Michael James


Band members                              Related acts

- Michael James -- vocals, guitar

 

  supporting musicians: (1978)

Rick Dwinnell -- special effects, vocals

- Paul Lagos -- drums, percussion 

- Billy Peterson -- bass 

- Bobby Peterson -- keyboards

 

  Michael James Band (1981-82)

- Michael Bullock  -- vocals, tenor sax

- Mitch Hare -- bass, vocals

- James Klein -- drums

- Todd Matheson -- guitar, trumpet

- Randy Mickleberg -- lead guitar, rhythm guitar

- Randy Roseberry -- keyboards, vocals

 

  supporting musicians (1981-82)

- Dave Hansan -- sax

- Mark Moore -- trombone

- Stev Stoutenberg -- bass

- Tommy Thorton -- trombone

- Letha Weite -- sax

- Cae Utka -- backing vocals

 

 

- Children of the Risk

- The Grasshoppers (Michael James)

- Natural Life (Paul Lagos, Billy Peterson and Bobby Peterson)

 

 

 


 

Genre: psych

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Runaway World

Company: none

Catalog: HET-1857

Year: 1978

Country/State: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Grade (cover/record): NM/NM

Comments: still in shrink wrap (1,000 copy pressing)

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 5347

Price: $400.00

 

 

So here's another album that showed up in one of Hans Pokora's Record Collector Dreams series and suddenly is in major demand with concurrent prices.  Before going on any further, let me mention that Patrick Lundborg (of Acid Archives fame), tracked singer/guitarist Michael James down and published a short but entertaining interview with the artist back in 2005.   Rather than waste time and effort speculating on James' background, I'll just provide a link to the interview: 

 

http://www.lysergia.com/LamaWorkshop/MichaelJames/lamaMichaelJames.htm

 

image from back cover of LP

 

James recording solo started out with a bang - he was a late-inning lead guitarist for the Minneapolis band The Grasshoppers.  Following the band's collapse, he moved on to performing with a series of local cover bands including Inner Sanctum and City Knights.  

 

Released in 1978 on the small local ASI label, "Runaway World" was very much a one-man show with James writing, producing, and performing most of the material with some help from buddies in the band Natural Life.  James father designed the album cover and took the photos.   In spite of that, the collection sound fantastic - I've seldom heard a small private press with such high audio characteristics.  It's a treat to hear on a good stereo system (dating myself) or a quality pair of headphones.  Musically it remains one of the hardest albums I've ever had to describe.   The set included sensitive singer/songwriter moves, Jeff Beck-styled jazz-rock efforts ('Thank You Ted'), Pink Floyd-styled lysergic-tinged weirdness ('Runaway World'), conventional rock ('You Don't Walk On My Street'), and what almost sound like Firesign Theater styled comedy bits ('Stark Raven').  Having listened to it dozens of times over the years, I'm still at a loss to explain how it ties together; let alone how it sounds so good.  Mind you, "Runaway World" isn't going to appeal to everyone.  It's quirky.  Very quirky.  So it your tastes run to more conventional rock, or psych, this might not be up your alley.   Read on to see ...

 

"Runaway World" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) All the Way    (Michael James) - 2:50

The first time I heard 'All the Way' I didn't know what to make of it.   With a bouncy, acoustic guitar propelled melody and James' stoned, yet soothing vocals, it sounded something like The Free Design on a gentle LSD trip.   Strange, strange, strange ...  rating: *** stars

2.) Thank You Ted (instrumental)   (Michael James) - 3:28

No idea what the title referred to, but the instrumental 'Thank You. Ted' found James and company turning out an energetic slice of jazz-rock that would have made Jeff Beck happy.    James' screaming lead guitar, coupled with Bobby Peterson's gurgling synthesizers made this one a lot of fun.   rating: **** stars

3.) Guatemalan Strange   (Michael James) - 1:38

Hum, the heavily reverbed spoken word introduction and the accompanying sound effects certainly grace the album an odd shift in feel and direction.  To be honest, 'Guatemalan Strange' almost sounded like a Firesign Theatre comedy sketch ...  Beats me if there were any hidden messages associated with the apparent fixation on Guatemala.     rating: ** stars
4.) I Remember (We Would Change the World)  (Michael James) - 3:50

This probably isn't a tune you'd want to put on to comfort a scared child, or to get a party started.   The orchestrated first and last segments of the song were quite disconcerting with James sounding like he was about to go off the tracks at any moment.   In contrast, the mid section of the song sported a pretty, breezy melody bolstered by some nice acoustic guitars and James own first-rate wah-wah work.   rating: **** stars
5.) Guatemalan Radio 1988
  (Rick Dwinnell) - 1:34

The lone non-original ...   rating: *** stars 
6.) Runaway World   (Michael James) - 3:51

The title track opened up with some cheesy wind sound effects, stark Pink Floyd-ish acoustic guitar,  and James' heavily phased voice.  This track definitely had that stoned outsider vibe going on ...   Imagine an American Syd Barrett and you'd be in the right aural neighborhood for this one.   Fans of the genre will go ape for this one.    rating: **** stars

7.) You Don't Walk On My Street   (Michael James) - 4:14

Kicked along by some pretty acoustic guitar, the first half of 'You Don't Walk On My Street' was probably the album's prettiest number.   The combination of James guitar and his stoned, plaintive voices was quite unique - probably not something that you'd want to play for emotionally questionably friends.   And then just when you'd gotten acclimated to this one, it suddenly exploded into a take-no-prisoners slice of garage aggression.   Guess James really didn't want that individual to walk on his street.   rating: **** stars 
8.) She's Got You (the World)   (Michael James) - 3:35

I've always loved the way 'She's Got You (the World)' blows out of your speakers - bouncing from speaker to speaker the raw guitars sound like a cross between early Kinks and a decent punk band.    Easily the album's best rocker ....    rating: **** stars

 

(side 2)
1.) Electronic Silver
  (Michael James) - 0:42

The spoken word song fragment that opened up side two was a bit on the goofy side ...   Another one that sounded like something off of a Firesign Theater LP  ...  rating: ** stars

2.) Sleepers (instrumental)  (Michael James) - 3:24

Random electric guitar chords played over various sleep related sound effects - snoring, coughing, snorting ...   yeap, that was about all there was here, though the guitars became more prominent as the tune bopped along.   Maybe if you were really stoned ...    rating: *** stars

3.) Quest  (Michael James) - 6:30

      a.) Earth  (Michael James) - 

      b.) Mind  (Michael James) - 

      c. Spirit  (Michael James) - 

A three piece suite that constituted the album's longest track, 'Quest' sported another pretty acoustic melody with some lovely vocals - James and company seemingly played it straight this time out.   The second segment 'Earth' was a brief instrumental section showcasing some very nice acoustic guitar moves.  'Spirit' brought in electric guitar and Peterson's keyboards and a surprisingly enjoyable jazz-rock vibe.   rating: **** stars

4.) Stark Raven  (Michael James) - 0:44

Another spoken word segment, with an FM dj theme that at least brought a smile to my face.  rating: ** stars

5.) Have You Heard? (You Got Pain and You Out Not) (instrumental) (Michael James) - 3:52

Opening up with some killer lead guitar, in spite of the clumsy title, 'Have You Heard? (You Got Pain and You Out Not)' was probably the album's most commercially viable track.  Kind of a Dixie Dregs go top-40 vibe.  Very nice.   rating: **** stars

6.) Listen, Freedom Is At Hand   (Michael James) - 4:56

Starting out as a pretty acoustic guitar number with spoken word lyrics (lots of echo), James has described this one as "a spiritual song about a "near death experience"."   Makes sense to me.  The second part of the track added jangle rock guitars and some of James' most impressive guitar work to the mix.    rating: **** stars

 

James now runs his own label Empath Recordz and is in a band called  Children of the Risk (he's written a book with the same title).  For anyone interested, here's a link to James' website:  

http://www.myspace.com/empathrecordsinc

Before going out of business the British Radioactive label released a bootleg CD version of "Runaway World" (Radioactive catalog number RRCD176).   Personally I wouldn't buy a copy since the Brooklyn World In Sound label released a superior and legitimate version complete with a series of five bonus tracks ('Sleepers', 'The World Is a Demo', 'She So Sad', 'His Passion', and 'Make Us Cry') and a 12 page booklet (catalog number WIS-1034).



Genre: pop

Rating: * (1 star)

Title:  Thanks To ...

Company: Heptone

Catalog: HET-1857

Year: 1982

Country/State: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 811

Price: $40.00

 

I'll have to admit, I've always assumed this was a follow-up to Michael James' classic "Runaway World".   The band name, coupled with the fact  it was recorded in Minnesota, certainly let me down that road.   On the other hand, other than in the band name, James isn't listed anywhere on the performance credits ... so maybe not.

Credited to The Michael James Band,  assuming there was a link to the earlier album, musically 1982's "Thanks To ..." bore zero relationship to James early psych classic (1978's "Runaway World").  While you certainly couldn't blame these guys for wanting to appeal to popular audiences, anyone hoping for more of the debut album's strange and beguiling sound, was in for a major disappointment.   Most of the  album focused on a highlight commercial pop sound that recalled a second tier version of an '80s pop band like Huey Lewis and the News.  In fact, the best song on the album (I'm using that adjective in a broad sense), was the Huey News-styled 'Don't Take Your Love'.   About the best thing I can say is SERIOUSLY DULL.

"Thanks To ..." track listing:
(side 1)

1.) One Link In a Long Chain   (Roger Gress) - 2:44

Hum, about all I can say is conventional AM radio oriented horn-rock that sounded like something from Huey Lewis and the News was probably going to come as a major shock to James' psych-oriented friends.  rating: ** stars

2.) Breakout   (Michael Bullock) - 2:41

Retro swing, 'Breakout' might have held some appeal for Stray Cats fans, but otherwise was a waste of two minutes.   Hideous.   ranting: * stars

3.) Don't Take Your Love   (Randy Roseberry) - 4:08

Kicked along by some Mitch Hare poppin' bass, 'Don;t Take Your Love' found the band trying to get funky ...  well about as funky as Huey Lewis and company ever got.   Okay in terms of early-'80s adult contemporary pop music went and the chorus was actually mildly catchy (not that you would ever admit it).   rating: *** stars

4.) Do What You  Do   (Randy Roseberry) - 4:30

'Do What You Do' found the band trying to take a stab at blues - in this case Dr. John-styled gumbo was apparently what they were hoping to emmulate.   Needless to say, they didn't quite hit the mark, though Randy Mickleberg turned in a nice guitar solorating: ** stars

5.) Black Russian (instrumental)   (Todd Matheson) - 3:01

Faceless swing jazz instrumental.    Yech.   rating: * star

 

(side 2)

1.) Good Times   (Michael Bullock) - 2:58

More Stray cats-styled swing/rockabilly that leaves me totally cold.  Big yawn.  Maybe if you had five or six beers ...  maybe not.   rating: * star

2.) Too Much Talk   (Randy Roseberry) - 5:26

Well, at least 'Too Much Talk' found the band returning to contemporary (for the early-'80s) pop moves.  The chorus was nice in a faceless Ambrosia/Michael McDonald era way with Randy Mickleberg turning in guitar solo that sounded like it was originally intended for a Steely Dan album.    Not hard to imagine this one playing in an office building lobby or elevator.  rating: *** stars

3.) Working Fool   (Randy Roseberry - Michael Bullock) - 3:46

Well, at least I liked the singer's rustic voice and the guitar effects.   The rest of the song was less impressive.  rating: ** stars

4.) Thanks To ...    (Randy Roseberry - James Klein) - 3:36

Time for a sappy power ballad ...  ' always reThanks To ...' has always reinded me of one of those ballads Peter Cetera churred out for Chicago.  Guess it was intended to get people out and slow dancing, or to get them drinking heavily.   rating: ** stars

5.) Last Time   (Todd Matheson) - 3:38

Hum, if you're from Minnesota maybe reggae isn't a genre that you should trot out.   Remember those horrible 10cc songs where they tried their hands at reggae ('Dreadlock Holiday')?  Well, 'Last Time' was just as bad.  rating: ** stars

 

 

I've never tracked it down, but there are apparently a couple of other Michael James releases including  a live set "Michael James Band Live".

 

 

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