''Overnight Angels'' is the third studio album by Ian Hunter, released in May 1977 by Columbia Records. After the poor sales of his previous album, Hunter's apparent aim for this record was to re-emphasise faster songs with more of a rock feel, and he recruited the well-regarded

Roy Thomas Baker Roy Thomas Baker (born 10 November 1946) is an English record producer, songwriter and arranger, who has produced rock and pop and songs since the 1970s. Career Baker began his career at Decca Records at the age of 14 and later worked as an a ...

to produce. However, the album received mixed reviews, and

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...

refused to release it in the US, according to Hunter because he had just fired his manager. Columbia reportedly told Hunter they would release it once he had a manager and tour in place to support the album. The release didn't occur however as Hunter left the label but the album did become available as an import when Hunter's next album became a minor hit. Hunter later disavowed the album and described it as a "mistake". Hunter later went on record as stating he disliked the album because he felt the album was forced and, in particular, his vocals which he felt he sang in too high a register. Also, part of the recording studio he was working in burned down during the album sessions. He toured the album with

Earl Slick Earl Slick (born Frank Madeloni in Brooklyn, New York, October 1, 1952) is a guitarist best known for his collaborations with David Bowie, John Lennon, Yoko Ono and Robert Smith. He has also worked with other artists including John Waite, Tim ...

on lead guitar, Rob Rawlinson on bass,

Peter Oxendale Peter Oxendale (b. ) is an English forensic musicologist and an expert witness on copyright infringement in music. He was involved as an expert in the notable Blurred Lines lawsuit. He was a keyboardist in the glam rock bands Sparks and Jet and ...

on keyboards and William "Curly" Smith on drums.

The Vibrators The Vibrators are a British punk rock band that formed in 1976. Early career The Vibrators were founded by Ian ' Knox' Carnochan, bassist Pat Collier, guitarist John Ellis, and drummer John 'Eddie' Edwards. They first came to public notice ...

were the support band. The song "England Rocks" (originally a non-album

B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...

) would become one of his best-known songs, retitled " Cleveland Rocks" on Hunter's next tour, and re-recorded with the new title for his

next album ''Next Album'' is an album by jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins, his first to be released on the Milestone Records, Milestone label, featuring performances by Rollins with George Cables, Jack DeJohnette, Bob Cranshaw and Arthur Jenkins (percussionist) ...

Joe Elliott Joseph Thomas "Joe" Elliott (born 1 August 1959) is an English–Irish rock singer, best known as the lead singer and one of the founding members of the hard rock band Def Leppard. He has also been the lead singer of the David Bowie tribute ba ...

Down 'n' Outz Down 'n' Outz are an England, English Rock music, rock band featuring members from Def Leppard, The Quireboys, and Raw Glory. The group covers bands and artists related to Mott the Hoople including Mott, British Lions, and Ian Hunter (singer), ...

covered the songs "Golden Opportunity", "Overnight Angels" and "England Rocks" on their 2010 album '' My ReGeneration''. The album was re-released on CD by Rock Candy Records in September 2022

Track listing

All songs written by Ian Hunter except where noted #"Golden Opportunity" – 4:31 #"Shallow Crystals" – 3:58 #"Overnight Angels" – 5:12 #"Broadway" – 3:46 #"Justice of the Peace" – 3:01 #"(Miss) Silver Dime" (Hunter,

) – 4:34 #"Wild 'N Free" – 3:08 #"The Ballad of Little Star" – 2:32 #"To Love a Woman" – 3:54 #"England Rocks" – 2:53 (bonus track on remastered CD)

Personnel

* Ian Hunter - lead and harmony vocals, rhythm guitar, piano *

- lead, rhythm and slide guitars *

- keyboards *Rob Rawlinson - bass, harmony vocals *

Dennis Elliott Dennis Leslie Elliott (born 18 August 1950, in Peckham, London) is a British musician and artist, who was the original drummer for the rock band, Foreigner. He played with the band from 1976 until leaving between 1991 and 1993. He went on to ...

- drums * Miller Anderson - harmony vocals (4) *Lem Lubin - harmony vocals (4) *

- percussion ;Technical *Gary Lyons - engineer *Mastered by

George Marino George Marino (April 15, 1947 – June 4, 2012) was an American mastering engineer known for working on albums by rock bands starting in the late 1960s. Biography Marino was born on April 15, 1947, in the New York City borough The Bronx. He at ...

at Sterling Sound, NYC *John Berg, Roslav Szaybo - cover design * David Oxtoby - front cover art

References

{{Authority control 1977 albums Ian Hunter (singer) albums Albums produced by Roy Thomas Baker Columbia Records albums