Ian Hunter had it right back in '81: Americans "don't want no gun control"

I've been listening to Ian Hunter's 1981 song "Gun Control" a lot lately, and not just because it's a catchy tune by one of the world's most underrated songwriters.

With all the tragic gun deaths happening down in the States lately, the reggae-tinged track off Hunter's Short Back 'n Sides album seems particularly ripe for a second spin. I can't stop listening to it, myself.

The album came out around the time NRA-approved president Ronald Reagan took office, and we all know how the proliferation of handguns affected him personally.

"Assassinate presidents and they ain't the only ones," sings Hunter, "we can get 'em all young and old if we stick to our guns."

Also of note is a caustic line that would probably go over big down in Anaheim about now. "Hey ain't it a shame, we ain't got a war/We'll just have to practice on the sick and the poor."

In the time it's taken you to read this far, I wonder how many Glocks have rolled off the assembly line in Austria?

Here's both concert and studio versions of "Gun Control" for your listening pleasure. I do believe that's Mick Jones from the Clash--who coproduced Short Back 'n' Sides with Mick Ronson--playing lead on the live one.

"Viva macho, viva macho, viva macho, viva macho!"

You can follow Steve Newton for all his wacky rock 'n' roll reminiscing on Twitter at twitter.com/earofnewt.