My Top 2000 Songs #1073: Backsliding Fearlessly

On their 1969 self-titled debut, Mott The Hoople were still trying to figure out what kind of sound they wanted, a few years off from settling into the eclectic glam-tinged rock they're best remembered for. On "Backsliding Fearlessly," Ian Hunter capitalized on his gravelly growl and went all-in on the Bob Dylan emulation. It's a slow, folk-flavored track, a bit of a dirge, but the chorus elevates the song into something else, a soulful anthem over a descending chord sequence that's been living ...