Customer Reviews

Mr. Mick

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As Steve Hamilton notes, the opus called "Mr. Mick" that Stackridge played on stage, and the album released in 1976 are remarkably different.

Stackridge disbanded after "Mr. Mick"'s release, and lay dormant until 1998, when Warren, Walter and Evans reformed the band. After an endearing, smart and hook-filled cd of new material spun out in 1999 titled "Something About The Weekend", the band has picked as it's follow-up cd, "Mr. Mick", as it was before slamming into the editing block 24 years ago. [Think: Pete Townsend's "Lifehouse" project" and scale down a bit.]

Buy this cd to hear some stellar saxwork from Keith Gemmell, some of Andy Davis', "Crun" Walter's and "Mutter" Slater's best writing ever, and much more. If nothing else, it'll be collectable after the unexpurgated version is released. After all, you'll still think of replacing your "Who's Next" after "Lifehouse" sees light of day, right?

Having recorded four impressive studio albums in a five year period, 1976's "Mr. Mick" was the album that finally killed Stackridge. Released in the wake of another round of personnel changes that saw the return of singer/flute player Mike Slatter and bassist Jim Walter, the revamped band originally conceived the album as a concept piece with a plotline seemingly having something to do with a senior citizen (Mr. Mick) cast off to a mystical garbage dump where he spent his time reminiscing about life while all the refuse in the dump had a story of their own to tell (like the old man). I know you're thinking I had to have made that up ... I didn't. Unfortunately, in an age of disco madness and punk aggression, Rocket management wanted nothing to do with an extended concept piece. The end result was that when the album actually hit UK stores (it never saw an American release), most of the narrative content had been cut out, as were several of the songs. That essentially gutted the 'concept' and left it nearly impossible to figure out what the hell was going on. The decision to open the album with a throwaway Beatles cover ('Hold Me Tight') may have been intended as a marketing effort to increase the set's commercial content, but did little to further the storyline.

For anyone truly interested, the album was reissued by the Angel Air label in 2001 as "The Original Mr. Mick" A double CD package, the reissue included the original abbreviated Rocket release, as well as a second CD reflecting the original unedited album.

- It takes some gumption for a band to do a Beatles cover; let alone to reinterpret a track like 'Hold Me Tight' as a breezy reggae number. Definitely a weird way to start an album and seemingly had nothing to do with the rest of the concept, but actually was kind of engaging once it got rolling. rating: *** stars
- I've always liked Stackridge's quirky edge and the instrumental 'Breakfast with Werner Von Braun' was a perfect example. Complete with Arabic influences (courtesy of Keith Gemmell), and gorgeous background harmony vocals, this stood as one of the album's most stunning performances. I'd love to know what it was actually about ... rating: **** stars
. The first narrative section set the stage for the old geezer (Mick) wandering out of his apartment to the local dump.
- A bluesy rocker, 'Steam Radio Song' was literally a song about an old radio's life ... Sounds weird and it was, but it rocked out with quite a bit of energy. rating: *** stars
- 'A brief discordant instrumental, The Dump' set the stage for Mick's further discoveries.
- With an English music hall feel, 'Save a Red Face' featured the reminiscences of a cotton reel (which I gather was some sort of sewing implement). rating: *** stars
- Showcasing Slater's pretty keyboards and guest singer Joanna Karlin, 'The Slater's Waltz' was a pretty ballad about a discarded pair of ballet shoes. rating: ** stars
- 'Coniston Water' was a pretty, but inconsequential instrumental that served to transition the album to the next major song - 'Hey Good Looking'. rating: ** stars
- For some reason tons of mid-1970s English bands felt the need to dabble in reggae and Stackridge were no exception to the rule - witness 'Hey Good Looking'. Imagine a weaker 10cc track like ''Bloody Tourists and you'll know what to expect on this one. rating: ** stars
- At least to my ears, the most distinguishing feature about 'Fish In a Glass' was how much it sounded like a late-inning 10cc track. Too cute and clever by half ... rating: ** stars

Elsewhere Rocket tapped the album for an instantly forgotten single:

- 1976's 'Hold Me Tight' b/w Breakfast with Werner Von Braun (instrumental) (Rocket catalog ROKN 507)

Shame Rocket wrecked the original concept since what was left made little sense on its own.

"Mr. Mick" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Hold Me Tight (John Lennon - Paul McCartney) -
2.) Breakfast with Werner Von Braun (instrumental) (Andy Davis) -
3.) narrative interlude
4.) Steam Radio Song (Andy Davis - Augarde) -
5.) The Dump (instrumental) (Andy Davis) -
6.) Save a Red Face (Andy Davis - Augarde) -

(side 2)
1.) The Slater's Waltz (Mike Slater - Augarde) -
2.) narrative interlude
3.) Coniston Water (instrumental) (Mike Slater) -
4.) narrative interlude
5.) Hey Good Looking (Andy Davis - James Warren) -
6.) Fish In a Glass (Andy Davis - James Warren) -

Due to the album's complexity plans to tour in support of the album were abandoned and the critical and commercial and indifference that greeted the album proved the end of the band ... at least for twenty one years.

Mr Mick on CD! Get it and lament the loss of the whole stage production. Great memories though.. mutter, mutter, mutter.