Search - Mott the Hoople :: Live: 30th Anniversary Edition

Long live Mott

T. Korol | Rochester, NY | 09/12/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was a huge Mott fan since their 1st album. Saw them in 73 or 74 at a small University in NJ - an afternoon concert in the gym! They rocked and I spent the whole show standing in my chair shaking my butt. Bought and played to death all their albums after "Escher". Mad Shadows, Wildelife, Dudes - played them all to death. I think Brain Capers is their best, loved Mott, but back when did not think The Hoople was all that great. Then I bought this on LP back when and again, I was lukewarm. Part of it was I could not accept the band without Mick and Verden. At the time Ariel Bender did not blow me away. What was I thinking?!?

I bought this expanded edition recently because of the extra trax. Again - 1974 - what was I thinking? Or not... These discs show a great great band in full power mode. In terms of the heavy hitters, Mott in the early 70's were at or near the top of the heap. Both shows in this package are exceptional. The two keyboard punch of organ and piano adds a lot of depth (though I miss Verden), and allows Ian more time on guitar. This results in a fuller sound which just adds to the intensity. Overend and Buffin as always lay down a great bottom. And to my ears today - Ariel is a great fit - certainly wilder than Mick, but still perfect for the bands style. His rhythm is properly crunching and his solo's a showcase of technique, speed and control. Ian? One of the great rock frontmen, and he is clearly having a ball at these shows.



NYC had better tapes to mix from. Love how American Pie segues into a steaming Golden Age. Can't say for me there is a standout - every cut is killer and the band is on fire from the get go. Hymn for the Dudes is really good here; and Dudes is electrifying. Great version of Memphis.



The UK show has a few rough mixes (noted on cd) and seems 2 trax did not make it. Still, the opening from The Planets into Drivin Sister is for me maybe the highlight of both sets. I like the rough, less polished mix. It adds to the raw energy of the show. Nice to have Angeline in here; interesting to compare the 2 versions of Sucker in terms of the mix. NYC is clean; UK rough. Both are great. The long medley launches with Jerkin Crocus - one of my all time fave Mott tunes which I wish they had done a full version of. But in context of the medley it still kicks @$$, and I guess they must be hip hop with all the short samples (hehe) (and catch the quick few bars of Jean Genie!) Also contrast the two closing versions of Walkin with Mtn. NYC is a solid effort. But the 2nd might be the best version available. Ariel really gives it a workout, and as the liner notes say, they were fighting management to stay on stage! Curtain coming down. Band keeps playing. Now that's rock and roll!!



I would put Fairfield Hall a little above this as my favorite live Mott - it is more primal and I still prefer Verden to Fisher/Weaver/Bolton. I can see others not agreeing though and would not argue. Sony really did fans a big favor by re-issuing this as they did. Two glorious shows by one of the all time great rock bands. I have always put them ahead of Zeppelin, Purple, Mountain, TRex, Hawkwind, etc though great bands all. Something about Mott - the attitude, the variety of rockers and ballads, change-ups like Wildlife. They had "IT", which can't be defined but you know it when you hear it. And it's all here in these shows. Pounce.

"

Kings Of Live Performance

Mike B. | 06/08/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mott the Hoople "Live" is one of the all time greatest concert sets, rivalled only by Bowie's "David Live". They are captured here at their peak just prior to breaking up. It's always been my opinion that had they remained together, they'd be mentioned today in the same breath as The Who. I really believe that huge stardom awaited them.



Usually I prefer to review a studio album by a band, but this surpasses their studio output in terms of sheer excitement. It rocks way harder than previously recorded versions of these songs. Ian Hunter's stage banter with the rabid crowds is hilarious. He's the very definition of a great frontman - luring them in and amping them up.



Drawing from their classic releases "Mott", "All The Young Dudes", "The Hoople", and the earlier pre-glam headbangers "Brain Capers" and "Mad Shadows" - they throw in some rare single B-sides and covers. There's a few exquisite ballads, and several medleys wherein he sings most tracks nearly in their entirety. The best of these commences with "Jerkin' Crocus" and concludes with "Violence". In-between they sing "One Of The Boys" and "Rock 'N' Roll Queen", and tie them together with snippets from The Beatles ("Get Back"), David Bowie ("Jean Genie"), Jerry Lee Lewis ("Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On") - and their own heavy metal instrumental version of The Kinks' "You Really Got Me". I've never heard a more exciting medley from anyone in my whole life.



After disbanding, the core members carried on for two albums as just Mott (minus The Hoople) - and with a replacement singer for Hunter that sounded like Geddy Lee. Two more were issued under the name British Lions. Believe it or not, they're all pretty good. Hunter's solo work has been strong, especially his self-titled debut and "You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic".



I recommend all of their albums, but nothing beats this 2-disc Mott the Hoople "Live". Check it out."

HOT MOTT

Vincent Costantino | 03/31/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"POSSIBLY THE BEST LIVE ALBUM EVER CAPTURES THE WHOLE 70S PROG GLAM ERA A MUST FOR ANY COLLECTION"