No love for Luther?
Dazedcat | Earth | 09/06/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Well seeing as this deluxe release is finally available for the United States market let me tell you something. It's worth it, every penny. Why? This is what rock and roll used to sound like. The energy is there (especially on the Hammersmith show) and the late great Mott roared like never before. Why again? Simply because of their new emergency stop gap guitar player that they recruited when Mick Ralphs quit them cold halfway through an American tour in mid 1973 to form Bad Company with Paul Rogers (Free Lite).
So, Luther Grosvenor gets his name changed to Ariel Bender. They asked him to learn the entire Mott catalogue of tunes in a week and he did. THEN he proceeded to light the band and stages throughout America and the UK on fire for the next year or so with his playing and showmanship. If Hunter wasn't such a diva back then he'd have realized Luther saved the band rather than limit it. Luther gets dumped and they bring in the late great Mick Ronson.........who lasted for a month I think. Anyway, I digress........
This is the live document that proves how over the top and how tremendous Ariel Bender was with Mott. Luther, wherever you are today.....rock on. Ralphs was a nice enough player but you're the one that burned the brightest.
If you haven't purchased this deluxe package yet, you really really need to.
"
About the Mott Time!
Scott W. Stoddard | Los Angeles, CA USA | 04/22/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"When this album (LP) originally was released, we Mott the Hoople fans wondered why the Marionette in concert stage shot was used on the back cover, yet the song was not included on the album. And although some great live rock 'n' roll was captured on the album, so many of the Mott signature songs were excluded.
There was mixed reaction: Glad we finally had a LIVE release from a band, that like The Who, produced good albums, but when they performed live, took their songs to new, higher and more intense levels. And disappointed that it was not a double album and was missing Marionette, Crash Street Kids, etc. almost like a "teaser" part one, for which a part 2 or Vol. 2 never would follow.
This long overdue double CD rectifies those oversights! If you are a Mott fan, or an Ian Hunter fan, and you appreciate great live rock, then this is a "must have". Disc one is from Broadway while disc two is from Hammersmith.
The liner notes are very well written and explain a great deal about this release and the faults found in the original single LP release. No need to paraphrase them here.
Mott the Hoople fans, rejoice! Buy it and turn up the volume!
SWS, Los Angeles, CA."
Strunning sound quality, great hard-driving Mott
R. O'Brien | Anchorage, Alaska | 06/13/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A fantastic job has been done here, first by expanding the original album; then in improving the sound. The result is Ariel Bender (nee Luther Grosvenor) turns into a rock-and-roll hero! Ian Hunter, the genius behind Mott the Hoople since Day One, is fine, as always. Overend Watts and Buffin handle the rhythm section with experienced ferocity. And, if you love Mott the Hoople, most of the big hits are here. Highly recommended for all fans of hard driving rock and roll of a thought-providing nature. Too bad these guys had to break up when they did.
"