Mick Ronson: Only After Dark - The Complete Mainman Recordings, 4CD Boxset

When David Bowie announced at the Hammersmith Odeon on 3rd July 1973 that he (or, as it subsequently turned out, alter-ego Ziggy Stardust) was breaking up the band, manager Tony Defries glimpsed a golden opportunity rather than the end of an era. With the MainMan agency’s main man coming off the road for at least a while, there was, Defries reasoned, space in the rock star firmament for a new Bowie, particularly one who would also be under MainMan’s management…

Thus it was that Bowie’s faithful right-hand man, Mick Ronson, was thrust into the spotlight. Possibly the most reluctant solo performer ever, Ronno was given three weeks to write and record a debut solo album. With Bowie’s help (he contributed three songs to the set), “Slaughter On 10th Avenue” was quickly pieced together after the conclusion of the “Pin Ups” sessions. Despite its rushed nature it was a strong effort, and the LP reached the UK album charts Top Ten.

Buoyed by this success, Ronson then recorded a second album, “Play Don’t Worry” - although before it could appear, he’d accepted Ian Hunter’s invitation to join Mott The Hoople. As a result, Mick’s sophomore solo set was largely overlooked, and his lukewarm attempts to promote it were further scuppered by his and Ian Hunter’s decision to leave Mott and relocate to America.

Sadly “Slaughter On 10th Avenue” and “Play Don’t Worry” would be the only solo albums released during Mick’s lifetime: after his departure from MainMan in mid-1976, he largely preferred to work in a group context rather than as a solo performer.

Nevertheless, he did continue to record sporadically as a solo act. A 4-CD set, Only After Dark chronicles his peripatetic solo work during the rest of the seventies after his split with Bowie, with those two official albums joined by B-sides, alternative versions, outtakes and a plethora of unissued-at-the-time studio recordings (including a handful with Guam, the backing band for Bob Dylan’s legendary 1975 Rolling Thunder tour) and various highlights from his live shows. Featuring some rare photos and a lengthy new essay on his Seventies career, Only After Dark is the most comprehensive anthology to date of a major talent.

TRACK LISTING

SLAUGHTER ON 10TH AVENUE

1. LOVE ME TENDER
2. GROWING UP AND I’M FINE
3. ONLY AFTER DARK
4. MUSIC IS LETHAL
5. I’M THE ONE
6. PLEASURE MAN/HEY MA GET PAPA
7. SLAUGHTER ON 10TH AVENUE
BONUS TRACKS
8. LEAVE MY HEART ALONE
9. SLAUGHTER ON 10TH AVENUE – SOLO GUITAR SECTIONS
10. LOVE ME TENDER (Live)
11. SLAUGHTER ON 10TH AVENUE (Live)
12. ‘TEEN MAGAZINE’ INTERVIEW (Spoken Word)
13. SLAUGHTER ON 10TH AVENUE
14. ANGEL NO. 9
15. F.B.I. (Live)

1-7 The album Slaughter On 10th Avenue, RCA
Victor APL1-0353, released March 1974
8 Single, RCA Victor LPBO 5022, released
April 1974
9 Unreleased at the time
10-11 Live at The Rainbow, London, February
1974
12 Flexidisc, April 1974
13 Live In Hamburg
14 Live at the Ford Auditorium 28.4.79
15 Live In New York 12.6.79

DISC TWO: CD

PLAY DON’T WORRY

1. BILLY PORTER
2. ANGEL NO. 9
3. THIS IS FOR YOU
4. WHITE LIGHT/WHITE HEAT
5. PLAY DON’T WORRY
6. HAZY DAYS
7. GIRL CAN’T HELP IT
8. EMPTY BED (IO ME NE ANDREI)
9. WOMAN
BONUS TRACKS
10. SEVEN DAYS
11. 28 DAYS JAM (Out-Take)
12. STONE LOVE (SOUL LOVE) (Out-Take)
13. I’D RATHER BE ME (Out-Take)
14. LIFE ON MARS (Demo)
15. PAIN IN THE CITY (Demo)
16. DOGS (FRENCH GIRL) (Demo)
17. WOMAN (Demo - Alternative Version)
18. SEVEN DAYS (Demo - Alternative Version)

1-9 The album Play Don’t Worry, RCA Victor
APL1 0681, released February 1975
10 B-side of single, RCA Victor RCA 2482,
released October 1974
11-13 Album outtakes
14-18 Demos, recorded December 1975

DISC THREE: CD

1976 SESSIONS

1. ALL NIGHT LONG
2. I'D GIVE ANYTHING TO SEE YOU
3. TAKIN' A TRAIN
4. HARD LIFE
5. (I'M JUST A) JUNKIE FOR YOUR LOVE
6. CRAZY LOVE
7. HEY GRANDMA
8. IS THAT ANY WAY
9. I'VE GOT NO SECRETS
10. HARD HEADED WOMAN
11. ROLL LIKE THE RIVER
12. ANGEL NO. 9
BONUS TRACKS
13. JUNKIE (Demo)
14. ALL NIGHT LONG (Demo)
15. RONNO'S BAR & GRILL (Studio Outtake)

DISC FOUR: CD

RARITIES

1. HEY GRANDMA (Demo)
2. CRAZY LOVE (Demo)
3. HARD LIFE (Demo - Ballad Version)
4. I'D GIVE ANYTHING TO SEE YOU (Demo)
5. TAKIN' THE NEXT TRAIN (Demo)
6. CRAZY LOVE (Live)
7. HEY GRANDMA (Live)
8. (TAKIN’ A) TRAIN (Live)
9. JUNKIE (Live)
10. I'D GIVE ANYTHING (TO SEE YOU) (Live)
11. HARD LIFE (Live)
12. ALL NIGHT LONG (Live)

1-5 1976 Demos
6-12 Live In Buffalo Century Theatre 1976