Boy, Ian Hunter, on 1st LP, Stranded, Vol. 1

Mick Ronson convinced Ian to write "Boy" a nine-minute atmospheric song after leaving Mott The Hoople and Ian wrote the song at drummer Bobby Colomby's, of Blood Sweat & Tears, house in New York while he was out on tour. The original title was Did You See Them Run? along with a poem Ian wrote in 1973, Shade's Off. Once extended and developed together Boy became a song. This was one of the songs that unusual for Hunter was written in the studio. It is likely the first song that Ronno and Ian worked on together and although Mick did not write the lyrics he was instrumental in putting the band together and writing arrangements Ian felt he deserved co-writing credit. 

Since Ronno did get co-songwriting credit on this fueling the speculation that the lyrics refer to David Bowie and coke certainly was involved during Diamond Dogs; however, Ian has stated that it was a compendium of people and not about one person, specifically, Bowie, since Ian would not give away eight minutes to him. Hunter also said there is a bit of himself in the song and, if not Bowie, his manager was a target. If one person was singled out it would be Joe Cocker who was down on his luck in his career and Ian knew him a bit from his days at Island records. Clearly the song is about the toll that the rock star life can take on a person.  

There are good things to enjoy such as Beau Geste which is an adventure novel by British writer P.C. Wren which details the adventures of three English brothers joining the French Foreign Legion. Published in 1924 it has been adapted for the screen several times.  

Beau Geste is an adventure novel by British writer P. C. Wren, which details the adventures of three English brothers who enlist separately in the French Foreign Legion following the theft of a valuable jewel from the country house of a relative. Published in 1924, the novel is set in the period before World War I. It has been adapted for the screen several times.

This song has been popular since Ian's first solo LP, appears in several versions, as well as in more than one live version. 

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Boy

(Ian Hunter/Mick Ronson)

Genocidal tendencies are silly to extreme
After all you're still quite small you don't know where you've been
You was only swearing yesterday
Oh you want to win the world away
But now you got nothing to say-ay-ay

Boy you're getting out of hand
You've got to make a stand
So put the coke away
Boy you got the do the show
Got to let the people know
You got the strength to stay

I can see you run
I can see you hide
Oh your heart is aching
Lost in a dream of what might have been
You're the guide
You're the number one
And your knees are shaking
Stand and deliver in an endless dream

Schizophrenic, photogenic, aggravates me so
Only yes-men
Have a guess man
Watch the spirit go
Batman zips the monster as he bleeds
And gets up on the buzz he needs
And a kid on the street just reads
and reads and reads and reads
and reads and reads and reads

Boy its them hard case city blues
Cagney is the news
Does the giant ring a bell
Boy its the Hudson East river cruise
Its the Empire State buffoons
Oh you know the story well

Do you have to run
Do you have to hide
There's a new tomorrow
Yes you're a mess
But you're more than less
When this battles won
You can look inside
Oh you did not borrow
Yes you're the best
But you still can't rest
You know you know
The carnival is closed
Your street's alive with ghosts
But a friend says don't look back
Don't look left don't look right
Your vision is your fight
Through long electric nights
When a woman helps you write
Na na na
Na na na
Na Na na na
Na na na

Cheer up mate put the dramas in the past
See you did not have to fast Euphemism lasts and lasts and lasts
And lasts and lasts and lasts
And lasts and lasts
Boy if you've got an axe to grind
Be thankful for this time
For it gives you what you need
Boy you've got an eighty-eight to play
It'll tell you what to say
It'll tell you when to breathe
Boy take a turnpike heading west
Turn the people on to Beau Geste
Cause that's what you did the best
Boy play the pipes till they're old and worn
Sing the words till they fall forlorn
Like the pieces of a jigsaw jet
Boy don't let the earth get in your face
its a middle-aged displace
Its the middle ages snide
Boy we're a million miles away
And to think its so insane
Take a chance on a one way ride
Boy shoot a rocket clean out of your mind
Oh these people ain't your kind
No they ain't your kind at all
Boy shoot a rocket clean out of your brain
No these people ain't the same
You can hear another call
Boy the [other book?] starts with [no?]
They don't show us how to grow
They only show us how to win
Boy the secret's in the bicycle shed
Ain't no answers now they're dead
To seek is a mortal sin
Hey you know boy let your madness be the clue

Ian Hunter LP/CD: "Ian Hunter"

Sleeve and track listing

Sony/Columbia 519817 2. 

1. Once Bitten Twice Shy
2. Who Do You Love
3. Lounge Lizard
4. Boy
5. 3,000 Miles From Here
6. The Truth, The Whole Truth, Nuthin' But The Truth
7. It Ain't Easy When You Fall/Shades Off
8. I Get So Excited
9. Colwater High¹
10. One Fine Day¹
11. Once Bitten Twice Shy (single edit)¹
12. Who Do You Love (single edit)¹
13. Shades Off (poem)¹
14. Boy (edit)¹

¹Bonus track on 30th Anniversary edition

Sleeve variations

Regular CD/LP

Review

After leaving Mott the Hoople, Ian teamed up with guitarist Mick Ronson to record his first solo album. Mott had booked Air studios in London, but Ian and Mick went in instead. The result is an album that is totally stunning - one of Ian's best.

From the opening "'Ullo!" of Once Bitten Twice Shy to the savage cut-off of original album closer I Get So Excited this is an album packed full of good tracks. I can't pick out highlights because they're all good.

The 30th Anniversary issue now includes two session outtakes (unreleased at the time), together with two single edits. All of the bonus material was previously released on the Once Bitten Twice Shycompilation.

Sound quality is excellent, as are the sleeve notes.

This album has been issued several times on CD. The original Columbia (USA) CD had good (but not exceptional) sound quality, while the UK Sony/Rewind CD had very good sound quality. Neither had bonus tracks.

Boy	8:54	Originally issued on Ian Hunter.
Boy (alternate version)	6:25	An alternate version can be found on Once Bitten Twice Shy (not on the box set).
Boy (single b-side version)	4:01	The single b-side version (which at 4m 1s is some four and a half minutes shorter than the album version) can be found on The Singles Collection 1975-83.
Boy (edit)	3:42	An even shorter version (3m 41s) can be found on the 30th Anniversary issue of Ian Hunter.
Boy (live 19th May 2000)	(9:56)	This live version (coupled with Shades Off, recorded at The Robin 2, Bilston England) can be found on Bag Of Tricks (Vol 1) (box set only).
Boy (live 29/30th January 2002)	9:09	This live version (recorded Sentrum Scene, Oslo Norway) was issued on Strings Attached.

Bow Street Runners, Ian Hunter, Fingers Crossed

How many rock songs are about the origins of British policing? Ian delves into history and must read a great deal since Bow Street Runners is about the law enforcement officers of the Bow Street Magistrates' Court in the City of Westminster; and, he lived in a house owned by an actual Bow Street Runner. The Runners have been called London's first professional police force. The force was founded in 1749 by magistrate Henry Fielding. Ironically, Bow Street Runners was the public's nickname for the officers although the officers did not use the term themselves and considered it derogatory. The song is about a plea by the victims of the time who needed help against the lawlessness of criminals and needing protection. These are the forerunners of the Bobbies. 

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Bow Street Runners

(Ian Hunter)

"London Town is crumblin' down" said the 'Penny Post' reporter
"Something's gotta be done 'bout the murderin' scum, there ain't no law and order"

Woh-oh-oh

In the gas-lit alleys 'n' the gin-soaked bars, linin' the streets of the ghetto
In the whorehouses on the open roads, death lurks in the shadows

Stop thief, stop thief, half a million people are running scared
Stop thief, stop thief, and all we need's a hero
To stand up to the gangs, and I know such a man

Blind beak 'n' the bow street runners 
chasin' them scallywags offa the street
blind beak 'n' the bow street runners 
keepin' the peace
keepin' the peace
keepin' the peace
keepin' the peace
keepin' the peace
keepin' the peace
keepin' the peace
keepin' the peace

He can smell a rat a mile away, even if he can't see then
Sixty thieves roll in their graves, wrestling with their demons

(I said oh-oh-oh)
(I said oh-oh-oh)

Never force the hand of a highwayman, he'll put a bullet right through ya
Relieve you of your valuables, and sell them right back to ya

Stop thief, stop thief, stop in the name of the law
Stop thief, stop thief, it's just a matter of time
Before we see you hanging off the triple tree, courtesy of

Blind beak 'n' the bow street runners 
chasin' those neanderthals offa the street
Blind beak 'n' the bow street runners
keepin' the peace, 
keepin' the peace, 
keepin' the peace, 
keepin' the peace, 
keepin' the peace, 
keepin' the peace, 
keepin' the peace, 
feelin' the heat

There's a man outside with a horse and cart, the mob screams out for vengeance
A couple of pints at the Hare 'n' Hounds, then it's off to the neck extension

Stop thief, stop thief, they ain't gonna let ya get away
stop thief, stop thief, you shoulda known better
Than to tangle with the boys in blue, and the man they call

Blind beak 'n' the bow street runners 
chasin' those criminals offa the street
Blind beak 'n' the bow street runners 
keepin' the peace
keepin' the peace
keepin' the peace
keepin' the peace
keepin' the peace
keepin' the peace
keepin' the peace
keepin' the peace...

 

Ian Hunter and The Rant Band CD: "Fingers Crossed"

Sleeve and track listing

Proper Records PRPCD137

1. That's When The Trouble Starts
2. Dandy
3. Ghosts
4. Fingers Crossed
5. White House
6. Bow Street Runners
7. Morpheus
8. Stranded In Reality
9. You Can't Live In The Past
10. Long Time
11. Seein' Red^{1, 2}
12. Have A Nice Day²

¹ 'Incentive' download-only track available to initial purchasers

² Bonus track on the Japanese CD

Review

Ian's 2016 album Fingers Crossed shows that he's as sharp an observer and incisive commentator as ever. The run of form that started with 2001's Rant shows no sign of abating, with this album being up there with his very best.

Ian hasn't been this good since the 70's, with killer album after killer album. No, I'm not an "I praise everything" type of reviewer - this is the honest truth. At 77 years of age (oh, yes!) Ian shows no sign of slowing down.

Dandy is the standout track, his homage to David Bowie who passed away back in January 2016. See how many Bowie tracks he manages to weave into the lyrics! Clever, very clever.

Mid-tempo rockers such as White House, Bow Street Runners and Stranded In Reality sit alongside slower, more thoughtful songs such as Morpheus and the title track Fingers Crossed.

Ian has always had his feet planted firmly in reality, as on You Can't Live In The Past he notes "You can never go back, those days are gone". On the closing track, the rockabilly Long Time he offers advice to younger wannabes "Be careful what you wish for" as he notes "Take a chance on destiny, you'll never know what you find".

Sheers class. And as essential as ever.

Bow Street Runners

4:57

Originally released on Fingers Crossed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bow_Street_Runners

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Bow-Street-Runners/

https://www.studysmarter.us/explanations/history/crime-and-punishment-in-britain/the-bow-street-runners/

https://academic.oup.com/book/34655?login=false

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z9y9fcw/revision/3

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Bow-Street-Runner

Bluebirds, Ian Hunter, demo outtake from All Of The Good Ones Are Taken.

 

Bluebirds is the highlight of this disc - an outtake from the Good Ones sessions, it is a power ballad - starts quietly but keeps building. Stylewise it is close to something Meat Loaf would do (when Jim Steinman is producing).

Bluebirds (demo)

4:18

An outtake from the All Of The Good Ones Are Taken sessions, finally issued on the compilation Once Bitten Twice Shy. It can also be found on Tilting The Mirror - Rarities (box set only). Extended fade-out/silence at the end of the version on Once Bitten Twice Shy makes it appear longer, but they are otherwise identical.

Ian Hunter CD: "Once Bitten Twice Shy"

Sleeve and track listing

Sony/Columbia 496284 2. 

Disc 1: Rockers

1. Once Bitten Twice Shy (single version) (3:53)
2. Who Do You Love (single version) (3:17)
3. Colwater High (3:12)
4. One Fine Day (2:19)
5. The Truth, The Whole Truth, Nuthin' But The Truth (5:58)
6. All American Alien Boy (single version) (3:52)
7. Common Disease (3:53)
8. Justice Of The Peace (single version) (3:00)
9. When The Daylight Comes (single version) (3:45)
10. Cleveland Rocks (3:48)
11. Bastard (6:34)
12. Gun Control (3:11)
13. Speechless (3:39)
14. Traitor (single b-side) (3:57)
15. (I'm The) Teacher (4:00)
16. Great Expectations (You Never Know What To Expect) (3:54)
17. Good Man In A Bad Time (3:41)
18. Women's Intuition (single version) (4:22)
19. Ain't No Way To Treat A Lady (4:32)
20. All The Young Dudes (live with Def Leppard) (4:00)

Running time: 78m 58s

Disc 2: Ballads

1. Shades Off (poem) (1:37)
2. Boy (6:25)
3. Letter To Britannia From The Union Jack (3:47)
4. You Nearly Did Me In (single version) (3:30)
5. (God) Advice To A Friend (5:28)
6. Shallow Crystals (3:57)
7. Ships (single version) (4:09)
8. Standing In My Light (4:34)
9. The Outsider (5:58)
10. Junkman (with Genya Ravan) (5:52)
11. Old Records Never Die (4:15)
12. All Of The Good Ones Are Taken (3:44)
13. Seeing Double (4:23)
14. Bluebirds (4:18)
15. Sunshine Eyes (4:21)
16. Ill Wind (3:22)
17. All Is Forgiven (3:14)
18. Michael Picasso (live) (6:52)

Running time: 79m 56s

Review

This 2-CD set has been a long time coming. Once Sony released a 3-CD Mott The Hoople Anthology, it was inevitable they would issue a similar "box set" covering Ian Hunter's solo career. Comparisons with that set are therefore inevitable, although somewhat unfair.

This set attempts to include all the rarities: single A-sides, B-sides, movie soundtracks, a few outttakes and demos as well as the great/classic album tracks. Lovingly put together by Campbell Devine, Ian's input was, I'm told, minimal: recording vocals on two or three otherwise unfinished tracks, a handful of demos, and a request the set be split into "Rockers" and "Ballads".

Colwater High is an early highlight on the Rockers disc. An outtake from Ian's first album, it is very keyboard-oriented since Mick Ronson never laid down a guitar part for it. As such, it would not be out of place on the Hoople album. Common Disease is an outttake from the Alien Boy sessions, and is more up-tempto than other tracks on the album. Otherwise, it is a worthy song and I'm surprised it has taken so long to see the light of day.

Traitor (b-side to the Good Ones single) has never worked for me. It starts strongly, with powerful keyboard playing from Tommy Mandel, then it suddenly changes tempo and just sort of plods along. Three of the four movie soundtracks Ian recorded in the 80's are here (Wake Up Call being the one missing), the highlight for me being Great Expectations which has a good riff and a great chorus. I'd love to see Ian do this live some time.

Ain't No Way To Treat A Lady is an outtake from the Artful Dodger sessions, and takes a couple of listens to appreciate. I'd have put it on the "Ballads" disc, but then what do I know? The "Rockers" disc finishes with a live version of ATYD by Def Leppard (with Ian as special guest, of course).

The "Ballads" disc continues in a similar vein, mixing rare singles with alternate versions and previously-unreleased material. Shades Off is a spoken version of the track on Ian's first album, while Advice To A Friend is an alternate take of God (Take One) from the Alien Boy sessions. Don't ask me to chose which one is the better version, as both work for me.

Bluebirds is the highlight of this disc - an outtake from the Good Ones sessions, it is a power ballad - starts quietly but keeps building. Stylewise it is close to something Meat Loaf would do (when Jim Steinman is producing).

Both Sunshine Eyes and All Is Forgiven are demos, recorded in Ian's home studio and as such are true solo recordings. They are certainly interesting, and demonstrate the breadth of styles Ian is capable of. But demo quality is all they are, and Ian didn't see fit to record them on any of his albums.

The set comes complete with 32-page booklet featuring a short biography, track-by-track notes from Ian, and many rare and previously-unpublished photos.

As a compilation of Ian Hunter solo material, this is certainly the best so far, covering as it does both CBS and Chrysalis material. However, my main complaint concerns the balance of material presented. We get no fewer than six tracks from Schizophrenic, but only one from YUI Orta (heck, there are two tracks from Overnight Angels, Ian's least favourite album), and nothing at all from Dirty Laundry or Artful Dodger.

Ian says (in the sleeve notes) that this compilation will go a long way to answering the question "what have you done since 1975?". This compilation answers the question concerning Ian's 1970's and 1980's work, but the question of Ian's output in the 1990's remains unanswered here.

Black Tears, Ian Hunter, When I'm President

Black Tears is bluesy, heavy, melodic, and moody with a guitar solo that is reminiscent of a beloved Mick Ronson contribution. The track has stormy piano with interesting chord changes, sparked by Mark Bosch's astounding and emotional solo done in just two takes. 

Can the emotions of a lover draw you in since tears are "Little beads of misery that kill me when you cry"? In this case, the lover says: "Let me kiss the circles better underneath your eyes." Those black tears can't be stopped and they return as when a levee breaks. Each of the colors are pointedly crying then as black eyes are: "Black tears, every drop a kiss You know how to suck the soul out of every note there is." What a terrific line but then the onset of tears could be fake or real, switched on and off but when the black tears come the lover can get them out of there. The color-filled lyrics paints a brilliant picture and then intriguingly ends on an unresolved note. Brilliant. 

Hunter saw Chrissie Hyde at a gig when invited to attend by Martin Chambers the drummer who played at the Mott re-unions. Hyde's heavy black eye makeup started streaking under the strong stage lights. Black tears came as a good phrase to use for a song. 

The original was released on When I'm President and there is a live version from 2021 recorded in Oslo, Norway.

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Black Tears

(Ian Hunter)

Black tears, vulnerable veneers 
Just another weapon in your arsenal of fear
Little beads of misery that kill me when you cry
Let me kiss the circles better underneath your eyes

Black tears, dancin' in the rain
You can't seem to stop 'em, here they come again
It ain't funny when the levee breaks
You could drown a river, baby, you could raise a lake

I watched your blue eyes turnin' into green eyes
I watched your green eyes turnin' into sad eyes
I watched your sad eyes turnin' into red eyes
I watched your red eyes turnin' into black eyes

Black tears, cluttering up the place
Tiny little accusations trickling down your face
Black tears, every drop a kiss
You know how to suck the soul out of every note there is

Black tears falling like the leaves
Little flakes of nakedness twisting in the breeze
Stormy weather, that's some power you've got
I don't know when you're fakin' it and I don't know when you're not

I watched your blue eyes turnin' into green eyes
I watched your green eyes turnin' into sad eyes
I watched your sad eyes turnin' into red eyes
I watched your red eyes turnin' into black eyes

That's some kind of power you got
You can switch 'em on and you can turn 'em off

I watched your blue eyes turnin' into green eyes
I watched your green eyes turnin' into sad eyes
I watched your sad eyes turnin' into red eyes
I watched your red eyes turnin' into black eyes

That's some kind of power you got
You can switch 'em on and you can turn 'em off

Black tears, I had no idea
Put your hat and coat on, let me get you out of here

Ian Hunter and The Rant Band CD: "When I'm President"

Sleeve and track listing

Proper Records PRPCD104

1. Comfortable (Flyin' Scotsman)
2. Fatally Flawed
3. When I'm President
4. What For
5. Black Tears
6. Saint
7. Just The Way You Look Tonight
8. Wild Bunch
9. Ta Shunka Witco (Crazy Horse)
10. I Don't Know What You Want
11. Life

Review

Now this is more like it. Ian's new album is a welcome return to form. The good news is this album is chock full of rockers. The bad news is... well, there isn't any. In the fullness of time this album could well turn out to be his best in many years.

The run of good albums that started with Rant and continued with Shrunken Heads continues here. Guitars are to the full, with strong solos from both James Mastro and Mark Bosch. Ian's singing is strong without ever sounding strained and the rhythm section is as tight as a duck's whatsit.

What helps of course is that the songs are top-notch. Comfortable (Flyin' Scotsman) sets the tone, being a powerful full-paced rocker with guitars and subtle use of saxes. The title track is also strong, a mid-paced rocker with a repeated keyboard refrain reminiscent of The Who's Won't Get Fooled Again.

What For is another rocker with strong guitars and piano reminiscent of early Mott The Hoople. Ian hasn't rocked like this for years, and it sounds like he's having fun. Black Tears is slower but powerful and moody with a guitar solo that reminds me of the much-missed Mick Ronson. Saint is another up-tempo rocker, this time it reminds me at times of Twisted Steel. Wild Bunch meanwhile is a rocker that reminds me of The Faces.

There are so many good songs on this album it is hard to pick out highlights. What's interesting is that this album is credited to Ian Hunter And The Rant Band. This is much more of a band album than most of Ian's recent albums, and it is much the better for it.

What more can I say? It's brilliant... 'nuff said,

Black Tears	3:37	Originally issued on When I'm President.
Black Tears (live 8th October 2012)	3:32	This live version (recorded at the John Dee, Oslo Norway) was released on Bag Of Tricks (Vol 3) (box set only).

Ian Hunter LP/CD: "All Of The Good Ones Are Taken" 7th LP

 

Mixed quality

Ian Hunter LP/CD: "All Of The Good Ones Are Taken"

Sleeve and track listing

Sony/Columbia 474780 2. 

1. All of the Good Ones Are Taken (3:42)
2. Every Step of the Way (3:55)
3. Fun (4:21)
4. Speechless (3:49)
5. Death 'n' Glory Boys (5:57)
6. That Girl Is Rock 'n' Roll (3:18)
7. Somethin's Goin' On (4:33)
8. Captain Void 'n' the Video Jets (4:12)
9. Seeing Double (4:24)
10. All of the Good Ones Are Taken (3:48)
11. Traitor¹

¹ Bonus track on the 2007 CD

Review

Ian recorded this album at the end of 1982, and is a real mix of styles. Mick Ronson was absent, as he was seriously considering quitting the music business ("At one point I was even considering becoming a chef" - Mick). Strongest tracks are Speechless (later to be covered by Status Quo), and the title track. Every Step of the Way was also later covered by The Monkees on their Listen To The Band box set.

Side two closes with a slow version of All Of The Good Ones Are Taken, while side one opens with a fast version. The original version was "lost", but the record company persuaded Ian to re-record it ("But I couldn't get the feel back" - Ian). The fast version was released as a single, which was accompanied by a video which was shown for a while on MTV.

Big Time, Ian Hunter, You're Never Too Small to Hit the Big Time, YUI Orta

When touring in early 1989 this was called You're Never Too Small to Hit the Big Time until the title was shortened to Big Time but this tune seems like the ultimate road song about no matter how small you are you can still make the big time. It is an optimistic piano-based boogie in the style of Once Bitten Twice Shy and it deals with hope. Is it wishful thinking by the untalented or more biographical since Ian didn't seem to enjoy his claim to fame during his most popular era? And, it can be interpreted as in his diary, Diary of a Rock ' Roll Star, that fame is not all it is cracked up to be because your heart grows cold. The road is tedious, unhealthy, filled with temptation, but "you are never too small to make the big time." Artists strive for stardom no matter what the drawbacks are. 

Hunter moved back to Manhattan in 1985 to kick-start his writing and this was the first song that emerged. The move immediately reinvigorated his work. He wrote this tune after only two months which got him thinking he could get a few more for an album. The record is about hope and as a reminder it should be played during early morning work for motivation. If you are single-minded you will develop the focus needed to do better. Anything can happen. 

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Big Time

(Ian Hunter)

One more town on the merry-go-round
One more room with no view
One more punk eatin' nothing but junk
Trin' to make a phone call to you
Well maybe I'll never, get myself together
But something's in the back of my mid
It only takes one call-you can laugh at 'em all
You're never too small to hit the big time

One more slob feeling sick as a dog
After one more night on the booze
One more dive more dead that alive
Tryin' to get my message through
Now, maybe I'll never get my self together
Maybe its the end of the line
But I'm having a ball-bouncin' off the walls
You're never too small to hit the big time

You're never too small, you're never too small
You're never to small to hit the big time
They can make you crawl, they can make you fall
But you're never to small to hit the big time
You're never too small, you're never to small You're never too small to hit the big time
If you're fat, if you're bald it don't matter at all
'cos you're never to small-I said you're never to small

To hit the big time (Yes indeed)
(The big time(- limousines)
(The big time)-you can have it all
(The big time)- I say you're never too small

One more crowd shoutin'-turn it up loud
One more rose at my feet
One more ring from that cute little thing
One more reason to cheat
Well, maybe I'll never get myself together
Maybe its the end of the line...

Ian Hunter CD: "YUI Orta"

Sleeve and track listing

Lemon CD LEM 6. 

1. American Music (4:12)
2. The Loner (4:47)
3. Women's Intuition (6:31)
4. Tell It Like It Is (4:23)
5. Livin' In a Heart (4:34)
6. Big Time (4:03)
7. Cool (4:30)
8. Beg a Little Love (6:26)
9. Following In Your Footsteps (5:02)
10. Sons 'n' Lovers (4:55)
11. Pain (4:43)
12. How Much More Can I Take (3:48)
13. Sweet Dreamer (6:28)
14. 4th Hour Of My Sleep (3:08)¹
15. Power Of Darkness (3:32)¹

Running time: 71m 11s

¹Bonus tracks on the 2003 CD reissue

Review

Ian teamed up with his old mate Mick Ronson once again to record this album in the middle of 1989. Ian and Mick had toured the USA and Europe in late 1988/early 1989, before the album was even recorded, and the result is a highly polished album - one of their best.

Highlights include the Stonsey Women's Intuition (if only Mick 'n' Keef were still this good!), the full-tilt rocker How Much More Can I Take, Big Time (Ian borrows his own riff from Once Bitten...), Tell It Like It Is (Mick borrowing the Get It On riff) and Mick's guitar showcase Sweet Dreamer which is breathtaking beautiful.

When the album was released, they toured the USA and Europe again to promote it. Intended in some ways as a comeback album for both men, the record company did little to promote it themselves, and it didn't sell in great numbers. They were dropped by the record company, and all plans for a follow-up were put on hold when Mick Ronson was diagnosed with liver cancer.

Unavailable for many years, this CD has finally been reissued on the Lemon label (a planned reissue on NMC having fallen through when NMC went bust). This reissue includes a couple of Ronno bonus tracks from 1971 - great for the completist but somewhat at odds with the rest of the album. The insert includes the lyrics from the original CD, but the sleeve notes are appallingly inaccurate - a shame really that Campbell Devine's notes for the aborted NMC release weren't used.

In 1995, Windsong issued an official release of their 15-Feb-89 concert, which had been recorded by the BBC for radio broadcast. This live album has since been reissued on Strange Fruit.

As is normal these days, there was material left over in the vaults, some of which is circulating amongst fans. This includes (Give Me Back My) Wings, which was demoed but never recorded, Ill Wind (now available on the Once Bitten Twice Shycompilation), More To Love Than Meets The Eye and Look Before You Leap, which IMO would have been a great single and features some beautiful guitar work from Mick Ronson

The album title is derived from "Why you... I ought to...", a phrase popularised by The Three Stooges.

Technical

The original CD

The reissued CD

Comments

Analysis of the reissued CD shows some compression being used; this has boosted overall loudness slightly (by some 2.2dB) without any noticeable affect on sound quality. 

Big Time	4:03	Originally issued on YUI Orta.
Big Time (live 15th February 1989)	6:47	This live version (recorded The Dominion, London England) can be found on BBC Live in Concert.

Big Black Cadillac, Ian Hunter, Stranded in Reality, Experiments - Previously Unreleased Recordings

Buick Skylark, Sunset Boulevard Nights, no lyrics, YouTube.

The most information available is in Stranded in Reality. 

Experiments - Previously Unreleased Recording

http://www.hunter-mott.com/discography/stranded_in_reality.html#detail-exp

Big Black Cadillac

4:03

Originally released on Experiments - Previously Unreleased Recordings (box set only).

Ian Hunter LP/CD: "Short Back 'n' Sides" 6th LP

More like Overnight Angels.  

Ian Hunter LP/CD: "Short Back 'n' Sides"

Sleeve and track listing

Chrysalis CDCHR 6074. 

Disc 1 (Short Back 'n' Sides)

1. Central Park n' West (4:00)
2. Lisa Likes Rock n' Roll (3:56)
3. I Need Your Love (3:34)
4. Old Records Never Die (4:18)
5. Noises (5:51)
6. Rain (5:54)
7. Gun Control (3:12)
8. Theatre of the Absurd (5:49)
9. Leave Me Alone (3:29)
10. Keep on Burning (4:46)

Running time: 44m 55s

Disc 2 (Long Odds And Out-takes)

1. Detroit (rough mix - instrumental) (3:42)
2. Na Na Na (4:13)
3. I Need Your Love (rough mix) (3:46)
4. Rain (alternate mix) (5:50)
5. I Believe In You (4:15)
6. Listen to the Eight Track (6:08)
7. You Stepped Into My Dreams (4:41)
8. Venus In The Bathtub (4:29)
9. Theatre of the Absurd (6:08)
10. Detroit (out take 5 - vocal) (4:00)
11. Na Na Na (extended mix) (4:29)
12. China (Ronson vocal) (4:36)
13. Old Records Never Die (version 1) (4:18)

Running time: 60m 43s

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.

The Best Thing, written by Corky Laing, with Ian Hunter, Mick Ronson, and Felix Pappalardi.

The Best Thing

(Corky Laing)

You try to love the way that you did before
But he don't be that loved anymore and I'm
I'm coming from the pouring rain
My eyes are red but they still see through
The feeling that's coming over you
And I'd love to come again (come again)
I wanna love you over again You, you wanna know
You're the best thing that's happening to me
In a long long time
Be wise, open up your eyes
You, you wanna know
You're the best thing that's happening to me
'N I wanna love again.

I try (I try) to put your body right out of my mind
But you keep on coming on and on
I thought it was just for last night
A passing fancy, a bird in flight
But you keep on coming on
So I wanna come again
I wanna love you over again
(I wanna love you over again)
I love to love you over again
You, you, you wanna know
You're the best thing that's happening to me
In a long long time Be wise, I wanna love again
Come on love again
Come on love again
You, you wanna know
Come on love again
I wanna come again
You, you wanna know
You're the best thing that's happening to me

You, you wanna know
You're the best thing that's happening to me
You, you wanna know
You're the best thing that's happening to me

The Best Thing

3:29

This collaboration (Laing/Hunter/Ronson/Pappalardi) can be found on The Secret Sessions (not on the box set).

Welcome to the Club, Ian Hunter, 5th LP

 Ian Hunter LP/CD: "Welcome to the Club"

Sleeve and track listing

Chrysalis CDCHR 6075. 

Original vinyl sleeve

Disc 1

1. FBI (3:52)
2. Once Bitten Twice Shy (5:25)
3. Angeline (4:56)
4. Laugh at Me (3:40)
5. All the Way From Memphis (3:33)
6. I Wish I Was Your Mother (6:47)
7. Irene Wilde (4:13)
8. Just Another Night (6:03)
9. Cleveland Rocks (6:01)
10. Standin' In My Light (5:49)
11. Bastard (8:12)

Running time: 58m 38s

Disc 2

1. Walkin' With a Mountain/Rock 'n' Roll Queen (4:20)
2. All the Young Dudes (3:29)
3. Slaughter On Tenth Avenue (2:25)
4. One of the Boys (7:36)
5. The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll (4:01)
6. When the Daylight Comes (9:00)
7. Once Bitten Twice Shy/Bastard/Cleveland Rocks (medley) (6:10)
8. We Gotta Get Out of Here (3:14)
9. Silver Needles (5:56)
10. Man O' War (4:19)
11. Sons and Daughters (5:04)

Running time: 55m 40s

Review

Ian's 1979 Schizophrenic album sold much better than anyone had expected, and Chrysalis were keen to keep the momentum going with another album. Because he doesn't write on the road, Ian didn't have the material together, so a 2-LP live set (recorded towards the end of the 1979 USA tour) was put out instead. It basically comprised three sides live and one side of new material live in the studio.

The 2-CD set offers excellent packaging and excellent sound quality, albeit with different artwork (the original having been lost). The CD includes the rare UK single b-sides One Of The Boys (live) and Once Bitten Twice Shy/Bastard/Cleveland Rocks (live medley), and the previously-unreleased The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll (live) and When the Daylight Comes (live).