The Clash on Alright Now 1979
- Heston
- God of Thunder...and Rock 'n Roll
- Posts: 38356
- Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 4:07pm
- Location: North of Watford Junction
Re: The Clash on Alright Now 1979
There you go chaps...
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board
-
Chairman Ralph
- Long Time Jerk
- Posts: 693
- Joined: 20 Mar 2009, 10:59pm
Re: The Clash on Alright Now 1979
Cool! Thanks for posting this. I can't imagine they got on TV too often, unless it was an outlet like Musikladen, or something like that (assuming that they made it to those shores). The audience is its usual polite, reserved self, of course.
This clip aptly summarizes Mott's strengths and weaknesses. Sturdy bass playing from Pete Watts, as usual, crisp guitar from Ray Major, but shrill vocalizing via Nigel Benjamin -- one of many elements that was about get a whole lot less cool in that fateful summer of '76. Morgan Fisher does his usual sturdy job on the keys -- I consider him the forgotten man in the MTH saga, since he joined during the tail end of the Hunter era.
Tony Wilson's intro is priceless ("...now that Mick Ralphs is playing in unsavory company, and Ian Hunter's playing with himself, as a tax exile"), as is his screwup of the band's name -- a fitting commentary, I'd say, on the nether status they were about to occupy.
This clip aptly summarizes Mott's strengths and weaknesses. Sturdy bass playing from Pete Watts, as usual, crisp guitar from Ray Major, but shrill vocalizing via Nigel Benjamin -- one of many elements that was about get a whole lot less cool in that fateful summer of '76. Morgan Fisher does his usual sturdy job on the keys -- I consider him the forgotten man in the MTH saga, since he joined during the tail end of the Hunter era.
Tony Wilson's intro is priceless ("...now that Mick Ralphs is playing in unsavory company, and Ian Hunter's playing with himself, as a tax exile"), as is his screwup of the band's name -- a fitting commentary, I'd say, on the nether status they were about to occupy.
- Heston
- God of Thunder...and Rock 'n Roll
- Posts: 38356
- Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 4:07pm
- Location: North of Watford Junction
Re: The Clash on Alright Now 1979
I posted it in a Mott site and Morgan Fisher seemed pretty tickled to see it after all these years, he shared it on his FB page. As far as I can gather it is the only live footage of that line up that's out there.Chairman Ralph wrote: ↑05 Aug 2019, 3:28pmCool! Thanks for posting this. I can't imagine they got on TV too often, unless it was an outlet like Musikladen, or something like that (assuming that they made it to those shores). The audience is its usual polite, reserved self, of course.
This clip aptly summarizes Mott's strengths and weaknesses. Sturdy bass playing from Pete Watts, as usual, crisp guitar from Ray Major, but shrill vocalizing via Nigel Benjamin -- one of many elements that was about get a whole lot less cool in that fateful summer of '76. Morgan Fisher does his usual sturdy job on the keys -- I consider him the forgotten man in the MTH saga, since he joined during the tail end of the Hunter era.
Tony Wilson's intro is priceless ("...now that Mick Ralphs is playing in unsavory company, and Ian Hunter's playing with himself, as a tax exile"), as is his screwup of the band's name -- a fitting commentary, I'd say, on the nether status they were about to occupy.
And in a sad twist, Nigel Benjamin passed away last week, Morgan shared it as a tribute to him.
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board
-
Chairman Ralph
- Long Time Jerk
- Posts: 693
- Joined: 20 Mar 2009, 10:59pm
Re: The Clash on Alright Now 1979
That's the only clip, eh? Makes sense, as the band essentially got sandwiched between Hunter's departure, and the coming of punk. Like I said, it gives you a fair glimpse of the potential on offer, plus the CDs I mentioned. (Though, of the two albums, I personally prefer the second one.)I posted it in a Mott site and Morgan Fisher seemed pretty tickled to see it after all these years, he shared it on his FB page. As far as I can gather it is the only live footage of that line up that's out there.
And in a sad twist, Nigel Benjamin passed away last week, Morgan shared it as a tribute to him.
Here are some of the recollections coming in about the late Mr. Benjamin:
https://fullinbloom.com/devastated-to-l ... zzie-grey/
This post also makes some interesting observations:
http://www.fabricationshq.com/mott---wi ... le-la.html
If nothing else, these various bits and pieces of the Hoople universe demonstrate how strong the gravitational pull of the band is on our imaginations, some 45-odd years later.
-
muppet hi fi
- Unknown Immortal
- Posts: 5190
- Joined: 19 Feb 2009, 1:10pm
Re: The Clash on Alright Now 1979
Christ, it's Spinal Tap!!!! (feel bad for Buffin & Overend).
Strong shoes is what we got and when they're hot they're hot!
- Marky Dread and his fabulous Screaming Blue Messiahs
- Marky Dread and his fabulous Screaming Blue Messiahs
Re: The Clash on Alright Now 1979
What do you think of the Doc Thomas Group album?Chairman Ralph wrote: ↑05 Aug 2019, 12:28amI wouldn't mind seeing it, as an arch-Ian Hunter/Mott fan who's interested in all the branches of the tree, so to speak. So you could do it for me.I've just checked and it's when they called themselves "Mott" after Ian Hunter left. A live performance of "Shouting and Pointing" from So It Goes in 1977. I can upload to YouTube if anyone is still interested, not sure how well-liked this version of the band is?
As to your question, the short answer is that it went the way it does with most bands who lose an iconic frontman -- making do with less public interest, and a lower profile, before it all dies a death. To my recollection, Mott got good live reviews, but both their albums were roundly panned in the music press. Shouting & Pointing holds the distinction of being the only Mott/MTH album that didn't trouble the US or UK charts -- ouch!
Still, for the curious, I'd recommend the Angel Air CD, the aptly-titled Live: Over Here & Over There, as the best way to experience Mott, over their two albums, which are hit and a fair proportion of miss. Career (No Such Thing As Rock 'N' Roll) is their best song, or at least the one that comes the closest to matching the glories of old. But I prefer the CD, which gives you harder-rocking chunks of shows from the US and UK (hence, the title).
The guys soldiered on as British Lions, and it's the same story. Their '78 S/T album is somewhat better -- mainly for the covers, Wild In The Streets, and International Heroes, plus a couple good "attitude" songs, like Eat The Rich -- I'd recommend another Angel Air CD, Live & Rare, a live and demo comp that gives you a clearer glimpse of the potential that struggled to find its way on tape. That's my take, anyway.
- Toppers Boppers
- Long Time Jerk
- Posts: 824
- Joined: 18 Nov 2009, 5:52am
- Location: Gates Of The West (country)
Re: The Clash on Alright Now 1979
Thanks for posting, great to see the original version of these two songs. I remember taping the show when first broadcast using a low-fi Philips cassette recorder, audio only. If memory serves me right, part of the interview had Topper being asked to do a hand-jive, not seen that bit up on YouTube.
- Heston
- God of Thunder...and Rock 'n Roll
- Posts: 38356
- Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 4:07pm
- Location: North of Watford Junction
Re: The Clash on Alright Now 1979
I have the interview segment but it's already on YouTube in fair quality so I never bothered uploading it. Just search "Clash Alright Now" and it should come up.Toppers Boppers wrote: ↑06 Aug 2019, 12:06pmThanks for posting, great to see the original version of these two songs. I remember taping the show when first broadcast using a low-fi Philips cassette recorder, audio only. If memory serves me right, part of the interview had Topper being asked to do a hand-jive, not seen that bit up on YouTube.
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board
- Toppers Boppers
- Long Time Jerk
- Posts: 824
- Joined: 18 Nov 2009, 5:52am
- Location: Gates Of The West (country)
Re: The Clash on Alright Now 1979
That's right, I've seen the interview on YouTube but the 'hand-jive' Topper bit (and maybe more) is always missing? For example, this YouTube post seems pretty complete but is actually truncated at the end (Joe's cut short)...Heston wrote: ↑06 Aug 2019, 12:12pmI have the interview segment but it's already on YouTube in fair quality so I never bothered uploading it. Just search "Clash Alright Now" and it should come up.Toppers Boppers wrote: ↑06 Aug 2019, 12:06pmThanks for posting, great to see the original version of these two songs. I remember taping the show when first broadcast using a low-fi Philips cassette recorder, audio only. If memory serves me right, part of the interview had Topper being asked to do a hand-jive, not seen that bit up on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVkcl1jo1Go
Do you have the full interviews from the show?
- Heston
- God of Thunder...and Rock 'n Roll
- Posts: 38356
- Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 4:07pm
- Location: North of Watford Junction
Re: The Clash on Alright Now 1979
Yes it has been cut short. I will upload the full interview here but there's only a minute or so more to it.Toppers Boppers wrote: ↑06 Aug 2019, 1:10pmThat's right, I've seen the interview on YouTube but the 'hand-jive' Topper bit (and maybe more) is always missing? For example, this YouTube post seems pretty complete but is actually truncated at the end (Joe's cut short)...Heston wrote: ↑06 Aug 2019, 12:12pmI have the interview segment but it's already on YouTube in fair quality so I never bothered uploading it. Just search "Clash Alright Now" and it should come up.Toppers Boppers wrote: ↑06 Aug 2019, 12:06pmThanks for posting, great to see the original version of these two songs. I remember taping the show when first broadcast using a low-fi Philips cassette recorder, audio only. If memory serves me right, part of the interview had Topper being asked to do a hand-jive, not seen that bit up on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVkcl1jo1Go
Do you have the full interviews from the show?
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board
-
Chairman Ralph
- Long Time Jerk
- Posts: 693
- Joined: 20 Mar 2009, 10:59pm
Re: The Clash on Alright Now 1979
Haven't heard it, actually. If memory serves, they also regrouped to cut new songs, plus some of their old standbys -- for Angel Air, right? I wouldn't mind hearing that one, either. There's plenty of Mott offshoots worth pursuing, as far as I'm concerned.dave202 wrote: ↑06 Aug 2019, 11:51amWhat do you think of the Doc Thomas Group album?Chairman Ralph wrote: ↑05 Aug 2019, 12:28amI wouldn't mind seeing it, as an arch-Ian Hunter/Mott fan who's interested in all the branches of the tree, so to speak. So you could do it for me.I've just checked and it's when they called themselves "Mott" after Ian Hunter left. A live performance of "Shouting and Pointing" from So It Goes in 1977. I can upload to YouTube if anyone is still interested, not sure how well-liked this version of the band is?
As to your question, the short answer is that it went the way it does with most bands who lose an iconic frontman -- making do with less public interest, and a lower profile, before it all dies a death. To my recollection, Mott got good live reviews, but both their albums were roundly panned in the music press. Shouting & Pointing holds the distinction of being the only Mott/MTH album that didn't trouble the US or UK charts -- ouch!
Still, for the curious, I'd recommend the Angel Air CD, the aptly-titled Live: Over Here & Over There, as the best way to experience Mott, over their two albums, which are hit and a fair proportion of miss. Career (No Such Thing As Rock 'N' Roll) is their best song, or at least the one that comes the closest to matching the glories of old. But I prefer the CD, which gives you harder-rocking chunks of shows from the US and UK (hence, the title).
The guys soldiered on as British Lions, and it's the same story. Their '78 S/T album is somewhat better -- mainly for the covers, Wild In The Streets, and International Heroes, plus a couple good "attitude" songs, like Eat The Rich -- I'd recommend another Angel Air CD, Live & Rare, a live and demo comp that gives you a clearer glimpse of the potential that struggled to find its way on tape. That's my take, anyway.
- Heston
- God of Thunder...and Rock 'n Roll
- Posts: 38356
- Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 4:07pm
- Location: North of Watford Junction
Re: The Clash on Alright Now 1979
Topper looking incredibly stoned...
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board
Re: The Clash on Alright Now 1979
Brilliant stuff Heston - this is the most complete version I've ever seen, and great quality; clearly, right from the horse's mouth (or video vault)
Thanks!
Thanks!
Ignore Alien Hors d'oeuvres
- Toppers Boppers
- Long Time Jerk
- Posts: 824
- Joined: 18 Nov 2009, 5:52am
- Location: Gates Of The West (country)
- Marky Dread
- Messiah of the Milk Bar
- Posts: 58887
- Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 11:26am
Re: The Clash on Alright Now 1979
I'm looking forward to getting these.
Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty
We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.
"Without the common people you're nothing"
Nos Sumus Una Familia