Ian Hunter is the first solo studio album by English singer-songwriter Ian Hunter, recorded following his departure from Mott the Hoople. Released in 1975, it is also the first of many solo albums on which he collaborated with Mick Ronson. The bassist, Geoff Appleby, was from Hull like Mick Ronson and they had played together in The Rats in the late 1960s. The track "It Ain't Easy When You Fall/Shades Off" contains the only recorded example of Hunter reading his own poetry.

Ian Hunter
Studio album by
Released1975, March 28th (1975, March 28th)
RecordedJanuary–March 1975
StudioAIR, London
Genre
Length40:38
LabelCBS
ProducerIan Hunter, Mick Ronson
Ian Hunter chronology
Ian Hunter
(1975)
All American Alien Boy
(1976)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Christgau's Record GuideB[2]
The Village VoiceB−[3]

The single "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" would be his first and last Top 20 hit in the UK Singles Chart. The pop-metal band Great White later covered the song on their 1989 album ...Twice Shy.[4]

"Who Do You Love" and "3,000 Miles from Here" were covered by Joe Elliott's Down 'n' Outz on their 2010 album My ReGeneration. Also, Def Leppard covered "Who Do You Love" on their 1999 single "Goodbye" as a B-side. "Who Do You Love" was also covered by the Pointer Sisters on their 1979 album, Priority.

Track listing

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All songs written by Ian Hunter except where noted.

  1. "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" – 4:44
  2. "Who Do You Love" – 3:51
  3. "Lounge Lizard" – 4:32
  4. "Boy" (Hunter, Mick Ronson) – 8:52
  5. "3,000 Miles from Here" – 2:48
  6. "The Truth, the Whole Truth, Nuthin' but the Truth" – 6:13
  7. "It Ain't Easy When You Fall/Shades Off" – 5:46
  8. "I Get So Excited" – 3:48

30th anniversary bonus tracks

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  1. "Colwater High" – 3:12
  2. "One Fine Day" – 2:21
  3. "Once Bitten Twice Shy" (single version) – 3:52
  4. "Who Do You Love" (single version) – 3:17
  5. "Shades Off" (poem) – 1:37
  6. "Boy" (single version) – 6:25

Personnel

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  • Ian Hunter - vocals, rhythm guitar, piano, percussion, backing vocals
  • Mick Ronson - lead guitar, organ, Mellotron, mouth organ, bass guitar
  • Geoff Appleby - bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Dennis Elliott – drums, percussion
  • Pete Arnesen – piano, keyboards
  • John Gustafson – bass guitar on "Lounge Lizard"
Technical

Charts

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Chart (1975) Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[5] 36
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[6] 83
UK Albums (OCC)[7] 21
US Billboard 200[8] 50

References

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  1. ^ "Ian Hunter – Ian Hunter – Songs, Reviews, Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: H". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 26 February 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  3. ^ Christgau, Robert (16 June 1975). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  4. ^ "Ian Hunter – Once Bitten Twice Shy". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  5. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 144. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 3994b". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Ian Hunter Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 September 2024.