Short Back 'n' Sides

Short Back n' Sides
Studio album by Ian Hunter
Released	August 29, 1981
Genre	Rock new wave [1]
Length	44:55 (Original release) 105:38 (2CD edition)
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Mick Jones, Mick Ronson
Ian Hunter chronology
Welcome to the Club (1980) Short Back n' Sides (1981) All of the Good Ones Are Taken (1983)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[3]

Short Back 'n' Sides is the fifth studio album by Ian Hunter. He collaborated with Mick Ronson , Mick Jones, Topper Headon, Todd Rundgren, and Ellen Foley. ^[4]

In 1995, Chrysalis released a 2 CD set with a remastered version of the album and bonus CD with outtakes of the Chrysalis period. ^[5] The track "Noises" is an experimental track with many samples used as part of the song and "Theatre of the Absurd" is Ian's only reggae song, inspired by the Ladbroke Grove area of London.

Track listing

All songs written by Ian Hunter; except where indicated

1. "Central Park n' West" – 4:00
2. "Lisa Likes Rock n' Roll" – 3:56
3. "I Need Your Love" – 3:34
4. "Old Records Never Die" – 4:18
5. "Noises" (Ian Hunter, Tommy Morrongiello) – 5:51
6. "Rain" – 5:54
7. "Gun Control" – 3:12
8. "Theatre of the Absurd" – 5:49
9. "Leave Me Alone" – 3:29
10. "Keep on Burning" – 4:46

1995 Bonus CD (Long Odds and Out-takes)

1. "Detroit" (rough mix – instrumental) – 3:42
2. "Na Na Na" – 4:13
3. "I Need Your Love" (rough mix) – 3:46
4. "Rain" (alternative mix) – 5:50
5. "I Believe in You" – 4:15
6. "Listen to the Eight Track" – 6:08
7. "You Stepped Into My Dreams" – 4:41
8. "Venus in the Bathtub" – 4:29
9. "Theatre of the Absurd" – 6:08
10. "Detroit" (out take 5 – vocal) – 4:00
11. "Na Na Na" (extended mix) – 4:29
12. "China" (Mick Ronson vocal) – 4:36
13. "Old Records Never Die" (version 1) – 4:18

Personnel

• Ian Hunter - lead vocals, guitars, piano
• Mick Ronson - lead guitar, keyboards, vocals
• Tommy Mandel - keyboards
• Tommy Morrongiello - bass, vocals
• Martin Briley - bass
• Eric Parker - drums
• George Meyer - keyboards, vocals
• Mick Jones - guitars, vocals
• Topper Headon - drums, percussion
• Tymon Dogg - violin
• Ellen Foley - vocals
• Miller Anderson - vocals
• Mick Baraken - guitar on "Gun Control"
• Wells Kelly - drums on "Gun Control"
• John Holbrook - bass on "Gun Control"
• Gary Windo - alto saxophone on "I Need Your Love"
• Roger Powell - backing vocals on "I Need Your Love"
• Todd Rundgren - bass, backing vocals on "I Need Your Love"

Technical

• Mixed by Bob Clearmountain; David Tickle on "Rain"
• Lynn Goldsmith - photography

Charts

Chart (1981)	Peak position
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [6]	20
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [7]	14
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [8]	18
UK Albums (OCC) [9]	79
US Billboard 200 [10]	62

References

1. Ingalls, Chris; Wilhelm, Rick (19 June 2025). "20 of the Best New Wave Albums by Rock/Pop Artists". PopMatters . Retrieved 20 October 2025. ...it was [Hunter's] fifth album, Short Back 'n' Sides, that brought him into the New Wave fray...
2. AllMusic review
3. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 335.
4. Niester, Alan (22 August 1981). "Short Back N' Sides Ian Hunter". The Globe and Mail. p. F6.
5. "Ian Hunter LP/CD: "Short Back 'n' Sides"". Hunter-mott.com. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
6. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0407". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
7. "Norwegiancharts.com – Ian Hunter – Short Back N'Sides". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
8. "Swedishcharts.com – Ian Hunter – Short Back N'Sides". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
9. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
10. "Ian Hunter Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 September 2024.