Roll Away the Stone

Last updated
"Roll Away the Stone"
Roll Away the Stone (cover art).jpg
Single by Mott the Hoople
from the album The Hoople
B-side "Where Do You All Come From?"
Released
  • November 1973 (UK)
  • 1974 (US)
RecordedJuly 1973
Genre
Length3:02
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Ian Hunter
Producer(s) Mott the Hoople
Mott the Hoople singles chronology
"All the Way from Memphis"
(1973)
"Roll Away the Stone"
(1973)
"The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll"
(1974)
Audio
"Roll Away the Stone" on YouTube

"Roll Away the Stone" is a song written by Ian Hunter, recorded by English rock band Mott the Hoople, and released as a single on the CBS label. [3] On the first version, recorded before Mick Ralphs left the band, Ralphs plays lead guitar and one of the Thunderthighs handles the bridge voice. It was re-recorded by the band for their 1974 album The Hoople , with Ariel Bender on lead guitar and English vocalist Lynsey de Paul singing the vocal bridge. [4]

It reached No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in December 1973, spending five weeks in the top 10. [5] The band performed the song on the BBC Television show Top of the Pops on 15 November 1973. [6]

Cash Box said that "Hunter's unique, far reaching vocals are stronger than ever and the rest of the group backing him musically is up to the task." [7] Record World called it Mott the Hoople's "biggest rocker since their label debut" and said that the "Easter-themed love epistle should sha-la-la itself to monumental status." [8]

In 1986, the song was used as a background song on the 1974 edition of the BBC TV series The Rock 'n' Roll Years , for the news clips relating to the two general elections in the United Kingdom that year. It also featured in the 2015 film The Diary of a Teenage Girl , [9] as well as on the soundtrack album. [10]

Related Research Articles

Glam rock is a style of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1970s and was performed by male musicians who wore flamboyant and feminine clothing, makeup, and hairstyles, particularly platform shoes and glitter, and female musicians who wore masculine clothing. Glam artists drew on diverse sources across music and throwaway pop culture, ranging from bubblegum pop and 1950s rock and roll to cabaret, science fiction, and complex art rock. The flamboyant clothing and visual styles of performers were often camp or androgynous, and have been described as playing with other gender roles. Glitter rock was a more extreme version of glam rock.

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

Mott the Hoople were a British 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">Spooky Tooth</span> English rock band (principally 1967–1974)

Spooky Tooth were an English rock band originally formed in Carlisle in 1967. Principally active between 1967 and 1974, the band re-formed several times in later years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All the Young Dudes</span> 1972 glam rock single by Mott the Hoople

"All the Young Dudes" is a song written by English singer-songwriter David Bowie, originally recorded and released as a single by the English rock band Mott the Hoople in 1972 by Columbia Records. Bowie produced the song, which he had given to the band after they rejected his "Suffragette City". Bowie would subsequently record the song himself. Regarded as an anthem of glam rock, the song has received acclaim and was a commercial success. In 2021, Rolling Stone ranked "All the Young Dudes" number 166 in its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It is also one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheena Is a Punk Rocker</span> 1977 song by Ramones

"Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" is a song by American punk rock band Ramones, released in 1977 through Sire Records. Written by front man and lead vocalist Joey Ramone it appears on the band's third studio album Rocket to Russia (1977). The song is well known for its early 1960s influence of surf rock and bubblegum pop that influenced Joey; it has since remained one of the band's most popular songs.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How Can You Mend a Broken Heart</span> 1971 song by Barry and Robin Gibb

"How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" is a song released by the Bee Gees in 1971. It was written by Barry and Robin Gibb and was the first single on the group's 1971 album Trafalgar. It was their first US No. 1 single and also reached No. 1 in Cashbox magazine for two weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet Jane</span> Song by Lou Reed performed by the Velvet Underground

"Sweet Jane" is a song by American rock band the Velvet Underground. Appearing on their fourth studio album Loaded (1970), the song was written by band leader and primary songwriter Lou Reed, who continued to incorporate the piece into live performances after he left the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All the Way from Memphis</span> 1973 single by Mott the Hoople

"All the Way from Memphis" is a single released by Mott the Hoople as the lead track from the album Mott in 1973. The song tells a story about a rock and roller whose guitar is shipped to Oriole, Kentucky, instead of Memphis, Tennessee. The track peaked at No. 10 in the UK Singles Chart. Although it did not chart in the United States, it did receive considerable airplay on album-oriented rock stations. The Mott album, from which it was released, reached the Top 40 of the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 35.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll</span> 1974 single by Mott the Hoople

"The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll" is a single by Mott the Hoople, written by Ian Hunter. It is a release from 1974's The Hoople.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can't Get Enough (Bad Company song)</span> 1974 single by Bad Company

"Can't Get Enough" is the debut single by English rock supergroup Bad Company. Appearing on the band's 1974 self-titled debut album, it is their biggest hit and is considered their most popular song. It reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and No. 1 on Cashbox magazine's Top 100 Singles chart. The song is also frequently played on classic rock radio stations.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yummy Yummy Yummy</span> 1968 single by Ohio Express

"Yummy Yummy Yummy" is a song by Arthur Resnick and Joey Levine, first recorded by Ohio Express in 1968. Their version reached No. 4 on the U.S. Pop Singles chart in June and No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart. It has since been covered by many artists. Ohio Express was a studio concoction and none of the "official" members appear on the record. Joey Levine sang lead vocals.

"I'm Free" is a song by the Rolling Stones written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, first released as the final track on the UK version of their album Out of Our Heads on 24 September 1965. It was also released at the same time as a single in the US and later included on the American December's Children album.

<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>Live</i> (Mott the Hoople album) 1974 live album by Mott the Hoople

Live is a 1974 album by British band Mott the Hoople recorded during their debut US performance at the Uris Theater (Gershwin) on Broadway in Manhattan, New York City, United States, with Queen as the opening act. A remastered and expanded 30th Anniversary Edition was released by Sony BMG on the Columbia label (516051). The release of the album in its original form in 1974 coincided with the announcement of the band's demise and it was, therefore, their final release. It was a single disc album in its original format but the addition of thirteen extra tracks has seen it expand to a double CD package.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When Will I Be Loved (song)</span> 1960 single by the Everly Brothers

"When Will I Be Loved" is a popular song written by Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers, who had a US top-ten hit with it in 1960. Linda Ronstadt covered the song in 1975, and her version was an even bigger hit in the US, peaking at No. 2. Vince Gill also covered it in 1994 on the soundtrack of the film 8 Seconds.

<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.

Graham Donald Harry Preskett is a British composer and musician who has been active since the early 1970s. He appeared on the Mott the Hoople albums Mott (1973) and The Hoople (1974), playing violin on both, and arranging and conducting on the latter.

References

  1. "Dale Griffin, drummer - obituary". The Telegraph . 19 January 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  2. Stanley, Bob (13 September 2013). "Deluxe and Delightful: Glam". Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Faber & Faber. p. 343. ISBN   978-0-571-28198-5.
  3. "Mott The Hoople - Roll Away The Stone". Discogs.com. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  4. Hughes, Rob (13 May 2014). "The Story Behind The Song: Roll Away The Stone by Mott The Hoople". Classic Rock . Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  5. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 381. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  6. Mott The Hoople - Roll Away the Stone - Top Of The Pops 15-11-1973 , retrieved 2023-04-10
  7. "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 6 July 1974. p. 16. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  8. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. July 13, 1974. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  9. "The Diary of a Teenage Girl". IMDb.com. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  10. "Various - The Diary Of A Teenage Girl Soundtrack". Discogs. Retrieved 14 September 2019.