Short Back 'n' Sides is the fifth solo album of Ian Hunter

Ian Hunter (singer)

Ian Hunter Patterson is an English singer-songwriter. He was the lead singer of the English rock band Mott the Hoople from its inception in 1969 to its dissolution in 1974, and he again fronted them at the time of their 2009 reunion. Hunter was a musician and songwriter before Mott The Hoople, and...

. Unsure of which direction he should take, Ian Hunter

Ian Hunter (singer)

Ian Hunter Patterson is an English singer-songwriter. He was the lead singer of the English rock band Mott the Hoople from its inception in 1969 to its dissolution in 1974, and he again fronted them at the time of their 2009 reunion. Hunter was a musician and songwriter before Mott The Hoople, and...

 finally decided to collaborate with Mick Jones

Mick Jones (The Clash)

Michael Geoffrey "Mick" Jones is the former lead guitarist, secondary vocalist and co-founder for the British punk rock band The Clash until his dismissal in 1983. He went on to form the band Big Audio Dynamite with Don Letts before line-up changes led to the formation of Big Audio Dynamite II and...

 who gave Hunter's songs a tougher and heavier touch. Mick Ronson

Mick Ronson

Michael "Mick" Ronson was an English guitarist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer. He is best known for his work with David Bowie, as one of The Spiders from Mars...

 also appeared on this album.
In 1995, Chrysalis released a 2 cd set with a remastered version of the album and bonus cd with outtakes of the Chrysalis period.

Tracklisting

All songs written by Ian Hunter

1. "Central Park n' West" - 4:00
2. "Lisa Likes Rock n' Roll" - 3:56
3. "I Need Your Love" - 3:34
4. "Old Records Never Die" - 4:18
5. "Noises" - 5:51
6. "Rain" - 5:54
7. "Gun Control" - 3:12
8. "Theatre of the Absurd" - 5:49
9. "Leave Me Alone" - 3:29
10. "Keep On Burning" - 4:46

1995 Bonus CD (Long Odds and Out-takes)

1. "Detroit" (rough mix - instrumental) - 3:42
2. "Na Na Na" - 4:13
3. "I Need Your Love" (rough mix) - 3:46
4. "Rain" (alternative mix) - 5:50
5. "I Believe in You" - 4:15
6. "Listen to the Eight Track" - 6:08
7. "Venus in the Bathtub" - 4:29
8. "Theatre of the Absurd" - 6:08
9. "Detroit" (out take 5 - vocal) - 4:00
10. "Na Na Na" (extended mix) - 4:29
11. "China" (Mick Ronson
    Mick Ronson
    Michael "Mick" Ronson was an English guitarist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer. He is best known for his work with David Bowie, as one of The Spiders from Mars...
    
     vocal) - 4:36
12. "Old Records Never Die" (version 1) - (4:18)

Personnel

• Ian Hunter
  Ian Hunter (singer)
  Ian Hunter Patterson is an English singer-songwriter. He was the lead singer of the English rock band Mott the Hoople from its inception in 1969 to its dissolution in 1974, and he again fronted them at the time of their 2009 reunion. Hunter was a musician and songwriter before Mott The Hoople, and...
  
  : Lead vocals, Guitars, Piano
• Mick Ronson
  Mick Ronson
  Michael "Mick" Ronson was an English guitarist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer. He is best known for his work with David Bowie, as one of The Spiders from Mars...
  
  : Lead guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
• Tommy Mandel
  Tommy Mandel
  Tommy Mandel is a keyboardist who is most famous for playing with Bryan Adams, from 1981 to 1998, starting with Bryan Adams's album You Want It You Got It.He also has played with Dire Straits and others....
  
  : Keyboards
• Tommy Morrongiello: Bass, Guitar
• Martin Briley
  Martin Briley
  Martin Briley is an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist.He has recorded with and written for a variety of well-known musicians, as well as releasing four solo albums in his own right.-Beginnings and early bands:...
  
  : Bass
• Eric Parker: Drums
• George Meyer: Keyboards, Vocals
• Mick Jones
  Mick Jones (The Clash)
  Michael Geoffrey "Mick" Jones is the former lead guitarist, secondary vocalist and co-founder for the British punk rock band The Clash until his dismissal in 1983. He went on to form the band Big Audio Dynamite with Don Letts before line-up changes led to the formation of Big Audio Dynamite II and...
  
  : Guitars, Vocals
• Topper Headon
  Topper Headon
  Headon was extensively interviewed for the Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten documentary film about the late Clash frontman. He related his experiences during this period, how he became addicted to heroin and how there were problems before his dismissal...
  
  : Drums, Percussion
• Tymon Dogg
  Tymon Dogg
  Tymon Dogg is a highly idiosyncratic English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, playing piano, violin, guitar, oud and a harp of his own invention...
  
  : Violin
• Ellen Foley
  Ellen Foley
  Ellen Foley is an American singer and actress, who has appeared on Broadway and television, where she co-starred in the sitcom Night Court. In music, she has released three solo albums but is best known for her collaborations with the singer Meat Loaf.- Early life and career :Foley was born in St....
  
  : Vocals
• Miller Anderson
  Miller Anderson (musician)
  Miller Anderson is a UK based blues guitarist and singer.Apart from pursuing his own solo career, he was a member of the Keef Hartley Band. Other groups Anderson has been associated with are; the Spencer Davis Group, Broken Glass, The Dukes, Savoy Brown, T.Rex and Chicken Shack...
  
  : Vocals
• Mick Baraken: Guitar on "Gun Control"
• Wells Kelly: Drums on "Gun Control"
• John Holbrook: Bass on "Gun Control"
• Gary Windo
  Gary Windo
  Gary Windo was a jazz tenor saxophonist.He came from a musical family in England and by age six took up drums and accordion, then guitar at 12, and finally saxophone at 17. He lived in the United States in the 1960s, but returned to England in 1969...
  
  : Alto Saxophone on "I Need Your Love"
• Roger Powell: Background vocals "I Need Your Love"
• Todd Rundgren
  Todd Rundgren
  Todd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
  
  : Bass, Background vocals on "I Need Your Love"