Ian Hunter/Mott The Hoople Bootlegs
A small number of unofficial recordings of Ian and Mott have surfaced over the years, mostly radio shows on vinyl and more recently on CD. In addition, there are a large number of audience tapes in circulation. The die-hard collector will no doubt be interested in tracking these tapes down; Justin Purington has done an excellent job in cataloguing them in his Bootleg Bible (see the Outsider and Just a Buzz fanzines for details), and I have no intention of repeating that material here.
I will, however, list the bootleg LPs and CDs that I know of, and try to assess those that I have heard, to help guide the casual but not fanatic purchaser.
In the past few years there has been a flurry of new releases. This is due to a number of factors. One is the ease with which CDs can be pressed up (at very little cost). Another is the continued interest in Ian and Mott, not to mention the ease with which release information can be publicised via the internet and other media. And, of course, with Ian touring the UK extensively in recent years there is a wealth of new material in circulation...
Note: I cannot review a bootleg if I don't know about it! (Well, duh) If you know of a bootleg that isn't listed here, then please get in touch.
These days few people buy bootlegs. This is one good thing to come out of high-speed internet, the Bittorrent P2P protocol and all the file-sharing brouhaha. Not that I'm advocating anything illegal, but sharing such unofficial recordings for free undercuts the bootleggers and makes it very difficult for them to make a profit out of the artists hard work. As they say in trading circles, "buy the music, support the artist."
Mott The Hoople
LPs
Of course, before the advent of CDs vinyl was all there was. Although largely superceded by CDs (and especially with much of the material here now available commercially) there is still a certain kudos to owning any of these vinyl boots, some of them are certain to become collector's items.
Behind Enemy Lines 
, single-LP release of Mott's 13-April-1974 show at the Civic Center, Santa Monica Ca (FM).
Golden Age Of Mott The Hoople , single-LP release of Mott's 28-April-1974 show at the Expo, Portland ME (AUD).
Rest In Peace 
, 2-LP set of Mott's 13-April-1974 show at the Civic Center, Santa Monica CA (FM).
Sticky Fingers 
, single LP of Mott's 31-Dec-1971 show at the BBC's Paris Theatre, London (FM).
With David Bowie 
, poor-quality single LP of Mott's 29-Nov-1972 show at the Tower Theater, Philadelphia PA (FM).
CDs
These days virtually every bootleg comes out on CD. In some cases, however, the quality is desperately poor.
All David's Dudes , Japanese CD of Mott's 29-Nov-1972 show at the Tower Theater, Philadelphia PA (FM).
European Ending 
, #4 in the Rock 'n' Roll Circus series. Poor single-CD compilation of Mott's 10-Oct-1974 show at the Olympen, Lund Sweden and 2-Nov-1974 show at the Taverne D'Olympia, Paris France (AUD).
Flash And Crash 
, Japanese single CD release of Mott's 13-April-1974 show at the Civic Center, Santa Monica Ca (FM).
Guitar Bandits (aka California Jam) is a 2-CD "various artists" collection which includes part of Mott's 8-May-1974 Uris Theater, NYC show (taken from the King Biscuit Flower Hour radio show CD).
Hoopling Furiously , single CD of Mott's 31-Dec-1971 show at the BBC's Paris Theatre, London, and some of Mott's 1970/71 BBC radio sessions (FM).
Hoopling Through Ian's Pockets , poor single-CD compilation. Contains six tracks live from Uris (1974), plus tracks from Two Miles From Heaven.
Island Farewell 
, #2 in the Rock 'n' Roll Circus series. Good single CD of Mott's 6-April-1972 show at the Civic Hall, Wolverhampton UK (AUD).
The Legendary Lost Tapes , single CD comprising some "unreleased" tracks from the ATYD sessions and Bowie's 5-Jan-1973 show at the Glasgow Playhouse.
Long Red 
, single CD of Mott's 16-Feb-1971 show in Stockholm, Sweden, and four tracks from their 8-May-1974 show at the Uris Theater, New York City (FM).
Rest In Peace , #1 in the Rock 'n' Roll Circus series. Single CD release of Mott's 13-April-1974 show at the Civic Center, Santa Monica CA (FM).
Too Bad is one of the last recordings of MTH live with Mick Ralphs, recorded at the Felt Forum in NYC on 3rd August 1973 (AUD).
Very Sticky Fingers is a CD containing unreleased material not on the box set, such as The Chosen Road, Sweet Jane(Lou Reed guide vocal) and Sunset Summer Nights.
The Wild Side of Live is a great live CD recorded at the Fillmore West in 1970 and 1971.
Young Ginger and the Stick Insect , compilation of unreleased Island-era material, 1971 singles and b-sides, and live material.
CDRs
I'm a bit hesitant about including CDRs here, since anyone can make a CDR and put it out. I will, however, make an exception for the Handmade series.
Rarities , No 1 in the "Handmade For Fans" series. Single CD-R compilation of rare Mott The Hoople tracks.
Which is the best? I attempt to be honest in my reviews, and if something sucks then I'll say so. I have attempted to grade these boots taking into consideration desirability as well as sound quality. Accordingly, my "star" rating should be used as a guide by the less-than-fanatical purchaser.
Ian Hunter
LPs
Surprisingly there was only one vinyl bootleg (that I know of) from Ian's solo career.
Drunk On Wisdom And Wine , single-LP of the 7-July-1979 show at the Community Center, Berkeley CA (FM).
CDs
All bootlegs these days comes out on CD, although the quality in some cases is desperately poor.
The Artful Dodger Live in '97 , #5 in the Rock 'n' Roll Circus series. 2-CD set of the 10-Oct-1997 show at the Robin Hood Club, Dudley UK (AUD).
Bald At The Station , another poor-quality single CD bootleg of various non-LP tracks by Ian.
Live In 1975 , #6 in the Rock 'n' Roll Circus series. Single-CD of the 28-April-1975 show at the Ford Auditorium, Detroit MI (AUD).
Overnight Angels Live , #7 in the Rock 'n' Roll Circus series. Single-CD of the 18-June-1977 show at Brumnnsparken, Orebro, Sweden (AUD).
Park West Party , #3 in the Rock 'n' Roll Circus series. Single-CD of the 22-June-1979 show at Park West, Chicago IL (FM).
CDRs
I wouldn't normally include CDRs here, since anyone with a CD writer (which these days means anyone with a PC) can make one and put it out. I will, however, make an exception for the Handmade For Fans series, which tries to be selective about what they put out, and strive to be high quality as well.
A Night At The Opera House , #8 in the Handmade For Fans series. 2-CDR set recorded at the Opera House, Newcastle UK on 18th May 2002 (AUD).
Astoria My Life , #6 in the Handmade For Fans series. 2-CD set of the 20-May-2000 show at the Astoria, London (AUD).
Cavern Stomp , #7 in the Handmade For Fans series. 2-CD set of the 14-June-2001 show at the Cavern, Liverpool.- Drunk On Wisdom And Wine , #3 in the "Handmade For Fans" series. Welcome CD-R release (with bonus tracks) of the 7-July-1979 show at the Community Center, Berkeley CA (FM).
Live In Scotland , #2 in the "Handmade For Fans" series. Excellent 2CD-R set of the 10-Sept-1997 show at the Martell Club, Falkirk Scotland (AUD).
Off The Record , #4 in the "Handmade For Fans" series. Awesome 2CD-R set capturing a 1979 show (with Mick Ronson) and two 1981 shows (SBD).
Rockin' Robin , #5 in the "Handmade For Fans" series. 2CD-R set of Ian's 1999 Convention gig, with guests Verden Allen, Joe Elliott, Ariel Bender.
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