Wildlife

'Wildlife' was released by Island Records on 19th March 1971 in a gatefold sleeve. (At an early stage the album was to have been titled 'Original Mixed Up Mott'.) It entered the UK album charts on the 17th April, where it stayed for two weeks, peaking at number 44. The album's inner gatefold was a live colour photo of MOTT THE HOOPLE from the Croydon show, while the front and back of the album was another colour photo of the band looking windswept and interesting in woodland up in County Durham. I guess the concept , if there was one, was that both photos showed 'wildlife' in its natural habitat. Following the release of the album , the band quickly returned to what they knew best - the road. Although a couple of the quieter songs from 'Wildlife' were included in the set, they were very soon replaced by newer, harder edged material. Again, there was that strange paradox: live, the band were a huge success, playing to sell-out venues all over the country. The stage was set for the recording of what was to become Mott The Hoople's swansong for Island Records, the flawed but essential 'Brain Capers'. Musicians: DALE GRIFFIN, IAN HUNTER, MICK RALPHS, OVEREND WATTS and VERDEN ALLEN.