Veteran British rocker Ian Hunter, whose glam-era band Mott the Hoople scored its biggest hit in 1972 with the David Bowie-penned “All the Young Dudes” (from the Bowie-produced album of the same name), has released a new tribute to his late friend and colleague, “Dandy.” The track is part of Hunter’s forthcoming album with his Rant Band, Fingers Crossed, scheduled for release on September 16 (and available for pre-order below).
On “Dandy,” Hunter recounts his initial introduction to Bowie, quotes from various Bowie lyrics and song titles, and name-checks the members of Bowie’s classic Spiders from Mars band (“Little Lord Fauntleroy” is a reference to the late guitarist Mick Ronson), before concluding “We won’t see your like again” and thanking Bowie for the memories. “Mr. Jones” is an obvious reference to Bowie’s given last name.
Fingers Crossed, recorded in New Jersey and co-produced by Hunter and Andy York, will feature 10 new Hunter originals.
Here are the complete lyrics to “Dandy”:
Something is happening, Mr. Jones
My brother says you’re better than the Beatles or the Stones
From Saturday night to Sunday morning
You turned us into heroes
Can you hear the heroes sing
Dandy you are the prettiest star
There ain’t no life on Mars but we always there might be
Dandy, you opened up the door
You left us wanting more
And then we took the last bus home
Who let the genie out of the lamp?
The Little Lord Fauntleroy who let him out of his amp
From Saturday night to Sunday morning
Well Trevor’s getting bolder
and Woody loves the hit thing
Dandy, this world was black-and-white
You showed us what it’s like
To live inside a rainbow
Dandy, you thrilled us to the core
You left us wanting more
And then we took the last bus home
Lie lie la lie
Lie lie la lie…
You beat up the liar
You had it all
The voice, the look the songs that shook
The gift of the gab and the gall
From Saturday night to Sunday morning
When all we had to look forward to was the weekend
You made our lives worth living
Dandy, you’re still the prettiest star
There ain’t no life on Mars but we always thought there might be
Dandy you took us to the fair
With Cabaret Voltaire
And then we took the last train home
Dandy, you know we waited long enough
They should put a statue up in Piccadilly Circus
Dandy, you blew us all away
Outta the drab and the gray
And then we caught the last bus home
The keeper of the flame
We won’t see your like again
Oh, Dandy was a one-off
Hey, look at what you’ve become
I guess I owe you one
So thanks for the memories
“Dandy” can be purchased now at iTunes.
Ian Hunter 2016 Tour Dates (Tickets are available here):
Nov 4 – Leamington, UK – The Assembly
Nov 5 – Glasgow, UK – Glasgow Garage
Nov 7 – Gateshead, UK – Sage Gateshead
Nov 8 – Cardiff, UK – Tramshed
Nov 9 – Manchester, UK – Royal Northern College of Music
Nov 11 – London, UK – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Nov 12 – Buckley, UK – The Tivoli
Nov 13 – Holmfirth, UK – The Picturedome
Nov 15 – Malmo, Sweden – Kulturbolaget
Nov 16 – Goteborg, Sweden – Pustervik
Nov 18 – Drammen, Norway – Union Scene
Nov 19 – Trondheim, Norway – Byscenen
Nov 21 – Stockholm, Sweden – Nalen
1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversationIan is the best songmith n most talented albino to come out of the british invasion,cant wait till his new album comes out featuring the winters brothers edgar n johnny