''Rock and Roll Queen'' is a compilation album by the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

rock band Mott the Hoople. The album predominantly features selections from the four albums Mott recorded for

Island Records Island Records is a multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded in Jamaica by Chris Blackwell, Graeme Goodall, and Leslie Kong in 1959, and was eventually sold to PolyGram in 1989. Island and A&M Records, another ...

in the UK, which were subsequently issued in the US by

Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over the course of its first two decades, starting from the release of its first recor ...

. In Canada, the first three were released by

Polydor Polydor Limited, also known as Polydor Records, is a British record label that operates as part of Universal Music Group. It has a close relationship with Universal's Interscope Geffen A&M Records label, which distributes Polydor's releases in ...

, while '' Brain Capers'' was released in Canada by Island. The album was initially released by Island Records UK in late 1972 (catalog no. ILPS 9215) following Mott's move to

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS (an abbreviation of its original name, Columbia Broadcasting System), is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainme ...

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American reco ...

earlier that year, and the band's success with their first CBS/Columbia album ''

All the Young Dudes "All the Young Dudes" is a song written by English singer-songwriter David Bowie, originally recorded and released as a single by the English rock band Mott the Hoople in 1972 by Columbia Records. Bowie produced the song, which he had given t ...

''. It was not initially issued in North America until February 1974 when Atlantic released it in the US (catalog no. SD 7297), and Island released it in Canada, after the release of Mott's second Columbia album ''

Mott Mott is both an English surname and given name. Notable people with the name include: Surname B * Basil Mott (1859–1938), British civil engineer *Bitsy Mott (1918–2001), American baseball player C * Catherine R. Mott (1836–1880), American ...

'' (1973). The release also shortly followed recording of ex-Mott guitarist

Mick Ralphs Michael Geoffrey Ralphs (born 31 March 1944) is an English retired guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, who was a founding member of rock bands Mott the Hoople and Bad Company. Though not a constant member, he appeared on every studio album b ...

's first album with his new band

Bad Company Bad Company were an English rock supergroup formed in London in 1973 by singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke (both ex- Free), guitarist Mick Ralphs (ex- Mott the Hoople) and bassist Boz Burrell (ex-King Crimson). Kirke was the only m ...

, which was issued as the first release by Atlantic's affiliated label

Swan Song Records Swan Song Records was a record label that was launched by the English rock band Led Zeppelin on 10 May 1974; however, its first record releases (in UK and US, respectively) were '' Silk Torpedo'', by another English rock band, the Pretty Thin ...

in June 1974 in North America. The album includes selections from all of Mott the Hoople's Island/Atlantic albums, as well as one non-LP track, as chosen by the band's early mentor and producer

Guy Stevens Guy Stevens (13 April 1943 – 28 August 1981) was a British music industry figure whose roles included DJ, record producer and band manager. He was influential in promoting R&B music in Britain in the 1960s, gave the rock bands Procol Harum ...

. Stevens' selections might in some cases be viewed as questionable; in particular, his choices include a short edit of "The Wheel of the Quivering Meat Conception" (a coda to Ian Hunter's song "The Journey" on which Stevens took a songwriter's credit), and one track from Mott's largely self-produced album ''

Wildlife Wildlife refers to domestication, undomesticated animals and uncultivated plant species which can exist in their natural habitat, but has come to include all organisms that grow or live wilderness, wild in an area without being species, introdu ...

'' that Stevens collaborated with them on, the live 1950s rock and roll medley "

Keep A Knockin' "Keep A-Knockin' (But You Can't Come In)" is a popular song that has been recorded by a variety of musicians over the years. The lyrics concern a lover at the door who will not be admitted; some versions because someone else is already there, but ...

." Regardless of this, however, critic Ira Robbins cited the album as having merit in his ''

Trouser Press ''Trouser Press'' was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow fan of the Who, Dave Schulps, and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" (a reference ...

'' online retrospective of Ian Hunter's and Mott the Hoople's work: "''Rock and Roll Queen'' ... omits 'Sweet Angeline' Brain Capers''">rom Mott's fourth album '' Brain Capers''and includes 'Keep A Knockin' but is otherwise a fair sampler of the band's Atlantic era."

Track listing

Vocals on all tracks by Ian Hunter, except as noted. #"Rock and Roll Queen" (

) – 5:06 #* From Mott the Hoople's first album '' Mott the Hoople'' (1969 UK, 1970 North America). #"The Wheel of the Quivering Meat Conception" (Ian Hunter, Guy Stevens) – 0:26 #* Edited version, from Mott the Hoople's fourth album ''Brain Capers'' (1971 UK, 1972 North America). #"

You Really Got Me "You Really Got Me" is a song by the English rock band the Kinks, written by frontman Ray Davies and released as their third single in 1964. The song, originally performed in a more blues-oriented style, was inspired by artists such as Lead B ...

" (

Ray Davies Sir Raymond Douglas Davies ( ; born 21 June 1944) is an English musician. He was the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and primary songwriter for the Rock music, rock band the Kinks, which he led, with his younger brother Dave Davies, Dave pro ...

) – 2:53 #* From ''Mott the Hoople''. Instrumental. #"Thunderbuck Ram" (Mick Ralphs) – 4:48 #* From Mott the Hoople's second album '' Mad Shadows'' (1970). Vocals by Mick Ralphs. #"Walkin' With a Mountain" (Ian Hunter) – 3:53 #* From ''Mad Shadows''. #"Death May Be Your Santa Claus" (Ian Hunter,

Verden Allen Verden Allen (born Terence Allen, 26 May 1944, Crynant, Neath, Wales) is a Welsh organist and vocalist best known as a founding member of 1970s rock band Mott the Hoople. Before that band formed, he had in the mid-1960s been in a rhythm and ...

) – 4:54 #* From ''Brain Capers''. #"Midnight Lady" (Ian Hunter, Mick Ralphs) – 3:28 #* Non-LP single recorded during the ''Brain Capers'' sessions, and released in 1972. #"

Keep A-Knockin' "Keep A-Knockin' (But You Can't Come In)" is a popular song that has been recorded by a variety of musicians over the years. The lyrics concern a lover at the door who will not be admitted; some versions because someone else is already there, but ...

" (

Richard Penniman Richard Wayne Penniman (December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020), known professionally as Little Richard, was an American singer, pianist, and songwriter. He was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades. Described as the "Ar ...

) – 10:06 #* From Mott the Hoople's third album ''Wildlife'' (1971). Recorded at

Fairfield Halls Fairfield Halls is an arts, entertainment and conference centre in Croydon, London, England, which opened in 1962 and contains a theatre and gallery, and a large concert hall regularly used for BBC television, radio and orchestral recordings. F ...

, Croydon, UK in late 1970. Interpolates sections of "

I Got A Woman "I Got a Woman" (originally titled "I've Got a Woman") is a song co-written and recorded by American R&B and soul musician Ray Charles. Atlantic Records released the song as a single in December 1954, with " Come Back Baby" as the B-side. Both ...

" (by

Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential musicians in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Gen ...

), "

What'd I Say "What'd I Say" (or "What I Say") is an American rhythm and blues song by Ray Charles, released in 1959. As a single divided into two parts, it was one of the first soul songs. The composition was improvised one evening late in 1958 when Charl ...

" (Charles) and "

Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" (sometimes rendered "Whole Lot of Shakin' Going On") is a song written by Dave "Curlee" Williams and sometimes also credited to James Faye "Roy" Hall. The song was first recorded by Big Maybelle, though the best-k ...

" (

Jerry Lee Lewis Jerry Lee Lewis (September 29, 1935October 28, 2022) was an American pianist, singer, and songwriter. Nicknamed "The Killer", he was described as "rock 'n' roll's first great wild man". A pioneer of rock and roll and rockabilly music, Lewis m ...

Personnel

;Mott the Hoople * Ian Hunter - vocals, guitar, piano *

- guitar, vocals, backing vocals *

Pete Overend Watts Peter Overend Watts (13 May 1947 – 22 January 2017) was an English bass guitar player and founding member of the 1970s rock band Mott the Hoople. Early life Watts was born in Yardley, Birmingham, on 13 May 1947. He moved as a child to Worthi ...

- bass, backing vocals *

Dale "Buffin" Griffin Terence Dale "Buffin" Griffin (24 October 1948 – 17 January 2016) was an English drummer and a founding member of 1970s rock band Mott the Hoople. Later, he worked as a producer, and produced many of the BBC Radio 1 John Peel sessions from 1 ...

- drums, backing vocals *

- organ, backing vocals

References

{{Mott the Hoople Mott the Hoople albums Island Records albums 1972 compilation albums