Tag: Mick Ronson

Lou Reed – I’m So Free

I’ve been listening to different tracks from Lou Reed recently and found that many are catchy and likeable in one listen. He has many more songs than Walk on the Wild Side. I’ve never explored him like I should have, and I’ve been doing that along with Frank Zappa. It took me a while to pick a song to cover because I couldn’t decide on one.

This song is on his 1972 great album called Transformer. I love Lou’s delivery, half sung, half tossed off, like he’s talking to you from the corner of the room. It’s not a grand hit centerpiece like Walk on the Wild Side, but it shows what the Transformer sessions were really about. Taking Lou’s New York voice and framing it so the world couldn’t miss it.

It was recorded during the Transformer sessions in London in 1972, with David Bowie and Mick Ronson producing and helping shape the sound. Lou came in with the songs, but Bowie and Ronson gave the album a tighter sound than the rougher Velvet Underground days. Cleaner takes and separation between instruments. They gave the songs more of a punch. Ronson wasn’t just producing, he was also arranging and playing as well.

Transformer peaked at #29 on the Billboard Album Charts, #12 in Canada, and #13 in the UK in 1972. Transformer was Lou Reed’s most commercially successful and iconic solo album. The first single, Walk on the Wild Side became a Top Forty hit on both sides of the Atlantic. Within a year, Lou Reed transformed from a cult artist to an international star.

Lou Reed – There was this whole glam thing going on so I just put myself in that head. Its not like I had to go very far to do it. I have about a thousand selves running around. It’s easy.

Demo from 1971. Also my friend at thepressmusicreviews reviewed the RCA demos a while back. 

I’m So Free

Yes, I am Mother Nature’s son (uh, uh)And I’m the only oneI do what I want, and I want what I see (uh, uh)Could only happen to me

I’m so free (uh, uh, uh, uh)I’m so free (uh, uh, uh, uh)

Oh, please, St. Germaine (uh, uh)I have come this wayDo you remember the shape I was in? (Uh, uh)I had horns that bent

I’m so free (uh, uh, uh, uh)I’m so free (uh, uh, uh, uh)

Do you remember the silver walks?You used to shiver and I used to talkThen we went down to Times SquareAnd ever since I’ve been hangin’ ’round there

I’m so free (uh, uh, uh, uh)I’m so free (uh, uh, uh, uh)

Yes, I am Mother Nature’s son (uh, uh)And I’m the only oneI do what I want, and I want what I see (uh, uh)Could only happen to me

I’m so free (uh, uh, uh, uh)I’m so free (uh, uh, uh, uh)Oh-oh, I’m so freeOh-oh, I’m so freeOh-oh, I’m so free

In the morning, I’m so freeLate in the evening, I’m so freeYeah, yeah, yeah, I’m so freeWhen I feel good, I’m so free

And when it’s in the morning, I’m so freeAnd when it’s in the evening, I’m so freeI’m so free, I’m so freeI’m so free, I’m so free

Feel so good now, I’m so freeOh-oh, I’m so freeYeah, yeah, yeah, I’m so freeOh-oh, I’m so free

Feel so free now, I’m so freeFeel a little nice, I’m so freeFeel a little down now, I’m so freeYou’re so free, I’m so free

I’m so free, I’m so freeI’m so free, I’m so freeI’m so free, I’m so freeI’m so free, I’m so free

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Ian Hunter – Just Another Night

After Mott The Hoople yesterday I had to go into full Ian Hunter mode. The piano intro in the song is incredible. Not only the riff but the sound they got off of it. This song was written by Hunter and Mick Ronson. It was about a night in an Indianapolis jail. I have a quote by Hunter at the bottom of the page about it.

The song was off of the brilliantly named album You’re Never Alone with a Schizophrenic and it peaked at #35 in the Billboard 100 and #49 in the UK in 1979. The album has been called by some critics his best ever. The album also has one of his most recognizable songs Cleveland Rocks. The song peaked at #68 on the Billboard 100 Charts in 1979.

Ian Hunter had a great band behind him on this song. Mick Ronson on guitar, and the E Street Band’s Gary Tallent on bass, Roy Bittan on keyboards, and Max Weinberg on drums. It was produced by Mick Ronson.

You can just picture yourself cruising down the highway with this song blasting from the speakers. It’s got that timeless feel that makes you wanna listen to it over and over again. Just like this song…Ian Hunter doesn’t seem to age. He released an album last year called Defiance Part 1. On April 19, 2024…he is releasing part II of that album Defiance Part 2: Fiction. 

My friend Christian has a review of Defiance Part 1 from last year…check it out. CB has a review of You’re Never Alone with a Schizophrenic.

Ian Hunter: It was about a night in a city jail, in Indianapolis. And the last interview I just did before you was from Indianapolis! That was what the song was about. It was done with The E Street Band, so the initial recording [sounded] too much like Bruce! So Ronson was like, “Come on, do it how you wrote it!” And I said, “I can’t remember how I wrote it!” And then he remembered the groove, which was more rock and roll.

Just Another Night

Oh no, the fuzz, all in a lineMy oh my, I think I’m gonna dieAnd it’s just another nightIt’s just another night

Got a long black face; Who goes there?All the reefer madnessput a poor kid in jailAnd it’s just another nightYeah, it’s just another night

Oh take it easy boy or it’s DOAChrome on my body and a lot of folks sayThat it’s just another nightHey, It’s just another nightOh, it’s just another night on the other side of life

Head one’s a saw-bones and he wrecked my chairSaid “How’d you like to do it in a room downstairs”And it’s just another nightOh, just another night

Hey now, Papa Joe, Don’t you pull my hairAll this intrigue, it gets me out of my leagueAnd it’s just another nightIt’s just another night

His old man spent a fortune just to get him inBut baby boy growed up just as stupid as himAnd it’s just another nightIt’s just another nightIt’s just another night on the other side of life

Just another night, hung down slowI don’t like the hotel let me goHells bells! Give me a chance!This rock ‘n’ roller don’t wanna danceJust another nightJust another nightWell, it’s just another night on the other side of life

I never felt so bad; Where’s my shades?It’s gonna be a long one getting crazedA head spoutin’ noodles said, “What do you plead?”I said “You ain’t got to touch a man to make a man bleed”

‘N’ it’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night (on the other side)It’s just another night!

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