Sitting here at the computer in 2026 it’s kinda hard for me to gauge how well people (by which I mean rockers) remember Mott The Hoople. They existed from 1969 to 1975 and I loved them like life itself. I saw them live three or four times between 1970 & 1974, and every one of those shows was an all-timer. Coming up next in the “5 Songs” series; the solo years of Ian Hunter - the front-man and main singer/songwriter of Mott - after he went solo in 1976.
MOTT THE HOOPLE / “BACKSLIDING FEARLESSLY” / 1969
MOTT THE HOOPLE / “DEATH MAY BE YOUR SANTA CLAUS” / 1971
MOTT THE HOOPLE / “I WISH I WAS YOUR MOTHER” / 1973
But wait, before I give you the mistaken idea that Mott The Hoople were all ballad-y & such, they were a truly FEARSOME live band. Here’s some proof.
MOTT THE HOOPLE / “ALL THE WAY FROM MEMPHIS” / LIVE 1973
MOTT THE HOOPLE / “LIVE MEDLEY” / 1973
“Jerkin’ Crocus” > “One Of The Boys” > “Rock & Roll Queen” > “Get Back” > Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” > “Violence”
Ricki C. is 73 years old. His first favorite rock & roll song was Buddy Holly’s “Peggy Sue” when he was five years old, riding in his sainted Italian father’s Oldsmobile. He figures his last favorite rock & roll song will be by either Elliott Murphy or Ian Hunter, sometime in the future.