This is a rare Ian Hunter track with Mick Ronson on vocals released on Long Odds and Out-takes" containing alternate mixes and unreleased material from the Chrysalis era while a slightly different version is a "rough mix," and 13 seconds shorter, an earlier fade-out, is on the compilation From The Knees Of My Heart.
Not only is the track rare but the subject matter is unusual as well. Hunter seems to almost always write about what he knows first hand Britain and America but here he travels to the Far East. Yet, he connects China to geography closer to home, the River Tyne. Tyne is in North East England close to Hunter's roots near the Scottish border. Ian states:
"China I can feel you by my side
Across the bay, across the Tyne
Can you hear me say"The River Tyne /ˈtaɪn/ (
listen) is a river in North East England. Its length (excluding tributaries) is 73 miles (118 km).[1] It is formed by the North Tyne and the South Tyne, which converge at Warden Rock near Hexham in Northumberland at a place dubbed 'The Meeting of the Waters'.
The Tyne Rivers Trust measure the whole Tyne catchment as 2,936 km2 (1,134 square miles), containing 4,399 km (2,733 miles) of waterways.[3]
Course[edit]
North Tyne[edit]
The North Tyne rises on the Scottish border, north of Kielder Water. It flows through Kielder Forest, and in and out of the border. It then passes through the village of Bellingham before reaching Hexham.
China
(Ian Hunter)
China, China, the evening's moving in
See you, soon now, the boat moves with the wind
China, China, I can see the harbour lights
Light your, fire, we'll be warm tonight
China, China, the thoughts drift from the sea
I'm dreaming, of you, wear your dress for me
China, China, the oceans the rain shines on the wheel
The seagulls flying lower now
China I can feel you by my side
Across the bay, across the Tyne
Can you hear me say
China, China, wear your hair down low
Lady, Lady, you're frozen to the bone
China, China, the catch was good today
The oilskins clinging to my back
And the lantern gently sways
Oh don't you cry, the kids to bed
Didn't mean the things I said
China, China, the years go rolling by
Laughter, sorrow, I will not make you cry
China, China, think before you speak
Always remember the ocean hauls as deep
And if I'm tired of feeling low
Don't let me sleep, you know
China, China, the men are on the quay
Drinking, smoking, talking quietly
The water's calmer now
All my work is done
So China, see ya.
Ian Hunter LP/CD: "Short Back 'n' Sides"
Sleeve and track listing
Chrysalis CDCHR 6074.
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.
| China (Ronson vocal) | 4:36 | This rare track was originally issued on the rarities compilation Long Odds and Outtakes. It can also be found on Tilting The Mirror - Rarities (box set only). |
| China (rough mix) | 4:23 | A slightly different version (a "rough mix", and 13s shorter - an earlier fade-out) is on the compilation From The Knees Of My Heart. |
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