Stretch, Ian Hunter, Shrunken Heads

The riff-driven and infectious tribute song Stretch was heralded by a jangling guitar chord that is scruffy, strong, and arresting. There are songs that demonstrate that the Northampton years are still very much a part of his life and here Hunter describes one such unfortunate friend, Barry Parkes, also referenced in Rain who Ian lost and how easily it could have been him. Barry passed in 2003 and used the literary reference. 

The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde reference is about the Gothic novella and used in the vernacular to refer to people with an outwardly good but sometimes shockingly evil nature. Ian tried to intervene but all to no avail since Stretch went his own way. Hunter's mate had a great brain and a sense of humor but with a dark side so he hit people. He had a messed up life and when Ian met his mate again around 2000 they enjoyed a couple of good years until his buddy got cancer and died. Missing him, Ian wrote this song for him. 

The term Stretch does double duty referring to a long term prison sentence contrasted to the rock lifestyle in a stretch limousine. Stretch is the "pirate with the silver tongue" who went to his death. There are powerful images and words in this song about a kid from the wrong side of the tracks who couldn't turn his life around when Hunter escaped a dead end life.  

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Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde^[1] is a 1886 Gothic novella by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson. It follows Gabriel John Utterson, a London-based legal practitioner who investigates a series of strange occurrences between his old friend Dr. Henry Jekyll and a murderous criminal named Edward Hyde.

Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is one of the most famous pieces of English literature, and is considered to be a defining book of the gothic horror genre. The novella has also had a sizable impact on popular culture, with the phrase "Jekyll and Hyde" being used in vernacular to refer to people with an outwardly good but sometimes shockingly evil nature.

Stretch

(Ian Hunter)

Abandoned by - abandoned by - abandoned by your Mother
Stranded in a boys' home - stranded in a boys' home
And never really recovered
Drain that poison from your mind
Or it's gonna take you down

STRETCH
Stretch - fish outta water - yah swim against the tide
Ain't no takin' sense to ya
Jekyll 'n' Jekyll 'n' Jekyll 'n' Hide

Oblivious to - oblivious to - oblivious to the danger
I tried, but I could never - I tried but I could never
I tried, but I could never - change ya
You went your way - I went mine
There was nothing I could do
You wouldn't listen - no you wouldn't listen to me

STRETCH
Stretch - always something' eatin' at ya - never towed the line
Mixed up 'n' dangerous - most 'o' the - most 'o' the
Most of the time

I can still see you walkin' down the street
I can still see the placed we'd meet
I can hear the voices in my head
One 'o' them yours
Even though you're dead

Attracted by - attracted by - attracted to the lifestyle
I could never go the - I could never go the
I could never go the last mile
The pirate with the silver tongue - among my souvenirs
You wouldn't listen -- aah you wouldn't listen to me

STRETCH
Pride of the army - hero of the corps
You hated every minute of it - they gave you two years
You made it four

I gotta stop hangin' out with ya - perhaps it's just as well
Now we're both doing stretches - I'm in a limo
And you're in a cell
I loved you like a brother - deep down sad
You were the best friend - I ever - I ever - I ever - had

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.

Stretch

4:12

Originally released on Shrunken Heads.

Stranded In Reality, Ian Hunter, Fingers Crossed

During his later career Hunter has come up with startlingly well-written and insightful songs and Stranded In Reality is one of his best in the latter part of his career. The echoey, psychedelic sound collage incorporated one of Ian's unique and offbeat lyrics, during the "age of the deluded" stating that people have brain but no batteries to use. 

Here the narrator is depicted on a second-hand spaceship and looking where to land. Now, that is an interesting place to start a song. In the second verse he lands in this strange land called earth. Upon landing, he experiences baptism by fire. Here he is: stranded in reality. These earthlings believe in fairy tales and their ammunition. As he grows up adolescence is no better and the narrator finds himself bat crazy. Maybe the narrator can get out but it is not likely; stranded in reality there is a loss of enthusiasm. The song is a fresh approach to the idea of being a stranger in a strange land but from the perspective of a space visitor since we are all thrown here in this world as in Jim Morrison's Riders On the Storm we are thrown in this world.  

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 Into this world we're thrown / Like a dog without a bone / An actor out on loan / Riders on the storm

said "like a dog without a bone." stranded in reality. 

Stranded In Reality

(Ian Hunter)

Let me unveil a soberin' tale 
I bought my spaceship second-hand
Should'a known better, the steering jammed 
I'm lookin' all over for a place to land

Episode two: Earth to the rescue
Somebody pulled the emergency cord
Everybody jumped overboard and I wound up in the maternity ward
It was a baptism, baptism, baptism, baptism, baptism, baptism by fire

Stranded in reality
It's a dodgy proposition
They still believe in fairy tales
'n' lots of ammunition

Adolescence, it doesn't make any sense
Anti-social media saw their communication cords
And something in me wants to roar
Bat crazy, bat crazy, bat crazy, bat crazy, bat crazy

Stranded in reality
It's the age of the deluded
Everybody's got a brain
But the batteries ain't included
(let's go)

Let me conclude this sad interlude 
The spaceship's fixed but whaddya know
PCB won't let us go and all I said was UFO
UFO, UFO, UFO, UFO, UFO

Stranded in reality
Well I ain't too optimistic
Realism's upped and left
It's all materialistic
Stranded in reality
I'm beginning to see what this is
Give the people what they want
Or it's gonna be bad for business

Stranded in reality
Why am I losing my enthusiasm

Stranded In Reality

4:48

Originally released on Fingers Crossed.

Still The Same, Ian Hunter, The Artful Dodger

The closing song Still The Same is one that seems like a lost love and the pain that accompanies that loss. It is the great what if? How am I supposed to go on if my love is still the same? If love is right it's the greatest feeling in the world but if the lover leaves you in the dust you are stuck in the same emotional place you have been. People change and if the lover does not feel the same and respond in kind you are left in the lurch. The song is a reminder of pain and feeling the same although the lover has moved on. It's a terrific song about a breakup. Hunter thinks is has good lyrics and it's just a love song. 

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Still The Same

(Ian Hunter)

They say that some people never grow up
Lost in time shackled to the past for ever, stung by love
Still weaving, still believing yesterday's dreams
If life is real then so is my imagination
All I feel is who I am, who I am, who I am
'n if I wished so hard I bled, would you come true
All I need's a bottle 'n' the memories come flooding back
'n I see you though the rain, through the rain, through the rain
They say you can never go back
What if my love's
Still the same, still the same, still the same
Still the same, still the same, still the same

When love goes right it's the ultimate high you can be on
Oh baby I've lost count of the times when things went wrong
But I pick myself up 'n' I carry on
On and on and on and on and on and on it goes
I can't pretend imaginary friends are better
All I know is people change, people change, people change
They say I'm supposed to forget 'n' go on
What if my love's
Still the same, still the same, still the same
Still the same, still the same, still the same
Still the same, still the same
Still the same, still the same, still the same
(Oh baby now)
What if your love, what if your love is still the same
What if your love, what if your love is still the same
What if your love, what if your love is still the same
What if your love, what if your love is still the same
What if your love, what if your love is still the same

Still The Same

5:07

Originally issued on The Artful Dodger.

Still Love Rock 'n' Roll, Ian Hunter, Rant

Depending on which version you have, US or UK, determined the placement of Still Love Rock 'n' Roll which could be last or first on the CD. At first, this was considered as a bonus track. In either the UK or UK release, this song is a nod to early rock 'n' roll and music that inspired Hunter in the first place; it is a mid-tempo rocker wherein Chuck Berry meets Little Richard and could be a great opening for a live set. Hunter tips his hat as a tribute to the early greats of rock 'n' roll when the style was invented. It gave his life meaning and he respects their achievements. 

Ian describes the environment of the 1950s which was comparatively bland, especially in the UK, and then, rock! This is certainly autobiographical 

It's the only way - I know how to say what's on my mind

Tommy Steele is regarded as Britain's first teen idol and rock 'n' roll star and here he is depicted singing a Guy Mitchell song who was well-known in the 1950s as an American pop star. Lubbock is mentioned as a reference to Buddy Holly, Memphis as home to the birthplace of rock 'n' roll, and Macon as a note about Little Richard. Rock 'n' roll pioneers Billy Fury, Little Richard, Tommy Steele, and Gene Vincent played the Kettering Granada in England. 

You have to love the finishing thought about how the 1950s are better than the contemporary world:

I get up every morning - I put the coffee on the stove
The computer's gone - the turntable's on
I can't believe it's 2001 - God, I must be knockin' on
But I still love rock 'n' roll, I still love rock 'n' roll.

 

As an opening track Still Love Rock 'n' Roll is a nod to the music that inspired Ian in the first place, a great mid-tempo rocker, Chuck Berry meets Little Richard covering all points in between but with a fresh perspective. I can see this being in the live set for years to come. 

Ringo Starr requested Irene Wilde instead of this song although he got the name wrong but Ian switched to accommodate the request when first played as part of his 2001 All Starr Tour. 

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Still Love Rock n Roll

(Ian Hunter)

Way back in the 50's - you never said a wrong word
People were clean - people were mean
Children should be seen, but children should be not heard
You learned to keep your mouth shut - you did what you were told
But then one day the radio played the sound that we'd all been waiting for
The whole of our lives 'n'

I still love Rock 'n' Roll - I play it every day
Hummin' along, singin' the song
It's the only way - I know how to say what's on my mind

I get up in the morning - put the kettle on the stove
Tommy Steele croons a Guy Mitchell tune
I never felt more like singin' the blues - but if I had to choose
You know I still love rock 'n' roll
I still love rock 'n' roll (let me hear ya)

I never been to Lubbock, Texas or Memphis, Tennessee
I never washed dishes in Macon, Georgia
I wasn't half as good and I wasn't half as pretty as you
But I still got the feelings - embedded in my soul
A rebel armada - Kettering, Granada
It ain't my fault that I never grew up - I got bitten by your bug
And I still love rock 'n' roll, I still love rock 'n' roll, I still love rock

I know what you're thinkin' - it's a little bit strange to you
I know what you're thinkin' - 'cos I'm thinkin' the same way too
But oh those two little four letter words - they're all you need to know
'cos when it all comes down to it - I don't like the sound of it
When you mess around with it - I'm still in it for the thrill of it
I know you tried to kill it but

I still love rock 'n' roll - I play it every day
Hummin' along - singin' the songs
It's the only way I know how to say what's on my mind

I get up every morning - I put the coffee on the stove
The computer's gone - the turntable's on
I can't believe it's 2001 - God, I must be knockin' on
But I still love rock 'n' roll, I still love rock 'n' roll.

Still Love Rock 'n' Roll

4:34

Originally issued on Rant; also on the compilation Old Records Never Die.

Standin' In My Light, Ian Hunter, You're Never Alone With a Schizophrenic

Shimmering keyboards and an atmospheric drone start Standin' In My Light as this song builds once Hunter reveals a new beginning in his life. From this release the song is a highlight and often performed as well. The entire CD project started coming together with this song. It is a genuine song about a guy that was in the way who was a coked out manager: Fred Heller. And, there are elements of svengali Tony Defries as well.The song began to take shape after Overnight Angels. Managers have always been difficult for Hunter and this is representative of having issues with them. They want consistency and money. On the other hand, Ian thinks that consistency is boring and the money should be his. The song was tailor made for Mick Ronson. The song began on a keyboard and wrote the song around that sound. 

These are the type of people who have their agenda despite that fact that it does not help you. The New York Dolls gets a mention since Ian has identified that they could have been much bigger if they had been allowed to develop properly but they were pushed too hard too early and they should have kept away from dope. Someone was standing in their light as in our own lives someone can be standing in ours. The trick is to get the naysayers out of the way and find your light. 

The song was regularly played during 1979 live shows, then again in 1989, as well as in 2004. 

Also recorded at the Park West, Chicago IL 22nd June 1979 on Collateral Damage.

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Standin' In My Light

(Ian Hunter)

Well I finally found you out
All through your mess of dreams
You won't make it to the night
and you're standing in my light
You know you've been bad for me
You ain't got the weight to hate
But you ain't no pretty sight
And you're standing in my light

Move over cause you're standing in my light
Move over cause you're standing in my light
Move over cause you're standing in my light (yeah)
Move over cause you're standing in my light

Now when your old man beats the drums
Gotta run run run that's dumb
A little less ego A little more fight
Move over cause you're standing in my light

Things go bad and the risks get high
Sweeping dead bodies 'cross an open sky
You took my pictures from your walls
Ain't gonna trade with the pain of the New York Dolls

Move over cause you're standin in my
(Move over cause you're standin in my)
Move over cause you're standin in my
(Move over cause you're standin in my)
Move over cause you're standin in my
(Move over cause you're standin in my)
Move over cause you're standing in my light
Move over cause you're standing in my light
Move over cause you're standing in my light
Move over cause you're standing in my light
Move over cause you're standing in my light
Move over cause you're standing in my light Yeah.......Alright
Move over cause you're standing in my light

I wish you luck on your very last chance
Cause I knew you blew it at the song and dance
you froze my feelings, but thats alright
and you're standing in my light

Standin' In My Light	4:35	Originally issued on You're Never Alone With a Schizophrenic, and on the compilations The Collection, From The Knees Of My Heart, The Journey, Once Bitten Twice Shy and Shades of Ian Hunter.
Standin' In My Light (live 22nd June 1979)	4:44	This live version (recorded at Park West, Chicago IL) was released on Collateral Damage. Not on the box set.
Standin' In My Light (live 5-11th November 1979)	5:49	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.
Standin' In My Light (live 22nd November 1979)	6:03	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).
Standin' In My Light (live 15th February 1989)	5:33	This live version (recorded The Dominion, London England) was released on BBC Live in Concert.
Standin' In My Light (live 28th May 2004)	6:15	This live version (recorded The Astoria, London England) was released on The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nuthin' But The Truth. Not on the box set.

Speechless, Ian Hunter, All of the Good Ones Are Taken

Bassist Dan Hartman of the Edgar Winter Group contributed a great deal to Speechless which is an effective satirical take on obsession and the absurdity of TV. This is one of the strongest tracks on the record and it was later recorded by Status Quo as well although their version sounds formulaic. The song seems addressed to a specific person who is so intoxicated they have to be switched off. Hunter confesses that people like this leave him speechless. They got to him and he has to get them off his chest; these are powerful words and filled with emotional weight. Ian is warning about people you're fed up with and with television people waste more time. Kids are passively mesmerized by television which dumbs us down, and is getting worse. The song is ahead of its time with social media, computers, and the internet things have certainly gotten much worse than when this was written in the 1980s. Worse than gross indeed. 

Hunter also played this on stage during the summer of 1991 with The Mats Ronander Band and Swedish covers group The Few. 

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Speechless

(Ian Hunter)

Every time I watch you
Gotta switch you off, you surely can't be serious
Every time I see you
I just can't believe you go below ridiculous

All those days I spent
Starin' at your wilderness
All those ways you got to me
Through me, you, you leave me speechless

You, you make me scared of you
You make me scared of losing concentration
You make me afraid of you
Make me afraid of losing conversation

All my friends say that you're forbidden - fruitless
I hide away with you - I'm guilty - I'm guilty
You found my only weakness
You, you leave me speechless

Entertainment came and went
Why can't you be more curious, adventurous, mysterious, sensuous

Your remote control
Is sending out patrols, I've go consumer sadness
Spray me - camouflage me - blind me
So I can't see, help me through this madness

All those years I spent
Clingin' to your warm breast
All those words
I don't think I guess

Gotta get you off my chest - you pest
You, you leave me speechless

Strongest tracks are Speechless (later to be covered by Status Quo),

Mott The Hoople/Ian Hunter CD: "Old Records Never Die"

Sleeve and track listing

Shout 826663-10970. 

Disc 1: Mott The Hoople

1. Rock And Roll Queen
2. Walkin' With a Mountain
3. Whiskey Women
4. Sweet Angeline
5. Death May Be Your Santa Claus
6. All The Young Dudes
7. Sweet Jane
8. Sucker
9. All The Way From Memphis
10. Honaloochie Boogie
11. Violence
12. Ballad Of Mott The Hoople
13. Roll Away The Stone
14. Crash Street Kidds
15. The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll
16. Saturday Gigs

Disc 2: Ian Hunter

1. Once Bitten Twice Shy
2. Who Do You Love
3. 3000 Miles From Here
4. You Nearly Did Me In
5. Justice Of The Peace
6. Cleveland Rocks
7. Just Another Night
8. Ships
9. When The Daylight Comes
10. Old Records Never Die
11. Central Park 'n' West
12. Speechless
13. Women's Intuition
14. The Artful Dodger
15. Still Love Rock 'n' Roll
16. Words (Big Mouth)

Review

Hard on the heels of The Journey (a 3-CD UK compilation) we get another compilation of Mott The Hoople and Ian Hunter, this time originating from the States. The neat thing is one disc is Mott and the second disc is Ian.

For Mott all the choice album tracks are here, although I would have preferred the single version of Roll Away The Stone (American compilers always go for the album version, which I feel is inferior featuring as it does Bender on guitar instead of Mick Ralphs).

The same can be said for the Ian Hunter tracks - a strong collection, save perhaps for the inclusion of Artful Dodger which is one of the weaker tracks on that album. Fans will always argue over which tracks to include or leave out, but what is here is a good balance.

There's a good booklet, half of which is devoted to Mott and the other half to solo Ian Hunter. Sound quality is excellent throughout.

If you're new to Ian and Mott, and are looking for a compilation that takes in nearly 40 years of great music, this is as good a place as any to start.

Speechless

3:51

Originally issued on All of the Good Ones Are Taken, also on the compilations The Journey, Old Records Never Die and Once Bitten Twice Shy. The version on Once Bitten Twice Shy is shorter (at 3:39) due to s shorter fade-out.

This Is What I'm Here For, Ian Hunter, Defiance, Vol. 1

The album closes in glorious style with Ian proclaiming "This is what I'm here for!" and noting "I ain't through - when I'm through I'll notify you". Defiance indeed, and as essential as ever.

Kiss N' Make Up, Ian Hunter, Defiance, Vol. 1

Angel, Ian Hunter, Defiance, Vol. 1

No Hard Feelings, Ian Hunter, Defiance, Vol. 1

Defiance, the CD, Ian Hunter, Defiance, Part 1

It's been seven years since the last one, but Ian's new (2023) album has been worth the wait. What with being struck down with tinnitus and then confined to his basement by lockdowns this could have been a difficult album to make. But the list of musicians who came out of the woodwork and contributed is astonishing. This could have been problematic with egos getting in the way, but executive producer Andy York ensured this never happened. The presence of the likes of Slash, Jeff Beck and Taylor Hawkins shouldn't be a reason to buy anyway with Ian delivering an album that is up there with his very best.

The album opens in glorious style with the (near) title track, as hard-rocking as anything Ian has recorded for many years. Ian doing things his way and not giving in to current trends, noting "Got an 'F' for squanderin' those golden years". Now that's defiance!

I Hate Hate is a great message in our troubled times (Ian says it's one of the best lyrics he's written) and the message "Wouldn't it be great if we ran out of hate" better than anything our leaders can offer. The main version is piano-led, while the bonus track is guitar-led.

Ian always includes a song for Trudi (his wife of 50 years) and Angel is as good as any he's written. He notes "It's hard to kiss an angel... the harps are always getting in the way"

The album closes in glorious style with Ian proclaiming "This is what I'm here for!" and noting "I ain't through - when I'm through I'll notify you". Defiance indeed, and as essential as ever.

Soul Of America, Ian Hunter, Shrunken Heads

In Soul Of America classic American personages and images are introduced, Adams, the second president of the US, Thomas Paine, the American Revolutionary theorist, Geronimo, the Apache leader, the Alamo, the pivotal military engagement during the Texas Revolution, Pearl Harbor, the surprise military strike by Japan upon the United States, and American symbols of the Liberty Bell and the Statue of Liberty. Hunter fills the song with historical allusions to put contemporary events in context. It seems like he has 911 in mind:

And the Manhattan skyline blew my mind the first time
We went down to the scene of the crime
Lookin' for the soul of America

In any event, this is a rant against current political leaders who can not compare to the greats of the past. The specific target is George Bush. The US is led by only a few families and they are selfish but consider everyone else a terrorist. Hunter is bewildered by the state of America while Andy York assisted out of about four proposed verses. 

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The Battle of the Alamo (February 23 – March 6, 1836) was a pivotal event and military engagement in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna reclaimed the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar (modern-day San Antonio, Texas, United States), killing most of the occupants. Santa Anna's refusal to take prisoners during the battle inspired many Texians and Tejanos to join the Texian Army. Motivated by a desire for revenge, as well as their written desire to preserve a border open to immigration and the importation and practice of slavery, the Texians defeated the Mexican Army at the Battle of San Jacinto, on April 21, 1836, ending the rebellion in favor of the newly formed Republic of Texas.

The attack on Pearl Harbor^{[nb 3][10]} was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii, just before 8:00 a.m. (local time) on Sunday, December 7, 1941. The United States was a neutral country at the time; the attack led to its formal entry into World War II on the side of the Allies the next day. The Japanese military leadership referred to the attack as the Hawaii Operation and Operation AI,^{[11][nb 4]} and as Operation Z during its planning.^[13]

Soul Of America

(Ian Hunter)

The Alamo shuddered, Pearl Harbor as well
The Statue of Liberty wept as they fell
And echoes were heard in the Liberty Bell
When they came for the soul of America
And the Manhattan skyline blew my mind the first time
We went down to the scene of the crime
Lookin' for the soul of America
Lookin' for the soul, lookin' for the soul

I don't see no Washington taking the strain
No Jefferson, Adams, Franklin or Paine
And that sure ain't Geronimo running the game
Protecting the soul of America
Just them wild boys: red, white and blue
Wild boys gotta see the mission through
Come hell or high water, my hat's off to you
Let's rock the soul of America
Let's rock the soul, let's rock the soul

You can find souls all over this world
Lay underneath the stones of insanity
You can find souls all over the globe
Except in the places they oughta be

The sins of the fathers revisit the sons
The toil of tradition, the roar of the guns
It's a God awful job, but it's gotta be done
Protecting the soul of America
And them good old boys in their three piece suits
Feathering their nests while they're rallying the troops
They cut off the flowers, don't worry 'bout the roots
Eroding the soul of America
And I'm looking for the soul, I wanna find the soul

There's souls in the city, there's souls in the sand
Putting up with the latest indignities
You can find soul all over this land
Except in the places it oughta be
Except in the places it oughta be

Frankie 'n' Johnny in my neighborhood
They don't read the papers as much as they should
But if they had the time, they know that they would
And you're lookin' at the soul of America

Yeah them wild boys 'n' red, white and blue
Them wild boys gotta get the message through
Come hell or high water, we're all rooting for you
And let's rock the soul of America
Come on, let's rock the soul, let's rock the soul
Let's rock the soul
Rock me out, rock me out
Oh yeah
Let.s rock the soul
Ah huh, come on, yeah
Let's rock the soul of America
Let's rock the soul, let's rock the soul

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...").

Soul Of America	4:43	Originally released on Shrunken Heads.
Soul Of America (live 2nd March 2008)	(6:42)	This live version (recorded at the Mick Jagger Centre, Dartford England) was issued on Acoustic Shadows (box set only).
Soul Of America (live October 2010)	4:34	This live version (recorded at an unknown UK venue) was issued on Live In The UK 2010.

Sons 'n' Lovers, Ian Hunter, YUI Orta, Acoustic Shadows, Stranded In Reality

Sons 'n' Lovers is autobiographical and is a companion piece to Sons and Daughters but more focused on his former wife initially but then the perspective shifts to represent the hurt experienced by the son. It's a sad song about the end of a relationship with his wife and the how his son was hurt as well. Hunter's son was eight years old at the time and it is his thoughts about his son's relationship with his mother. Kids have strong feelings, jealousies, and cling to their mothers but they know the damage experienced when a father leaves. The mother is left behind and it hurts. It is an odd subject but Hunter never seems to shy away from difficult or emotional topics. 

There is a live version from 2008 as well with just Steve Holley on drums and James Mastro on guitar. 

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

Sons N' Lovers

(Ian Hunter)

I was your baby-you were my girl
When I asked you to marry me- the tears fell

Sons n' lovers, sons n' lovers, waving
My childhood goodbye-it seems so sad
Well how long have you been my best friend
This won't be the end of Sons n' lovers-sons n' lovers--she won't wanna talk anymore about it

You were my lady- I was your number one
When I said I was leaving- tears run

Sons n' lovers-sons n' lovers, breakin'
Tryin' not to hurt each others hearts
Well how long can we exist- I know
We can't go on like this
Sons n' lovers-son's and lovers--I don't wanna lie anymore

Was that you I saw--walkin' out along the shore
Was that you I saw-talkin' to him
Was that you i saw-puttin' his hands in yours
Thats alright ma- you can still love him
Thats alright ma- you can still love
And through the years-you know- we will remember
Time will never take old times away
How long for you to discover that- there still some strings attached to
Sons n' lovers-sons and lovers
But I don't wanna play anymore
Sons n' lovers

Sons 'n' Lovers	4:55	Originally issued on YUI Orta. It can also be found on the compilation Family Anthology.
Sons 'n' Lovers (live 2nd March 2008)	5:01	This live version (recorded at the Mick Jagger Centre, Dartford England) can be found on Sampling In Reality and on Acoustic Shadows (box set only).

Sons and Daughters, Ian Hunter, Welcome to the Club, If You Wait Long Enough

Sons and Daughters is a country-style ballad and an autobiographical tale about Hunter's divorce, living near the Archway in London, and losing contact with both his first son and his daughter. The song is reminiscent of Waterlow. Ian worked semi-skilled factory work at the capstans which is a vertical-axle rotating machine developed for use on sailing ships to multiply the pulling force of seamen when hauling ropes, cables, and hawsers (thick cable or rope). Once Hunter was pursuing music seriously he divorced his first wife Diane and made both of his children, Stephen and Tracie, lonely when he left. He recognized  the damage he's caused and he found a band, Mott The Hoople, to go out on tour. Stars are fools he says. He re-marries, Trudi, who may want children as well and as a result the nightmare returns like a ghost if he repeats the mistake of the past. The song is about guilt and pain and all true in Ian's case. He says you can never put it right. 

There is another 1979 released version of the song as well.

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capstan_(nautical)

Sons And Daughters

(Ian Hunter)

There's a place in the city they call the Archway
Where we rented three rooms for a dollar a day
and I worked semi-skilled at the capstans for years
And my wife was a good woman but the love disappeared

Sons and Daughters, Daughters and Sons
When a marriage goes down they're the loneliest ones
Sons and Daughters, Daughters and Sons
How I hope they can cope with the damage I've done

I found me a band, I went out on tour
So the kids wouldn't know I was with them no more
When they said, "Where's me dad?" She'd say, "He's a star!"
Oh if only stars knew what fools they all are.

Sons and Daughters, Daughters and Sons
When a marriage goes down they're the loneliest ones
Sons and Daughters, Daughters and Sons
How I hope they can cope with the damage I've done

I got a new contract, I got a new life
No more capstans for me and I've got a new wife
Sometimes she gets angry, says she wants a family
Then that nightmare returns like a ghost haunting me

Sons and Daughters, Daughters and Sons
When a marriage breaks up you're the loneliest ones
Sons and Daughters, Daughters and Sons
How I hope you all cope with the damage we done

Sons and Daughters (live 5-11th November 1979)	5:04	This live version (recorded at The Roxy, Los Angeles CA) originally issued on Welcome to the Club, and on the compilations From The Knees Of My Heart and The Singles Collection 1975-83.
Sons and Daughters (live 22nd November 1979)	4:57	This live version (recorded Hammermith Odeon, London England) is on the 30th Anniversary issue of You're Never Alone With a Schizophrenic, and on If You Wait Long Enough For Anything, You Can Get It On Sale (box set only). The latter is slightly longer (at 5:23) due to the introduction to the following track being tacked on to the end.

Somethin's Goin' On, Ian Hunter, All of the Good Ones Are Taken

The topic of Somethin's Goin' On is serious. It's as if the world were a subway, the human race is an endangered species, and international leaders are muggers. The song expresses the likelihood of a nuclear confrontation and noted a distrust of the political elites. If you sense that war is coming we notice that something is going on. This song is something like are you noticing what is going on around you? It is a warning against nuclear war while the leaders can watch from the safety of their planes. Leaders can watch while the people are victims of violence. This is Hunter's cynicism as he reads the papers and like the average person they are disgusted by what they see. We are not sure exactly what is going on but we know something is happening.  

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

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

Somethin's Goin' On

(Ian Hunter)

The spirit of war is all around us
'N' everybody knows somethin's goin' on

Fasten your seat belts - say goodbye to your mothers
Cos everybody knows somethin's goin' on

Nuclear missiles - cover to cover
Everybody knows somethin's goin' on

The world is a subway - all the leaders are muggers
'N' everybody knows somethin's goin' on

Well I say
Roll up to the party - welcome to the show
We'll make you live in fear - then we'll make you disappear
Somethin's goin' on 'n' everybody knows

What you got - what you got
Everybody knows somethin's goin' on
Most people got nothin' - a few got the lot
'N' everybody knows - it's still goin' on

Well I say
Roll up to the circus - welcome to death row
Just do what we say - then we'll blow you all away
Somethin's goin' on 'n' everybody knows

What about hunger... are they just another number?
We're all an endangered species
'N' everybody knows - it's still goin' on

Well I say
Welcome to Thanksgiving - what we reap is what we sow
We'll watch you die in vain from the safety of our plane
Somethin's goin' on 'n' everybody knows

Somethin's Goin' On	4:33	Originally issued on All of the Good Ones Are Taken.
Somethin's Goin' On (single radio edit)	3:55	This single version is on The Singles Collection 1975-83 and on the box set version of All Of The Good Ones Are Taken