Rocktrospectiva: Mike And The Mechanics Stronger Debut Turns 40

Released on 21 October "Mike And The Mechanics" was the self-titled debut album by Genesis bassist and guitarist Mike Rutherford, the album peaked at No. 26 on Billboard 200 and had three hit singles "Silent Running", the uptempo "All I Need Is A Miracle" & "Taken In" there was also a final single "Hanging By A  Thread". The band debut album was full of beguiling hooks and unashamedly radio-friendly melodies.

 

Guitarist Mike Rutherford had started working on some of his own songs during the band’s down time. Two solo LPs, 1980’s Smallcreep’s Day and 1982’s Acting Very Strange, were the first fruits of these sessions, the latter featuring contributions from The Police’s drummer Stewart Copeland. Both were respectfully received, but Rutherford found the recording process frustrating and, as he has since admitted, found laying down his own lead vocals hard work. Keen to continue pursuing his own muse parallel to Genesis' career, however, Rutherford began a songwriting project with BA Robertson and later enlisted versatile producer/songwriter Christopher Neil, who also helped select the material which would appear on Rutherford's next record, released under the name Mike & The Mechanics.

 

The remainder of the record steadfastly delivered. Full of beguiling hooks and unashamedly radio-friendly melodies, tracks ranging from the silky soft-rock ballad "Par Avion" originally conceived a heavy song who appeared in the Miami Vice episode "Yankee Dollar" to the dramatic, John Barry-ish "A Call To Arms" and the shape-throwing, Who-esque rocker “Take The Reins” showed just how much diversity the band had in the tank.

 

Two consummate performers, Paul Carrack (ex-Ace/Squeeze) and former Sad Café frontman Paul Young, were invited to record vocals, while session aces Adrian Lee (keyboards) and Peter Van Hook (drums) also contributed to the album sessions and ended up performing with the band for the next decade. All concerned felt they were onto something good, and when their debut album, Mike + The Mechanics, was released, on October 5, 1985, their faith was justified. Rutherford's new team had indeed crafted a confident, state-of-the-art pop/rock album, and it was given a significant early boost.

 

Critics praised the record due its strong performances of all the band members in which the creative and powerful songwriting was the most important element on the album, which eventually was a bigger success more compliant and quite sure in every aspect.  

 

Mike And The Mechanics Track List: 

 

1. Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)

2. All I Need Is A Miracle

3. Par Avion

4. Hanging By A Thread

5. I Get The Feeling

6. Take The Reins

7. You Are The One

8. A Call To Arms

9. Taken In