MOTT THE HOOPLE
All The Young Dudes: 50th Anniversary Edition
A deep dive into Mott’s transformative 1972, when everything changed thanks to a gift from above.
By Peter Watts
“Oh Lord I wish I could escape this iron veil”
JANUARY 2024 TAKE 321
REISSUES | COMPS | BOXSETS | LOST RECORDINGS
MADFISH MUSIC
REISSUE OF THE MONTH 8/10
HAS rock’n’roll ever had adeus ex machina like “All The Young Dudes”? In 1972, Mott The Hoople were acultish but generally unsuccessful rock band who had released four albums to diminishing interest since their selftitled 1969 debut. They had just toured the excellent Brain Capers, finishing up with a show that took place inside a converted gas holder in Switzerland. Feeling they had reached the lowest of the low, the band were about to call it quits. Then along came David Bowie.
Bowie was an avowed Mott fan, seeing in their ragged heavy rock some of the spirit of the American underground that had so inspired him since first hearing The Velvet Underground. Upon discovering that Mott were thinking of calling it a day, he offered them asong he’d just recorded – “Suffragette City”.
Astonishingly, they turned him down –they didn’t think it was good enough –so Bowie, bless his heart, tried again, this time giving them “All The Young Dudes”. Rarely has amusical gift been so willingly and successfully received. Mott took it to No 3.