MICHAEL STANLEY
''THE SOLO YEARS 1995-2014, DISC ONE''
NOVEMBER 4 2014
230:05
DISC ONE (77:01)
1 My Brand New Day 05:31
2 Nothing And Everything 05:01
3 It's All About Tonight 04:45
4 Just Another Night In 05:02
5 The Ground 04:53
6 Lovers Lane 07:06
7 Wichi Tai 05:32
8 I Am You 05:40
9 Shadowland 04:42
10 The Times We Had 04:48
11 The Job 04:56
12 Didn't We Burn 04:50
13 Romeo Is Bleeding 05:06
14 Drinkin' In The Driveaway 05:08
15 The Hang 03:55
DISC TWO (76:05)
1 My Side Of The Moment 07:00
2 Talking In Tongues 05:36
3 You Just Never Know 05:16
4 When It Don't Come 04:27
5 Any Other Fool 03:54
6 To Love Somebody 04:36
7 Anytime I Try 04:30
8 Lover 06:28
9 Fait Accompli 04:47
10 Winter 08:01
11 Martha 05:08
12 From A Train 05:38
13 Another New Years Eve 05:30
14 Home Tonight 05:09
DISC THREE (76:59)
1 Coming Up For Air 06:35
2 Eleanor Rigby 06:12
3 One Good Day In A Row 05:12
4 Vicodin And Prayer 05:54
5 What Would Frank Do 04:11
6 Eyeball Kikd 04:47
7 The Curves Of Bratenahl 04:02
8 Lap Dogs Dance 06:17
9 How Many Guitars Do 05:05
10 Breaking Down 04:48
11 Uptown 04:39
12 Last Good Nerve 08:33
13 Money Shot (Previously 05:47
14 Raise The Dad 04:52
REVIEW
By itsaboutmusic.com
From the mid-70's to the mid-80's, The Michael Stanley Band rocked arenas all over the midwest, setting still-unmatched concert attendance records at northeastern Ohio's Blossom Music Center and The Coliseum in Cleveland.
With album sales reaching the hundreds of thousands, the band enjoyed a strong and undeniably loyal following in other areas of the country as well, and toured with some greats, including Bruce Springsteen, The Eagles, Foreigner and The Doobie Brothers...
In his early days of recording his talent attracted the likes of producer Bill Szymczyk and guest musicians Joe Walsh, Todd Rundgren, and David Sanborn from the beginning. He formed the Michael Stanley Band (aka MSB) in 1975 and pursued a more straightforward rock direction.
To this day, Michael's first two albums are mainstays of any fan of 70's country rock. Songs like "Rosewood Bitters," "Moving Right Along," "Yours for a Song" and the ultimate Michael Stanley tune, "Let's Get The Show on The Road" have survived well. Most favorably compared to Dan Fogelberg's early albums, Michael was and still is extremely capable of writing songs that raise the little hairs on the back of your neck. Just from his uncanny ability to write perfect songs ever since he began would be enough reason to listen to his music but Michael has been able to do what few other artists have in that he hasn't changed his magic method. His new songs are just as vibrant as his classics. The sign of a true artist.
Finally! It's time for a Michael Stanley Anthology.
Michael Stanley started out as a bass player with the folk-rock group Silk in the late '60s, and according to Michael, "We weren't very good." Destiny demanded a solo career which in 1972 began with the self-titled first album on Tumbleweed Records which was produced by Bill Szymczyk (The Eagles, The Who) and featured "Rosewood Bitters," the song that would launch the 40 plus year journey that culminates in the release of "The Solo Years 1995-2014." One more solo effort came in 1973 entitled "Friends & Legends" which is aptly titled since it, like the first album, included the efforts of Joe Walsh, Todd Rundgren and David Sanborn with Bill Szymczyk at the helm again. It produced the legendary classic, "Let's Get The Show On The Road" which, to this day, commands thunderous applause in concert performances.
In 1974, Michael's friend Jonah Koslen was added to the list of friends and legends along with Daniel Pecchio from Glass Harp, and Tommy Dobeck and The Michael Stanley Band came into being. For more than a decade MSB worked wonders with fans and the singles charts as they took control of the Mid-West Rock scene. 12 albums and 12 years later, Michael saw the end of MSB and thought his rock star status had come to an end. But in the words of Michael, "Making music is a powerful drug; one that, despite the travails of the profession, can help keep you sane…or maybe just a little bit less insane…but anyway you look at it, it’s still a hell of a lot cheaper than therapy!"
And thus, in 1995 he picked up where he left off in '74, feeding the addiction of writing songs and performing. Michael says, "It was a second act that I had never envisioned but one that I am eternally grateful for because it led to the twelve solo albums from which 'The Solo Years' was pulled. I have been blessed to be able to continue to make music with people I love and respect and they always, always make the tunes better. And to rekindle a working relationship with my dear friend and mentor Bill Szymczyk on this anthology was the perfect icing on the cake."
This 3 disc set is structured as - Disc One: The Rousers, Disc Two: The Weepies and Disc Three: Crispy's Critters. The Rousers are tunes that have always excited his fans. The Weepies are powerful and emotional ballads. Crispy' Critters (referring to Bill Szymczyk's nick-name of "Crispy") was selected and sequenced by Bill himself and includes Bill's faves from Michael's solo material. Bill was driven to write liner notes for this release as well.
"The Solo Years - 1995-2014" also includes two previously unreleased tracks that are sure to make MS fans very, very happy. Twenty years down and at least twenty more to go. Michael Stanley never stops!
BIOGRAPHY
by Bret Adams
Cleveland native Michael Stanley became a regional phenomenon, but the singer/songwriter/guitarist and his Michael Stanley Band deserved more national success than they achieved. Stanley, whose real name is Michael Stanley Gee, played bass with the folk-rock group Silk in the late '60s. He then went solo and released two solo albums in the early '70s that fit right in with the "singer/songwriter" era. His talent attracted the likes of producer Bill Szymczyk and guest musicians Joe Walsh, Todd Rundgren, and David Sanborn from the beginning. He formed the Michael Stanley Band (aka MSB) in 1975 and pursued a more straightforward rock direction. MSB recorded a string of albums through the late '70s and early '80s that were modest successes nationally but major hits in Ohio. In fact, the Michael Stanley Band was such a sensation at home that it still holds attendance records at major concert venues. 1980's Heartland was easily MSB's best album, and Stanley agrees. It included the hit single "He Can't Love You" (sung by vocalist/keyboardist Kevin Raleigh) and the minor hit "Lover" (sung by Stanley and featuring blistering saxophone by Clarence Clemons). MSB's second and last Top 40 hit was Stanley's anthem "My Town" in 1983. After recording for Epic, Arista, and EMI, MSB independently released two albums on their own before breaking up in 1987.
The Michael Stanley Band was a reliably consistent, meat-and-potatoes enterprise responsible for superb Midwestern rock & roll. Stanley went on to become a popular television and radio personality in Cleveland. He still regularly releases albums -- solo and the one-off group project the Ghost Poets -- and performs annual summer and New Year's Eve shows along with occasional acoustic dates; these concerts and albums both feature MSB alumni and other Cleveland musicians. Razor & Tie has reissued most of MSB's catalog and two excellent best-of collections on compact disc.
OFFICIAL SITE
''THE SOLO YEARS 1995-2014, DISC ONE''
NOVEMBER 4 2014
230:05
DISC ONE (77:01)
1 My Brand New Day 05:31
2 Nothing And Everything 05:01
3 It's All About Tonight 04:45
4 Just Another Night In 05:02
5 The Ground 04:53
6 Lovers Lane 07:06
7 Wichi Tai 05:32
8 I Am You 05:40
9 Shadowland 04:42
10 The Times We Had 04:48
11 The Job 04:56
12 Didn't We Burn 04:50
13 Romeo Is Bleeding 05:06
14 Drinkin' In The Driveaway 05:08
15 The Hang 03:55
DISC TWO (76:05)
1 My Side Of The Moment 07:00
2 Talking In Tongues 05:36
3 You Just Never Know 05:16
4 When It Don't Come 04:27
5 Any Other Fool 03:54
6 To Love Somebody 04:36
7 Anytime I Try 04:30
8 Lover 06:28
9 Fait Accompli 04:47
10 Winter 08:01
11 Martha 05:08
12 From A Train 05:38
13 Another New Years Eve 05:30
14 Home Tonight 05:09
DISC THREE (76:59)
1 Coming Up For Air 06:35
2 Eleanor Rigby 06:12
3 One Good Day In A Row 05:12
4 Vicodin And Prayer 05:54
5 What Would Frank Do 04:11
6 Eyeball Kikd 04:47
7 The Curves Of Bratenahl 04:02
8 Lap Dogs Dance 06:17
9 How Many Guitars Do 05:05
10 Breaking Down 04:48
11 Uptown 04:39
12 Last Good Nerve 08:33
13 Money Shot (Previously 05:47
14 Raise The Dad 04:52
REVIEW
By itsaboutmusic.com
From the mid-70's to the mid-80's, The Michael Stanley Band rocked arenas all over the midwest, setting still-unmatched concert attendance records at northeastern Ohio's Blossom Music Center and The Coliseum in Cleveland.
With album sales reaching the hundreds of thousands, the band enjoyed a strong and undeniably loyal following in other areas of the country as well, and toured with some greats, including Bruce Springsteen, The Eagles, Foreigner and The Doobie Brothers...
In his early days of recording his talent attracted the likes of producer Bill Szymczyk and guest musicians Joe Walsh, Todd Rundgren, and David Sanborn from the beginning. He formed the Michael Stanley Band (aka MSB) in 1975 and pursued a more straightforward rock direction.
To this day, Michael's first two albums are mainstays of any fan of 70's country rock. Songs like "Rosewood Bitters," "Moving Right Along," "Yours for a Song" and the ultimate Michael Stanley tune, "Let's Get The Show on The Road" have survived well. Most favorably compared to Dan Fogelberg's early albums, Michael was and still is extremely capable of writing songs that raise the little hairs on the back of your neck. Just from his uncanny ability to write perfect songs ever since he began would be enough reason to listen to his music but Michael has been able to do what few other artists have in that he hasn't changed his magic method. His new songs are just as vibrant as his classics. The sign of a true artist.
Finally! It's time for a Michael Stanley Anthology.
Michael Stanley started out as a bass player with the folk-rock group Silk in the late '60s, and according to Michael, "We weren't very good." Destiny demanded a solo career which in 1972 began with the self-titled first album on Tumbleweed Records which was produced by Bill Szymczyk (The Eagles, The Who) and featured "Rosewood Bitters," the song that would launch the 40 plus year journey that culminates in the release of "The Solo Years 1995-2014." One more solo effort came in 1973 entitled "Friends & Legends" which is aptly titled since it, like the first album, included the efforts of Joe Walsh, Todd Rundgren and David Sanborn with Bill Szymczyk at the helm again. It produced the legendary classic, "Let's Get The Show On The Road" which, to this day, commands thunderous applause in concert performances.
In 1974, Michael's friend Jonah Koslen was added to the list of friends and legends along with Daniel Pecchio from Glass Harp, and Tommy Dobeck and The Michael Stanley Band came into being. For more than a decade MSB worked wonders with fans and the singles charts as they took control of the Mid-West Rock scene. 12 albums and 12 years later, Michael saw the end of MSB and thought his rock star status had come to an end. But in the words of Michael, "Making music is a powerful drug; one that, despite the travails of the profession, can help keep you sane…or maybe just a little bit less insane…but anyway you look at it, it’s still a hell of a lot cheaper than therapy!"
And thus, in 1995 he picked up where he left off in '74, feeding the addiction of writing songs and performing. Michael says, "It was a second act that I had never envisioned but one that I am eternally grateful for because it led to the twelve solo albums from which 'The Solo Years' was pulled. I have been blessed to be able to continue to make music with people I love and respect and they always, always make the tunes better. And to rekindle a working relationship with my dear friend and mentor Bill Szymczyk on this anthology was the perfect icing on the cake."
This 3 disc set is structured as - Disc One: The Rousers, Disc Two: The Weepies and Disc Three: Crispy's Critters. The Rousers are tunes that have always excited his fans. The Weepies are powerful and emotional ballads. Crispy' Critters (referring to Bill Szymczyk's nick-name of "Crispy") was selected and sequenced by Bill himself and includes Bill's faves from Michael's solo material. Bill was driven to write liner notes for this release as well.
"The Solo Years - 1995-2014" also includes two previously unreleased tracks that are sure to make MS fans very, very happy. Twenty years down and at least twenty more to go. Michael Stanley never stops!
BIOGRAPHY
by Bret Adams
Cleveland native Michael Stanley became a regional phenomenon, but the singer/songwriter/guitarist and his Michael Stanley Band deserved more national success than they achieved. Stanley, whose real name is Michael Stanley Gee, played bass with the folk-rock group Silk in the late '60s. He then went solo and released two solo albums in the early '70s that fit right in with the "singer/songwriter" era. His talent attracted the likes of producer Bill Szymczyk and guest musicians Joe Walsh, Todd Rundgren, and David Sanborn from the beginning. He formed the Michael Stanley Band (aka MSB) in 1975 and pursued a more straightforward rock direction. MSB recorded a string of albums through the late '70s and early '80s that were modest successes nationally but major hits in Ohio. In fact, the Michael Stanley Band was such a sensation at home that it still holds attendance records at major concert venues. 1980's Heartland was easily MSB's best album, and Stanley agrees. It included the hit single "He Can't Love You" (sung by vocalist/keyboardist Kevin Raleigh) and the minor hit "Lover" (sung by Stanley and featuring blistering saxophone by Clarence Clemons). MSB's second and last Top 40 hit was Stanley's anthem "My Town" in 1983. After recording for Epic, Arista, and EMI, MSB independently released two albums on their own before breaking up in 1987.
The Michael Stanley Band was a reliably consistent, meat-and-potatoes enterprise responsible for superb Midwestern rock & roll. Stanley went on to become a popular television and radio personality in Cleveland. He still regularly releases albums -- solo and the one-off group project the Ghost Poets -- and performs annual summer and New Year's Eve shows along with occasional acoustic dates; these concerts and albums both feature MSB alumni and other Cleveland musicians. Razor & Tie has reissued most of MSB's catalog and two excellent best-of collections on compact disc.
OFFICIAL SITE
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