Word of Mouth

Mike & The Mechanics | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 26, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atlantic / Wea
• ASIN: B000002IQV
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #174,844 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Get Up

2. Word of Mouth

3. A Time and Place

4. Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

5. The Way You Look At Me

6. Everybody Gets a Second Chance

7. Stop Baby

8. My Crime of Passion

9. Let's Pretend It Didn't Happen

10. Before (The Next Heartache Falls)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A somewhat disappointing effort you may grow to love..., September 19, 2002

By 

sdaniela "musicmansteve" (San Antonio, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Word of Mouth (Audio CD)

Mike + the Mechanics burst out of the gate in 1985 with their self-titled, mega-hit debut album, erasing once and for all the notion that Mike Rutherford played only a minor part in the success of his "other" band, Genesis. Mike can write music, some very nice music, in fact!

Beyond establishing Mike Rutherford as a household name, the Mechanics' first album also established impossibly high expectations for their follow-up release. The Mechanics rose to the challenge, and in 1988 they released their second album, In the Living Years, an accomplishment that equaled - some say exceeded - their first effort. Amazing.

Could we reasonably expect this superband to three-peat? In a word, no. Not that their third third album, Word of Mouth, was anything to be ashamed of, but it simply didn't have the consistent quality of the first two wonders.

There are some gems to be found on Word of Mouth, particularly the title track sung by Paul Young, which is closest in form to the most popular Mechanics hits from their first two albums. Other pleasing pieces include The Way You Look at Me, My Crime of Passion and Before, all sung by Paul Carrack in his characteristic fashion.

Unfortunately, the rest of the album will appeal only to true Mechanics devotees. Nevertheless, I find myself more attracted to the album with each new listening, and I suspect that anyone willing to give it the time will be as well.

By itself, this album could have been a solid top 40 release...maybe even Top 10. But we were spoiled by the first two Mechanics chartbusters, and since we've seen better from Mike, this album quickly faded from the charts. Ironically, had Mike and the Mechanics released their first three albums in reverse order, they likely would have built a chart-topping dynasty to last well into the 90s.

Bottom Line: If you're building a Mechanics collection, then be sure to include this album. Otherwise, go for one of the first two releases or perhaps the Hits compilation.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A hidden gem from Mike and the Mechanics, June 7, 2007

By 

Christopher L. Parker (Greenville, SC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Word of Mouth (Audio CD)

Now my Mike and the Mechanics collection is complete with this album... I held of on buying this one as I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it turned out to be... I was pleasantly surprised and have found myself listening to it repeatedly. I purchased this based on the Hits album and have found that my favorite songs are those that are not on the Hits album, especially Track 5 "The Way You Look At Me" Track 9 "Let's Pretend It Didn't Happen" and my favorite on the album (and one of my favorite Mechanics songs now) Track 10 "Before (The Next Heartache Falls)" - an amazing song that builds and is very energetic, with a great beat.

This album is a must for any Mechanics fan and by anyone that appreciates highly technical music that is slickly produced and with amazing vocals by the late Paul Yound and the groovin' Paul Carrack (whom I am collecting all his stuff now).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars M & M Best, September 14, 2008

By 

damonous "damonous" (Willoughby, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Word of Mouth (Audio CD)

Just happened to see the 2004 Mike + The Mechanics + Paul Carrack concert on TV in HD today, and it caused me to dig back into my CD archives. Mostly, because I needed to hear the Paul Young tracks with original vocals again. No offense to Carrack's attempt to cover, but Young really had some strong, passionate vocals in his time. And, never was it more evident than on this album.

I am in agreement with several here that I was perplexed at the time this was released in 1991 that it wasn't a huge hit album. But, if I recall, this was the time when 80's bands were starting to be given the 'cold shoulder' by the record industry (I'm sure that sounds unbelievable to those fascinated with the 80's revival in the 2000's) in favor of 'Alternative Rock' (which itself was an oxymoron, since it was really what mainstream record companies were promoting at every turn). So, although certainly Mike Rutherford's "main band", Genesis, had some great success around this time; they were also "sure money" to the record execs. Mike + The Mechanics was not.

Certainly, nothing in this album wouldn't have proved to be a smash hit, were it to have been released 5 years earlier. It's a shame, because I believe on tracks like "Word of Mouth", "Everybody Gets a Second Chance", "Stop Baby" and "Before (The Next Heartache Falls)" --they really hit their stride with excellent production, lyrics, and music.

Unlike "The Living Years" album which was a bit of a downer thematically & musically for me, or "Beggar on a Beach of Gold" which was terribly uneven and musically obtuse -even bizarre at times; the "Word of Mouth" gives great rock when it wants to ("Get Up" & the title track), and lets out some refined passion & lyrics for the rest. Throughout it all, melody is a key constant ingredient ... the most since their first album, and less prone to meander into odd rhythms.

In all, "Word of Mouth" is an outstanding pop album. And, if you really love the 80's (not just the radio 'hits' that are endlessly replayed these days), and are interested in this band, you owe it to yourself to check it out.