Album of the Day

After a pair of albums helmed by madman Guy Stevens, Mott The Hoople decided to produce themselves, and came up with the bright and beautiful WILDLIFE. Cut in London and released on Atlantic in the U.S., the collection stands out in the Mott catalog for its mellower, more acoustic approach - “It Must Be Love” is but one track betraying folk and country influences – though the rollicking opener “Whiskey Women” and closing live “Keep A Knockin” show that the British band could still shake the rafters. The 1971 album is also unusual in the space it gives Mick Ralphs to stretch out – the guitarist splits songwriting and singing duties evenly with frontman Ian Hunter. As this is Ralphs' birthday, we'll celebrate with another spin of WILDLIFE.