Saturday, June 17, 2023

The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll, Ian Hunter, Welcome to the Club, Wait

Excerpt:

There are several songs that Ian has written that celebrate rock 'n' roll and as on The Hoople they work well as opening tracks and The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll also opened their live shows whereas in his solo career the song appears mid-set. In 1973 there was a furor about noise levels at rock concerts, the 96 decibel freaks, about the time the song was written. As performed during Ian's solo career the song celebrated the fun times he had as a singer with a band. Hunter resurrected this tune since on the 1979 tour it was very much a band effort reminding Ian of the Mott The Hoople days.

Ian wrote and recorded this originally as the opening track on Mott The Hoople's 7th LP, The Hoople. During his solo career it appears on Welcome to the Club in November 1979 and another recording from the same month a previously unreleased version on If You Wait Long Enough for Anything, You Can Get It On Sale (box set only). For these November releases you can hear the band on both sides of the pond, in LA and London respectively.

Great news! Advance copies of On Track Ian Hunter have reached the publisher and will be available soon! 

Upcoming Podcast Appearances! More details soon:
Better To ...? Podcast, recorded a terrific conversation, due for release 2 August 2024. 

In the meantime, listen to previous appearances! 
Yeah Uh-Huh by Lisa and Phil https://youtu.be/r46AbOSo-MM?si=uuWy3T8rQjhnGkwS

Tell Me About Your Book, The Phenomenal Musician John Christian
https://www.facebook.com/.../pfbid09pnutefvQEpSF8uz8jMTip...
Set Lusting Bruce with Jesse Jackson https://podcasts.apple.com/.../set.../id1038228650... 

HODGEPOD with Rob Fredette https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-bgfx7-14962b2

Toby Gribben Show, awesome show, and live 8 February 2024!

Sign up now for behind the scenes information about On Track 
Ian Hunter at TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me!

To book and interview: 
TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me

Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me

If You Wait Long Enough For Anything, You Can Get It On Sale (box set only).

The Hoople

The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll

(Ian Hunter)

Ladies and Gentlemen,
The golden age of rock and roll....

Everybody hazy, shell-shocked and crazy.
Screaming for the face at the window.
Jeans for the genies, dresses for the dreamies,
Fighting for a place in the front row.

Ohhh, Ohhh, Ohhh
(It's good for your body, it's good for your soul)
Ohhh, Ohhh, let's go!
(It's the golden age of rock and roll).

Well you getta little buzz, send for the fuzz,
Guitars getting higher and higher.
The dude in the paint thinks he's gonna faint,
Stoke more coke on the fire.

Ohhh, Ohhh, Ohhh
(You gotta stay young, you can never grow old)
Ohhh, Ohhh, Whoooa
(It's the golden age of rock and roll).

The golden age of rock and roll will never die,
As long as children feel the need to laugh and cry.
Don't wanna smash - want a smash sensation,
Don't wanna wreck; just recreation,
Don't wanna fight - but if you turn us down
We're gonna turn you around gonna mess with the sound.

The show's gotta move, everybody groove
There ain't no trouble on the streets now.
So if the going gets rough,
Don't you blame us
You ninety-six decible freaks

Ohhh, Ohhh, Ohhh
(Its good for body, its good for your soul)
Ohhh, Ohhh, Whoooa
(It's the golden age of rock and roll).

Ohhh, Ohhh, Ohhh
(You gotta stay young, you can never grow old)
Ohhh, Ohhh, Whoooa
(Its good for body, its good for your soul)
Ohhh, Ohhh, Whoooa
(It's the golden age of rock and roll).

Ohhh, Ohhh, Ohhh
(You gotta stay young, you can never grow old)
Ohhh, Ohhh, Whoooa
(Its good for body, its good for your soul)
Ohhh, Ohhh, Whoooa
(It's the golden age of rock and roll).

That's all

The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll (live 5-11th November 1979)	4:01	Originally a Mott The Hoople track. This live version (recorded at The Roxy, Los Angeles CA) is on the CD version of Welcome to the Club and on the compilation From The Knees Of My Heart.
The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll (live 22nd November 1979)	4:34	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).

Friday, June 16, 2023

God (Take 1), Ian Hunter, All American Alien Boy.

Excerpt:

The song was originally issued on All American Alien Boy but there is also (God) Advice To A Friend (Alternate Version) and (God) Advice To A Friend which is a session out take with Jaco Pastorius on bass and guitar. Both the alternate and the out take can be found on later releases.

This is a witty and thought-provoking dialogue between writer and the Almighty with God explaining good, evil, faith, superstition, and life. This was a deliberate parody of Bob Dylan as Hunter imitated him. The goal is to be considerate in life and the actual target is the money and power that often comes with religious institutions. Hunter said: "It's one of the best things I've written."

Lyrically the song is about the eternal battle between good and evil within us all. There is no preaching but just questions and speculation about the forces of good and evil, the composition of the universe, and the nature of religion. Although God is about a weighty subject matter Hunter finishes the song simply and positively "behave yourself," and in an off-hand way God appears to respond "see you around." The message seems to be that it's all going to be ok.

Great news! Advance copies of On Track Ian Hunter have reached the publisher and will be available soon!

Upcoming Podcast Appearances! More details soon:
Better To ...? Podcast, recorded a terrific conversation, due for release 2 August 2024.

In the meantime, listen to previous appearances!
Yeah Uh-Huh by Lisa and Phil https://youtu.be/r46AbOSo-MM?si=uuWy3T8rQjhnGkwS

Tell Me About Your Book, The Phenomenal Musician John Christian
https://www.facebook.com/.../pfbid09pnutefvQEpSF8uz8jMTip...

Set Lusting Bruce with Jesse Jackson https://podcasts.apple.com/.../set.../id1038228650...

HODGEPOD with Rob Fredette https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-bgfx7-14962b2

Toby Gribben Show, awesome show, and live 8 February 2024!

Sign up now for behind the scenes information about On Track
Ian Hunter at TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me!

To book and interview:
TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me

Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me

God (Take 1)

(Ian Hunter)

God said to me "Gonna kick your ass - 'cos all you do is ask ask ask 
All that energy looking for me when I'm sitting here inside you - plain to see 
How I built you cell for cell gave you sights to see - gave you tales to tell 
Even let you help yourself for a while - to take some weight off this busy child"

I said to God "I found you out - I know what this world is all about!"
God said "Stop - don't scramble your brain - 
my opponent's been messing you around again
See him and me are enemies and we play little games for galaxies
And he's inside you - 'n I am too - so here we are - just the three of you"

"Oh we made mistakes - too many cards - but making human beings can be hard
A God gets tired of playing so much chess - 
he wishes his God would get him out of his mess"
I said to God "What's it like to die" He said "It's as plain as the sea and sky
Conception was him and me and you - when your batteries fade we all just move on"

I said to God "Who's winning this game - is the devil in front" 
He said "Is that his name
You know I've been so busy I never asked - 
I never looked up from this awesome task"
I said to God "What's good 'n bad" 
He said "It's just something you've got to have
It don't mean nothing to us up here - 
but your primitive people - you gotta have fear"

I said to God "Do I think for myself" 
He said I told you once you just help yourself
Don't forget you're composed of three, your thinking comes from him and me"
I said to God "How big are you, is there a religion - is it true
How big's the universe - is time - the same for you as my life is to mine"


God said "If all the things that made worlds float - 
were all to part - then you would note
The size of him and the size of me - and that's how big we both shall be"
He said "The universe is small - just like some fortune-teller's ball
And we both sit down - and we play the game - 
when somebody wins it all starts again"

"There's no religion - you did that - it helps to keep your little leaders fat
Like faith 'n superstition stay - to help you pass the time away
But when you talk of time and life - it makes me think of circles, heights
Expansion is the clue - your dreams - are nearer than you've ever been"
"You see my little toy to think - is from two bowls of wine to drink 
Don't take too much or you may drown - behave yourself - see you around..."

Ian Hunter LP/CD: "All American Alien Boy"

Sleeve and track listing

Sony BMG 82876 769432.

Letter to Britannia From the Union Jack
All American Alien Boy
Irene Wilde
Restless Youth
Rape
You Nearly Did Me In
Apathy 83
God (Take 1)
To Rule Britannia From Union Jack (session outtake)¹
All American Alien Boy (early single version)¹
Irene Wilde (Number One) (session outtake)¹
Weary Anger (session outtake)¹
Apathy (session outtake)¹
(God) Advice To A Friend (session outtake)¹

¹ Bonus track on the 2006 reissue

Sleeve variations

The 1998 UK sleeve

The original sleeve

Review

Ian recorded his second solo album in NYC, and this finds him in an altogether softer mood - there are none of Ian's trademark rockers on this album. Management differences meant that Mick Ronson was absent ("I'll never work with Mick again so long as Tony DeFries is his manager" - Ian), so Ian brought in Chris Stainton on keyboards to act as a balancing force in the studio ("I need someone who'll argue with me").

Highlight of the album is Irene Wilde (which Ian maintains is a true story), and You Nearly Did Me In(which features Queen's Freddie Mercury, Brian May and Roger Taylor on backing vocals).

The 2006 reissue sees excellent sound quality, and a host of bonus tracks none of which have been released before. It also comes with an excellent booklet written by Campbell Devine. The original version of Rape has been restored, which some may see as a disappointment compared with the rare intro on the previous 1998 CD.

This is the third release of this album on CD. This album was previously available on a USA CD. Sound quality was good, considering that by all accounts the master tapes were not in good shape. No bonus tracks. In 1998 this album was issued in the UK as part of Sony's Rewind series. Sound quality was excellent, audibly better than the USA CD. The 1998 CD also came with a previously-unavailable version of Rape, which had the Singin' In The Rain intro. This version was previously available only on a few US test pressings and had never been issued officially before!

God (Take 1)	5:44	Originally issued on All American Alien Boy. It can also be found on the compilation Gold.
(God) Advice To A Friend (Alternate Version)	5:28	An alternate version of God (Take 1) can be found on the compilation Once Bitten Twice Shy.
(God) Advice To A Friend (Session Outtake)	5:31	Another alternate version of God (Take 1) is on the 2006 and 2016 CD reissues of All American Alien Boy.

Thursday, June 15, 2023

Girl From The Office, Ian Hunter, Man Overboard.

Excerpt:

This early youthful years tale Girl From The Office is a story of lust and bravado. The song is delivered with acoustic and bouzouki instrumentation about an actual incident. Ian worked on the factory floor and he relates a working-class roots romance tale with this song. He was a "16-year old apprentice covered in filth." It is reminiscent of the Kinks and feels English. The older men wolf-whistle and the boys just drool. The girl worked at Sentinel in Shrewsbury and her name is Margaret Oliver and you can imagine the scene with these grungy guys and the clean looking girl. Ian seized this opportunity and learning that she enjoyed dancing he enrolled in the Sabrina Dancing Academy as his way to be a somebody; yes, a juvenile dream. Nonetheless, it has a happy ending (he gets the girl) so clearly this tale is just the opposite of Irene Wilde. Ian did become a "happening dude" and it is a true story. For a juvenile story Ian's was quite the gentleman because when he is pressed for information about the particulars he says:

I feel bad 'cos she's so sweet and I'm sick of everybody asking me

A clever rhyme is really genius pairing "office" with "stand-offish." The song was Hunter's fun song for this release and is simply sweet.

Upcoming Podcast Appearances! More details soon:
Better To ...? Podcast, recorded a terrific conversation, due for release 2 August 2024. 

In the meantime, listen to previous appearances! 
Yeah Uh-Huh by Lisa and Phil https://youtu.be/r46AbOSo-MM?si=uuWy3T8rQjhnGkwS

Tell Me About Your Book, The Phenomenal Musician John Christian
https://www.facebook.com/.../pfbid09pnutefvQEpSF8uz8jMTip...
Set Lusting Bruce with Jesse Jackson https://podcasts.apple.com/.../set.../id1038228650... 

HODGEPOD with Rob Fredette https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-bgfx7-14962b2

Toby Gribben Show, awesome show, and live 8 February 2024!

Sign up now for behind the scenes information about On Track 
Ian Hunter at TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me!

To book and interview: 
TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me

Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me

Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me

The Girl From The Office

(Ian Hunter)

Everybody says that the girl from the office is the best-looking girl they've ever seen
And everybody smiles at the girl from the office when she walks across the factory floor

And everybody says that the girl from the office is a little stand-offish when they talk to her
And everybody thinks that the girl from the office isn't keen on hanging out with the boys from work

Oh what a hero I would be if the girl from the office went out with me

What's she like... What's she like...
What's she like... What's she like...
What's she like... What's she like...
Everybody says
What's she like... What's she like...
What's she like... What's she like...
What's she like... What's she like...
What's she like in bed?

No one seems to know where the girl from the office goes in her spare time, well I found out
She visits the Sabrina Dancing Academy, I just got my membership card filled out

Oh what a hero I would be if the girl from the office went out with me

Everybody knows - their lives are going nowhere
Everybody dreams - 'n she's a breath of fresh air
Everybody's eyes - are gazing at the software
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah

Everybody says that the girl from the office is the best-looking girl they've ever seen
And everybody smiles at the girl from the office when she fetches me a coffee from the staff canteen
Now I'm the hero of the factory
Mr Popularity
But I feel bad 'cos she's so sweet and I'm sick of everybody asking me

Everyone's in love with the girl from the office

Ian Hunter CD: "Man Overboard"

Sleeve and track listing

New West NW6167

The Great Escape
Arms And Legs
Up And Running
Man Overboard
Babylon Blues
Girl From The Office
Flowers
These Feelings
Win It All
Way With Words
River Of Tears

Review

After two albums that were somewhat political in nature (2001's Rant and 2007's Shrunken Heads), 2009 find Ian in a more mellow frame of mind. After a long and successful career he has time to look back on his life and say "Yeah... I've no complaints..."

The album opens strongly with The Great Escape, which tells of the singer's narrow escape after a "lack of respect" for a local thug. Indeed, several songs seem to be telling tales of the rougher side of life, such as the title track which informs us "They say crime doesn't pay, well take a walk down my way..."

Ian doesn't forget his working-class roots either, with the delightful Girl From The Office, which is reminiscent of the Kinks at their best and has a very English feel to it, and tells the story of a factory-floor romance. As always with Ian's songs of this nature, it has a happy ending (he gets the girl).

Ballads have always been a strong point with Ian, and these are prominent especially on the second half of the album. Not all work, however, with These Feelings being a particular weakness.

More up-tempo songs are on the first half of the album. I hesitate to say "rockers", as medium-pace is about the best we get these days (I did say Ian is more mellow these days) and guitars, although present, are rarely high in the mix any more. Those expecting another Just Another Night or Cleveland Rocks should perhaps look elsewhere. That was then and this is now... That said, Arms And Legs is a strong guitar-led song that will really work well in a live setting, as is the next track Up And Running.

Ian hopes to tour with the album both in the USA and UK, so we will wait and see how the songs work in a live setting. Reports from the two gig so far (at the time of writing, end July '09) are positive. As for where this album fits in Ian's extensive back catalogue time only will tell. It is more immediately likeable than its predecessor (sometimes it takes a few plays to "get" an Ian Hunter album, but I liked this straight away), but ulimately I feel it may end up a notch or two down from his very best.

Girl From The Office

4:35

Originally issued on Man Overboard.

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

Ghosts, Ian Hunter, Fingers Crossed

Excerpt:

Ghosts is a song about one of the most important American musical cities. Memphis was always important to Ian from his own tale reported in Diary of a Rock 'n' Roll Star, and followed up by Ian's November 2014 visit to Sun Record Studios, and probably the impetus for him to record with the label for Defiance Vol. 1. There is a tasty acoustic guitar, bubbly bass, and an enticing tempo to the song. The song starts as a mythical calling to make music as the walrus seems to be the muse of music since the word is most closely associated with John Lennon's song of gibberish and word play in I Am The Walrus. The pyramids refer to the Memphis Pyramid on the Mississippi which has served as an entertainment and sports center.

Rick Steph got a private tour of Sun for the band as his father had played for Elvis Presley. The "crosses on the floor" refers to the small, perfectly circular gouges in the floor from years of upright basses and tape on the floor marks the spots where Elvis, Scotty Moore, and Bill Black recorded at Sun. Instruments abounded and Dennis DiBrizzi played barrelhouse piano, Paul Page took the standup bass, and Steve Holley drummed with his fingers. Mark Bosch and James Mastro joined in with guitars. Hunter quickly wrote down the words of the song back at the hotel right after their experience with the ghosts of early rock 'n' roll.

"The Gang of Four" is not the Maoist political faction but a reference to the "lap of the gods," the Million Dollar Quartet of an impromptu jam session involving Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash on 4 December 1956. To put the needle down means how record players were played back in the day, turntables spinning round.

The song is much more personal as Ian has always been a rock 'n' roll fan and he saw some of the earliest rock greats, in particular Sun artist The Killer, Jerry Lee Lewis. The music is so appealing and as he says "you told me who I was" and "you showed me what to do" you can believe him and take that literally. The muse of music captured him early in his youth and inspired his "haunting."

The studio is a highlight in Memphis and every rock fan should experience it first hand. I chatted with Ian about the specifics of gouges in the studio floor after a gig in Phoenixville, PA where I had stood in the studio during my tour. As a visitor also I can verify that the feeling in that studio is lively.

Proper Records released the song as a digital single.

Upcoming Podcast Appearances! More details soon:
Better To ...? Podcast, recorded a terrific conversation, due for release 2 August 2024. 

In the meantime, listen to previous appearances! 
Yeah Uh-Huh by Lisa and Phil https://youtu.be/r46AbOSo-MM?si=uuWy3T8rQjhnGkwS

Tell Me About Your Book, The Phenomenal Musician John Christian
https://www.facebook.com/.../pfbid09pnutefvQEpSF8uz8jMTip...

Set Lusting Bruce with Jesse Jackson https://podcasts.apple.com/.../set.../id1038228650... 

HODGEPOD with Rob Fredette https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-bgfx7-14962b2

Toby Gribben Show, awesome show, and live 8 February 2024!

Sign up now for behind the scenes information about On Track 
Ian Hunter at TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me!

To book and interview: 
TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me

Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me

Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPrRpkfdGeQ

"Million Dollar Quartet" is a recording of an impromptu jam session involving Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash made on December 4, 1956, at the Sun Record Studios in Memphis, Tennessee.

Ghosts

(Ian Hunter)

I was dreaming of another place when the phone rang by my bed
"You wanna go, I'll take you there - like now" the walrus said
You wanna see the pyramids on the Mississippi Nile
Well, grab your heart and grab your soul, this is gonna take a while

And there I was in the lap of the gods with these voices in my head
I saw three crosses on the floor, "Stand there" the walrus said
All the wonders of the world assembled here to jam
The gang of four and plenty more are playin' here for Uncle Sam

I'm standin' in a roomful of ghosts, turntables spinning round
I'm standin' in a roomful of ghosts 
Why don't ya put the needle down down down
Why don't ya put the needle down down down
Why don't ya put the needle down 

I'm like some kid in a candy store, always been a fan
It's all still here, the atmosphere, it's where it all began
"If you believe," the walrus said "this room comes back to life"
The hair was standin' on the back 'o' my head
I must be doing something right

I'm standin' in a roomful of ghosts, turntables spinning round
I'm standin' in a roomful of ghosts 
Why don't ya put the needle down down down
Why don't ya put the needle down down down
Why don't ya put the needle down 

When every light went down on me, when every star was crossed
You scratched the surface of my soul 'n' you told me who I was

I'm standin' in a roomful of ghosts, be still my foolish heart
I'm standin' in a roomful of ghosts, 'n' I don't know where to start
I'm standin' in a roomful of ghosts, you showed me what to do
I'm standin' in a roomful of ghosts, 'n' I'm still haunting you
I'm standin' in a roomful of ghosts, turntables spinning round
I'm standin' in a roomful of ghosts, why don't ya put the needle down down down
Why don't ya put the needle down down down, why don't ya put the needle down down down
Why don't ya put the needle down

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

Sleeve and track listing

Proper Records PRPCD137

That's When The Trouble Starts
Dandy
Ghosts
Fingers Crossed
White House
Bow Street Runners
Morpheus
Stranded In Reality
You Can't Live In The Past
Long Time
Seein' Red^{1, 2}
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.

Ghosts

4:07

Originally released on Fingers Crossed.

Love Can Make You Cry, Pay Up, Dedicated to Love, So This Is Paradise, Ian Hunter, Urgent, 1985

Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Fuss About Nothin', Ian Hunter, Shrunken Heads

Excerpt:

Fuss About Nothin' is about George Bush and his "five-minute war", the Iraq War. Most of Ian's political songs are less overtly political as they are against the futility of war, such as Flowers and civil strife although this one is more directly focused because the timing of when it was written. If you review the lyrics it takes a cynical view of Bush's justification and explanation of the war. Most wars are anticipated as brief affairs but as the saying goes it's much easier to get into a conflict than it is to end wars.

Upcoming Podcast Appearances! More details soon:
Better To ...? Podcast, recorded a terrific conversation, due for release 2 August 2024.

In the meantime, listen to previous appearances!
Yeah Uh-Huh by Lisa and Phil https://youtu.be/r46AbOSo-MM?si=uuWy3T8rQjhnGkwS

Tell Me About Your Book, The Phenomenal Musician John Christian
https://www.facebook.com/.../pfbid09pnutefvQEpSF8uz8jMTip...

Set Lusting Bruce with Jesse Jackson https://podcasts.apple.com/.../set.../id1038228650...

HODGEPOD with Rob Fredette https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-bgfx7-14962b2

Toby Gribben Show, awesome show, and live 8 February 2024!

Sign up now for behind the scenes information about On Track
Ian Hunter at TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me!

To book and interview:
TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me

Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me

(Ian Hunter)

I got a bridge I can sell ya
I got a pyramid
I got a time share in Florida
How'd ya like a piece of it?

You're making a fuss about nothin'
Everything's under control
That bee in your bonnet's got liberal on it
Sit back and relax, watch it all unfold

Never forget: I got a direct line
I'm a man you can trust in
If it's left to the left
There won't be nothing left
You're making a fuss about nothin'

This world is a ball with a map on
We conquer we buy and we sell
This world is a tank with a tap on
Business as usual

Now I'm just protecting your interests
I'm just defending your faith
These guys that were caught with their hands in the till
Nothing to do with me, mate, nothing to do with me

Never forget: I got a direct line
I'm a man wiht a mission
If it's left to the left
There won't be nothing left
You're making a fuss about nothin'
Don't you worry, don't you worry
I'm sure I can come up with something'
When all's said and done...I am the one
You're making a fuss about nothin'

You're making a fuss about nothin'
I am just doing my job
You just gotta trust me on this one
'Cause when the time is right
We'll get outta Dodge

Never forget: I'm doing my best
I am a man with a vision
But if it's left to the left
There won't be nothing left
You're making a fuss about nothin'
Don't you worry, don't you worry
I'm sure we can figure out somethin'
Just leave it to me 'n' one day you'll see
You're making a fuss about nothin'
Now never forget, I'm the man to respect
When you come in collect your commission
I said everything's cool, I make the rules

You're making a fuss about nothin'

Ian Hunter CD: "Shrunken Heads"

Sleeve and track listing

Yep Roc YEP2152 (USA)/Jerkin Crocus JERK9 (UK)

Words (Big Mouth)
Fuss About Nothin'
When The World Was Round
Brainwashed
Shrunken Heads
Soul Of America
How's Your House
Guiding Light
Stretch
I Am What I Hated When I Was Young
Read 'em 'n' Weep

Bonus EP:

Your Eyes
Wasted
Real Or Imaginary

Review

This is Ian's first studio album in six years since 2001's Rant. Eagerly anticipated by fans, musically and lyrically it has much in common with its predecessor. Those familiar with Rant will immediately feel comfortable with this album. Whereas before he was lamenting what he sees as the decline of the land of his birth, this time he is commenting on his adopted homeland.

This reviewer always finds it takes a few listens to "get" an Ian Hunter album, and this is no exception. There appears to be little or no filler, and there's a healthy mix of strong, solid rockers and quieter, slower material. Much of the material has a familiar feel - a riff here, a bridge there, very much in the Ian Hunter style where he (perhaps subconciously) leans on his own earlier material.

There are some astonishingly good tracks on here. Words (Big Mouth) opens things up nicely where Ian apologises to a loved one for mouthing off the night before, while Ian yearns for a earlier, simpler world in When The World Was Round. Brainwashed is a great rocker, aimed squarely at the brand-name materialism society seems to be obsessed with today. Shrunken Heads is a great track, with a distinct Springsteen-ish touch to it - close your eyes and it's easy to imagine the E-Street Band accompanying Ian on this one.

In Soul Of America he rails against the current crop of leaders who don't compare to Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Franklin... at the same time as noting how corrupt the whole government machine has become ("feathering their nests while they're rallying the troops..."). How's Your House is a fun, piano-drenched rocker lamenting the lack of help for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Stretch (another guitar-led rocker) sees Ian taking aim at some of the ne'er-do-wells he grew up with, perhaps noting that things could easily have turned out so very differently.

It will be interesting to see how much of this material come across live (I suspect 'very well'). Initial copies of this album come with a 3-track bonus CD - for once the "limited edition" tag is accurate, as bonus-less versions are already in the shops. The tracks are as strong as on the main album (ie definitely not demo tracks). Your Eyes in particular would not have been out of place on the main album, while Wasted has more than a touch of Ian's own God (Take One) about it. At about 50 minutes the album is the right length and the production is very clean.

Overall, a good album that rewards repeated listening. Initially I thought "maybe a notch or two down on his very best" but you know, I'm gonna change my mind. The more I listen to this album the more it grows on me. I'm now firmly convinced this is one of his very best, up there with Alien Boy and Schizophrenic. Now where's that repeat button on the CD player...

Fuss About Nothin'

3:44

Originally released on Shrunken Heads.

Monday, June 12, 2023

Fun (Ian Hunter/Mark Clarke/Hilly Michaels), Ian Hunter, All of the Good Ones Are Taken

The song according to Ian is a reference to fun but maybe its not all that its cracked up to be after all. Fun doesn't seem to be all that much fun anymore. The credits include co-writers Mark Clarke, bass, and Hilly Michaels, drums. Hunter has numerous songs about his wild youth and he seems to mean it's not like the old days and the good times we had.

His hair is hanging like a Rastaman's dreadlocks and "ready Teddy" could be a double reference, simply a boy's name or the youth subculture of the early 1950s to mid-1960s who were interested in rock 'n' roll and R&B music. Lucille seems to be an any girls name.

Rastaman's locks = dreadlocks

Teddy
The Teddy Boys or Teds were a mainly British youth subculture of the early 1950s to mid-1960s who were interested in rock and roll and R&B music, wearing clothes partly inspired by the styles worn by dandies in the Edwardian period, which Savile Row tailors had attempted to re-introduce in Britain after the Second World War.^[1]

Lucille

Fun

(Ian Hunter/Mark Clarke/Hilly Michaels)

I got a shower curtain stickin' to my back
And the o'd' cologne sure packs a whack
I got blood on my razor - my face is in shock
'N' my hair hangin' down like a Rastaman's locks

I think I'm ready - I'm gettin' ready
Gettin' ready Teddy - we're all gonna have fun

I gotta rock 'n' roll - rocket says "you gotta go fast"
'N' the radio's blarin' out a blast from the past
Lucille's in the back screamin' "gimme a break"
Your momma didn't tell you - that's the chance you take

It's oh so sad
When this love is all that we have
To swallow a lifetime away
With so many hours in each day

But calm your foolish heart
Our girlfriend's can't keep us apart
I'm with you every step of the way
Baby - what more can I say

The only problem is
I wanna party - get down - boogie - have a great time
Well its 36.50 for a room with a view
O' the empire state 'n' the pizza place, too

Lucille's got my body in a total eclipse
She's all lips 'n' hips - you know - one o' those trips
We're gettin' ready - she's gettin' ready
Gettin' ready Teddy - we're all gonna have fun

Fun

4:22

Originally issued on All of the Good Ones Are Taken.

Reading since summer 2006 (some of the classics are re-reads): including magazine subscriptions

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Information Week: Business Innovation Powered by Technology:
Infostor: The Leading Source for Enterprise Storage Professionals;
Infrastructure Insite: Bringing IT Together;
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McCullough, David, John Adams;
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McNamara, Patrick, Science and the World's Religions Volume 2: Persons and Groups (Brain, Behavior, and Evolution);
McNamara, Patrick, Science and the World's Religions Volume 3: Religions and Controversies (Brain, Behavior, and Evolution);
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SC Magazine: For IT Security Professionals;
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Scholastic Instructor
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Tech Net: The Microsoft Journal for IT Professionals;
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