Mott the Hoople was a little too smart, a little too eclectic and had the good and bad fortune of their biggest hit, “All the Young Dudes,” being a little too big. Some people may only know this group from that one song. But they’re in for a treat! Mott the Hoople is, without doubt, one of the greatest rock bands of all time.

Look, I’ll prove it to you. These are the Mott’s 10 greatest songs. By the time this is over, you’ll be ready to include the band in your listening habit, along with Queen and David Bowie, friends and collaborators of the Hoople.

Greatest 10 Songs by Mott the Hoople

10. “Rock and Roll Queen”

Through plenty of hard work, Mott the Hoople managed to get really good at two things – writing songs that contained the words “rock ‘n’ roll” and playing them live.

“Rock and Roll Queen,” written by guitarist Mick Ralphs, is one of those songs that the band used to convince live audiences to join their cause. And while it took a long time, it all worked. Mott the Hoople was a spectacular 1970s live rock group.

9. “Death May be Your Santa Claus”

Success didn’t come quickly or early for Mott the Hoople. But even the earliest recordings show that the group had a few things going for it.

Besides ambition, one of these things is Ian Hunter’s humorous, Ray Davies-inspired songwriting.

This track opened the album “Death Capers”, which didn’t do much business. In retrospect, I think that it’s one of the lost gems of early 70s rock music.

8. “Sweet Jane”

David Bowie didn’t just push his ideas on the bands and artists he patroned. Sometimes, he pushed the songs of his favorite artists.

It’s hard to imagine, but at the time, Mott the Hoople was more famous than The Velvet Underground and about to become even more well-known.

But “Sweet Jane” suits Mott just fine. Hunter sings the lyrics as naturally as if he’d written them, and the band excellently vamps up the chord progression.

7. “Jerkin’ Crocus”

This was one of the stronger tracks off of Mott’s most successful record, “All the Young Dudes.” It’s something of a fan favorite.

Sure. I get it. This one’s dirty, funny, and has the band rock n’ roll riffs, to what you’d assume would be a colorfully-clothed glam-rock audience.

6. “Monte Carlo”

I love “Monte Carlo.” But admitting to that might be enough to make me very unpopular with most Mott the Hoople fateful.

You see, by the time that 1975’s album “Drive On” was recorded, both Hunter and Ralphs had left the band. The album wasn’t well-received by critics and didn’t sell much.

But “Monte Carlo” is a cartoonish gem. Sure, the group tries to approximate Hunter’s darkly humorous lyrics and over-the-top singing. But it’s the one cut off the record that’s great, And, in many ways it’s defining of rock bands’ ambition – fame, fortune and stashing their money away so that the taxmen couldn’t get it.

5. “Crash Street Kidds”

Fans of the band were worried ahead of this 1974 masterwork. Guitar wizz Mick Ralphs had left and would soon start his own band, Bad Company.

But, supposedly, this motivated Ian Hunter even more. “Crash Street Kidds” is one of the biggest rockers in the group’s discography, and a reason for the band’s admirers to remain faithful and trusting.

4. “The Golden Age of Rock ‘n’ Roll”

At least half of the album “The Hoople” is the very best that this group ever produced. Include the single “The Golden Age of Rock ‘n’ Roll” in that half.

Also, include Mott the Hoople, along with AC/DC and Chuck Berry, as artists who try to include the term “rock ‘n’ roll” in as many songs as possible.

However, Hunter’s version includes images of a party so great that it’s never going to happen again and a feeling of aching melancholy.

3. “All the Way from Memphis”

Mott the Hoople used a Bowie song to become successful. But that didn’t entirely sit right with the group, especially lead singer Ian Hunter.

Hunter may have been vain. But he was right. Few songwriters of the 1970s possessed his biting wit. Few bands had this kind of work ethic either.

“All the Way from Memphis” is the catchiest song from 1973’s “Mott,” the follow-up to “All the Young Dudes.” It’s an album filled with cynicism and distrust brought on by a few too many nights on the road. “

In a perfectly Dylanesque manner, Hunter sings “‘n I look like a bum ‘n I crawl like a snail/All the way from Memphis.” The best of times, the worst of times!

2. “All the Young Dudes”

You may have images of outrageous, depraved parties when you think of 1970s glam-rock. And while some of those had to have existed, bands like Mott the Hoople really put in the hours to get good, get famous, and get rich.

Ironically, it was not an original composition that made those dreams a reality. In the 70s, David Bowie was happily overworking himself. He was also testing out his more outrageous ideas on his proteges, like Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, Mark Ronson or Mott the Hoople.

Regardless, “All the Young Dudes” is a simply gorgeous tune. Bowie wrote this as a melancholy piece back then. But you’re likely to feel a tinge of regret for the good times, no matter when you hear it.

The recording is excellent as well. Mick Ralphs’s lead guitar cuts through the mix. And Ian Hunter’s dry vocal delivery on the verses makes him sound like the coolest man to get to sing on a record.

This is one of the true greats! And while it, finally, turned Mott the Hoople into a headlining act, it’s success was both a blessing and a curse.

1. “Roll Away the Stone”

Mott the Hoople, at its best, had it all. Maybe that’s the thing that made their work a little confusing for some audiences. This was a muscular rock sound featuring clever lyrics, produced by a glammed-up group of tough guys.

“Roll Away the Stone, ” in my estimation, captures this best of all. It’s a big sound with Hunter stretching his vocal range to its limits. It’s got a hook as big as “Dudes.” And it’s a delight upon repeated listens. “Roll Away the Stone” is one of the greatest rock songs of all time.