POP MUSIC in Britain has, more often than not, taken its lead from America. Changing styles there have been reflected by the mirror of our own scene, although of late that tendency has been reversed by bands from the Beatles to Led Zeppelin.
The most important American trend of 1969, though, has scarcely caused a ripple on the rather oversmooth waters of British pop, I refer to that most excellent development country/rock, which has spawned groups of the calibre of the Burrito Brothers, the Dillards, the Youngbloods, and Area Code 615.
Country
Perhaps it is because country rock derives from the twin streams of Country and Western music that it has not been seized on in Britain, However, recently I heard an album by a British group which seemed to me to have some of the characteristics of country/rock: a certain relaxed open feeling which appears to derive from a rural rather than urban environment. The band is called Mott The Hoople, and although their debut album was generally kindly received, several reviewers noted a great similarity between the sound of the band and the sound of Bob Dylan's 'Blonde On Blonde' line-up. Having checked that out for myself and finding it to be quite justified, I went to see the band in their Cbelsea flat and asked them if the similarity was intended or coincidental.'Completely unintentional', they cried in unison ('they' being singer and pianist Ian Hunter, organist Verden Allen, guitarist Mick Ralphs, bassist Overend Watts, and drummer Buffin.) 'Seriously though, it just came out that way by accident', said Ian, 'We use organ and piano, which must make the sound similar for a start, and the studios we cut the album in had a lot to do with the vocals sounding like Dylan.' As I mentioned earlier, the group have a kind of rural feeling, which could possibly be attributed to the fact that they all come from the green and pleasant hills of Hereford, except Ian who comes from Shrewsbury.
The four from Hereford spent many moons playing in rival groups around the town. A few months ago they decided to try and break into what is fondly known as the 'big time', and after due consideration they plumped for Island as the place to go.
Mick came down to London six months ago with some rather average demo tapes and played them for Guy Stevens, who was interested in the songs but not really in the band.
Fluke
They had no singer at the time so Ian joined - 'it was a fluke' - and, as he had been writing songs and making demos in London, he began to write songs for the band with Mick.
However, Stevens was interested enough to hire a studio for the group, and he went away raving. Tbe next day they all trooped into another studio to see how they'd sound on record, and cut some rough tapes which further excited Stevens.
Plans were made for their first album, and after two weeks rehearsal they cut their tracks. At this time they had still to perform in public, but the sound on the LP gives the impression that they are a live rather than a studio group. 'Now that we've played some live gigs including the Country Club, the Lyceum, the Speakeasy, and Aylesbury's Friars Club, we're a different band,' says Mick. 'Mind you we were never really influenced by anyone - there weren't many bands to go and hear in Hereford, and in fact there wasn't much to do except play our own music.
They're a shy bunch, amazingly pleasant to be around after a surfeit of hard blase Londoners, and they tend to come off the stand exclaiming how they've enjoyed each other's playing.
It will be interesting to see how they fare in the rugged climes of America, where they tour in May. The album is set for release in the States in February or March on the Atlantic label who have, says Mick, 'given us a really fantastic advance'.
"We'd really like to do a Traffic and live in a country cottage, but circumstances dictate living in London', says Mick.
Ian: 'It would be really great to get into a position where we could go back and live at home, while still being part of the scene. That may even happen one day, the way the scene is going.'
Thanks
As I got up to leave, Mick said 'Would you please put in that we'd like to thank Guv Stevens, who's our aide, mentor, and sixth man, and also Andy Johns, our engineer. We must be the luckiest band in the world for recording. Everybody's so great - it's not a drag like some sessions.' I think Mott The Hoople are too good for London. Not musically, but as people they're just too bloody nice. I just hope that the concrete jungle doesn't change their admirably placed heads much.