MOTT THE HOOPLE/TWO MILES FROM HEAVEN IRSP 8 (-80) UK

A favour for all Mott The Hoople fans - fourteen rare or unissued tracks from the Island years 1969-72. To me that was their best period and I welcome everything from it. Some of the tracks were re-mixed or got additional overdubs for the issue. I truly hate later re-makes, but here they are sparse and so well done it's almost impossible to distinguish and I can live with it. And there's lots of good news - "Thunderback Ram" is the same alternate take as on "Bumpers" pink label press  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2023/03/bumpers-idp-1-69-uk.html  . "You Really Got Me" was instrumental on first LP, this one has vocals. "Keep A Knocking" was live on the Widlife album, on here is a studio version. "Road To Birmingham" earlier only surfaced on very first withdrawn press of the debute album and as '45 B-side. The early alternate versions of "One Of The Boys", "Black Scorpio" (Mommas Little Jewel) and "Ride On The Sun" (Sea Diver) was recorded in Island studios before the group moved to CBS and other takes of the songs became part of "All The Young Dudes" album. The rest of the songs previously unreleased. The sound is a little too polished for my taste - I miss the rude presence of their early LP:s, but apart from that it's perfect. Don't know of any US vinyl issue. On CD 2001 (Angel Air Records SJPCD 099) with three bonus tracks. First UK had label as shown here, thin glossy cover and black inner.(MÖHÖ*)