An idiosyncratic blog dedicated to the precursors, the practioners, and the descendants of power pop.
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Tuesday, May 18, 2021
RETURN OF THE SON OF GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS! WEEK -- Episode Two: Mom Spelled Upside Down is Wow
From 1993, please enjoy former Lone Justice chanteuse Maria McKee and her exquisite cover of Mott the Hoople/Ian Hunter's "I Wish I Was Your Mother."
I've loved this song since forever, and I still find it hard to believe that it works in the context of the otherwise glam-rock 1973 Mott album, where it first appeared. Lordy knows, it threw me for a loop at the time.
Such a beautiful worthy-of-Dylan looking-back song, and McKee brings in the mandolin part played by Mick Ralphs back in 1973, and which James Mastro played more recently as part of The Rant Band, Ian Hunter's touring group. God, I just hope to be able to see Hunter again.
As a songwriter, Ian's up there with the best, and just a shade below Dylan, Cohen, and Simon.
You are right. Somewhere during the 'Mott' sessions, Hunter remembered he was one of the leading Next Dylans (nowhere more pronounced than on the MTH debut). Its elegiac vibe made it a perfect conclusion for the Hunter/Ralphs era. McKee's arrangement is too close to the original but the singing is heartfelt.
I listened again and- almost fifty years later- realized that the verse and the chorus are virtually the same tune. The difference is in the tempo and arrangement. How many songs have pulled off that trick?
Such a beautiful worthy-of-Dylan looking-back song, and McKee brings in the mandolin part played by Mick Ralphs back in 1973, and which James Mastro played more recently as part of The Rant Band, Ian Hunter's touring group. God, I just hope to be able to see Hunter again.
ReplyDeleteAs a songwriter, Ian's up there with the best, and just a shade below Dylan, Cohen, and Simon.
strong family resemblance to Bryan McLean
ReplyDeleteYes there is.
ReplyDeleteYou are right. Somewhere during the 'Mott' sessions, Hunter remembered he was one of the leading Next Dylans (nowhere more pronounced than on the MTH debut). Its elegiac vibe made it a perfect conclusion for the Hunter/Ralphs era. McKee's arrangement is too close to the original but the singing is heartfelt.
ReplyDeleteI listened again and- almost fifty years later- realized that the verse and the chorus are virtually the same tune. The difference is in the tempo and arrangement. How many songs have pulled off that trick?
ReplyDeleteStraight from the horses mouth, re residuals... I look forward to visiting the mailbox every month knowing that I can buy a new house - rob
ReplyDelete