Mott The Hoople and Ian Hunter

Mott The Hoople unofficial CD: "Rest In Peace"

Sleeve and track listing

Rock 'n' Roll Circus # 1. (4.5 stars!)

Track listing

  1. American Pie/Golden Age Of Rock 'n' Roll
  2. Sucker
  3. Roll Away The Stone/Sweet Jane
  4. Rest In Peace
  5. Here Comes The Queen1
  6. One Of The Boys
  7. Born Late '582
  8. Hymn For The Dudes
  9. Marionette
  10. Drivin' Sister/Crash Street Kidds/Violence
  11. All The Way From Memphis
  12. All The Young Dudes

1(Ariel Bender vocal)

2(Overend Watts vocal)

Sleeve variations

Original sleeve

Review

The original issue of Rest In Peace as a 2-LP set was one of the best Mott The Hoople unofficial releases available, as it captured Mott's full show from 1974. This CD, therefore, is a welcome reissue of that set, and represents the first in the "Rock 'n' Roll Circus" series of (unofficial) CDs.

The show was recorded at the Santa Monica Civic Center on 12th April 1974 and broadcast on local FM radio. The show was edited slightly to accommodate the CD's running time, and omits the Jupiter intro and encore track Walkin' With a Mountain (both of which were included on the aforementioned 2-LP set).

The show (the second that day!) finds Ian struggling with bronchitis, but this is only noticeable at the start of the set. Sucker bristles with menace as always, and the Roll Away The Stone/Sweet Jane coupling is always a delight. Hymn For The Dudes is another delight before the band launch into Marionette - brutal on record and visually totally stunning. They then crank up the octane even more for the medley Drivin' Sister/Crash Street Kidds/Violence.

This CD has been mastered from the 2-LP set and some effort has been taken to remove clicks and crackles. A handful are still present, but are only noticeable if you listen for them and do not in any way detract from the listening pleasure. A side-effect of the tidying-up process, however, is a slight treble cut which means the sound quality is a notch or two down on my vinyl copy. This is compensated for, however, by the convenience of the CD format.

This CD was originally issued with minimal packaging. It has now (Jan '99) been reissued with updated packaging which is of the same standard as others in the "Rock 'n' Roll Circus" series. Given that the 2-LP set is deleted, must represent an essential purchase for any Mott The Hoople fan. Indeed, if you were to purchase only one Mott boot, then make it this one.