The Gooseberry Sessions & Rarities (2000)

About this title: Mott were themselves a trifling footnote in the Mott the Hoople saga, so it seems yet more irrelevant to dig up Mott demos and rarities. That's what comprises much of this disc, however, leading off with seven songs that the newly-formed Mott (as opposed to Mott the Hoople) used to get a CBS deal, followed by a few in which they auditioned new singer Nigel Benjamin and new guitarist Ray Majors (and one in which they auditioned a singer who was rightfully rejected, Brian Parrish). These were recorded in early 1975, and right from the boorish cock-rock of the opening "Love Now," one regrets ... read more

Tracks:

1. Love Now [Watts]
2. Love Me Always [Watts]
3. Hey! There, Annie (Collision Course) [Watts]
4. The Bright Days [Watts]
5. ! Gyp! [Instrumental] [Watts]
6. Shout It All Out [Watts]
7. Leave Me Woman Alone [Charles]
8. I'll Tell You Something [Fisher/Watts]
9. Did I Dream Last Night? [Watts]
10. She Does It [Watts]
11. Shout It All Out [Watts]
12. I'll Tell You Something [Watts/Fisher]
13. Krazy Kristmas Krackers [Fisher]
14. Pass the Port, Gramps [Fisher]
15. The Million Ton Snowflake [Fisher]
16. Golders Green (Stomp) [Fisher]
17. The Spook Meets the Kook [Fisher]
18. Massacre [Fisher]
19. Let's Rat [Fisher]
20. 'Ave a Maria [Fisher]
21. Broadstairs Beach [Fisher]
22. Holmes on the Rage [Fisher]
23. [Untitled]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.