Ian Hunter

Ian Hunter - Rant - 2001 - Papillon

The musical statement that is Rant includes textures and ideas that pick up where Brain Capers by Mott the Hoople left off. "Still Love Rock and Roll" ignites this set; it rocks with an authority that "All the Way From Memphis" only hinted at. As Dion DiMucci's Shu Bop album redefined the position of a '60s artist and delivered the goods, Hunter's Rant reveals a '70s artist refining his philosophy. Rant he does, with eloquence and a new fire. Every track works, entertaining and enlightening, taking the listener through curves and turns, reaching the zenith in track ten, "Ripoff." From the "that's all you've got to live for" lyric to the song title itself, this song is a perfect pop tune, full of anger, passion, slashing guitar sounds, a condescending vocal, and hooks that are real magnetic grabbers. With production that is absolutely topnotch, Hunter bids adieu to his homeland. Although "Ripoff" is guaranteed to keep "Sir" from being added to Hunter's name, he should still be knighted for delivering a kick-in-the-pants rock & roll song that every car radio should be blasting. The Rolling Stones haven't injected this much majesty into a single tune, let alone an album, in over a decade. R.E.M. could learn a thing or two from "Knees of My Heart"; it has the jangle jangle guitar, but where R.E.M. seems stuck in some past groove, Hunter utilizes that Nick Lowe/Bob Dylan/Byrds melancholic musical essay to great and satisfying effect. This album smartly moves sounds from guitar to keys, shifting moods, making a grand musical statement. "No One" is Hunter delivering a ballad with drive. This isn't "Ships," his Barry Manilow hit, nor is it Mad Shadows' pre-"All the Young Dudes" composition "You Are One of Us"; this has flavors of early British pop, guitar sounds from the George Harrison textbook, and a meaningful vocal from this rock & roll troubadour. Rant is a record that transcends so much of what is going on right now in music, a record that is much too good for radio today. The Columbia/Legacy compilation Once Bitten Twice Shy delivered 38 Ian Hunter solo titles in the year 2000, giving the world a clear picture of his post-Hoople work and paving the way for this sensational recording. © Joe Viglione © 2011 Rovi Corporation. All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/album/rant-r528655/review

Ian Hunter is a true rock and roll poet in the same stratum as Bob Dylan and Lou Reed. As the focal point and leader of Mott The Hoople in the seventies he produced some of the freshest lyrics and music of that decade. As a solo artist he continued to develop and maintain his momentum right into the eighties. The nineties were very quite for Hunter; with the new millennium upon us the man brings to us another strong suite of rock and roll poetry. He is unequivocally one of the most prolific songwriters and vocalist of our time. "Rant" is a very strong album from a rock and roller that refuses to let his candle burn out. He starts things off by letting you know straight away that he is back with "Still Love Rock And Roll." It doesn't get anymore cut and dried than that. On "Death Of A Nation" he tears to shreds his homeland with cynicism and feelings of disappointment. Hunter never lacked the abilities to project his innermost thoughts and feelings in his music. He rocks out in "American Spy" and in the same breath shows off his versatility by singing a stormy, brooding, dark ballad like "No One." "Morons" doesn't hold back a thing, and he really lets go with some humor with a punk-like flavor. If you think about it, Ian really was an original punker now wasn't he? His music always reflected the angst of society while trashing the status quo. I noticed for the first time after listening to Hunter for all these years that his voice has a resemblance to Rod Stewart's at times (this is meant as compliment). While the music was outstanding, the lyrics are what really grabbed me throughout the entire recording. Ian Hunter is a living legend and icon of music, and his catalog is a pilgrimage to rock and roll. I was genuinely moved by this man's work, not to mention I rocked my ass off, which is always an added bonus and pleasure. You will find out what great music and deep lyrical content can do for a listener when you add this CD to your collection. Tell everyone Ian Hunter is back and this is no "Ripoff." This is the real deal Review by & © Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck © 1998-2002 All-Reviews.com http://www.all-reviews.com/music/rant.htm

Ian Hunter is best known as the front man for the great Mott the Hoople band. Some of the great rock'n'roll songs written by Ian, as a member of Mott the Hoople include "The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll," "All the Way From Memphis," "Roll Away the Stone," and "Honaloochie Boogie," co-written with Mick Ralphs. Many people associated MTH with overly commercial Glam Rock. In fact, Mott the Hoople were a great rock 'n' roll band, but never really achieved that identity. Even with Ian Hunter's great songwriting ability, it was David Bowie who composed their biggest hit, "All The Young Dudes." Ian Hunter was taken much more seriously as a rock artist when he left Mott the Hoople. One music critic called his "You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic" album "a spectacular and perfect" album, and if you listen to it you will understand why these comments were made. The album sold very well, and is possibly one of the great neglected rock albums of the late seventies. "Rant" is an equally good album. The album is "serious" rock with great lyrics from a legendary rocker who speaks his mind. The backing musicians are superb, and the album is VHR by A.O.O.F.C. All the tracks were composed by Ian. Listen to Ian's tremendous "Shrunken Heads" album, and Mott The Hoople's "The Hoople" album. Search this blog for more IH/MTH releases

TRACKS

1 Ripoff 4:50
2 Good Samaritan 4:07
3 Death of a Nation 5:35
4 Purgatory 4:46
5 American Spy 4:30
6 Dead Man Walkin' (Eastenders) 6:20
7 Wash Us Away 3:57
8 Morons 5:32
9 Soap 'N' Water 5:18
10 Knees of My Heart 3:35
11 No One 3:35
12 Still Love Rock and Roll 4:34

All songs composed by Ian Hunter

N.B:Track sequence on the Papillon CD issue differs from other editions

MUSICIANS

Ian Hunter - Vocals, Keyboard, Harmonica, Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Backing Vocals
Andy York - Electric Guitar, Mandoguitar, Groovebox, Autoharp, Organ, Zither, Keyboards, Madolin, Bass, Backing Vocals
Robbie Alter - Guitars, Bass, Piano
Rick Tedesco - Guitar, Gang Vocals
John Conte - Bass
James Mastro - Sixstring Fuzzbass, Mandolin, Electric Slide, Electric 12-string, Acoustic 12-string
Doug Petty - Organ, Keyboards
Tommy Mandel - Organ, Keyboards, Loops
Dane Clark, Mickey Curry - Drums
Steve Holly - Drums, Percussion
Rock Pagano - Backing Vocals, Bongos, Drums
Jesse Paterson, Willie Nile, Lisa Ronson - Gang Vocals

BIO

With Mott the Hoople, guitarist/vocalist Ian Hunter established himself as one of the toughest and most inventive hard rock songwriters of the early '70s, setting the stage for punk rock with his edgy, intelligent songs. As a solo artist, Hunter never attained the commercial heights of Mott the Hoople, but he cultivated a dedicated cult following. Hunter was born in Owestry, Shropshire, but was raised in cities throughout England since his father worked in the British Intelligence agency called MI5 and had to move frequently. Eventually, the family returned to Shrewsbury, where the teenaged Hunter joined a band called Silence in the early '60s. Silence released an album, but it received no attention. In the years following Silence, Hunter played in a handful of local bands and worked a variety of jobs. In 1968, Hunter began playing bass with Freddie "Fingers" Lee and the duo played around Germany. Shortly afterward, Hunter became the vocalist for Mott the Hoople. During the next six years, Hunter sang and played piano and guitar with the band, becoming its lead songwriter within a few albums. Although few of their records sold, Mott the Hoople was one of the most popular live bands in England. In 1972, David Bowie produced their breakthrough album, All the Young Dudes, which brought the band into the British Top Ten and the American Top 40. For the next two years, the group had a consistent stream of hits in both the U.K. and the U.S. Toward the end of 1973, the band began to fall apart, as founding member and lead guitarist Mick Ralphs left the band. Hunter carried on through another album, but he left the group in late 1974, taking along former Bowie guitarist Mick Ronson, who had just joined Mott. Just prior to leaving the group, Hunter published Diary of a Rock Star, an account of his years leading Mott the Hoople, in June 1974. Hunter moved to New York, where he and Ronson began working on his solo debut. Released in 1975, Ian Hunter spawned "Once Bitten, Twice Shy," a Top 20 U.K. hit. Following its release, Hunter and Ronson embarked on a tour. After its completion, the pair parted ways, although they would reunite later in the '80s. All-American Alien Boy, Hunter's second solo album, was recorded with a variety of all-star and session musicians, including members of Queen. Released in the summer of 1976, All-American Alien Boy was a commercial failure. It was followed in 1977 by Overnight Angels, an album that saw Hunter moving closer to straightforward rock & roll; disappointed with the completed album, Hunter decided to leave the album unreleased in America. Following the mainstream approach of Overnight Angels, Hunter became involved with England's burgeoning punk rock movement, producing Generation X's second album, 1979's Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. For Hunter's next solo album, he reunited with Mick Ronson, who produced and arranged 1979's You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic. The album was a hit, especially in America, where it peaked at number 35. Hunter and Ronson set out on another tour, which resulted in the 1980 double live album, Ian Hunter Live/Welcome to the Club. In 1981, Hunter released Short Back N' Sides, which was produced by the Clash's Mick Jones. Two years later, he released All of the Good Ones Are Taken. After its release, Ian Hunter became a recluse, spending the next six years in silence; occasionally, he contributed a song to a movie soundtrack. In 1989, Hunter resumed recording, releasing YUI Orta with Ronson. After its release, Hunter remained quiet during the '90s, appearing only on Ronson's posthumous 1994 album Heaven and Hull and at tribute concerts for Ronson in 1994 and Freddie Mercury in 1992. Hunter returned to recording with Artful Dodger, which was released in Britain and Europe in the spring of 1997. After a Columbia/Legacy compilation titled Once Bitten Twice Shy offered a wealth of Ian Hunter solo titles in the year 2000, much attention was paid to 2001's fine Rant. In 2002, Hunter performed a pair of semi-acoustic concerts in Oslo, Norway, which were recorded for later release on CD and home video; the resulting project, called Strings Attached, included some new songs, including "Twisted Steel," inspired by the events of September 11, 2001. Shrunken Heads, a collection of all-new material, was released in 2007 on the Yep Roc label, followed by Man Overboard in 2009 from New West Records. © Stephen Thomas Erlewine © 2011 Rovi Corporation. All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ian-hunter-p4528/biography