Hunter’s spoils

The best of his solo work

IAN HUNTER CBS, 1975

The solo debut, the first of many co-produced by Mick Ronson, found the songwriter still in the major leagues; single “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” even reached No 14 in the UK.

ALL AMERICAN ALIEN BOY COLUMBIA, 1976

The album that sent Hunter’s commercial stock tumbling, but revealed a new side to him. There’s a new soulfulness here, especially with Jaco Pastorius on bass and David Sanborn on saxophone, but “Restless Youth” is as rocking and sleazy as prime Mott.

YOU’RE NEVER ALONE WITH A SCHIZOPHRENIC CHRYSALIS, 1979

A riotous, strutting tour de force, Hunter’s fourth album features Mick Ronson, members of the E Street Band and even John Cale. “Cleveland Rocks” has since become an anthem for the Ohio city, while the pretty, sad “Ships” was, surprisingly, taken into the US Top 10 by Barry Manilow.

SHORT BACK N’ SIDES CHRYSALIS, 1981

To match the titular ’do came a punchy new wave sound and co-production from Mick Jones. The default is taut rock backing Hunter’s usual Dylan-esque tumbles of words, but “Noises” takes inspiration from Talking Heads, and “Theatre Of The Absurd” from reggae.

THE ARTFUL DODGER CITADEL, 1996

Recorded in Trondheim, Norway, Hunter’s ninth is notable for “Michael Picasso”, its moving tribute to the late Mick Ronson. The sorrow runs through every hard-hitting line: “We had our ups and downs, like brothers often do/but I was there for him, he was always there for me”.

WHEN I’M PRESIDENT SLIMSTYLE, 2012

Teaming up with his Rant Band, Hunter turns in one of the strongest albums of his career. The political bite is present as usual, but there’s a real sense of anarchistic fun here.

DEFIANCE PART 1 SUN, 2023

The first in his two-album set, the guest-heavy Defiance is also a game of two halves: there’s the molten metal of the title track and the lithe boogie of “This Is What I’m For”, but there are also starlit ballads, from “Angel” to the rousing “Guernica”.