Mott The Hoople songs included on newspaper giveaway CDs!
British newspapers have been giving away free CDs with their Sunday editions for some years now. I have compiled a discography of giveaway CDs featuring Mott The Hoople songs. More info!

VERDEN ALLEN - "My Masochistic Side" - new CD!
Verden Allen has recorded a new solo album with him playing all the instruments. "My Masochistic Side" is released by Angel Air on 13 July 2009, and features eight new recordings plus two re-recordings ("Long Time No See" and "Sweet Sweet Girl"). Interestingly, "St.Tropez" - the new track included on a 2005 Mott The Hoople compilation entitled "Family Anthology" has not been included. More info!

3x "I Wish I Was Your Mother" cover versions!
Tim Brickley (2005), Shaky Ground (2006) and Billy Coulter (2008) have all released versions of "I Wish I Was Your Mother" in recent years. Billy Coulter even quotes Ian Hunter on his website: "I have your CD in the Volvo. Nice one!--Ian Hunter, lead singer of Mott the Hoople".... Another newly discovered cover version is Jack O. & The Tearjerkers who covered “All The Way From Memphis” on the various artists album "In The Mood For Memphis Vol.2" in 2005. More info!

Two mp3 only Mott The Hoople compilations discovered!
"Rhino Hi-Five: Mott The Hoople" and "Live Rock Masters: Ready For Love" are two Mott The Hoople compilations currently only available as digital downloads. More digital download news..... Mick Ralphs co-wrote a song with George Harrison for Harrison's 1981 "Somewhere In England" album. The track was never used, but in 2008 it was added as bonus track to the remastered version only available on iTunes (and other online vendors)! More info!

MOJO magazine no. 186 - free CD!
Mott The Hoople ("Thunderbuck Ram") and British Lions ("One More Chance To Run") are included on the free 15-track CD that came with issue 186 (May 2009) of MOJO Magazine, entitled "All The Young Dudes" (and featuring a nice picture of Ian Hunter on the cover). "Thunderbuck Ram" is the alternate "Bumpers" version, while "One More Chance To Run" is the regular LP version. More info!

MEDICINE HEAD - "The Very Best Of / One And One Is One" - new CD!
Cherry Red Records releases "The Very Best Of Medicine Head - One And One Is One" on 18 May 2009. Highlights include tracks such as "Thou Shalt Not Pass" and "Back To The Wall" never before available on UK CD, and a cover version of Robert Johnson’s "Walking Blues" - plus 14 other tracks. More info!

1967 live recordings featuring Luther Grosvenor and Verden Allen discovered!
Back in 2002, French Jukebox Magazine released a CD documenting the 1st International Festival of pop music in Paris, at the Palais des Sports on 01 June 1967. The CD was called "Festival 67 - Live In Paris" and it included two tracks apiece by the V.I.P.'s (featuring Luther Grosvenor and Keith Emerson), and Jimmy Cliff (featuring Verden Allen). More info: VIP's | Jimmy Cliff

DEEP FEELING - "Pretty Colours" - unreleased 1966 album featuring Luther Grosvenor!
In January 2009, UK re-issue label Sunbeam released "Pretty Colours", the unreleased 1966 album by Deep Feeling - a band featuring Luther Grosvenor, Jim Capaldi and Gordon Jackson. More info!

STOP PRESS! I have completely reworked the Luther Grosvenor discography section - so be sure to check it out! More info!

MOTT THE HOOPLE - "All The Young Dudes" - CD compilations!
Back in 2007, the German budget CD labels Black Box (pictured right) and Weton Exclusive released three Mott The Hoople compilations with almost identical track selections entitled "All The Young Dudes". They all contained previously released material, licenced from Angel Air. Great music, pity about the poor packaging! More info!

CLASSIC ROCK magazine no. 130 - free CD!
Mott The Hoople (Walkin' With A Mountain) and Spooky Tooth (Better By You, Better Than Me) are included on the free 15-track CD that came with issue 130 (April 2009) of Classic Rock Magazine, entitled "Lost Tunes". The songs are the studio versions from "Mad Shadows" and "Spooky Two" respectively. More info!

XDAVIS - unreleased 1984 session produced by Mick Ronson!
Mick Ronson produced four songs for New York based Xdavis in 1984. Said Xdavis vocalist Michael Jeremiah: "I knew I would always treasure my time with him and I still do. He was a wonderful, wonderful man". More info!

STOP PRESS! Be sure also to check out the biography on www.mickronson.com and look for another previously undocumented Mick Ronson co-production from 1981 for a band called The Proof. Justin Purington recently made contact with one of the band members........ Two such discoveries in one month makes you wonder how much else there is out there, still waiting to be documented. Do not hesitate to get in touch if you know of other unreleased sessions or productions featuring Mick Ronson.

MOTT THE HOOPLE 40th anniversary reunion shows -
featuring all original members: Verden Allen, Dale Griffin, Ian Hunter, Mick Ralphs and Overend Watts

Mott The Hoople announce the final dates of their HMV Hammersmith Apollo residency. The original two nights (2nd & 3rd October) sold out in a weekend, and the first additional night (1st October) has now also sold out. So due to high levels of public demand, Mott The Hoople have added two final shows at the Apollo on the 5th and 6th October.

The return of one of the best loved Rock & Roll bands of all time, it has been 40 years since the highly influential Mott The Hoople formed in 1969. Mott The Hoople return to The Hammersmith Apollo – scene of near riots following their shows in ’73 and recorded for the legendary Mott The Hoople Live album. This will be the first time the original line-up has played together for over 35 years.

It is fitting that the 2009 shows are at Hammersmith Apollo – this is where one side of the famous Mott The Hoople Live album was recorded in 1973 and was the venue they had to play twice in one day to satisfy ticket demand, the second show ending in near riot when the curtain came down on their final encore.

Find out more at the official website www.mottthehoople.com