Ian Hunter
(American Beat) www.myspace.com/americanbeat
A two-album set originally released in 1980, Ian Hunter’s Welcome To the Club captures the former Mott The Hoople frontman at the commercial peak of his solo career. Culled from a week of shows held at the Roxy in Los Angeles, the album captures Hunter’s enormous onstage energy along with the talents of former Bowie guitarist Mick Ronson. There’s a lot of what you’d expect: fine performances of classics like “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” and “Just Another Night” as well as Mott tunes like “All The Young Dudes” and “All The Way From Memphis.”
Hunter’s All Of the Good Ones Are Taken is often overlooked, and although the 1983 album suffers from dated, thin production, there are a number of musical gems hidden within the grooves. The title cut is the sort of Dylanesque rocker that Hunter cut his teeth on, “Seeing Double” is a lush R&B style ballad and “Every Step of the Way” is a big-booted hard rocker with a pop chorus. With more muscle than flab here, the record’s definitely worth another look.
Standout Tracks: “Once Bitten Twice Shy,” “All Of The Good Ones Are Taken” REV. KEITH A. GORDON











