Overnight Angels

Last updated

Overnight Angels
Overnight Angels album cover.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 1977
Studio
Genre Hard rock
Length37:33
Label Columbia
Producer Roy Thomas Baker
Ian Hunter chronology
All American Alien Boy
(1976)
Overnight Angels
(1977)
You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic
(1979)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Overnight Angels is the third studio album by Ian Hunter, released in May 1977 by Columbia Records.

Contents

After the poor sales of his previous album, Hunter's apparent aim for this record was to re-emphasise faster songs with more of a rock feel, and he recruited the well-regarded Roy Thomas Baker to produce. However, the album received mixed reviews, and Columbia Records refused to release it in the US, according to Hunter because he had just fired his manager. Columbia reportedly told Hunter they would release it once he had a manager and tour in place to support the album. The release didn't occur however as Hunter left the label but the album did become available as an import when Hunter's next album became a minor hit. [2] Hunter later disavowed the album and described it as a "mistake".

Columbia eventually released five of the songs ("England Rocks", "Wild 'N Free", "Justice Of The Peace", "Overnight Angels" and "Golden Opportunity") in the U.S. on the 1979 compilation album "Shades Of Ian Hunter: The Ballad of Ian Hunter and Mott the Hoople".

Hunter later went on record as stating he disliked the album because he felt the album was forced and, in particular, his vocals which he felt he sang in too high a register. Also, part of the recording studio he was working in burned down during the album sessions. He toured the album with Earl Slick on lead guitar, Rob Rawlinson on bass, Peter Oxendale on keyboards and William "Curly" Smith on drums. The Vibrators were the support band.

The song "England Rocks" (originally a non-album B-side) would become one of his best-known songs, retitled "Cleveland Rocks" on Hunter's next tour, [3] and re-recorded with the new title for his next album.

Joe Elliott's Down 'n' Outz covered the songs "Golden Opportunity", "Overnight Angels" and "England Rocks" on their 2010 album My ReGeneration . The album was re-released on CD by Rock Candy Records in September 2022

Track listing

All songs written by Ian Hunter except where noted

  1. "Golden Opportunity" – 4:31
  2. "Shallow Crystals" – 3:58
  3. "Overnight Angels" – 5:12
  4. "Broadway" – 3:46
  5. "Justice of the Peace" – 3:01
  6. "(Miss) Silver Dime" (Hunter, Earl Slick) – 4:34
  7. "Wild 'N Free" – 3:08
  8. "The Ballad of Little Star" – 2:32
  9. "To Love a Woman" – 3:54
  10. "England Rocks" – 2:53 (bonus track on remastered CD)

Personnel

Technical

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mott the Hoople</span> British rock band

Mott the Hoople were an English rock band formed in Herefordshire. Originally named the Doc Thomas Group, the band changed their name after signing with Island Records in 1969. The band released albums at the beginning of the 1970s but failed to find any success. On the verge of breaking up, the band were encouraged by David Bowie to stay together. Bowie wrote their glam-style signature song "All the Young Dudes" for them, which became their first hit in 1972. Bowie subsequently produced their album of the same name, which added to their success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mick Ralphs</span> English musician

Michael Geoffrey Ralphs is an English retired musician, vocalist and songwriter, who was a founding member of rock bands Mott the Hoople and Bad Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luther Grosvenor</span> English rock guitar player

Luther James Grosvenor is an English rock musician, who played guitar in Spooky Tooth, briefly in Stealers Wheel and, under the pseudonym Ariel Bender, in Mott the Hoople and Widowmaker.

"Cleveland Rocks" is a rock song by Ian Hunter from his 1979 album You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic. The song is seen as a de facto anthem in Cleveland, Ohio. The song was played every Friday at 5:00 PM on Cleveland radio station WMMS beginning in 1979 and is used as a victory song for the city's sports teams. In recognition of "Cleveland Rocks", Hunter was given the key to the city by Cleveland mayor Dennis Kucinich on June 19, 1979. A cover of the song by The Presidents of the United States of America was used as the theme song for The Drew Carey Show.

<i>All the Young Dudes</i> (album) 1972 studio album by Mott the Hoople

All the Young Dudes is the fifth studio album by the English rock band Mott the Hoople, released in 1972. It was their initial album for the CBS Records label, after three years with Island Records in the UK and Atlantic Records in the United States and Canada.

<i>Mott</i> (album) 1973 studio album by Mott the Hoople

Mott is the sixth studio album by British rock band Mott the Hoople. It peaked at No. 7 in the UK Albums Chart. It is the last album to feature guitarist Mick Ralphs, and the first without organist Verden Allen; because of Allen's departure, most organ and other keyboard parts are played by Ralphs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guy Stevens</span> Music industry figure

Guy Stevens was a British music industry figure whose roles included DJ, record producer and band manager. He was influential in promoting R&B music in Britain in the 1960s, gave the rock bands Procol Harum and Mott the Hoople their distinctive names and co-produced The Clash's album London Calling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pete Overend Watts</span> English bass guitarist

Peter Overend Watts was an English bass guitar player and founding member of the 1970s rock band Mott the Hoople.

<i>The Hoople</i> 1974 studio album by Mott the Hoople

The Hoople is the seventh and final studio album by British rock band Mott the Hoople. The album peaked in the UK Albums Chart at No. 11, whilst its highest chart rating in the US was No. 28. It was the 85th best selling album of 1974 and was voted 16th best album of 1974 by the readers of Creem magazine. A remastered and expanded version was released by Sony BMG on the Columbia Legacy label in Europe in 2006. It was the only album to feature guitarist Ariel Bender, and the last album to feature vocalist Ian Hunter before his departure for a solo career.

<i>The Ballad of Ian Hunter and Mott the Hoople</i> 1979 compilation album by Ian Hunter

Shades of Ian Hunter: The Ballad of Ian Hunter and Mott the Hoople is a compilation album by Ian Hunter, consisting of tracks by Hunter's previous band Mott the Hoople, and solo Hunter tracks as well. It was released in 1979 as a double-LP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Hunter (singer)</span> British musician (born 1939)

Ian Hunter Patterson is an English singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Mott the Hoople, from its inception in 1969 to its dissolution in 1974, and at the time of its 2009, 2013, and 2019 reunions. Hunter was a musician and songwriter before joining Mott the Hoople, and continued in this vein after he left the band. He embarked on a solo career despite ill health and disillusionment with commercial success, and often worked in collaboration with Mick Ronson, David Bowie's sideman and arranger from The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars period.

<i>Wildlife</i> (Mott the Hoople album) 1971 studio album by Mott the Hoople

Wildlife is the third album by the British band Mott the Hoople.

<i>Mott the Hoople</i> (album) 1969 studio album by Mott the Hoople

Mott the Hoople is the debut studio album by the band of the same name. It was produced by Guy Stevens and released in 1969 by Island Records in the UK, and in 1970 by Atlantic Records in the US. It was re-issued by Angel Air in 2003 (SJPCD157).

<i>Mad Shadows</i> (album) 1970 studio album by Mott the Hoople

Mad Shadows was the second album by Mott the Hoople. It was recorded in 1970 and released in the UK on Island Records in September 1970 and in the US by Atlantic Records. It was subsequently re-released by Angel Air in 2003 (SJPCD158). As with their debut album, it was produced by Guy Stevens.

<i>Brain Capers</i> 1971 studio album by Mott the Hoople

Brain Capers is the fourth album by the band Mott the Hoople.

<i>Two Miles from Heaven</i> 1980 compilation album by Mott the Hoople

Two Miles From Heaven is a compilation album of tracks recorded by British rock band Mott the Hoople during their period with Island Records from 1969 to 1972. It features the original band line-up of Ian Hunter, Mick Ralphs, Peter Watts, Dale Griffin (drums) and Verden Allen (organ). Incomplete tracks from original sessions were supplemented by overdubs of vocals, keyboards and guitar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny McCulloch</span> British bassist (1945–2015)

Daniel Joseph "Danny" McCulloch was an English musician best known as the bassist of the 1960s psychedelic rock group Eric Burdon and The Animals.

<i>Youre Never Alone with a Schizophrenic</i> 1979 studio album by Ian Hunter

You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic is the fourth solo studio album by Ian Hunter. The album featured members of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band as the backing band. AllMusic considers the album to be Hunter's best.

<i>Rock and Roll Queen</i> 1972 greatest hits album by Mott the Hoople

Rock and Roll Queen is a compilation album by the British rock band Mott the Hoople. The album predominantly features selections from the four albums Mott recorded for Island Records in the UK, which were subsequently issued in the US by Atlantic Records. In Canada, the first three were released by Polydor, while Brain Capers was released in Canada by Island.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Mott the Hoople album) 1976 greatest hits album by Mott the Hoople

Greatest Hits is a compilation album by English rock band Mott the Hoople. It was released on 1 March 1976 through Columbia Records.

References

  1. Allmusic review
  2. "Overnight Angels". Mott The Hoople and Ian Hunter. Adrian Perkins.
  3. "Overnight Angels". allmusic . Rovi Corporation.