In June 2025, Michael Geoffrey Ralphs died aged 81. He was musician (guitar), vocalist and songwriter, member of the bands Buddies, Doc Thomas Group and Mick Ralphs Blues Band, but was best known as founding member of Mott the Hoople and Bad Company. As leader, he released three albums.
Tag Archives: Mott the Hoople
Rikki Rockett: Glitter 4 Your Soul
On January 7, 2003, “Slave To the Rhythm Productions, Inc” label released “Glitter 4 Your Soul”, the debut Rikki Rockett studio album. It was recorded 1999 – 2003, at “The Hit Shed” in Santa Clarita, California and was produced by Rikki Rockett.
Personnel:
- Rikki Rockett – vocals, drums, percussion, additional engineering, mixing
- Bret Michaels – vocal
- Jizzy Pearl – vocal
- John Corabi – vocal
- Gina Shock – vocal
- Cliff Calabro – vocal
- David Isaacs – vocal
- Lucy Levinsohn – vocal
- Eleanor Academia – vocal
- Dick Swagger – vocal
- Blues Saraceno – guitar
- Christy Calabro – guitar
- John Linn – additional guitar
- Stu Simone – keyboards
- Jeremy Rubolino – keyboards
- Chuck Garric – bass
- C.C. Deville – backing vocals
- Christy Calabro – backing vocal
- Mark Castrillon – backing vocal
- Jeremy Rubolino – backing vocal
- Cliff Calabro – backing vocal, engineer, mixing, co-producer
Track listing:
- Action – Sweet cover
- Fame – David Bowie cover
- Do You Wanna Touch Me – Gary Glitter cover
- Tear It Down – Starz cover
- Elected – Alice Cooper cover
- Trash – New York Dolls cover
- All the Way from Memphis – Mott The Hoople cover
- Rock On – David Essex cover
- Can You Feel It – Angel cover
- Life’s a Gas – T. Rex cover
- Star Star – The Rolling Stones cover
Mott the Hopple: Same
On November 22, 1969, “Island” label released the self-titled, debut Mott the Hoople album. It was recorded May – July 1969, at “Morgan” in London, and was produced by Guy Stevens.
Personnel:
- Ian Hunter – lead vocals, piano, rhythm guitar
- Mick Ralphs – lead and backing vocals, lead guitar
- Verden Allen – organ, backing vocals
- Pete “Overend” Watts – bass, backing vocals
- Dale “Buffin” Griffin – drums, backing vocals
- Guy Stevens – piano
- Andy Johns – engineer
- M. C. Escher – front cover drawing
Track listing:
- You Really Got Me – Ray Davies
- At the Crossroads – Doug Sahm
- Laugh At Me – Sonny Bono
- Backsliding Fearlessly – Ian Hunter
- Rock and Roll Queen – Mick Ralphs
- Rabbit Foot and Toby Time – Mike Ralphs
- Half Moon Bay – Mike Ralphs, Ian Hunter
- Wrath and Wroll – Guy Stevens
Peter Watts
On January 22, 2017, Peter Overend Watts died aged 69. He was musician (bass), vocalist, and record producer, member of the British Lions, but best known as the founding member and bass player of Mott the Hoople. As producer he worked with Hanoi Rocks and Dumb Blondes.
Terence Griffin
On January 17, 2016, Terence Dale “Buffin” Griffin died aged 67. He was musician (drums) and music producer. He was member of the band The British Lions, but was best known as founding member and the drummer of Mott the Hoople. As producer he worked with Hanoi Rocks and Cult, and produced numerous BBC Radio 1 John Peel sessions from 1981 to 1994.
Mott The Hoople: Brain Capers
In November 1971, “Island” label released “Brain Capers”, the fourth Mott the Hoople album. It was recorded August – September 1971, at “island Studios” in London, and was produced by Guy Stevens.
Personnel:
- Ian Hunter– vocals, guitar, keyboards
- Mick Ralphs– vocals, guitar
- Verden Allen– vocals, keyboards
- Pete Watts– vocals, bass
- Dale “Buffin” Griffin – vocals, drums
- Guy Stevens– piano
- Jim Price– trumpet
- Andy Johns– engineer
- Zal Schreiber – mastering
- Richard Polak – photography
Track listing:
- Death May Be Your Santa Claus – Ian Hunter, Verden Allen
- Your Own Backyard – Dion DiMucci
- Darkness, Darkness – Jesse Colin Young
- The Journey – Ian Hunter
- Sweet Angeline – Ian Hunter
- Second Love – Verden Allen
- The Moon Upstairs – Ian Hunter, Mick Ralphs
- The Wheel of the Quivering Meat Conception – Ian Hunter, Guy Stevens
Mott The Hoople: Mad Shadows
In September 1970, “Island” label released “Mad Shadows”, the second Mott the Hoople studio album. It was recorded November 1969 – April 1970, at “Olympic Studios” in London, and was produced by Guy Stevens.
Personnel:
- Ian Hunter- lead vocals, piano, rhythm guitar
- Mick Ralphs- lead guitar, backing and lead vocals
- Verden Allen- organ, backing vocals
- Pete “Overend” Watts- bass, backing vocals
- Dale “Buffin” Griffin- drums, backing vocals
- Guy Stevens- “psychic” piano, “spiritual” percussion
- Andy Johns– engineer
- Ginny Smith, Peter Sanders – design
- Gabi Naseman – front cover photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Ian Hunter except where noted.
- Thunderbuck Ram – Mick Ralphs
- No Wheels to Ride
- You Are One of Us
- Walkin’ with a Mountain
- I Can Feel
- Threads of Iron – Mick Ralphs
- When My Mind’s Gone
Mott the Hoople: Wildlife
In March 1971, “Island” label released “Wildlife”, the third Mott the Hoople studio album. It was recorded November – December 1970, at “Island Studios” in London, and was produced by Guy Stevens, Ian Hunter, Mick Ralphs, Verden Allen, Pete “Overend” Watts and Dale “Buffin” Griffin.
Personnel:
- Ian Hunter- lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, piano
- Mick Ralphs- lead and backing vocals, lead guitar
- Verden Allen- organ, backing vocals
- Pete “Overend” Watts- bass, backing vocals
- Dale “Buffin” Griffin- drums, backing vocals
- Jerry Hogan – steel guitar
- Jim Archer – violin
- Jess Roden- backing chorus
- Stan Tippins – backing chorus
- Michael Gray – string arrangements, conductor
- Andy Johns, Brian Humphries,Phill Brown – engineer
- Brian Cooke – photography
Track listing:
- Whiskey Women – Mick Ralphs
- Angel of Eighth Avenue – Ian Hunter
- Wrong Side of the River – Mick Ralphs
- Waterlow – Ian Hunter
- Lay Down – Melanie Safka
- It Must Be Love – Mick Ralphs
- Original Mixed-Up Kid – Ian Hunter
- Home Is Where I Want to Be – Mick Ralphs
- Keep a Knockin'(live recording) – Richard Penniman
Andy Johns
On April 7, 2013, Jeremy Andrew “Andy” Johns died aged 61. He was producer and engineer, worked with many musicians and bands, including: Blodwyn Pig, Humble Pie, Gary Wright, Free, Bobby Whitlock- Bobby Whitlock, West, Bruce and Laing, Jack Bruce, String Driven Thing, Television, Rod Stewart, Ron Wood, Cinderella, McAuley Schenker Group, Van Halen, Joe Satriani, Steve Miller Band, Jethro Tull, The Deviants, Spooky Tooth, Ten Years After, Clouds, Blind Faith, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Mott the Hoople, Sailor’s Delight- Sky, Larry Norman, Randy Stonehill, Joni Mitchell and Eric Clapton.
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