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 enlarge | Artist: Mike + The Mechanics
Label: Atlantic / Wea
Category: Music
List Price: $9.98
Buy New: $8.99
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New (28) Used (34) Collectible (3) from $3.89
Rating:  27 reviews
Sales Rank: 14887
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 81287
UPC: 075678128721
EAN: 0756781287214
ASIN: B000002IIG
Release Date: October 25, 1990
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| Customer Reviews:
 Great pop album to come out of 1985 June 26, 2006
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Mike and the Mechanics put out a great pop album in 1985. They can talk about Silent Running, which kind of borrows a bit from A Flock of Seagulls I Ran So Far Away in the keyboard eerieness. Very '80s a song to me. And I've heard All I Need Is A Miracle maybe 80 to 100 times that it's crazy, and it's a good song too.
But no one bothers to mention the other top 40 hit from this album "Taken In." It's such perfect pop songcraft to me, from the bridges,to the saxophone solo, to the two "I don't believe it/ believe It" sections. To me, that's their finest performance out of all of their albums! Sounds like they recorded the song in ONE TAKE, because the musicianship is solid. They played it heavily in December 1985, then I never heard it afterwards. I could talk about that song for days, maybe more than their most famous hit "The Living Years." It might have peaked in the mid 20s in 1985-1986, but it could have gone to No. 4, 5 or even No.1.
The rest of the album is just as strong and artistic, and balances well with the 3 hits that came for it. Mike Rutherford proved that he could have hits outside of Genesis with this band.
An Overlooked Gem Among 80s Albums and Supergroups October 15, 2005
13 out of 15 found this review helpful
A trend that emerged in the mid 1980s was the emergence of the Supergroup. The term Supergroup refers to a group that is formed by multiple members that have achieved success in other groups. Probably the most popular of the Supergroups was The Power Station (Robert Palmer, Tony Thompson of Chic, John and Andy Taylor of Duran Duran). Other examples included Asia and the Traveling Wilburys. However for all practical purposes, it was The Power Station that put the term Supergroup on the map. Supergroups are formed for many reasons: Supergroups such as The Power Station and The Traveling Wilburys were basically formed to be (originally) one time efforts. Other groups such as Asia were formed following the demise of other bands. And yet others are formed as "side projects". Some people tend to forget when it comes to Mike + The Mechanics that they are a Supergroup. The band was formed as a side project by Genesis Guitar and Bass player Mike Rutherford. This side project would lead to commercial and critical success. And although Mike + The Mechanics didn't maintain their commercial success throughout the 90s, they have managed to keep this side project going for nearly two decades.
Mike Rutherford had done some solo work, but not achieved much commercial success. In 1985, he formed his "side project" Mike + The Mechanics and self-titled debut album. When his main band, Genesis would enter the 1980s, each of the members of the band were beginning to explore other avenues and do "their own thing" in between albums. Most notably, it was Phil Collins' solo career that was taking off. This provided Rutherford the opportunity to explore his own options. For his "side project", Rutherford would recruit two lead vocalists to sing the words for his music - one being Squeeze lead vocalist Paul Carrack. The other lead vocalist would be Sad Cafe's Paul Young (not the pop-star Paul Young). While Rutherford would handle Guitars and Bass, he would also recruit keyboard player Adrian Lee and Drummer Peter Van Hooke. One thing I really like is how producer Christopher Neil seems to line-up Carrack and Young to alternate appropriate lead vocals. Carrack tends to deliver the more intense vocals while Young focuses on the passionate vocals. Adrian Lee's keyboards are underrated - he does a great job.
As for the building of this album, Rutherford brings in Christopher Neil and B.A. Robertson to handle the songwriting chores with him. Rutherford is credited with songwriting on each of the nine tracks. Neil and/or Robertson share the songwriting duties with Rutherford. It is worth noting that "A Call to Arms" is a song that was written by Rutherford with his Genesis band mates (Collins and Banks) - Neil and Robertson also participate to some extent on that song.
The songwriting on this album is top-notch. "Mike + The Mechanics" is best known for the three singles that were released from this collection: "All I Need is a Miracle", "Taken In", and "Silent Running". The songs "All I Need is a Miracle" and "Taken In" are pop songs. "All I Need is a Miracle" was a Top 10 hit and "Taken In" was a Top 40 hit. While "Miracle" was the most successful track on this collection, I actually felt it was relatively the weakest (compared to the others). It isn't a very complex song, however it is a "fun" song. You can hear Young's passion on this song. "Taken In" is a softer song that discusses someone who has been deceived many times, but now no longer is going to fall prey to deception. It's the most underrated of the three songs that were released.
It was the first of these three singles that really launched the success of Mike + The Mechanics - that song was "Silent Running". This song was a Top 10 hit, but probably is one of the deepest tracks on the album. This song deals with a man who is on the run and is worried about the safety of his family. In a lot of ways, this song almost was a prototype for the sound that would be heard on later works such as "We Can't Dance" and "Calling All Stations". This collection contains the full version of "Silent Running" - much better than the shortened radio-edit version heard on radio. Carrack delivers the perfect intensity for both "Taken In" and "Silent Running".
While Rutherford and company clearly establish their own footing with this collection, the strongest song still is the contribution from Genesis - "A Call to Arms". This song deals with those being called to defend a cause. I think this is one of the best songs that Carrack and Young actually work the vocals together;. Carrack delivers the lead vocals with the high level of intensity that is needed for this song. However it's Young coming in with the passionate background vocals - namely "Sweet Avalon - the heat is on". The song almost has a mantra-like quality in the chorus.
The great thing about this album is that every song is really good. "Par Avion" and "You are the One" have both a gentle, yet haunting feel. "Hanging by the Thread" has more of a harder rock edge with some nice harmonies. "I Get the Feeling" almost has a feel for being a Carrack solo song - this is a definite "feel good" song. "Take the Reins" has Young delivering more intense vocals, but in a lot of ways - between the harmonies and guitar solo it gives sort of a Doobie Brothers feel.
The only disappointment that I have on this album are the liner notes. There was were no lyrics included - and that is a shame because album has strong lyrics and it would have complimented this collection. This is an outstanding debut album. This album seems to get lost in the portfolio of great albums from the 1980s. This is highly recommended.
Top 40 Pop of the 80s IMHO January 8, 2005
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
Brilliant--one of the best of its type and era. Original songwriting, dominant singer, polished musicianship. Creative arrangements, excellent "tunes", restrained but tasty instrumental work, in song after song. The tracks are anything but repetitious, and each one could be a lesser group's masterpiece. These are the kind of songs that get into your brain and may even begin to annoy with their persistence...
Other reviewers who do not acknowledge the musical genius displayed on this album have some philosophical/emotional prejudice against this type of music. Maybe they can't get the songs out their heads and they are annoyed. You might put this disk in the same category as Foreigner's stuff...but this has a harder edge, and displays much better musical talent.
You will hear these songs played on "soft rock", "adult contemporary", w/ organ, guitar, synth horns and strings etc. But the truth is, it's just great music. Most listeners will recognize many of the songs here, and be surprised that MatM are the ones who did it.
"Silent Running" was probably overplayed on radio in the mid-80s. But its mysterious, futuristic theme is still fascinating, and very "hummable".
"All I need is a Miracle" has a novel chord structure and a grabbing melody--especially in the chorus.
"Hanging by a thread" has a driving beat and aggressive vocals, with a haunting refrain.
"I get the Feeling" is perhaps the least memorable song but it is tolerable--heavy on synthed organ voices.
"A Call to Arms" and "Taken In" are top numbers. Very original works.
This is not a lightweight album, but it is much more accessible than some of Mike Rutherford's work with Genesis...which was also suberb. But this music is supremely likeable. You will listen to it many more times than some of your other "heavy" or "artsy" stuff.
 A good album July 8, 2004
7 out of 10 found this review helpful
This self-titled debut album from Mike + the Mechanics was released in 1985. It consists of nine tracks. Overall, I find the songwriting to be gratifying, the musicianship to be solid, and the sound quality to be pleasing. The material is in a pop musical direction. The lead vocals are handled by Paul Young and Paul Carrack. While the keyboards play a predominant role throughout, there is only minimal guitar work. I like all of the songs. Examples of some of the ones that I enjoy are "Silent Running," "All I Need Is a Miracle," "Par Avion," "Hanging by a Thread," "You Are the One," and "Taken In." The album commences with "Silent Running," a composition featuring ambient, engaging keyboard playing and noteworthy, polished, and interesting-sounding guitar soloing; this tune also exhibits a nicely constructed, memorable intro--consisting solely of attractive, airy keyboard work--and a curious, unexpected conclusion. "All I Need Is a Miracle" is a pleasant, upbeat piece with a striking refrain. "Par Avion," a gentle and pretty ballad, displays smooth and charming lead vocals and atmospheric keyboard playing. The energetic "Hanging by a Thread" sports impressive harmony vocals, while the appealing ballad "You Are the One" presents graceful keyboard work and sleek, earnest lead vocals, and the soothing ballad "Taken In," the final track, features encompassing, serene keyboard playing. The CD insert does not include the song lyrics. The disc is just over 40 minutes. This self-titled debut album from Mike + the Mechanics is recommendable.
 Pleasant - but nothing more than that March 13, 2004
4 out of 8 found this review helpful
After seeing Blender rate Mike & The Mechanics as the 43rd worst artist in music history, I feel rather guilty of having bought this album during the time when I was obsessed with the commercial music of the eighties.
To put it bluntly, "Mike & The Mechanics" can be described as nothing other than a very pleasant pop album, with the singing lacking the tunelessness that crept over popular music from the time of Nevermind.
However, I must concede most of the songs simply cannot attract a listener in any way at all: they lack any sort of memorable hook or instrumental passage and tend to focus instread on over-sparse intros to add colour to the songs. Even the highly tuneful hits "Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)" and the more downbeat "All I Need Is A Miracle" have little in the way of powerful singing or changes in volume to make them catchy enough to stand up to constant listening over two decades. The purely MOR "Taken In" was built on synthesisers so soft that they would collapse were the production any sparser than it actually is, whilst little can be said for the rest of the songs here.
Though perhaps not one of the worst artists ever, this is anything but an essential album for anybody. Only for 80s affecionados - and I've matured beyond that, I know.
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