Mott The Hopple
All The Young Dudes

THE REVIEW

I take the opportunity of the release of the reissue of this wonderful album to promote this band a bit, too often underestimated or known only for the title track of this album.
It's 1972 and Mott The Hoople are in crisis with disbandment on the horizon. David Bowie is a great fan of the group and tries to help his idols by writing for them the song that will become an anthem of the glam-rock era, on par with the great hits of Bowie himself and his other friend-rival, the white duke, that Marc Bolan of "Children of the Revolution." How could you refuse the help of the most sought-after person of those years? Lou Reed gets Transformer produced, Iggy Pop and the Stooges run to England to have Raw Power produced... you certainly couldn't say no...

The song is "All The Young Dudes," it will give the title to the album that Bowie will produce, also appearing as a musician with his saxophone. But Mott the Hoople are more than this song, the band is supported by the great voice of Ian Hunter, who knows how to be fierce and sweet with Dylan-esque echoes, and by Mick Ralphs' guitar (later of Bad Company).
The album opens with the cover of Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane," continues with "Momma's Little Jewel," the title track, and the stunning and biting "Sucker." All tracks are memorable: "Jerkin's Crocus," "One Of The Boys," "Soft Ground" with its vaguely oriental riff, the rock-blues ballad "Ready For Love" with Hunter's great vocals, and "Sea Diver," the final piano ballad with orchestral arrangements by Mick Ronson.

The recent reissue includes demo and live versions of some songs and especially the version of "All The Young Dudes" with David Bowie duetting with Ian Hunter, which alone is worth buying this remastered version CD.

If you like or have liked this album, the following "Mott" (1973) is no less... A band that certainly made the history of English glam rock of those years on par with Bowie, T-Rex, Roxy Music, Sweet, Slade... and deserved a spot on DeBaser!!!