Mott The Hoople – MOTT THE HOOPLE***

You Really Got Me/At The Crossroads/Laugh At Me/Backsliding Fearlessly/Rock & Roll Queen/Rabbit Foot & Toby Time/Half Moon Bay/Wrath & Wroll

Eponymous debut album from the British rock group Mott The Hoople. After several years in the doldrums they would achieve commercial success during the glam rock years of the seventies. (US:185)

“A very underrated rock album. The manic depressive mix of angry rock and roll and melancholic songs works very well. Perhaps it lacks some originality but, anyway, it's a first album. I don't care about the poor recording quality, or the limited musicianship of the band. This is rock 'n' roll, deeply heartfelt, played loud, without caring about technicalities.”

“Disciples of the Hoople will surely find something to enjoy on their Dylan-esque debut but, with the exception of lone rocker Rock & Roll Queen, it's simply snoozecity for me.”

“Although a lot of these were covers, I still don't think too much harm was done. I suppose the reason they would do covers was to 'cover up' the fact that they were poor songwriters, but I was proven wrong on the classic Rock & Roll Queen.”

“This is a good debut from Mott The Hoople, with a clever mix of folksy ballads and hard driving rock. Mott wear their influences very plainly on their sleeve for this album. Among other artists, I hear Dylan and The Stones. Hunter’s vocals, and the music too for that matter, are pure Dylan. The best original song on the album is probably Rock & Roll Queen which would become a live staple for the band. Mott The Hoople would do better and more interesting albums in the years to come, but this one has no weak tracks and there is a great late sixties feel to it.”

“For a band that were absolute dynamite on stage, their studio recordings were strictly second class. On this album more than any other there is a 'going through the motions' feel that displays a mood of doing a job rather than creating something.” “Mott The Hoople's first album demonstrates the well known vision held by the band of a cross between Dylan and The Rolling Stones. The vision works for about 3/4 of the album, then falls apart when the music loses its focus and wanders aimlessly looking for a tune.”