Search - Mott the Hoople :: All the Way From Stockholm to Philadelphia 1971-72

Key disc of live early Mott tracks

08/02/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Disc 1: 5 stars. Disc 2: 1 star. What can I say? There are two different albums here. The first disc is a short set of songs from a concert in Stockholm. The second disc was recorded in Philadelphia. Disc 2 suffers from sound problems. This 2-record set contains a booklet with many intriguing comments from Mott bassist Overend Watts; it nicely supplements the more standard-issue historical booklet found in the 2-CD box, "The Ballad of Mott: A Retrospective," an excellent introduction to this underappreciated British band. I found "All the Way..." musically valuable for its first disc. It's got two searing numbers, "Thunderbuck Ram" and the Mountain cover "Long Red," which you'll love if, like me, you're into the heavier Mott material. The other songs are fine too, but the disc is also fascinating for Ian Hunter's between-song patter, where he is clearly chagrined at being unable to get any enthusiastic crowd response from the small Swedish audience. Hunter's sardonic comments recall what Watts says in the booklet about Hunter having had a much more difficult childhood than the other Mott members, who seem to have been much more securely middle-class in their upbringing. The booklet goes a long way toward explaining Mott's early appeal and comparing them with the then-current scene, namely Oasis. So, I'd say this album is a good supplement to your Mott collection if, like me, your interest was first whetted by Columbia-era Mott albums like "All the Young Dudes" or "Mott" or by one of the Columbia compilations, like "Ballad" mentioned above, and you'd like to have more biographical, historical, and musical information about their early years. Disc 2 of "All the Way..." is quite forgettable; mid-period Mott is represented better on Mott the Hoople's "Live" album on Columbia--the record released in 1974 or thereabouts that shows three of the members in 3/4 profile on the cover."

Terrific live disc captures the band in their prime

Wayne Klein | My Little Blue Window, USA | 11/22/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After Bowie gave them a shot in the arm by producing them (and, ironically enough, also helped facilitate the band's break up by encouraging Ian Hunter to take an active role as leader of the band), Mott showed new vigor in concert. This documents the band playing with the original line up just after All the Young Dudes was released. The first part of the first disc suffers from some sonic problems, but after that the sound is very good for a tape as old as this.All the Way..puts the Live album the band released in 1974 to shame! While Morgan Fisher and Ariel Bender were both terrific musicians, there was a chemistry missing from the band when Ralphs left. Along with the BBC CD this is highly recommended."

Great addition for any Mott the Hoople fan!

Wayne Klein | 04/25/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This CD suffers from some sound problems, but it is well worth the money anyway. Disc 2 is basically a live version of the "All the Young Dudes" album, complete with a pathetic David Bowie accompaniment on "Dudes"(Bowie's voice is wimpy next to Ian Hunter's). The 13 minute "Ready for Love/Afterlights" is a Mick Ralphs tour de force!"