Album Details

• Artist: Mott The Hoople
• Album: All The Young Dudes
• Label: Atlantic
• Year of Release: 1972
• ME Rating: Indie Classic
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2009-12-07

Many of you young un's may not have even heard of Mott The Hoople. Hell, if it wasn't for All The Young Dudes, this here album most people wouldn't have heard of them. This was the band's fifth studio album, the first four were all critically lauded but sold like crap (story of great music). The band was about to pack it in but one David Bowie convinced the band to give it one more shot, as well as penning the title track to the album. What resulted was the pinnacle of this oft referred to band and yet not so oft collected.

All The Young Dudes starts out with quite an upbeat cover of Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane", it was rumored that the band hadn't even heard the song and Bowie made the suggestion. It's a wonderful rendition. The band moves into an original called "Momma's Little Jewel" then slides over to the title track. If you've heard any Mott The Hoople track, it would be this one. It was indeed penned by Bowie but unmistakably Mott's. My favorite track of this premium album is "Sucker", it's got a jam band feel with a wonderfully glam edge to it.

Not only was Mott The Hoople definitively glam rock but they were a good turning point in music as well. One of those bands that never really got the recognition they deserved, this album only charted at 89 on the US charts, 21 in the UK. Get All The Young Dudes and educate yourself, especially if you are a David Bowie fan.

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