San Diego Freeway

Merging while traveling West on Route 8 in San Diego the red car right front bumper ran into my left rear bumper. The elderly couple hit and ran and didn't stop. You can see the red paint on my bumper. 

 

Old Records Never Die, Ian Hunter, Short Back and Sides

Old Records Never Die is about music that touches us deeply and does not let go. Often when you hear a song it takes you to a special time or moment that you will never forget. This song was started as more of a general commentary about Elvis Presley but while recording the song in NYC John Lennon was shot while the song was being recorded at The Power Station. Hunter recognized a reporter from Channel 7 that he knew. Producer Bob Clearmountain and the musicians were stunned but Ian seized the moment and was inspired to do more while outside people reacted and were horrified with the tragedy. The assassin at The Dakota was wearing  a Todd Rundgren Hermit of Mink Hollow T-shirt when he was arrested. Hunter feels the song has a good hook, but should have harmonies on the hook. It could have been a hit and singles out the magnificent Tommy Mandel on keyboards for this track. Mandel adds that the band was walking back to The Mayflower from the Power Station at what at the time Roosevelt Hospital. They had just recorded the album version of Old Records Never Die.

Tom Mandel

Hi. I do remember that night John was shot: we were walking back to The Mayflower from Power Station - so we passed by what was then Roosevelt Hospital (now I think it's Mt. Sinai West) and heard the tragic senseless news. 

And yes, we had just recorded the album version of old records never die. 

It had had more of a live feel when we were rehearsing it, so I wonder what demos there are out there of that. . . Would be fun to hear.

There is an alternate version release as well. 

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

Old Records Never Die

(Ian Hunter)

Sometimes you realize
that there is an end to life.
Yesterday I heard them say
a hero's blown away.
And it's so hard to lose
someone who's close to you.
Oh me, I did not see
the danger every day.
But music's something in the air,
so he can play it anywhere.
Old records never die.

Get you're healing from a song,
just when everything goes wrong.
Play it right
through the night
till morning brings you light.
And if some folk laugh at you
Let 'em all laugh they never knew.
Oh all those scenes, to me it seems
some folk never dream.
And on the wind(?) I feel a force
rebel with some other cause.
Old records never die.

Old records never die.
You can watch the waves roll by.
You can see it in their eyes.
Old records never die.
Old records never die.
You can watch the waves roll by.
The innocent cry(?)
Old records never die.
I can hear you
and I know why
old records never die.

Old Records Never Die	4:19	Originally issued on Short Back and Sides, and on the compilations The Best of Ian Hunter, From The Knees Of My Heart, Old Records Never Die, Once Bitten Twice Shy and Shades of Ian Hunter.
Old Records Never Die (alternate version)	4:18	Released on the outtakes CD Long Odds and Outtakes and on the box set version of Short Back 'n' Sides

Loitering Security Guard at Domino's

            I was involved in an incident at Dominos and I have questions. 

The security guard on duty at 3:55 pm accosted me for loitering. I explained that I was not loitering but I am a patron of Dominos. Moreover, to verify that I had legitimate business I showed him my phone confirming my Dominos order that I was waiting for. He continued to berate me regardless. 

Domino's pizza <confirmation@e-confirmation. 8 September 2023 3:33 pm 

Store: #8555

8726 Lake Murray Blvd Suite C2 San Diego CA 92119 619.465.4123

My question is are the instructions to the security guard to harass Domino’s patrons who have legitimate business for their presence?  

In addition, are the instructions to the security guard to prevent loitering? 

If so, why was the security guard allowing a gang of loitering teenagers to remain next to the “No Loitering” sign in front of the adjacent but closed Einstein Bros store at 4:05 pm? The store closes at 2 pm.

Is the security guard instructed to be on his phone while on duty? 

The security guard was loitering on his phone at 4:07 pm behind Domino’s while the teenagers congregated unsupervised.

Will any disciplinary action be taken against the loitering security guard? 

I want to continue patronizing Domino’s but I do not want to be harassed by an incompetent security guard. I would like to be notified of your action; thank you.

Now Is The Time , Ian Hunter, The Artful Dodger

Now Is The Time marked a period when Ian got serious about writing again and producer Bjørn Nessjø was key to this development. After the slack 1980s period Ian considers this as his first decent song. Hunter started playing it during the summer of 1991 with The Mats Ronander Band and the Swedish covers band The Few; it was especially ready after the 1992 Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. 

Hunter has been known to be able to write personal, heartfelt songs about musical figures he has been associated with and this one is about Freddie Mercury from Queen There is a clever line revealing the subject as "that crazy little planet," i.e., Mercury, "he was a friend of mine." 

Ian and Freddie had a strong professional relationship and Hunter was impressed with him as one of the nicest real stars that he had met. The Freddie Ian knew was always outrageous, real, nice, and as crazy as a loon: the archetypal rock star. Hunter he thought of Queen as "lovely blokes" going back to the early days of Mott when they were on the same bill.

In March 2013, Ian played European and UK live dates as The Ian Hunter Acoustic Trio, with guitarist Andy York and Nashville bassist Dave Roe. The song was recast to target the National Rifle Association instead of referring to Mercury.  

There is a live version from 2015. 

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

Now Is The Time

(Ian Hunter)

I can smile
On a warm summer day
I can laugh
I can listen to the children play
But I'm going to miss
The killer with the kiss
He was a friend of mine
Now is the time
Now is the time

It's going to rain
Hope it don't rain on you
There's going to be a lot of pain
Before this thing is through
If Jesus was alive
He'd be standing on the M5
Holding up a neon sign
Screaming now is the time
Now is the time

Now is the time
So many people can't see
They think that love is blind
But it ain't free
There's a line
So many people have crossed
And now their love is lost
Say goodbye
My funny valentine
Now is the time
Now is the time

Now is the time
Now is the time

I can run
Just as far as my eyes can see
And I'm free, yeah,
Just as free as I want to be
But I won't ever forget
That crazy little planet
He was a friend of mine

Now is the time
Now is the time
Now is the time
Now is the time
Now is the time
Now is the time
Now is the time

Now Is The Time	5:54	Originally issued on The Artful Dodger.
Now Is The Time (live 16-18th January 2015)	5:20	This live version (recorded at the Garden Shimokitazawa, Tokyo Japan) was released on Bag Of Tricks (Vol 3)(box set only).

Noises, (Ian Hunter/Tommy Morrongiello) Ian Hunter, Short Back and Sides

Noises has a reference to waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett but mostly there is a great deal of word play throughout. It started as a poem and without Mick Jones producing Ian has said the song might not have seen the light of day. He arranged the start-stop at the beginning whereas for Hunter he wrote the song with Tommy Morrongiello (guitar, bass). They had a great deal of fun with it but the two cents of former producer Guy Stevens was to cut off the pretentious intro. 

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

Noises

(Ian Hunter/Tommy Morrongiello)

Noises are taking away my freedom.
Noises seem to rob me of myself.
Noises are the sound of mediocrity.
Noises ... to take that ... from out of myself.
Noises are taking away my casualness.
Noises are making me scared.
Big noises are made by big shots.
Some noises should never be heard.

Noises,
noises,
noises,
noises,
give me noises!

Noises are looking over my shoulder.
Noises are the sound of the herd.
Noises make the planet colder.
Noises are noises that should never be heard.

Noises,
noises,
noises,
noises will destroy me.
Noises ...

Why not join some junky jewels, who wreck the clines on canvas fools
Who take the vapours from the mind. Neo nothing. Shallow kind.
A ritzy Nazi owns the game, he plays at God but that was fame
And music masturbates his mind, and stones get rolled up in the slime
A New York butch becomes a blond, while changing gears while from beyond
Agree to consecrate the music makers have gotta take 
Owls with trowels as big as spades, dig down among those sequined graves.
Work out their ages, turn the pages, caught in cages, locked in ages
Media momenta, who can prevent her.

Noises, Noises, Noises, Noises

Did you find a certain street, 
they're looking for thoughtless thoughts to preach
The street, the street, they're not your drain, 
while waiting in the pouring rain 
For your old lady out of work, brought the baby, bet your shirt
Waiting for Godot did it, then what's happening the other end - 
Rewards And gallant knights with blunted swords
Locked away in isolation, trying to figure out why they wanna die
And that's the state of the nation.

Noises,
noises,
noises,
noises, oh, oh, oh.
I love noises!

Waiting for Godot
En attendant Godot, staging by Otomar Krejca, Avignon Festival, 1978
Written by	Samuel Beckett
Characters	Vladimir Estragon Pozzo Lucky A Boy
Mute	Godot
Date premiered	5 January 1953; 70 years ago
Place premiered	Théâtre de Babylone [fr], Paris
Original language	French
Genre	Tragicomedy (play)

Waiting for Godot (/ˈɡɒdoʊ/ GOD-oh)^[1] is a play by Samuel Beckett in which two characters, Vladimir (Didi) and Estragon (Gogo), engage in a variety of discussions and encounters while awaiting the titular Godot, who never arrives.

Noises	5:52	Originally issued on Short Back and Sides, and on the compilations From The Knees Of My Heart, Shades of Ian Hunter and The Singles Collection 1975-83.
Noises (live 11th September 1981)	5:44	This live version (recorded Dr. Pepper Music Festival, Pier 84, New York NY) was originally issued on the Ian Hunter Rocks video (VHS/Laserdisc only). The video (DVD) can also be found on It Never Happened (box set only); the audio can be found on From The Knees Of My Heart (not on the box set).

Nobody's Perfect, Ian Hunter, Stranded In Reality, Experiments

The meaning is obvious and Ian says Nobody's Perfect is the best love song to his wife Trudi that he ever wrote. Hunter is not always demonstrative but his feelings blossom in his songs. Like several of these songs the quality is not the issue even some of his best work just didn't make it on a studio release. 

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

Nobody's Perfect

3:15

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

No One, Ian Hunter, Rant

The closing song No One about loneliness on this first-rate CD ends the effort on a strong note. This is one of the most sensitive and heart-felt ballads Ian has ever written. It is an emotional rush to feel as though your life is dedicated to one special love and Hunter pulls that feat off with this song. 

Oddly, the song comes from writing a wrong note because as Ian was writing this song he hit a wrong note. He continued to write and Dead Man Walkin' came as a result. Thereafter, producer Andy York heard No One on a cassette tape and he suggested recording this tune as well. Thanks Andy! 

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

No One

(Ian Hunter)

I used to come home each night to no one - no one
All by myself, turn out the light - no one - no one
One knife, a fork 'n' a spoon
An empty bed in a cold room
Oooh I needed someone - maybe you could help
I called you up, I said "There's no one, baby there's no one else"

No one ever looked twice at me - no one - no one
Take a look at my life - what do you see - no one - no one
Kinda nervous 'n' jealous too - I lose me if I lose you
Just when I was feeling sorry for myself
She called me back, she said, "There's no one, baby there's no one else"

With no one to call you - with no one rootin' for you
With no one to adore you - you'd be lost and alone
With no one to kiss you - with no one to miss you
And always be with you - you would turn into stone

I've been waiting for the longest time
To hold your hand on Sunday
Oooh I needed someone - I saw you and I fell
I called you up, I said, "There's no one - and I'll never want anyone else"

Baby there's no one else
Baby there's no one else
Baby there's no one else
Baby there's no one else

No One

3:36

Originally issued on Rant.

Never Trust A Blonde, (Darrell Bath), Ian Hunter's Dirty Laundry

Never Trust A Blonde is Darrel Bath's fun tune.  

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

Never Trust A Blonde

(Darrell Bath)

A thousand pin-up girls to Stepney to Bombay
Take me to fancy restaurants to be amongst the (?)
And all the blue-eyed gals of 6 foot 3
Are gonna leave you broken down on your knees
Cause in the golden locks and fluttering lashes
You say, "I told you", all day long

Never (never) trust a blonde
Yeah, never (never) trust a blonde
Just when you thought it was safe to get it on
Watch out for their teeth boys you never trust a blonde

I been dreaming of clinches
Sincere wenches
That star on Hollywood and Vine
Too many girls and ham-fisted moves and blaming it on the wine
Now your best bet's, succour, love and caress
Make it quick boys cause I ain't got long
Never turn your back on the girl in black
You never trust a blonde

Never (never) trust a blonde
Yeah, never (never) trust a blonde
Forget all that stuff about ad-men, like my own father
My daddy said, "Rocky, don't even trust your mom"!

They all queue in line, they wanna see me hung, drawn and quartered
Sure as a knot on a moonshine, a recipe that leaves me slaughtered
Stormy weather, the smell and a lousy hotel
One line from a fair blues song
I'm telling you mate, I'll get slayed
You cannot trust a blonde

Never (never) trust a blonde
Yeah, never (never) trust a blonde
You think you can hide behind peroxide, then you got it wrong, so wrong
Watch out for their teeth boys, never trust a blonde

Here comes another, never trust a blonde
She could be a mother, never trust a blonde
England and China, never trust a blonde
She played me a blinder, never trust a blonde
Never, ever Russian, never trust a blonde
Expect a bum's rush in, never trust a blonde
Explode with good luck, never trust a blonde
Squeeze in another, never trust a blonde

Darrel Bath's Never Trust a Blonde is great fun

Never Trust A Blonde

5:18

Originally issued on Ian Hunter's Dirty Laundry.

Na Na Na, Ian Hunter, Long Odds and Outtakes

This instrumental was released originally but there is also an extended mix and a live rendition from 1987. 

Disc 2 (Long Odds And Out-takes)

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

Na Na Na	4:14	Originally issued on the outtakes CD Long Odds and Outtakes, also on the compilation From The Knees Of My Heart and on Tilting The Mirror - Rarities (box set only).
Na Na Na (extended mix)	4:28	Originally issued on the outtakes CD Long Odds and Outtakes, also on the compilation The Best of Ian Hunterand on Tilting The Mirror - Rarities (box set only).
Na Na Na (live 11th November 1987)	5:06	This live version (recorded at Rock and Roll Heaven, Toronto ON) was released on Missing In Action (not on the box set).

My Revolution, (Casino Steel/Ian Hunter/Dangerfield), Ian Hunter's Dirty Laundry

My Revolution is a co-written track, reflects back on Ian's Mott The Hoople period and was mostly Casino Steel's idea. There is a reference to "a revolution for fun" arising from the Mott LP. Steel liked Mott The Hoople a great deal. They lyrics are about those raucous romps which included trying to guess whose kid is whose and the revolution is not for politics but for being randy and partying. That the party can continue in advancing years is noted by the line "you'd better lock up your mum!"

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

My Revolution is another standout track, this time looking back to Ian's Mott days - fans will appreciate the reference to "a revolution for fun", while Ian acknowledges the advancing years in the next line with "you better lock up yer mum!" Sheer brilliance.

My Revolution

(Casino Steel/Ian Hunter/Dangerfield)

You were just a twinkle in your teenage mother's eyes
I was squeezing Brylcreem on my hair
No one taught us how to be politically correct
And no one told our winkles what to wear

I've been there, I've done it
I've seen it all
That was my contribution oh-oh
So much for the revolution

When someone said, "let's go to bed" nobody was scared
We were up to no good all the time
Judging by those freckles and the shades upon your nose
It's possible you could be one of mine

I've been there, I've done it
I've seen it all
That was my revolution

On the road again, back at number ten
Underneath the lights a thousand and one nights
A revolution for fun
You better lock up your mum

I've been there, I've done it
Well, I've seen them come and go
That's for you to guess and that's for me to know
oh, baby
That's for you to guess and that's for me to know
So much for revolution
So much for revolution
That was my revolution

My Revolution

4:08

Originally issued on Ian Hunter's Dirty Laundry.

Morpheus, Ian Hunter, Fingers Crossed

As a balanced album Morpheus is on the slower, more thoughtful side of the CD. Far away from the "fast and the furious," street racing, heists, spies, and family, the lead character falls "deep in the arms of Morpheus." Morpheus is a fictional character in The Matrix franchise and the god of dreams in Greek mythology, consistent with the character's involvement and dreaming in the Matrix. Mick Ralphs said he was deep in the arms of Morpheus at one of the Mott reunions and the image stuck with Hunter. The mythical Morpheus and his family lived in a dream world protected by the Gates of Morpheus with monsters standing guard. The song is about the nether world of dreams before waking up potentially to, as in the Matrix, taking a red pill to enter the painful world of reality. Moreover, the drug morphine derived its name from the god and The Rant Band envelops the listener in a dreamy, spacey sound, in that nether state between sleep and wakening. Mark Bosch excels on this track.   

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

he name Morpheus is that of the god of dreams in Greek mythology, which is consistent with the character's involvement with the "dreaming" of the Matrix. The mythical Morpheus and his family, including two brothers (Phobetor and Phantasos), lived in a dream world protected by the Gates of Morpheus with two monsters standing guard. Beyond the gates were the River of Forgetfulness, beside which Morpheus once carried his father to hide in a cave, and the River of Oblivion. This theme of duality carries over to Morpheus in The Matrix, who offers Neo either a blue pill (to forget about the Matrix and continue to live in the world of illusion) or a red pill (to enter the painful world of reality).

street racing, heists, spies, and family.

Morpheus (/ˈmɔːrfiəs/) is a fictional character in The Matrix franchise.^[2] He is portrayed by Laurence Fishburne in the first three films, and in the video game The Matrix: Path of Neo, where he was the only original actor to reprise his character's voice.^[3] In The Matrix Resurrections, an AI program based on him is portrayed by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.^[1][4][5]

Concept and creation[edit]

Lana and Lilly Wachowski, the creators of The Matrix franchise, instructed Fishburne to base his performance on Morpheus, a character in Neil Gaiman's comic book series The Sandman.^[6] At the studio's request, Gaiman later wrote "Goliath", a promotional short story set in the film's universe.^[7]

The name Morpheus is that of the god of dreams in Greek mythology, which is consistent with the character's involvement with the "dreaming" of the Matrix. The mythical Morpheus and his family, including two brothers (Phobetor and Phantasos), lived in a dream world protected by the Gates of Morpheus with two monsters standing guard. Beyond the gates were the River of Forgetfulness, beside which Morpheus once carried his father to hide in a cave, and the River of Oblivion. This theme of duality carries over to Morpheus in The Matrix, who offers Neo either a blue pill (to forget about the Matrix and continue to live in the world of illusion) or a red pill (to enter the painful world of reality).^[8]

Fast & Furious (also known as The Fast and the Furious) is a media franchise centered on a series of action films that are largely concerned with street racing, heists, spies, and family. The franchise also includes short films, a television series, toys, video games, live shows, and theme park attractions. It is distributed by Universal Pictures.

slower, more thoughtful songs such as Morpheus

Morpheus

(Ian Hunter)

You walk thru the door
throw your clothes on the floor 
lie in bed 'n' gaze up at the ceiling
Plugs are in your ears 
Tension disappears and you're off to the land of healing

You slip 'n' you slide 
you sink further inside 
far away from the fast and the furious
Sleep can keep you warm
shelter from the storm 
deep in the arms of Morpheus

And walls start to fall
Every wall must fall
As you break the last line of resistance
Songs you never wrote
You try to catch them as they float
And carry them back to existence

You drift into space
there's no time, there's no place
your eyes have no face but they focus
No such thing as stress
There ain't no east or west
Deep in the arms of Morpheus

Bells are ringin', don't open your eyes
Reality's singin', don't open your eyes
Nerves are tinglin, don't open your eyes
Whetever you do, don't open your eyes

Back in your room 
You'll be surfacing soon
To the tune of the morning chorus
For just another day 
But you wish that you could stay
Deep in the arms of Morpheus 
Deep in the arms of Morpheus
Deep in the arms of Morpheus

Morpheus

5:09

Originally released on Fingers Crossed.

Morons, Ian Hunter, The Journey, Rant

Morons is an up-tempo rocker featuring piano reminiscent musically of Marionette and lyrically Crash Street Kidds wherein Ian rants against politicians, the upper crusty educated, and the media for treating ordinary people like morons. It could be a sardonic song that Randy Newman might write. Robbie Alter (guitar, bass, and piano) asked Ian in 1998 to write a song like Marionette and Hunter wrote another similar song just for fun. It was in this quasi-opera style and once completed the floodgates for the CD began to blossom. Morons is like a Hoople track and covers the same ground on Rant. 

Eton and Harrow Schools, Oxford, Cambridge and the elites keep the average people as morons while taking advantage of them. The last verse is a bit more personal where the singer will "abandon hope all who live here" as Dante said in his work Inferno. 

There is an early version of the song on The Journey, Rant, and there is a live version from 2005. 

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

Dante Alighieri's work Inferno

Morons is an up-tempo rocker, with plenty of piano, reminiscent musically of Marionette and lyrically Crash Street Kidds where Ian positively spits venom at the politicians and media for treating people like... well, morons: "Read moron newspapers, watch moron television... Etonians, Harovians think they're the chosen ones", and later "Look at those morons! They do nothing but whine and they're slow all the time... We can leave 'em behind, while we're dumbing them down we'll be robbing them blind!"

Harrow School

Morons

(Ian Hunter)

We were morons from the day we were born
We believed every word that you said - boy were we wrong
We're all fat now - on the sofas - mini morons - taking over
Cos we're older now, older now, older now, older now

We were morons - red, white and blue
We were working class kids on the skids - with nothing to do
We're all dead now - in our boxes - holding on to what little we got left
Cos it's over now, over now, over now, over now

Read moron newspapers, watch moron television
All laid on by slimy little, sleazy little, phony little morons
Etonians, Harrovians, think they're the chosen ones
And they poke fun at scruffy little, spotty little, stupid little morons

Ha ha ha ha, look at those morons
Ha ha ha ha, they do nothing but whine
And they're slow all the time
Look at those morons, never mind, never mind, never mind, never mind, never mind, never mind, never mind
We can leave them behind, while we're dumbing them down, we'll be robbing them blind

Ah Ah, morons don't matter at all.
No education, no informatioon
Morons are boring, ugly and small
They lower the tone, lets get rid of them all

Will to learn - gone away
Force fed garbage every day
We're the slaves of smarmy little, self important, petty little morons
Oxford - Cambridge - see how the other half live
Steer well clear of lazy little, filthy little, funny little morons

Ha ha ha ha, look at those morons
Ha ha ha ha, they're such terrible types
And they're not very bright - look at those morons
It's all right, it's all right, it's all right, it's all right, it's all right, it's all right, it's all right, it's all right
Let them fight every night, while they're missing the point, we can do what we like

Ah ah, I'm 60 and what have I got
I live in a warzone, surrounded by morons
Don't tell me I'm free when I'm not
Ah ah, abandon hope all who live here
We are the morons that you declared war on
Now everyone's living in fear
We're starving, it's something that needs to be said
We're starving, it's something that needs to be said
We're starving, starving, starving, starving, starving, starving, starving, starving
Morons can never escape from the fact, they can never escape and we hate you for that
We we're morons - but then again no, no, no!

Morons (early version)	5:33	Originally issued on The Journey, it can also be found on Tilting The Mirror - Rarities (box set only).
Morons (live 29th April 2005)	(6:38)	This live version (recorded at the Nidaros Blues Festival, Trondheim Norway) was released on Bag Of Tricks (Vol 3) (box set only).

More To Love, Ian Hunter, Experiments

Ian doesn't remember much about More To Love but the track seems self-explanatory.

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

More To Love

4:27

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

The Moon Upstairs, (Ian Hunter/Mick Ralphs), Ian Hunter, Originally Brain Capers, Bag Of Tricks (Vol. 3)

The Moon Upstairs was originally a Mott The Hoople song co-written by Ian and Mick Ralphs from Brain Capers. It is a full-tilt rocker that was a profane and defiant song against Island, their label at the time since things were not going well at all. Mott was loud, aggressive, and desperate so the writing was similar. For example, they write:

We ain't bleeding you we're feeding you but you're too f*cking slow

Ian likens the chaos of original recording as anticipating the Sex Pistols. The song is built upon the manic energy of Guy Stevens. He would wind the band up so tight it was an elastic band or a dog unleashed and they would just explode. That was the intensity that Stevens was striving for. Hunter imagined the bailiffs at the door ready to take the band out. It was recorded at John Dee, Oslo Norway 8th October 2012.

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

The live version was not released until Bag of Tricks Vol. 3 on the box set only from a gig in 2012. 

The Moon Upstairs is another full-tilt rocker with is in part a message of defiance to Island: "We ain't bleeding you, we're feeding you, but you're to f***ing slow".There is a live version from 2012. 

2012)

5:21

Originally a Mott The Hoople track. This live version (recorded at the John Dee, Oslo Norway) was released on Bag Of Tricks (Vol 3) (box set only).

The Moon Upstairs

(Ian Hunter/Mick Ralphs)

Well my brother he was a drinking man
And I asked him for release
He said this won't do you no good
And sent for the police

Well they busted me for nothing
'Cos they said I was insane
So they let my body go
But they locked away my brain

Well I wandered freely as a bird that had broken both its wings
And I hated them and they hated me and I hated everthing
And I realise that to survive well my body is not mine
And I feel neglected feel rejected
Living in the wrong time

And to those of you who always laugh
Let this be your epitaph

And my head is down and I'm called a clown by comedians that grace
The living stage of every page of worthless meaningless space
But I swear to you before we're through you're gonna feel our every blow
We ain't bleeding you we're feeding you but you're too f*cking slow

And to those of you who always laugh
Let this be your epitaph

Ian Hunter Box Set: "Stranded In Reality"

Sleeve and track listing

Proper SHADES1

• Ian Hunter
• All American Alien Boy
• Overnight Angels
• You're Never Alone With a Schizophrenic
• Welcome To The Club
• Short Back and Sides
• All Of The Good Ones Are Taken
• YUI Orta
• Ian Hunter's Dirty Laundry
• BBC Live In Concert
• The Artful Dodger
• Rant
• Strings Attached
• Shrunken Heads
• Man Overboard
• When I'm President
• Live in the UK 2010
• Tilting The Mirror - Rarities
• If You Wait Long Enought For Anything, You Can Get It On Sale - Live 1979-81
• Bag Of Tricks - Live Rarities
• Acoustic Shadows - Live
• Experiments - Previously Unreleased Recordings
• It Never Happened - DVD
• (Go to the review)

Ian Hunter

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

All American Alien Boy

1. Letter To Britannia From The Union Jack
2. All American Alien Boy
3. Irene Wilde
4. Restless Youth
5. Rape
6. You Nearly Did Me In
7. Apathy 83
8. God (Take 1)
9. To Rule Britannia From Union Jack (session outtake)
10. All American Alien Boy (early single version)
11. Irene Wilde (Number One) (session outtake)
12. Weary Anger (session outtake)
13. Apathy (session outtake)
14. (God) Advice To A Friend (session outtake)

Overnight Angels

1. Golden Opportunity (4:31)
2. Shallow Crystals (3:58)
3. Overnight Angels (5:12)
4. Broadway (3:46)
5. Justice of the Peace (3:01)
6. (Miss) Silver Dime (4:34)
7. Wild n' Free (3:08)
8. The Ballad of Little Star (2:32)
9. To Love a Woman (3:54)
10. England Rocks(2:53)

You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic

1. Just Another Night
2. Wild East
3. Cleveland Rocks
4. Ships
5. When the Daylight Comes
6. Life After Death
7. Standin' In My Light
8. Bastard
9. The Outsider
10. Don't Let Go (demo)
11. Ships (take 1)
12. When The Daylight Comes (early version)
13. The Other Side of Life (Just Another Night early version)
14. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On

Welcome To The Club

Disc 1

1. FBI
2. Once Bitten Twice Shy
3. Angeline
4. Laugh at Me
5. All the Way From Memphis
6. I Wish I Was Your Mother
7. Irene Wilde
8. Just Another Night
9. Cleveland Rocks
10. Standin' In My Light
11. Bastard

Disc 2

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

Short Back And Sides

1. Central Park n' West 
2. Lisa Likes Rock n' Roll
3. I Need Your Love
4. Old Records Never Die
5. Noises
6. Rain
7. Gun Control
8. Theatre of the Absurd
9. Leave Me Alone
10. Keep on Burning
11. I Need Your Love (rough mix)
12. Old Records Never Die (version 1)
13. Rain (alternate mix)
14. Theatre of the Absurd (alternate version)

All Of The Good Ones Are Taken

1. All of the Good Ones Are Taken
2. Every Step of the Way
3. Fun
4. Speechless
5. Death 'n' Glory Boys 
6. That Girl Is Rock 'n' Roll
7. Somethin's Goin' On
8. Captain Void 'n' the Video Jets
9. Seeing Double
10. All of the Good Ones Are Taken
11. Traitor (12" single b-side)
12. Somethin's Goin' On (single radio edit)

YUI Orta

1. American Music
2. The Loner
3. Women's Intuition
4. Tell It Like It Is
5. Livin' In a Heart
6. Big Time
7. Cool
8. Beg a Little Love
9. Following In Your Footsteps
10. Sons 'n' Lovers
11. Pain
12. How Much More Can I Take
13. Sweet Dreamer

Ian Hunter's Dirty Laundry

1. Dancing on the Moon
2. Another Fine Mess
3. Scars
4. Never Trust a Blonde
5. Psycho Girl
6. My Revolution
7. Good Girls
8. Red Letter Day
9. Invisible Strings
10. Everyone's a Fool
11. Junkee Love
12. The Other Man

BBC Live In Concert

1. Once Bitten Twice Shy
2. How Much More Can I Take
3. Beg a Little Love
4. Following In Your Footsteps
5. Just Another Night
6. Sweet Dreamer
7. (Give Me Back My) Wings
8. Standin' In My Light
9. Bastard
10. The Loner
11. You're Never Too Old To Hit The Big Time
12. All The Way From Memphis
13. Irene Wilde

The Artful Dodger

1. Too Much
2. Now Is The Time
3. Something To Believe In
4. Resurrection Mary
5. Walk On Water
6. 23A, Swan Hill
7. Michael Picasso
8. Open My Eyes
9. The Artful Dodger
10. Skeletons (In Your Closet)
11. Still The Same
12. Fuck It Up (1996 single track)

Rant

1. Ripoff
2. Good Samaritan
3. Death of a Nation
4. Purgatory
5. American Spy
6. Dead Man Walkin' (Eastenders)
7. Wash Us Away
8. Morons
9. Soap And Water
10. Knees Of My Heart 
11. No One
12. Still Love Rock 'n' Roll

Strings Attached

Disc 1

1. Rest In Peace
2. All Of The Good Ones Are Taken
3. I Wish I Was Your Mother
4. Twisted Steel
5. Boy
6. 23A Swan Hill
7. Waterlow
8. All The Young Dudes
9. Irene Wilde
10. Once Bitten Twice Shy

Disc 2

1. Rollerball
2. Ships
3. A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
4. Michael Picasso
5. Wash Us Away
6. Don't Let Go
7. All The Way From Memphis
8. Roll Away The Stone
9. Saturday Gigs
10. Dead Man Walkin' (Eastenders) (bonus track)
11. Your Way (bonus track)

Shrunken Heads

1. Words (Big Mouth)
2. Fuss About Nothin'
3. When The World Was Round
4. Brainwashed
5. Shrunken Heads
6. Soul Of America
7. How's Your House
8. Guiding Light
9. Stretch
10. I Am What I Hated When I Was Young
11. Read 'em 'n' Weep
12. Your Eyes (bonus EP track)
13. Wasted (bonus EP track)
14. Real Or Imaginary (bonus EP track)
15. When The World Was Round (single radio edit)

Man Overboard

1. The Great Escape
2. Arms And Legs
3. Up And Running
4. Man Overboard
5. Babylon Blues
6. Girl From The Office
7. Flowers
8. These Feelings
9. Win It All
10. Way With Words
11. River Of Tears

When I'm President

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

Live In The UK 2010

1. Sea Diver
2. Arms And Legs
3. Words (Big Mouth)
4. The Great Escape
5. Ships
6. Irene Wilde
7. Flowers
8. Soul Of America
9. Man Overboard
10. Waterlow
11. Michael Picasso
12. Wash Us Away
13. 23A Swan Hill
14. Sweet Jane
15. All The Young Dudes

Tilting The Mirror - Rarities

Disc 1

1. All-American Alien Boy (Single A-side)
2. You Nearly Did Me In (Single A-side)
3. Common Disease (Alien Boy Outtake)
4. If the Slipper Don't Fit (Alien Boy Outtake)
5. The Outsider (Early Version)
6. Alibi (Schizophrenic Jam)
7. When the Daylight Comes (Single A-side)
8. Just Another Night (Electric version #3)
9. Detroit (Rough Mix Instrumental)
10. Na Na Na
11. I Believe in You
12. Listen to the Eight Track
13. You Stepped Into My Dreams
14. Venus in the Bathtub
15. China (Ronson Vocal)
16. Detroit (Outtake 5 - Vocal)
17. Na Na Na (Extended Mix)

Disc 2

1. Bluebirds (Demo)
2. All is Forgiven (Demo)
3. Sunshine Eyes (Demo)
4. (I'm the) Teacher
5. Great Expectations (You Never Know What To Expect)
6. Good Man in a Bad Time
7. Wake Up Call
8. Ill Wind (Demo)
9. Women's Intuition (Single Edit)
10. Ain't No Way to Treat a Lady (Artful Dodger Outtake)
11. Resurrection Mary (Trio Version)
12. Something To Believe In (Trio Version)
13. Waterlow (Trio Version)
14. I'm In Awe (Rant Outtake)
15. Avalanche (Rant Outtake)
16. Morons (Early Version)
17. One More Time

If You Wait Long Enough For Anything, You Can Get It On Sale

Disc 1

1. FBI¹
2. Once Bitten Twice Shy¹
3. One Of The Boys¹
4. Laugh At Me¹
5. I Wish I Was Your Mother¹
6. Sons and Daughters¹
7. Irene Wilde¹
8. Just Another Night¹
9. Life After Death¹
10. Sweet Angeline¹
11. Standin' in My Light¹
12. Bastard¹
13. The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll¹
14. All The Way From Memphis¹

Disc 2

1. All The Young Dudes¹
2. Walkin' With A Mountain/Rock 'n' Roll Queen¹
3. Cleveland Rocks¹
4. When The Daylight Comes¹
5. Letter to Britannia From The Union Jack²
6. Ships³
7. Gun Control⁴
8. Violence⁴
9. Is Your Love In Vain⁴
10. Lisa Likes Rock n' Roll⁴
11. Theatre Of The Absurd⁴
12. Walkin' With A Mountain⁴

¹Recorded at Hammersmith Odeon, London 22nd November 1979

²Recorded at Berkeley Community Theater, Berkeley CA 7th July 1979

³Recorded at My Fathers Place, Long Island NY 12/13th June 1979

⁴Recorded at The Old Waldorf, San Francisco CA 26-28th October 1981

Bag Of Tricks - Live Rarities Vol 1

1. A Sane Revolution
2. Wild East¹
3. (I'm The) Teacher¹
4. While You Were Looking at Me¹
5. Day Tripper²
6. Pain³
7. Resurrection Mary⁴
8. Michael Picasso⁴
9. Shades Off/Boy⁵
10. Ill Wind⁵
11. Good Samaritan⁶
12. Purgatory⁶
13. American Spy⁶
14. Death of a Nation⁶

¹Recorded at Rock and Roll Heaven, Toronto ON 11th November 1987

²Recorded at Rock and Roll Heaven, Toronto ON 11th June 1988

³Recorded at The Caberet, San Jose CA 16th December 1989

⁴Recorded at Hammersmith Apollo, London 29th April 1994

⁵Recorded at The Robin 2, Bilston UK 19th May 2000

⁶Recorded at The Life Cafe, Manchester UK 19th May 2002

Bag Of Tricks - Live Rarities Vol 2

1. Rock And Roll Queen/Death May Be Your Santa Claus¹
2. One Of The Boys¹
3. The Original Mixed-Up Kid¹
4. Knockin' On Heaven's Door¹
5. Twisted Steel¹
6. 23a Swan Hill¹
7. Dead Man Walkin' (EastEnders)¹
8. Knees of My Heart²
9. The Truth, The Whole Truth And Nothing But the Truth²
10. Rollerball²
11. Irene Wilde²
12. Roll Away The Stone²
13. Lounge Lizard³
14. The Outsider⁴

¹Recorded at The Life Cafe, Manchester UK 19th May 2002

²Recorded at The Bikini, Barcerlona Spain 12th June 2004

³Recorded at SxSW, Town Lake Stage, Austin TX 18th March 2005

⁴Recorded at Nidaros Blues Festival, Kongressal, Trondheim Norway 29th April 2005

Bag Of Tricks - Live Rarities Vol 3

1. Hymn For The Dudes¹
2. All-American Alien Boy¹
3. Morons/Marionette/Broadway¹
4. Following In Your Footsteps²
5. Dancing On the Moon³
6. Shallow Crystals³
7. The Ballad of Little Star³
8. Just The Way You Look Tonight⁴
9. Black Tears⁴
10. Isolation⁴
11. Alice⁴
12. The Moon Upstairs⁴
13. (Ta Shunka Witco) Crazy Horse⁴
14. When I'm President⁵
15. Now Is The Time⁶
16. Shades Off

¹Recorded at Nidaros Blues Festival, Kongressal, Trondheim Norway 29th April 2005

²Recorded at the Lowry Theatre, Manchester England 23rd February 2008

³Recorded at The Journal Tyne Theatre, Newcastle England 11th October 2010

⁴Recorded at John Dee, Oslo Norway 8th October 2012

⁵Recorded at Memorial Hall, Sheffield England 20th March 2013

⁶Recorded at Garden Shimokitazawa, Tokyo Japan 16/17/18th January 2015

Acoustic Shadows - Live

1. Where Do You All Come From
2. Wash Us Away
3. The Other Man
4. Scars
5. Soul of America/I Wish I Was Your Mother
6. Shrunken Heads
7. Rain
8. Sons 'n' Lovers
9. Sweet Jane
10. Irene Wilde/Ships/Letter to Britannia from the Union Jack
11. Honaloochie Boogie/How's Your House
12. Twisted Steel
13. When the World Was Round
14. Once Bitten Twice Shy

Recorded at The Mick Jagger Theatre, Dartford, Kent 2nd March 2008

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

It Never Happened - DVD

DVD 1

1. Once Bitten Twice Shy (CBS promo video 1975)
2. All-American Alien Boy (Studio film 1975)
3. Standin' in My Light (Fragment) (Top Pop TV - Holland 1979
4. Irene Wilde (Chrysalis promo film 1980)
5. Once Bitten Twice Shy (Chrysalis promo film 1980)
6. We Gotta Get Out Of Here (Chrysalis promo film 1980)
7. Laugh at Me (Rockpalast 1980)
8. Irene Wilde (Rockpalast 1980)
9. I Wish I Was Your Mother (Rockpalast 1980)
10. All of The Good Ones Are Taken (CBS promo video 1983)
11. While You Were Looking At Me (Toronto 1988)
12. Day Tripper (Toronto 1988)
13. Beg a Little Love (The Dominion, London 1989)
14. Following in Your Footsteps (The Dominion, London 1989)
15. (Give Me Back My) Wings (The Dominion, London 1989)
16. The Loner (The Dominion, London 1989)
17. American Music (PolyGram promo video 1990)
18. My Revolution (Scandinavian NRK TV Session 1995)
19. Michael Picasso (MTV Take It To The Bridge Session 1997)
20. Irene Wilde (MTV Take It To The Bridge Session 1997)
21. When the World Was Round (Jerkin' Crocus Promo Video 2007)
22. Flowers (BBC Jools Holland Show 2009)
23. Once Bitten Twice Shy (BBC Jools Holland Show 2009)
24. When I'm President (Proper Promo Film 2012)

DVD 2

Ryerson Theatre Toronto, Canada 1979

1. Trailer and Interview
2. Life After Death
3. Just Another Night
4. The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll
5. Standin' in My Light
6. Bastard
7. Cleveland Rocks
8. All The Young Dudes
9. When The Daylight Comes
10. Slaughter On 10th Avenue

Ian Hunter Rocks (Dr. Pepper Festival, New York 1981)

11. Once Bitten Twice Shy
12. Gun Control
13. Central Park n' West
14. All The Way From Memphis
15. I Need Your Love
16. Noises
17. Just Another Night
18. Cleveland Rocks
19. Irene Wilde
20. All the Young Dudes

Strings Attached (The Sentrum, Oslo, Norway 2002)

21. Rest in Peace
22. All of The Good Ones Are Taken
23. I Wish I Was Your Mother
24. Twisted Steel
25. Don't Let Go
26. Boy
27. Wash Us Away
28. 23a Swan Hill
29. Waterlow
30. All the Young Dudes
31. Irene Wilde
32. Once Bitten Twice Shy
33. Rollerball
34. Ships
35. A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square
36. All the Way from Memphis
37. Saturday Gigs
38. Michael Picasso
39. Roll Away the Stone

Review

It was 2013 when fans were first teased with "coming soon... the ultimate Ian Hunter box set". Well, over three years in the making and what was originally going to be a 24-disc set is now a 30-disc whopper. And yes, it has been worth the wait.

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!

Experiments is fascinating. These are demos and (complete) unreleased tracks from the past thirty or so years. 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.

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!

There is also a replica music paper, which contains reproductions of album and gig reviews from the past forty years. Finally, there is an Alien Boy-era lithograph (why don't they call it a photo?), signed by Ian.

The whole is presented in a large presentation case, complete with Escher-inspired artwork.

The whole collection is limited to just 2500 copies and Proper have stated that none of the (extra) discs will be available separately. So if you want any of these extras, you need to buy this box!

The cost is a whopping £250. This collection, therefore, is not aimed at the casual fan but the dedicated Ian Hunter fan (albeit one with very deep pockets). Given that such a fan will already own most if not all of the regular discs, this works out at £250 for the just nine "new" CDs and two DVDs. Whether this is worth the cost is a question for the individual fan to answer.

Ian has said his career isn't yet finished (he turned 77 in 2016!), but if it were to end now this set is an excellent way to bring the curtain down on the career of one of Britain's finest-ever rock stars.

Unsurpassable.

The Moon Upstairs (live 8th October 2012)

5:21

Originally a Mott The Hoople track. This live version (recorded at the John Dee, Oslo Norway) was released on Bag Of Tricks (Vol 3) (box set only).