After touring his first solo album 'Slaughter On 10th Avenue', Mick Ronson returned to the studio to craft his second set of songs for the follow-up 'Play Don’t Worry'. Adding guest musicians including Jeff Daly on saxophone, Neil Kernon on ARP, John Mealing on piano, and Ritchie Dharma, Paul Francis, and Tony Newman on drums, he recorded a version of Pure Prairie League’s swaggering 'Angel No. 9', on which he'd guested on guitar on the original recording, as well as an amped-up version of Bobby Troup’s oldie 'The Girl Can't Help It', featuring his Mott The Hoople pal Ian Hunter on background vocals. Another Pure Prairie League song 'Woman' was also selected, and a couple of different takes were taped, before the faster, full-on rock version was selected for the album, and he also contributed some original material, including the title track. Also taped were a couple of versions of Annette Peacock's 'Seven Days', from which the more mellow, stripped-back take was chosen to be the flip of the 'Billy Porter' single, and at the same time demos were recorded of other songs which were considered for the album, including a great country-ish version of Bowie's 'Soul Love', re-titled 'Stone Love', and '(Is There) Life On Mars', which strangely enough is not the Bowie song, but one of an identical title by Bob Barnes (aka Roscoe West). There are also a couple more Ronson originals in 'I'd Rather Be Me' and 'Pain In The City', and a lengthy jam based around Peacock's 'Seven Days'. Collecting all these together makes for a great companion album to 'Play Don't Worry', and to round it off there's a superb live rendition of the previous record's title track, so enjoy this collection of rarities from a much-missed musician.
Track listing
01 Seven Days (b-side of 'Billy Porter' 1974)
02 Pain In The City (demo 1975)
03 I'd Rather Be Me (demo 1975)
04 Stone Love (Soul Love) (demo 1975)
05 Dogs (French Girl) (demo 1975)
06 (Is There) Life On Mars? (demo 1975)
07 Seven Days II (alternate take 1975) >
08 28 Days Jam (out-take 1975)
09 Woman (alternate take 1975)
10 Slaughter On Tenth Avenue (live)
Many thanks pj for sharing the Mick Ronson album....I have seen Mick Ronson a few times on his first solo gigs in the UK and later on the Hunter Ronson tour but was lucky enough to be at the final Ziggy Stardust gig at the Hammersmith Odeon 3rd July 1973 ....a night I shall never forget.....also was at The Mick Ronson Memorial Concert in 94 where lots of big names paid a fitting tribute to the great man himself.....nice one pj
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