Label: Columbia Records (US), CK 34142
Style: Rock, Glam Rock
Country: England (3 June 1939)
Time: 41:18
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 245 Mb
All
American Alien Boy is the second studio album by Ian Hunter. Because of
management issues, Mick Ronson did not appear on this album; instead,
Hunter brought in keyboardist Chris Stainton to act as a balancing force
in the studio. Unlike his previous album, the album didn't feature any
of his trademark rockers (apart from "Restless Youth") and he opted for a
more jazzy direction including bassist Jaco Pastorius. The album title
is a play on Rick Derringer's 1973 album All American Boy. Queen appear
as backing vocalists on the track "You Nearly Did Me In".
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_American_Alien_Boy)
After
the relative success of his debut, it would have been very easy for Ian
Hunter to continue in the glam-inspired vein that made that album so
successful. Instead, he twisted his sound in a jazz direction for All
American Alien Boy, a partially successful attempt to open up his sound
from its traditional rock & roll routes. Since Hunter couldn't
utilize the producing and arranging skills of longtime cohort Mick
Ronson because of a dispute with Ronson's manager, Hunter took the reins
himself and invited a diverse cast of session musicians that included
everyone from journeyman drummer Aynsley Dunbar to jazz bass wizard Jaco
Pastorius. The resulting album mixture of conventional Mott the
Hoople-style rock and sonic experiments never truly gels, but does
contain some fine tracks. The experiments are hit and miss: the title
track is a funky, sax-flavored exploration of Hunter's adjustment to
life in America that works nicely, but the interesting lyrics of "Apathy
83" get buried in an uncharacteristically bland soft rock arrangement.
The songs that work best are the more traditional-sounding numbers:
"Irene Wilde" is a delicately crafted autobiographical ballad about the
rejection that made Hunter decide to "be somebody, someday," and "God -
Take 1" is a stirring, Dylan-styled rocker featuring witty lyrics that
illustrate a conversation with a weary and down-to-earth version of God.
However, the true gem of the album is "You Nearly Did Me In," an
elegant and emotional ballad about the emptiness that follows a romantic
breakup. It also notable for the stirring backing vocals from guest
stars Queen on its chorus. In the end, All-American Alien Boy lacks the
consistency to fully succeed as an album but still offers enough stellar
moments to make it worthwhile for Ian Hunter's fans.
(allmusic.com/album/all-american-alien-boy-mw0000203076)
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