Mott's debut album, Drive On, was recorded during April and May 1975 at Clearwell Castle using Ronnie Lane's mobile studio. Most of the material was written by Overend Watts, who also sang lead on 'Stiff Upper Lip' and 'Love Now'. The self-produced album was released in September 1975.
Track List: Monte Carlo; She Does It; I'll Tell You Something; Stiff Upper Lip; Love Now; Apologies; The Great White Wail; Here We Are; It Takes One To Know One; I Can Show You How It Is
Available on CD from Sony Legacy Recordings
For Mott's followup album, Shouting And Pointing, CBS brought in Eddie Kramer to produce. Kramer was highly regarded for his work with Jimi Hendrix, but lost interest in the project. The bulk of the songwriting chores fell to Watts and Fisher, with a bit of help from Nigel Benjamin and Ray Major. The recording was done at Manor Studios in Oxfordshire in February and March 1976, and the album was mixed and released by June.
Track List: Collision Course; Storm; Career (No Such Thing As Rock 'n' Roll); Hold On, You're Crazy; See You Again; Too Short Arms (I Don't Care); Broadside Outcasts; Good Times
Available on CD from Sony Legacy Recordings
During their two year existence Mott released two Top 40 albums but no live recordings. This omission is remedied with this two-CD Angel Air release which is accompanied by a 16-page booklet. As Dale Griffin points out in the entertaining and extensive liner notes 'We've come up with the four-and-only extant and kosher live recordings of 1975-76 Mott gigs ...'. The first CD is taken from two gigs in the UK, one at the Friar's Club in Aylesbury and the other at the Polytechnic, Leeds. On the second CD there is a concert from the L.A. Forum in December 1975 and one from Cleveland, Ohio.
Track List: Storm; The Great White Wail; Collision Course; Hold On You're Crazy; She Does It [Friar's, Aylesbury1976.06.12]; Storm; Career (No Such Thing As Rock And Roll); Love Me Two Times; I Don't Wanna Discuss It; All The Way From Memphis [Polytechnic Union Hall, Leeds UK 1976.11.04]; By Tonight; Born Late '58; The Great White Wail; She Does It; It Takes One To Know One; Sweet Jane; Violence; All The Young Dudes [Forum, Los Angeles CA 1975.12.05]; By Tonight; The Great White Wail; Rock and Roll Queen; It Takes One To Know One; Sweet Jane [Agora, Cleveland OH 1975.11.25]
Available on CD from Angel Air
The first seven songs on this album were recorded in the hiatus between the demise of Mott The Hoople and the re-incarnation as Mott. They were recorded at the now legendary Gooseberry studio at Gerrard Street in London, and used to obtain a record deal with CBS. The four songs entitled Gooseberry Auditions are just that: the actual audition tapes of lead vocalist Nigel Benjamin and guitarist Ray Majors. With a deal with CBS sewn up, the world was their oyster. Band member Dale Griffin's informative, entertaining and comprehensive sleeve notes tell the story in the accompanying 16 page CD booklet filled with rare photos. The rarities included on this release are The Paper Bags (in reality Morgan Fisher, Overend Watts, Ray Major and Dale Griffin), which finally blows the cover on that historic outfit.
Track List: Love Now [demo]; Love Me Always [demo]; Hey! There Annie [Collision Course demo]; The Bright Days [demo]; !GYP! [instrumental demo]; Shout It All Out [demo]; Leave My Woman Alone [demo]; I'll Tell You Something [Brian Parrish vocal audition]; Did I Dream Last Night? [Ray Major guitar audition]; She Does It [Nigel Benjamin vocal audition]; Shout It All Out [Nigel Benjamin vocal audition]; I'll Tell You Something [Nigel Benjamin vocal audition]; Krazy Kristmas Krackers [The Paper Bags]; Pass The Port, Gramps [The Paper Bags]; The Million Ton Snowflake [The Paper Bags]; Golders Green (Stomp) [The Paper Bags]; The Spook Meets The Kook [The Paper Bags]; Massacre [The Paper Bags]; Let's Rat [The Paper Bags]; Ave A Maria [The Paper Bags]; Broadstairs Beach [The Paper Bags]; Holmes On The Rage [The Paper Bags]
Available on CD from Angel Air
In the wake of Mott, former Medicine Head frontman John Fiddler, Morgan Fisher, Dale Griffin, Ray Majors and Overend Watts formed British Lions. This is their first album, now remastered with eight previously unreleased bonus tracks including a John Peel radio session from May 1978. The Lions were hampered by the musical climate in the UK (punk), and they folded in spite of several support slots - to the likes of AC/DC and Status Quo - and a USA trip.
Original album tracks: One More Chance To Run; Wild In The Streets; Break This Fool; International Heroes; Fork Talkin' Man; My Life In Your Hands; Big Drift Away; Booster; Eat The Rich
Angel Air bonus tracks: One More Change To Run [BBC John Peel session]; Break This Fool [BBC John Peel session]; Wild In The Streets [BBC John Peel session]; Wild One [live in Plymouth UK]; Eat The Rich [demo]; Can't Get Over You [Fiddler/Majors demo]; Long Distance Love [Fiddler/Majors demo]; You Got Everything [Fiddler/Majors demo]
Available on CD from Angel Air
British Lions formed in 1977 following the break-up of Mott. The nucleus of that group (Overend Watts, Morgan Fisher, Ray Major and Dale Griffin) combined with one-time Medicine Head front-man John Fiddler and recorded their debut album British Lions. The formation of the band unfortunately coincided with the advent of punk rock, and in spite of achieving chart and live success in the States, they folded soon after the recording of Trouble With Women. This is the album's first ever release on CD and features numerous bonus tracks.
Original album tracks: Trouble With Women; Any Port In A Storm; Lady Don't Fall Backwards; High Noon; Lay Down Your Love; Waves Of Love; Electric Chair; Won't You Give Him One More Chance;
Angel Air bonus tracks: One More Chance To Run [home demo]; But The Night Is Young [home demo]; The Studio Song [Overend Watts home recording]; Eat The Rich [demo]; Rising Sun [live at The Friars Club, Aylesbury UK 1977.12.23]; Come On [live at JB's Club, Dudley UK]; My LIfe's In Your Hands [live at JB's Club, Dudley UK]; Wind One [live at JB's Club, Dudley UK]; [British Lions radio promos]
Available on CD from Angel Air
This Angel Air release fills an important gap in The Lions' recording history with 15 tracks in total. The eight live tracks were recorded during their USA tour in 1978, whilst the rare tracks include previously unreleased demos and rehearsal tracks. Lovingly compiled by Dale Griffin with input from all band members this is the definitive release by this great band. As with all Angel Air releases, the comprehensive sleeve notes throw fresh light on the band's history with rare photographs throughout.
Track List: One More Chance To Run [Memphis TN, 1978.08.29]; Fork Talking Man [Tucson AZ, 1978.08.15]; My Life's In Your Hands [Tucson AZ, 1978.08.15]; Wild In The Streets [Tucson AZ, 1978.08.15]; Booster [Norman OK, 1978.08.19]; So You Want To be a Rock 'n' Roll Star [San Antonio TX, 1978.08.20]; It's Only Rock 'n' Roll [San Antonio TX, 1978.08.20]; Pretty Vacant [San Antonio TX, 1978.08.20]; Break This Fool [San Francisco CA 1978.09.02]; Love Now [San Francisco CA 1978.09.02]; One More Chance To Run [demo]; Wild In The Streets [demo]; Booster [demo]; Big Drift Away [demo]; Coming Through [rehearsal]; Acoustic Chair [demo]; Electric Chair [rehearsal]
Available on CD from Angel Air
This live recording never before released from Old Waldorf, San Francisco captures the bands talent and energy. Shortly after this gig they hot-footed back to the UK to record what became their last album Trouble With Women which at the time had under whelmed the "suits" and by the end of 1978 British Lions were no more. Also included as bonus tracks original demos of three of the bands well known tracks.
Track List: One More Chance To Run, Fork Talkin' Man, Break This Fool, Come On, International Heroes, My Life In Your Hands, Love Now, Wild In The Streets, Booster, Medley: So You Want To Be A Rock'n'Roll Star/It's Only Rock 'n' Roll, Eat The Rich. Bonus Tracks (demos): One More Chance To Run, Wild In The Streets, Booster
Available on CD from Angel Air
