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Mott
disc 1 - "Over Here" The Polytechnic Students' Union Hall, Leeds, Yorkshire,
England disc 2 - "Over There" The Agors Ballroom, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Overend Watts bass, vocals Mott Live Support Team Nick Watson mastered this MOTT material from cassette sources during April/May 1999, at Sound Recording Technology, St. Ives, Cambridge, UK. Morgan Fisher supplied the original MOTT cassette tapes and also many of the photographs to be found in the CD booklet. Graeme Hogg designed the artwork for the CD package at Printout, Rockhouse, Wheatsheaf Corner, Shiney Row, Houghton le Spring, Tyne and Wear. Peter Purnell suggested the concept for this double CD release. Licensed from MOTT memmbers - Nigel Benjamin, Morgan Fisher, Ray Majors, Overend Watts and Dale Griffin.
Half Moon Bay says... This double set reveals three things: what a great live band, they were as on the edge as and true successors to MTH, Ray Major should have been made to replace Ralphs in '73 and Dale Griffin should write an MTH biography. OK, that's four things. The main problem with this set is that due to the fact that it is a relclamation of the only available Mott live tracks in existence we get three versions of 'The Great White Wail', two performances of 'By Tonight' and 'She Does It'. But hey, these are small gripes. It also goes to prove that had the timing been better and, arguably, the record company been a bit more supportive over the years (things seemed OK on band launch) then this lot should have seen a better return... But, alas, it was not to be and Dale's excellent sleeve notes certainly give you a flavour of the bands own frustration and, even, bitterness towards Hunter and Ronson and CBS. The recordings are very raw and were made on the night straight to cassette from the mixing desks. No audio touching-up has been performed and the results are very fresh. You know about most of the tracks contained here but the most revealing thing to me is Ray Majors' guitar work. Quite stunning and it gives the whole Mott vehicle a competent and melodic outlet. Dales drumming is, as always, top drawer and why he never came top of any of the 'best drummer' polls, ever, beats me. When doing these reviews, you never know just how prejudiced your own view is in favour of anything Mott-flavoured. However, I have to say that even in this raw condition, these tapes reveal a really great band and it satnds up well to, for example, UFOs famous live statement 'Strangers in the Night', often held up as the live album to which others should have aspired at the time. Also, let me assure you, that as live material goes, it has more spark than much of the Mott 'Live!' CBS set... Further, for the fan, each track by and large is a delight as you get a totally fresh or expanded version of the original studio take. 'Storm' and 'Love Now' spring to mind as great examples of this. So, if you can bear the duplication of titles (though not of performances) then this is well worth adding to your already bulging collection. Review Date: 20th June 1999 and 6th February 2000.
Drive On | Shouting and Pointing | Live - Over Here and Over There 75/76 | Gooseberry Sessions
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Last update 26th July 2008 ©2008 Half Moon Bay
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