All the Young Dudes was a turning point for the then-struggling British band. Mott the Hoople were on the verge of breaking up when David Bowie stepped in and gave them the song "All the Young Dudes". Bowie also produced the album, which took Mott "from potential has-beens to avatars of the glam rock movement". A remastered and expanded version was released by Sony BMG on the Columbia Legacy label in the United Kingdom and the United States on 21 February 2006. The title track, "All the Young Dudes", was released as a single prior to the album and charted worldwide, becoming the "ultimate '70s glitterkid anthem". "Sweet Jane", a cover of the Velvet Underground song from their 1970 album Loaded, was issued as a single in Canada, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the United States, though not in their home market of the UK. "One of the Boys", originally the B-side of "All the Young Dudes", was also released in North America and Continental Europe. In 2003, the album was ranked #491 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In 2012's revised list, the magazine ranked it at #484, saying, "Mott would sound more soulful but never more sexy or glittery." "Ready for Love" was reworked by Mick Ralphs's subsequent band Bad Company on their self-titled debut.
Recording ownership controversy
Speculation has persisted over the years that, although All the Young Dudes was released by CBS/Columbia Records, Mott the Hoople may have recorded part or all of the album while still under contract to their original label, Island Records – a situation that, if proven true, might give Island ownership rights to the recordings. Fuel was added to this speculation in 2006 with the re-release of All the Young Dudes in remastered form, including several bonus tracks. Production on one of the bonus tracks, "Black Scorpio", is co-credited to Island staff producer/A&R executive Muff Winwood, possibly suggesting that work on at least that track was begun while Mott were still signed to Island. Public comments from the band regarding this matter have been inconsistent. In an extended August 1980 interview with Trouser Press magazine, Ian Hunter stated that Mott had completed All the Young Dudes prior to the band's leaving Island Records, and that Island's head Chris Blackwell was unaware the band had a new album ready for release when dissolving their relationship. However, when interviewed about the situation for Chris Hall's and Mike Kerry's 2011 documentary Ballad of Mott the Hoople, Hunter laughed nervously, saying "I can’t really discuss it... there's a blank there as far as I’m concerned – all of a sudden we’re on Columbia Records, and 'Dudes' was the first single."
Track listing
Original 1972 release
Side one
"Sweet Jane" – 4:21
"Momma's Little Jewel" – 4:26
"All the Young Dudes" – 3:32
"Sucker" – 5:03
"Jerkin' Crocus" – 4:00
Side two
"One of the Boys" – 6:46
"Soft Ground" – 3:17
"Ready for Love/After Lights" – 6:47
"Sea Diver" – 2:53
Bonus tracks (2006 CD reissue)
"One of the Boys" – 4:18 Produced by Mott the Hoople
"Black Scorpio" – 3:35 Produced by Mott the Hoople and Muff Winwood
"Ride on the Sun" – 3:36 Produced by Mott the Hoople
"One of the Boys" – 4:21 Produced by Mott the Hoople
