Mott, British Lions and related artists albums

Mott albums

Recruiting a new guitarist (Ray Major) and a new vocalist (Nigel Benjamin), and shortening their name to Mott, they recorded two albums in 1975 and 1976.

Both original Mott albums are now available on CD, together with an archive live album and an album of demoes and other oddities.

• Drive On . 1975 CBS (UK)/Columbia (USA). Their first album after Ian's departure.
• Shouting and Pointing . 1976 CBS (UK)/Columbia (USA). Excellent second album, a shame Benjamin decided (a mere six months later) this wasn't for him.
• Live - Over Here and Over There '75 - '76 . Excellent 2-CD set of the only surviving live recordings of Mott, recorded in the USA and UK.
• The Gooseberry Sessions . Official release of the demos Mott taped shortly after Ian Hunter left; the audition tapes of Brian Parrish, Ray Major and Nigel Benjamin, and oddities by The Paper Bags.

British Lions albums

A new vocalist (John Fiddler - ex-Medicine Head), new management (Colin Johnson, Status Quo's manager), new label (Vertigo - Quo's label) and a name change to British Lions (the Mott name having been played out).

Both Lions albums are now on CD, together with an archive live album.

• British Lions . 1978 Vertigo (UK)/RSO(USA). Strong rock album, released when punk was at its height.
• Trouble With Women . 1980 Cherry Red (UK). The Lions' second album, originally released two years after the band's demise. At long last released on CD!
• Live And Rare . Strong CD of live tracks and first-album demos.

Related artists albums

The following are recent releases by members of the Mott The Hoople family:

Verden Allen

Verden has kept a low profile since leaving MTH early 1973, despite forming the Cheeks, who went on to become the Pretenders.

• Long Time No See . Verden's first solo album since leaving Mott. Now reissued!
• For Each Other . Verden Allen's disappointing second solo album.
• 20 Year Holiday . A return to form for Verden's third solo album.

John Fiddler

John was vocalist in Medicine Head and of course the British Lions.

• The Big Buffalo . CD reissue of John Fiddler's 1993 solo album "Return of the Buffalo".
• Fiddlers Anthology - Greatest Hits - Live . Live CD featuring some of John's best songs.
• Don't Stop The Dance . "Lost" Medicine Head album from 1974/5.
• Live At The Marquee 1975 . Live CD by Medicine Head, John Fiddler's pre-Lions band.
• Two Man Band . The last Medecine Head album before John Fiddler joined the British Lions.

Morgan Fisher

MTH piano player from 1973 onwards, Morgan Fisher stayed with MOTT and then British Lions to the end. He did in fact have a career before MTH with his band Morgan (and Love Affair before that), and afterwards as a solo artist in Japan.

• Ivories . Morgan Fisher's first solo album from 1972, released on CD for the first time.
• Moth Poet Hotel . Brilliant tribute album by mostly Japanese artists, lovingly put together by Morgan Fisher. Ace!
• Peace In The Heart Of The City . CD of ambient music by Morgan Fisher, released for the first time in the UK.
• Nova Solis . First album from Morgan (the band), originally released in 1972, now on CD.
• The Sleeper Wakes . Second album from Morgan Fisher's band Morgan, very much in the prog-rock mould. Now on CD for the first time.
• No Strings . An anthology of Love Affair's career 1966-69, which was Morgan Fisher's first taste of fame.

Luther Grosvenor

Luther, aka Ariel Bender, was Mott The Hoople's guitarist from 1973 to 1974.

• Straight Faced Fighters . 2-CD set of Widowmaker's 1976 and 1977 albums, and a BBC live in concert set.
• Floodgates . 1996 solo album by Luther Grosvenor.
• Floodgates Anthology . Compilation of Luther Grosvenor's 1990's work.

Steve Hyams

Steve was more a friend of the band than a member, although they did cut some demos together in the mid 70's.

• Mistaken Identities is Steve Hyams' first solo album, now released on CD.
• Feather and a Tomahawk is Steve Hyams' second solo album.

Ray Majors

Ray was guitarist with both MOTT and British Lions.

• First Poison . First solo album by ex-Mott and British Lions guitar player Ray Majors.

Mick Ralphs

Mick was a founder member of Mott The Hoople and Bad Company.

• Take This! . The first solo album by Mick Ralphs, now reissued.
• Its All Good . Second solo album from Mick Ralphs, featuring blues-orientated instrumentals.
• That's Life - Can't Get Enough . Third solo album from Mick Ralphs.

Miscellaneous

This section lists albums that in some way are related to the MTH "family", either by virtue of being early work, guest appearance or production work.

• The Rise And Fall Of Bernie Gripplestone And The Rats From Hull . Welcome CD issue of tracks Mick Ronson recorded with The Rats in the late 60's.
• Daily Misery . Good rockin' album from the Crybabies, reminiscent of the Stones or maybe the Faces.
• The Italian Job/Shotgun Eyes . CD release of Doc Thomas Group's 1967 Italian album, together with the previously-unreleased 1990 Silence reunion album.
• Mick Ronson Memorial Concert . Official release of the first Mick Ronson Memorial Concert, recorded on 29-April-1994 at London's Hammersmith Apollo theatre.
• Midnight Flyer . Maggie Bell's 1980 band's self-titled album, produced by Mick Ralphs.
• The Reluctant Dog . Disappointing solo album from Wings and Ian Hunter Band drummer.
• Seppuku by Mr Big . Their Ian Hunter-produced album from 1978. Unreleased at the time, finally issued on CD.
• Stiffology 1981-1988 . Compilation of punk band The Stiffs. Includes their 1982 BBC session, produced by MTH drummer Dale Griffin (on which he also plays drums).

Images of LP sleeves are for illustrative purposes only. Copyright remains vested in the individual record companies.

Copyright © 1996-2005 Adrian Perkins