Mick Ronson - Only After Dark - The Complet Mainman Recordings

Mick Ronson - Only After Dark - The Complet Mainman Recordings - 2020

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

CD 01 - Slaughter On 10th Avenue

01. Love Me Tender

02. Growing Up And I'm Fine

03. Only After Dark

04. Music Is Lethal

05. I'm The One

06. Pleasure Man/Hey Ma Get Papa

07. Slaughter On 10th Avenue

08. Leave My Heart Alone (Live)

09. Slaughter On 10th Avenue - Solo Guitar Sections (Alias Solo On 10th Avenue) (Live)

10. Love Me Tender (Live)

11. Slaughter On 10th Avenue (Live)

12. "Teen Magazine" Interview (Spoken Word)

13. Slaughter On 10th Avenue (Live)

14. Angel No. 9

15. F.B.I. (Live)

CD 02 - Play Don't Worry

01. Billy Porter

02. Angel No. 9

03. This Is For You

04. White Light/White Heat

05. Play Don't Worry

06. Hazy Days

07. Girl Can't Help It

08. Empty Bed (Io Me Ne Andrei)

09. Woman

10. Seven Days

11. 28 Days Jam (Out-Take)

12. Stone Love (Soul Love) (Demo)

13. I'd Rather Be Me (Demo)

14. (Is There) Life On Mars? (Demo)

15. Pain In The City (Demo)

16. Dogs (French Girl) (Demo)

17. Woman (Out-Take)

18. Seven Days (Out-Take)

CD 03 - 1976 Sessions

01. Just Like This (Alias All Night Long)

02. I'd Give Anything To See You

03. Takin' A Train

04. Hard Life

05. (I'm Just A) Junkie For Your Love

06. Crazy Love

07. Hey Grandma

08. Is That Any Way

09. I've Got No Secrets

10. Hard Headed Woman

11. Roll Like The River

12. Angel No. 9

13. Junkie (Demo)

14. Just Like This (Alias All Night Long) (Demo)

15. Ronno's Bar And Grill (Studio Out-Take)

CD 04 - Rarities

01. Hey Grandma (Demo)

02. Crazy Love (Demo)

03. Hard Life (Demo - Ballad Version)

04. I'd Give Anything To See You (Demo)

05. Takin' The Next Train (Demo)

06. Crazy Love (Live)

07. Hey Grandma (Live)

08. (Takin' A) Train (Live)

09. Junkie (Live)

10. I'd Give Anything To See You (Live)

11. Hard Life (Live)

12. Just Like This (Alias All Night Long) (Live)

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