52 Songs #16 - It Ain't Easy When You Fall, Ian Hunter

This week: It Ain't Easy When You Fall, Ian Hunter, from the lp Ian Hunter, released in 1975.

Another legacy from my brother. He was lucky enough to see Mott the Hoople in NYC in 1974, when Queen opened for them, and we listened to a lot of Mott - and later, Ian Hunter's solo stuff - for many years after that. His first solo album began his long collaboration with Mick Ronson and this song shows off the kind of anthemic, honest music they were capable of. The lyrics touch on loss, and loneliness, and isolation, but end with a flash of hope. Listen all the way through the spoken word part.

I only saw him & Ronson once, opening for the Kinks in, um, 1979 or 1980, and they fucking rocked. I haven't followed what old Ian's been up to lately, but he's got a great website and is still recording and preforming. And damn: he's 70 years old!

"...but sometimes when I've written a song...it's alright."




Come back next week for another of the 52 songs!