Drive On (Uk)

Digitally remastered edition of this album from the British band made up of former members of Mott the Hoople. Having gone from a struggling club band to wider international success, it came as something of a shock when leader Ian Hunter pulled the band apart by quitting in late 1974, taking flamboyant guitarist Mick Ronson with him to peruse a solo career. For the other members of Mott the Hoople this could have spelt disaster but fortunately their resolve and determination overcame all obstacles resolving to carry on with a revised line up. Enlisting new guitarist Ray Major and unknown vocalist Nigel Benjamin, the band reconvened, still signed to CBS, but under the new handle of Mott. It was this line-up (also featuring former MTH stalwarts Pete Overend Watts, Dale Buffin Griffin and Morgan Fisher) that recorded Drive on one of the year's most surprising and exciting albums. Although it exploring some of the more grandiose musical themes touched on by latter day MTH, the album is also a hot-bed of hard rocking, allowing the extraordinary vocals of Nigel Benjamin to take centre stage.