Wildlife (Mott the Hoople album)

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

Wildlife
Studio album by
Mott the Hoople
ReleasedMarch 1971
RecordedNovember–December 1970
StudioIsland Studios, London
GenreRock
Length38:25
LabelIsland (UK), Atlantic (US)
ProducerMott the Hoople (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6-8)
Guy Stevens (track 3)
Mott the Hoople/Guy Stevens (tracks 5 and 9)
Mott the Hoople chronology
Mad Shadows
(1970)		 Wildlife
(1971)		 Brain Capers
(1971)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Rolling Stonefavourable[2]

The album was originally released in 1971; in the UK by Island Records (catalogue number ILPS 9144) and in the US by Atlantic Records (cat. no. SD 8284). It was subsequently re-released by Angel Air in 2003 SJPCD159.

It reached No. 44 in the UK Albums Chart in April 1971.[3]

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic gave the album four stars out of five and stated:

Since they had little success and seemed to be going off the tracks, Mott the Hoople was encouraged to produce their third album with anyone that wasn't Guy Stevens. Eventually, they chose themselves, creating a record that is bright and punchy, standing in direct contrast to Mad Shadows' enveloping fog. They wound up with Wildlife, a record that still seems a little transitional, yet is considerably more confident, unified, and enjoyable. [1]

Track listing

Side one
  1. "Whiskey Women" (Mick Ralphs) – 3:42
  2. "Angel of Eighth Avenue" (Ian Hunter) – 4:33
  3. "Wrong Side of the River" (Ralphs) – 5:19
  4. "Waterlow" (Hunter) – 3:03
  5. "Lay Down" (Melanie Safka) – 4:13

Side two
  1. "It Must Be Love" (Ralphs) – 2:24
  2. "Original Mixed-Up Kid" (Hunter) – 3:40
  3. "Home Is Where I Want to Be" (Ralphs) – 4:11
  4. "Keep a Knockin' (live at Fairfield Halls, Croydon, 13 September 1970)" (Richard Penniman) – 10:10 (*)

(*) This track is a rock and roll medley that, in addition to "Keep A Knockin'", also includes snippets of "I Got A Woman" (by Ray Charles), "What'd I Say" (Charles) and "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" (Jerry Lee Lewis). On the recording, however, singer Ian Hunter incorrectly introduces "What'd I Say" as being written by Jerry Lee Lewis.

2003 CD bonus tracks
  1. "It'll Be Me" (Jack Clement) – 2.58
  2. "Long Red" (Leslie West, Felix Pappalardi, John Ventura, Norman Landsberg) – 3.47

2018 CD bonus track

In 2018, as part of a boxed set of Island era material, Whiskey Women was issued under its original title of Brain Haulage. This is an unedited take, with the guitar power-chords mixed higher. It's heavier, and closer to the live versions of the song.

Personnel

Mott the Hoople

Additional personnel
  • Jerry Hogan – steel guitar on "It Must Be Love" and "Original Mixed-Up Kid"
  • Jess Roden – background chorus on "Lay Down"
  • Stan Tippins – background chorus on "Lay Down"
  • Michael Gray – string arrangements and conductor on "Waterlow"
  • Jim Archer – violin on "Angel of Eighth Avenue"

Technical

Charts

Album
Year Chart Position Weeks on chart
1971 Official Charts (UK) 44[4] 2
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References
  1. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Wildlife". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  2. Ben Edmonds (10 June 1971). "Wildlife". Rolling Stone.
  3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 381. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. "Official Charts - Mott the Hoople". Retrieved January 7, 2018.
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