Looking to follow up on their newly found popularity, Ian Hunter penned the song "Honaloochie Boogie" for the upcoming 1973 album titled Mott. This album also contained the now-classic "All the Way from Memphis" and "Ballad of Mott the Hoople". This was, arguably, the most successful album they ever released.

So here we have one of their best offerings on vinyl. Not just any vinyl of course, but that of the very limited edition 180 gram variety. Only 1,000 copies were made and are packaged in the extremely rare original UK die-cut gatefold cover with transparency. A complete twelve page booklet is included that contains recollections from all five band members of the sessions from All The Young Dudes and Mott as well as what it was like to be in Mott The Hoople during this time period. It took no less than eighteen months to get everything just right for this audiophile vinyl release. This includes Mott The Hoople's drummer, Dale "Buffin" Griffin, input in this remastering process.

So how does it sound. Ah, come here and let me tell you. If your in your mid/late 30's like me, you probably remember getting a bit inebriated and putting Mott on the table for a spin. It was music to party by. In fact you and your buddies might have also sang along. In my case i drummed along too. Here we have what sounds to me virtually exactly like what recording studios were doing back in the early 70's. Boxy slightly rough sounding electric guitar, dead thuddy drums and strong vocals. Never harsh and always satisfying to the rock 'n roll fan.

While i am not fortunate enough to have the original rare UK release, i do have an old copy here with the more normal cover. Let me say here and now there is no comparison from my copy to this new remaster. The remaster offers such a vast amount of musical information as to make my other copy now seem unlistenable. So much so i sold my copy for 25 cents this past weekend in my yard sale to some 30ish rocker who also scoffed up my less than wonderful Hendrix and the horrible sounding American pressing of Dark Side of the Moon.

What i am trying to say here is that once you hear what great remastering can accomplish you simply can not go back to more mundane pressings. This audiophile 180 gram vinyl pressing of Mott should be a must-have for anyone who, like me, grew up singing and playing along to the joys of their rock music. Everything is better. With such a limited supply of only 1,000 pressings it will probably sell out fast. This remastering is obviously a labor of love as with only 1,000 pressings available they are not making any big money here. i wonder how Absolute Analogue can do it? In any event it brings me joy to see the really great old rocker albums brought to life once again. Oh, before i forget, i have been told they are also going to release All The Young Dudes. The G-ds have smiled upon us.

Enjoyment: 100