranged
Who knows what I'll find
But everything's better in my life I know
I can face any grades that I'm on
Walkin' with a mountain
Walkin' with a mountain
(alright)
(hey hey hey)
(oh) I'm walkin' with a mountain
Walkin' with a mountain
When she talks to me I know she sees
Where I'm heading to
She sits winks takes it all in
Just admires the view
And if I had a choice in life
I'd take that mountain for my wife
I'm walkin' with a mountain
Walkin' with a mountain
Walkin' with a mountain
Walkin' with a mountain
Walkin' with a mountain
Walkin' with a mountain
Walkin' with a mountain
Walkin' with a mountain
Jumping Jack Flash it's a gas
Jumping Jack Flash it's a gas
Jumping Jack Flash it's a gas
Jumping Jack Flash it's a gas
Jumping Jack Flash it's a gas
Jumping Jack Flash it's a gas
Walkin' With A Mountain is another rocker that would feature in the live set almost till the end and includes an impromptu segue into the Stones Jumpin' Jack Flash.
Walkin' With a Mountain (live 22nd June 1979) | (4:22) | Originally a Mott The Hoople track. This live version (recorded at Park West, Chicago IL) was released on Collateral Damage. Not on the box set. |
Walkin' With a Mountain (live 5-11th November 1979) | (4:17) | This live version (recorded at The Roxy, Los Angeles CA) was released on Welcome to the Club, and on the compilation From The Knees Of My Heart. |
Walkin' With a Mountain (live 22nd November 1979) | (5:45) | This live version (recorded Hammermith Odeon, London England) was originally issued on If You Wait Long Enough For Anything, You Can Get It On Sale (box set only). |
Walkin' With A Mountain (live 26-28th October 1981) | 4:21 | 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). |