The marketing of the LP was a marked difference in style and substance. The title and artwork was different with Ian in photograph, cigarette in hand, without his trademark shades, and displaying a new rocker hairstyle greased back. The promo photos also sported Ian in a sharp houndstooth suit and skinny tie. If you couldn't tell from the drastically new look that the sound was going to be something completely different you realized it from the first track. Hunter, fans, and critics were divided over the experimental sound.
The experiment hit in August 1981 and reached #79 on the UK chart and spent eleven weeks on Billboard in the US at its height to #62. The single was Lisa Like Rock n' Roll with the B-side Noises releases as a clear vinyl pressing. Central Park n' West and I Need Your Love were released variously as A-sides in Europe and America, the latter hit #47 on one US chart. Almost surprisingly many critics responded positively to Jones' trick fade-outs, odd percussion, weird sounds, and liberal use of echo.
For many fans though this was Hunter's least approachable effort and an ambitious, unfocused stylistic experiment was not to their taste. Ian feels the experiment was akin to a garage album which can indeed work as on Ian Hunter's Dirty Laundry. Hunter was distracted with Trudy's pregnancy and the interesting work was not pleasing to his label nor his manager who ignored him. Musically, Ronson had checked out and Hunter formed a new band to promote the record.
As a new band was being formed it was an unsettled time and on 29 August 1981 the tragic news broke that original Mott The Hoople mentor Guy Stevens passed away from an accidental overdose of a prescribed drug. Hunter was moved by his earliest musical supporter and wrote a 1981 poem about him to include as verse in the artwork for his next album.
The new band had been assembled for the 11 September Dr. Pepper Festival and consisted of Tommy Mandel, keyboards, drummer Mark Kaufman, guitarist Robbie Alter, and bassist Mark Clarke. They played 8 August 1981 at the Milton Keynes Bowl while Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott baby sat new born son, Jesse; one other gig was at the 101 Club in South London. Ronson did appear with the band in at gigs when keyboardist Mandel was hospitalized.
As the Ian Hunter Band in January 1982 they played the Old Waldorf in San Francisco which was broadcast by the Westwood One radio network and Don Kirchner's Rock Concert playing Dylan's Is Your Love in Vain from his recent Street Legal release. They also participated in the Concert for Vietnam Veterans Agency Orange Victims.' Hunter began writing Absent Friends and You're Messin' with the King of Rock 'n' Roll.
Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
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