Rolling Back the Years: A Rock and Roll Resurrection
Oh, those heady days of Glam Rock! A time of feather boas, platforms, and a glorious, desperate swagger that turned a struggling band into chart heroes. And perhaps no song encapsulates that brilliant, chaotic, and ultimately nostalgic era quite like Mott the Hoople’s thunderous 1973 hit, “Roll Away the Stone.” It’s a track that demands you turn up the volume and surrender to its raw, infectious energy—a perfect slice of rock ‘n’ roll resurrection.
Released in the UK in November 1973 on the CBS label, “Roll Away the Stone” became a substantial hit, peaking at No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart and spending a solid five weeks in the Top 10 through December. For a band that had been on the verge of breaking up until David Bowie gifted them “All the Young Dudes,” this single, following the success of “Honaloochie Boogie” and “All the Way from Memphis,” cemented their newfound status as commercial giants of the British music scene.
The song is credited to the masterful pen of lead singer Ian Hunter, and its meaning, on the surface, is a plea for emotional connection. It uses the unmistakable biblical imagery of “roll away the stone” (referencing the sealing of Christ’s tomb) to powerfully convey a lover’s desperate hope for their partner to break down the barrier—the “cold shoulder,” as one interpretation suggests—that is keeping them apart. “Baby, if you just say you still care, follow you most anywhere, Roll away the stone,” Hunter growls, a combination of vulnerability and rock-star bravado. The stone is the obstacle to love, and the removal is the resurrection of a relationship. It perfectly captures that mid-seventies mix of dramatic flair and down-to-earth yearning.
What makes the track’s story particularly fascinating is its multiple versions. The single was recorded at a pivotal moment for the band. It was initially cut before guitarist Mick Ralphs left Mott the Hoople to form Bad Company in August 1973, making it one of his final contributions. The first version featured Ralphs’ searing lead guitar and the powerful backing vocals of the all-female trio Thunderthighs. However, by the time it was included on their 1974 album, The Hoople, it had been re-recorded. The album version features Ralphs’ replacement, the flamboyant Ariel Bender (Luther Grosvenor), adding a harmony lead line, and the spoken vocal bridge—the charmingly provocative “There’s a rockabilly party on Saturday night, are you gonna be there? Well, I got my invite!”—was delivered by the inimitable singer-songwriter Lynsey de Paul. Both versions are killer, but the single version, the one that hit the charts, is often considered the definitive blast of rock ‘n’ roll joy.
The sheer sonic spectacle of “Roll Away the Stone”—with its driving piano riff (developed by Hunter after deliberately learning to play only the black keys of a cheap upright piano), honking saxophone, and that brilliant, echoing chorus—makes it a towering example of Glam Rock’s infectious blend of 50s rockabilly energy and 70s hard rock edge. It’s a nostalgic shot in the arm, a moment in time when a band, having been saved by an icon, delivered their own crowning, chart-busting glory.