![\"overboard1\"](\"https:\/\/www.itwriting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/overboard1.png\" "\\"overboard1\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nSeptember 2008 sees Ian Hunter back at A-Pawling studios in Pawling, New York, to record a new album, Man Overboard. The Rant Band is not credited as such, but many of the musicians are familiar:<\/p>\n
Andy York (Guitar)
Steve Holley (Drums)
Paul Page (Bass)
Jack Petruzzelli (Guitar)
James Mastro (Guitar)
Andy Burton (Piano and Organ)
Rick Tedesco, Cat Martino (Backing Vocals)<\/p>\n
In addition, Mark Bosch turns up to play lead guitar on one song, Up and Running.<\/p>\n
The CD was released by the small artist-friendly label New West Records, whose slogan is \u201cPromoting music with integrity since 1998\u201d. Production quality is excellent, with a smart gatefold sleeve and a 12 page lyric booklet with colour photos. I\u2019m sorry if the wine ain\u2019t to your taste We also get a reference to one of Hunter\u2019s past bands:<\/p>\n I think I need another boost The title track Man Overboard<\/b> follows, a slow, Dylanesque song about being down and out, \u201cout on the street where the cigarettes meet, abandon hope all who live here.\u201d It\u2019s a good song; though I\u2019m not sure why Hunter is writing songs like this from his secure position as an elder statesman of rock. Overall Man Overboard is lighter in tone than the two albums which precede it. Many Hunter fans find it weaker than other albums from the last ten years or so, though the songs are decent enough. It is a bit lacking in energy especially in the second half.<\/p>\n My favourites here are Up and Running and Flowers.<\/p>\n \u201cI think ‘Man Overboard’ is a very good album but certainly not as good as it’s predecessor ‘Shrunken Heads’ and especially the one that followed ‘When I’m President’ which is one of the best albums Ian has ever released,\u201d said one fan (tomcaulf) on the Ian Hunter forum.<\/p>\n It was also noted that the album was overshadowed by the 2009 Mott the Hoople reunion, which drew Hunter back to the past.<\/p>\n Man Overboard (21 July 2009) New West Records NW6167 September 2008 sees Ian Hunter back at A-Pawling studios in Pawling, New York, to record a new album, Man Overboard. The Rant Band is not credited as such, but many of the musicians are familiar: Andy York (Guitar) Steve Holley (Drums) Paul Page (Bass) Jack Petruzzelli … Continue reading Man Overboard<\/span>
The Great Escape<\/b>, co-written by Andy York, kicks things off with a country vibe, a strange tale about a young man escaping from an imminent beating in a bar by jumping out of a window. \u201cWhen you got to get away, you got to get away\u201d sings Hunter, profoundly. He is in somewhat gruff voice, a characteristic of this album, but it is none the worse for it.
Arms and Legs<\/b> is stronger, a love song with some typical Hunter bite \u201cyou are my illness, you are my disease, you\u2019re up there on that pedestal and I\u2019m down here on my knees.\u201d Actually quite a sweet song, with one of Hunter\u2019s seemingly effortless catchy melodies.
Up and Running<\/b> is a more energetic number, a kind of blues protest \u201cI\u2019m sick and tired of being pushed around.\u201d Some great lyrics, my favourite lines being:<\/p>\n\n
Maybe there\u2019s just a hint of sour grapes\u200b<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
O\u2019 Mott the Hoople juice, I still got the legs\u200b<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Babylon Blues<\/b> is addressed to a woman who seems to have some issues, \u201ctangled up in the Babylon blues\u201d. Some fun wordplay again, \u201csay you gonna quit, that\u2019s the end of it, but the pieces don\u2019t fit, what am I stupid, I don\u2019t buy it.\u201d The song motors along, lots of energy in the vocals.
The Girl from the Office<\/b> is a melodic ditty about getting off with a pretty girl from the factory office. Mixed feelings about this one. Some find it too cute; I find it uncomfortably lustful as the factory workers obsess about \u201cwhat\u2019s she like in bed\u201d. There is a theory that it is a tribute to the Kinks as it has a bit of a Kinks feel to it.
Flowers<\/b> is really good though, as Hunter despairs that \u201cno one learns from the lessons of history\u201d as he muses about flowers left, I assume, to mark the sad untimely death of some victim of violence. \u201cEvery man killed is an insult to any faith,\u201d he sings, plain talking of the kind he is good at. Catchy tune too.
These Feelings<\/b> is another gentle love song and nicely done. It\u2019s not easy to do these songs about still being in love after many years with conviction, but Hunter does it well.
Win it All<\/b> is a quiet song about hope when times are hard. Sensitive accompaniment from Petruzzelli on piano and York on accordion.
Way with words<\/b> stays with the quiet atmosphere, a pretty song about someone with a \u201cway with words\u201d that calms him down when \u201con a restless sea\u201d.
The River of Tears<\/b> is a narrative about an ancient native tribe, \u201cthe Agoras\u201d, and a legend about the healing power of tears. I don\u2019t know if this is a story Hunter heard somewhere and worked into a song, but he means it I think as a song of hope.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"