Salvation, Ian Hunter, Rant, Stranded In Reality, Experiments

Salvation was written just before Rant but Hunter thinks he actually wrote this song in the late 1990s. He first played the song live in 1997, but did not record it until 2008, and at the time said it would be on his last record. There are two versions: an early take and a second version with harmonica, although he doesn't recall who's playing on either version. 

Fortunately, it was not his last release but it is an intriguing spiritual track. Some tracks don't make it to record but Ian feels strongly enough about it, he says Salvation is important to him, and he hopes he has not been too naughty since this song clearly is all about the wind-up. He is working out his salvation stating a sentiment that parallels Philippians 2:12, i.e., cultivate salvation, bring it to full effect, and actively pursue spiritual maturity. 

Hunter thinks the song was one of the best things he's ever done. It's the last track for the last audio disc in the box set fueling speculation that with the box set he was finished recording.

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

while Salvation (written in 1997 but not recorded until 2008) is a great way to close the collection. Ian has said it would be on his last record, and Proper's track listing has Experiments as the last disc... if this is really the last one (and Ian says it's not) then there's no finer way to finish.

Salvation

4:47

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

The Man in Me (Dylan), Ian Hunter & Tribes

Testosterone, Ian Hunter, The Artful Dodger Outtake, Stranded In Reality, Experiments

Hunter and Bjørn Nessjø, Norwegian record producer, engineer and musician, rocked Testosterone out. Ian liked this track also, I think it's one of the best tracks he's ever done, but it couldn't fit on the Artful Dodger record. Certainly it ranks up there with the hardest rock songs Ian has recorded. It has a killer bass run. First, Ian did a demo and then Bjørn improved it as he made his contribution. 

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

Testosterone

4:59

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

Nobody's Perfect, Ian Hunter, Experiments

San Diego Freeway, Ian Hunter, Stranded In Reality, Experiments

This simple song San Diego Freeway according to Ian came and it was just fun. He is riding his Harley Davidson down the San Diego Freeway enjoying the girls who should be back at school. It is something like Hunter's vision of Southern California maybe similar to the locale of The Beach Boys and he used the refrain using a name, "San, San, San, San Diego,' while ending the song reciting `Ohio,' or `Austin' as in Cleveland Rocks or One More Time.

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

San Diego Freeway

4:05

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

Big Black Cadillac, Ian Hunter, Stranded In Reality, Experiments

Hunter played all the instruments on Big Black Cadillac during 1985-1990, in his New York apartment. The early 1980s writing had been eclectic as he was in the country. The Manhattan domicile had its limitations though since the neighbors banged on the walls because of the noise after 6 pm. 

SIGN UP NOW FOR THE PRE-RELEASE OF IAN HUNTER ON TRACK FOR SONICBOND PUBLISHING AT THEDOCTOROFDIGITAL@PM.ME!

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

Coincidence, Ian Hunter, Stranded In Reality, Experiments

Coincidence is about Kaleel who was a bus driver from New Orleans during the late 1970s Hunter Ronson tour but he had one alarming fault. He had no sense of direction whatsoever. He was a great person as so many from New Orleans are. As they were driving to a venue alarmingly the band would discover it was not there. Then, Kaleel would protest, that `I swear it was here before.' The band might drive eight hours when the actual distance should have been only two hours: ahh, the days before GPS made driving directions much more difficult. This song is similar to one of the humorous songs that Hunter includes on an album that relates an engaging story or with a funny twist.

What more about the book?

Yeah Uh-Huh by Lisa and Phil

https://youtu.be/r46AbOSo-MM?si=uuWy3T8rQjhnGkwS

Tell Me About Your Book, The Phenomenal Musician John Christian who is not from Great Britain

https://www.facebook.com/keepitasahobby/posts/pfbid09pnutefvQEpSF8uz8jMTipnWEhR23axesLKoRysawg9MLcKZxLs1xNFQ5ogADRedl?mibextid=YxdKMJ

Set Lusting Bruce with Jesse Jackson

https://podcasts.apple.com/.../set.../id1038228650...

HODGEPOD with Rob Fredette

https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-bgfx7-14962b2

Sign up now for the pre-release of Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing at TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me!

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

Demolition Derby, Ian Hunter, Stranded In Reality, Experiments

Trudi liked Demolition Derby and it is a strong song that could have been included on a studio release. The demo was recorded in Hunter's home studio on the east side of Manhattan in the late 1980s. Ian read an interview about Phil Collins and discovered that they both have the same studio set up. Unfortunately, it didn't make Hunter sound like Collins (nor have his hits). Collins knew how to extract the sound that he wanted from the studio equipment. Ian dismissed his home recordings as he thought they sounded like rubbish without drums to accompany his ideas. A drum kit simply would not have fit in their apartment. One time, Keith Reid, Procul Harum's lyricist visited and Hunter tried writing with him. The songs were often good to his musical peer as we can hear now for ourselves but unfortunately they were not released on any studio albums. The song is mechanical but nonetheless an intriguing song. 

On Track Ian Hunter 

On Track Ian Hunter: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1789523044...

Upcoming Podcast Appearances! More details soon:

Toby Gribben Show

Better To ...? Podcast

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 who is not from Great Britain https://www.facebook.com/keepitasahobby/posts/pfbid09pnutefvQEpSF8uz8jMTipnWEhR23axesLKoRysawg9MLcKZxLs1xNFQ5ogADRedl?mibextid=YxdKMJ

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

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

Sign up now for more special information about On Track Hunter On Track at TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me!

More info or to request an interview: TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1789523044?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_WOLGDN9AD6UWV1H4EG8O

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

My Love (The Jar), Ian Hunter, Experiments

Although a demo this is a good song. Despite the quality the timing does not always work out for it to be a part of a regular studio release. It was recorded in Hunter's NYC home studio.  Jim Steinman who was Bonnie Tyler's producer tried to find other artists to record the song around 1983.

My Love (The Jar)

3:47

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

Look Before You Leap, Ian Hunter, Experiments

More to Love, Ian Hunter, Experiments

More to Love, Ian Hunter, Experiments

Money Can't Buy Love, Ian Hunter, Experiments

You're Messin' With The King Of Rock 'n' Roll, Ian Hunter, Experiments

Experiments is fascinating. With one exception (the Tribes track) these are demos, outtakes and (complete) unreleased tracks from the personal archive of Ian Patterson covering thirty or so years. You're Messin' With The King Of Rock 'n' Roll is an attack on Albert Goldman's 1981 gossipy Elvis book which spoke ill of the dead once The King was dead. It has a line: "You made your money on a dead man's grave" all done in a rockabilly style like Queen's Crazy Little Thing Called Love but more of a flat-out rocker. The song was to be on All Of The Good Ones Are Taken but the demo wasn't finished, didn't record well enough, and the lyrics needed more work. It's a song that fell through the cracks and previously unreleased. 

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

Look Before You Leap is a great power ballad (is that Ronno on guitar?), while Salvation (written in 1997 but not recorded until 2008) is a great way to close the collection. Ian has said it would be on his last record, and Proper's track listing has Experiments as the last disc... if this is really the last one (and Ian says it's not) then there's no finer way to finish.

OK, so what's in the box? Well there's every (regular) album that Ian has ever released, with the exception of 2016's Fingers Crossed and 2004's live double The Truth... Every album has been remastered, in some cases with bonus tracks (eg single edits) that haven't appeared on previous issues. Each is presented in a mini-LP replica sleeve, complete with an inner sleeve (for the CD itself) and a booklet. Sound quality is excellent throughout.

In addition, there are a further nine discs of rare and previously-unreleased material. There is an acoustic gig (Acoustic Shadows) from 2008, which is an interesting contrast to the (also acoustic) Live In The UK 2010 disc (also included here). Two discs of rarities (Tilting The Mirror) gather together bonus tracks that have appeared on "bonus CDs" on previous releases. Bag Of Tricks gather together various live tracks recorded over the years, including the 2002 Manchester gig that was previously thought to be "lost". It neatly showcases the last 30 years of live shows, from Toronto in 1987 through to Sheffield in 2013 and Tokyo in 2015. Fascinating.

Then there's If You Wait Long Enough... which included for the first time the 1979 Hammersmith Odeon gig. OK, an hour of this show was broadcast on BBC Radio One but this is the full show (nearly two hours!) and an improvement on the original BBC mix. We also get a 1981 show recorded in San Fransisco. This is interesting because it features Robbie Alter on guitar and Mick Ronson - on keyboards!

Then there's two DVDs. The first is a motley collection of promo films, TV appearances and concert clips from the past 40 years. Disc 2 includes the 1979 Rhyerson Theatre show from Toronto which was broadcast on TV and has circulated amonst fans for years. There's also the Ian Hunter Rocks show from 1981, previously only issued on VHS (and Laserdisc). Then there's the Strings Attached show from Oslo in 2002. This has two tracks not included on the original DVD and a great way to round off a fascination collection. The 'Strings Attached' show is also in real-time sequence (unlike the original).

There is also a lavish hard-cover book which presents a biography of Ian's career so far, together with a track-by-track run-down of all the material in this collection, with Ian's (at times) brutally honest opinion. The book ends with tributes from a whole host of fellow musicians, all of whom are unstinting in their praise. Whorrabloke! 

You're Messin' With The King Of Rock 'n' Roll

4:57

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

I Get So Excited, Ian Hunter, 1st LP

Excerpt:

This rocker, I Get So Excited, closes out the first LP and it is a straight ahead barn burner. The impressive debut album closes out with vibrant verses, a simple chorus, and gleeful lyrics; it starts and keeps up a frenetic pace about the buzz and fandom of music. The sequencing of the album is perfectly ended with this ode to the power and passion of rock music. There was discussion for the track as a single release which seems reasonable since it features a stirring and driven Mick Ronson solo and Dennis Elliot's powerful drumming. CBS thought the track was more commercial and favored its release but Hunter liked it the least and it almost didn't get released at all. There were numerous outtakes and needing a track among others this one was fished out by Ronson from other songs to finish in a rush. As a result, Hunter's voice wasn't all that strong so they added every echo in the book. 

The excitement has to do with music and crowds as at Wembley or parades. Even if it's the end he says "I don't care" and it could even be tied back to music since he's a fan. The song speeds up to end the LP on a high, fast note. 

On Track Ian Hunter is shipping soon. Want to promote Ian? The publisher is marketing the book but asked for help from us fans in the Hunter orbit. If you have contacts with podcasts, magazines, or other music outlets let me know so we can promote Ian's music. I'm open for interviews to talk about Hunter's catalog. Thanks!

Great news! Advance copies of On Track Ian Hunter have reached the publisher and will be available soon! I even saw an advance copy on eBay.

On Track Ian Hunter https://www.amazon.com/dp/1789523044...

Upcoming Podcast Appearances! More details soon:
The Book 101 interview about On Track Ian Hunter will be released 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

Full of Words
About writing including On Track Ian Hunter: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2129805/14708009

Frankly Francisco Podcast:
Mostly about Burning America but On Track Ian Hunter is mentioned as well:
https://open.substack.com/pub/micksmith/p/who-was-on-the-frankly-francisco?r=e00v8&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

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

What is the difference between a Beatles biography or a song by-song review of the Beatles career?
https://micksmith.substack.com/p/what-is-the-difference-between-a-9fc

I Get So Excited

(Ian Hunter)

I hear a thousand drums a million miles away
I feel the Wembley roar I get a buzz off a big parade
I get the music
Everywhere
Get off on the music
If this is the end there I don't care
I get so excited
So excited
Call me a fan that's just what I am
I said I I I I I get So excited
So excited
My nerves are alive
I feel like a knife
I said I get so excited

I hear a choir singing way up above the sea
I feel the sound a-changing as the night rocks a spell on me
I get the music
Everywhere
Get off on the music
If this is the end there I don't care I get
So excited
So excited
I'll throw you a line come far behind
I said I I I I I get
So excited
So excited
Its happening so fast
And the drummers a blast
I said I get so excited
By your mind oh yeah oh yeah
Excited by your warmth oh yeah oh yeah
Excited by your body oh yeah oh yeah
Excited by your...
Ha ha ha ha
Oh yeah oh yeah oh yeah right! I get
So excited
So excited
Band on the run just for the fun
I said I I I I I get
So excited
So excited
It lasts and it lasts
Get up off your past
I said I I I I I I I get
So excited
So excited
Call me a fan that's just what I am
I said I I I I I I I get
So excited
So excited
My nerves are alive
I feel like a knife
I said I I I I
I I I I
(fade)
Hey hey!

I Get So Excited

3:50

Originally issued on Ian Hunter, also on the compilations Gold, Shades of Ian Hunter: The Ballad of Ian Hunter and Mott the Hoople and The Very Best of Ian Hunter.

Shades Off, Ian Hunter, 1st LP

The poem ending It Ain't Easy When You Fall arose during a Mott tour in Scotland from 1973. Hunter's interest in poetry was long lasting having D.H. Lawrence on Mott and Baudelaire on Mad Shadows; and, of course in 23A Swan Hill he says: "Wrote this poem called `The Floods Roll On.'" The poem fit the song as in the studio the song ran a bit short and they needed an ending when an attempted scat singing didn't come off as well. It's a bit of a mix since the song is about Mick Ralphs while the poem is personal to Ian. The "uncontrollable light" line in the poem is when songwriting goes perfectly which Ian has stated has happened only about a half a dozen times in his life.

Shades Off (spoken)

(Ian Hunter)

Where do you go when you've somewhere to run
But the time isn't right and there's things to be done
And you're trapped half-way up, you don't want to go back
So you keep going on - compromising the lack

And you see the green fields as you travel on by
And you look at the things you'd forgotten to try
And you wish you were young and you wish you were old
For the songs always sung and the stories been told

And you thought you were different but what did it mean
For you tricked yourself trying - life's still unseen
As it is, as it was, as it always will be
Will you find out at all what it is to be free

See it never was easy to live with a head
So I kept to the back room and I live there instead
What comes from the front-room is only for "Friends"
I have a bay window but that's where it ends

And it's here I see pictures and my madness is clear
And there's no longer logic so therefore no fear
And I'm almost dead with uncontrollable light
Sometimes when I've written a song - it's alright...

It Ain't Easy When You Fall, Ian Hunter, 1st LP

With It Ain't Easy When You Fall Hunter is saying that fame and success is fleeting employing tender verses, intelligent piano interludes, and captivating harmony-laden choruses. This song is unusual in that the song segues into the spoken-word poem Shades Off. The subject matter is Mick Ralphs who Ian relates really did talk about ships and boats as topics related in the song rather than getting down to the needed musical business. This is Ian's sendoff to Ralphs who was off to Bad Company but he still considers him a friend. It appears that Hunter is suggesting that Mick was down and out but life moves faster. Ian and Ralpher did write solid rock while together and there is a sense of genuine loss in the song. Ian is suggesting that Mick has more to offer and has to pick himself up. Maybe Bad Company was the result. 

It Ain't Easy When You Fall

(Ian Hunter)

You used to float just like a boat upon the tide
You used to run when things were done you used to hide
You talk of ships you talk of boats you talk of games
And now you're down you ain't around its such a shame
Cause you got something to give
Something to hold onto
Why don't you live
And you just forget about fixing up fate
Maybe you'd stop pick yourself up
Now its too late Oh
It ain't easy when you fall
It ain't easy when you fall
It ain't easy when you fall
No it ain't no good at all

You didn't know this world ain't slow you gotta move
You made no sound I watched you drown I watched you loose
Your loneliness you knew it best but its a drag
Cause in the end I lost a friend I feel so sad
Cause you had something to give
Something to hold onto
Why did you live
If you just forgot about fixing up fate
You'd be here you'd be near
Now it's too late Oh
It ain't easy when you fall
It ain't easy when you fall
It ain't easy when you fall
No it ain't no good at all
Oh-oh hey
It ain't easy when you fall
(fade)

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.


It Ain't Easy When You Fall
(5:45)
Coupled with the spoken-word poem Shades Off, this was originally issued on Ian Hunter, also on the compilations Gold Once Bitten - the CBS Collection and The Journey.

The Truth, The Whole Truth, Nuthin' But The Truth, Ian Hunter, 1st LP

The song from the first LP is a popular cut and is available in two longer live versions from 2004. It is a direct contrast to the understated 3,000 Miles From Here as the track sequence gradually builds in intensity with each song. 

Ian said the track was written specifically with Mick Ronson in mind and timing had a great deal to do with the quality of the result. Mick had just read a poor review of his own solo album and he went straight into the studio to blast the crunchy guitar lead on Truth; emotionally, he poured his heart into the guitar work on this track. 

The lyrics perfectly match the emotion emitted from the guitar. The singer pleads for the other to tell the truth but the perceptible anger expressed is palpable: "God's little baby got nothing to shoot." What an incredible line when all he's asking for is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. This sounds like a track ideal for a movie courtroom scene such as "You can't handle the truth!" in A Few Good Men. 

(Ian Hunter)

Lonely days lonely nights
Hoping thing's gonna turn out right
You had me hanging on a string
For you I did most anything
You don't give me no
The truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth
Its a blind mans eye baby ain't no youth
The truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth
Don't need your lies I got my proof

Put your face up to my window
Ask me baby what did I see
Well I know I know you ain't right
I know you ain't right for me
You don't give me no
The truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth
Gods little baby's got nothing to shoot
The truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth
Get your kicks on a different route
All I want is the truth
All I want is the truth

All I want is
The truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth
Blind mans eye baby ain't no use
The truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth
Don't need your lies I got nothing to prove
The truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth
Gods little baby's got nothing to shoot
The truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth
Get your kicks on a different route
Don't hurt ya Don't hurt ya
The truth don't hurt ya
The truth don't hurt ya
Don't hurt ya don't hurt ya
The truth don't hurt ya
(fade)

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. 

The Truth, The Whole Truth, Nuthin' But The Truth	6:14	Originally released on Ian Hunter, and on the compilations Gold, Once Bitten - the CBS Collection, The Journeyand Once Bitten Twice Shy. The version on Once Bitten Twice Shy is slightly shorter (at 5:58) due to the excessive dead time (silence) at the end of the track having been removed, but is otherwise identical.
The Truth, The Whole Truth, Nuthin' But The Truth (live 28th May 2004)	8:43	This live version (recorded The Astoria, London England) was released on The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nuthin' But The Truth and on Behind The Shades. Not on the box set.
The Truth, The Whole Truth, Nuthin' But The Truth (live 12th June 2004)	8:20	This live version (recorded at the Bikini, Barcelona, Spain) was released on Bag Of Tricks (Vol 2) (box set only).

Lounge Lizard, Ian Hunter, Originally issued on Ian Hunter,

 

John Gustafson, bass, Roxy Music, Ronno, started as Mott B side of Saturday Gigs, Ian"s between wives trysts 

Lounge Lizard	4:31	Originally issued on Ian Hunter, also on the compilations Gold, Once Bitten - the CBS Collection and The Journey. This track was also recorded by Mott The Hoople.
Lounge Lizard (live 18th March 2005)	5:02	This live version (recorded at the SxSW Festival Austin TX) was released on Bag Of Tricks (Vol 2) (box set only).

Coincidence, Ian Hunter, Experiments - Previously Unreleased RecordingsExperiments - Previously Unreleased Recordings Stranded In Reality

This is one of those rarest tracks not heard until Experiments which are the previously unreleased recordings that saw the light of day on the Stranded In Reality box set. 

Experiments - Previously Unreleased Recordings

1. You're Messin' With The King Of Rock 'n' Roll
2. Money Can't Buy Love
3. More To Love
4. Look Before You Leap
5. My Love (The Jar)
6. Demolition Derby
7. Just Want It Real
8. Coincidence
9. Big Black Cadillac
10. San Diego Freeway
11. Nobody's Perfect
12. Too Much (All I Ever Wanted) (early version)
13. Artful Dodger (early version)
14. Michael Picasso (early version)
15. A Little Rock 'n' Roll (Artful Dodger outtake)
16. Testosterone (Artful Dodger outtake)
17. The Man In Me (Ian Hunter and Tribes)
18. Salvation

Coincidence

4:37

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