The 500 - #484 - Mott the Hoople - All the Young Dudes

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

My plan. 

• 2 records per week & at least 2 complete listens.
• A quick blog post for each, highlighting the important details and a quick background story.
• No rating scale - just an effort to expand my appreciation.

Album # 484

Album Title: All the Young Dudes
Artist: Mott the Hoople
Released: September, 1972
My age at release: 7
How familiar am I with it: Very little
Song I am putting on my Spotify Mix: Sucker
Great Lyric:
"And my brother's back at home with his Beatles and his Stones
We never got it off on that revolution stuff
What a drag too many snags
Now I've drunk a lot of wine and I'm feeling fine
Got to race some cat to bed
Oh is there concrete all around
Or is it in my head"
I will share this ... I am starting to doubt myself in this pursuit. I'm not quitting - but last night I started to have some reservations. 

Here's what happened.

I was visiting my friends Steve & Jen. The conversation turned to music after their son brought out his new Fender Stratocaster and demonstrated his impressive chops. I mentioned that I was writing about the top 500 albums of all time when Steve suggested that we listen to a song from each album. 

"Starting at #500?" I asked.
"No, a record you haven't done yet...what's next?" he replied
"Gang of Four - Entertainment".
"Jump down a bit."

So, we began to explore and, although I enjoyed the playlist we were creating, I started to feel overwhelmed. I don't have much to say about many of the upcoming records, including this one. I didn't want this blog to be a review of the record - just stories about my experiences with them, but what am I going to do when I don't have much to share? 

Well, I am not a quitter ... three frustrating years of Duolingo Spanish is a testament to that. Es muy dificil. 

Last week was the first time I had heard a Mott the Hoople album in its entirety. I am currently spinning it for the 4th time and it's terrific. I always liked the band's name. It's ridiculously comical - like something Monty Python made up for a sketch. Sort of like the fact that Toad the Wet Sprocket got it's name from this Python bit.

I can remember picking it up and debating its purchase many times at the now defunct Dr. Disc used record store here in London. I had Ian Hunter's 1979 album "You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic" and I knew I liked that...especially the song "Cleveland Rocks" and the album cover, which 15 year old me thought was incredibly cool.

I knew the title track - but thought it was a David Bowie song for a long time. It turns out it was. Bowie wrote the song and produced the album in a successful effort to keep the band together. They did stick together and released several more albums. They are currently on tour - with Ian Hunter back on lead vocals and guitar.  

Things I learned...

• David Bowie plays saxophone on one of the songs - what couldn't that guy do.
• Ready for Love appears on this record before it would be reworked to appear on Bad Company's first record.
• Their 1973 album was called Mott and their 1974 album was called The Hoople.