Genre: rock
Rating: 4 stars ****
Title: Michaelo
Company: Tomorrow
Catalog: TVI
140
Year: 1977
Country/State: US
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: --
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5774
Price: $300.00
Mike O'Gara's initial brush with mainstream success came as a late inning member of Minnesota's The Stillroven (one of the best 1960s bands most folks have never heard of).
Like most tax scam releases there isn't a great deal of information to be found regarding the Robert Pomilla produced "Michaelo". The New York-based Tomorrow label released the album in 1977, but judging by the overarching sound the collection was probably recorded several years prior to that. With all eight songs credited to a Michael Delano (perhaps a pseudonym for O'Gara?)
The handful of brief reviews I've stumbled across have compared O'Gara to Van Morrison. It's not a bad comparison, though not entirely accurate to my ears since to my ears there was only one track with a clear Morrison echo. Rather than Morrison, I'd argue that on songs like 'Crazy People' and 'Sometimes You Know This World Can Be That Cruel' O'Gara sounded more like a rock-oriented Delbert McClinton. Not quite as rugged, but like McClinton his delivery sported the same weird little catch in his voice that I find quite attractive. Elsewhere 'Naked Circumstances' recalled a Dylan who could actually carry a tune (apologies to any Dylan fans I may have offended).
- Kicked along by some nice acoustic guitar, a tasteful B-3 Hammond and a chunky bass pattern 'Crazy People' started the album off with a nifty country-rock number. Quite commercial and could have generated some radio airplay if it had been promoted. rating: **** stars
- Easily one of the standout tracks on the album, 'Mystic Rider' showcased a great electric guitar that was simultaneously melodic and rockin'. It also boasted one of those pseudo-mystical lyrics that Dylan seemed to effortlessly throw out. rating: ***** stars
- The Caribbean influenced 'Slow and Easy' (complete with steel drums), didn't do a great deal for me. The fact O'Gara vocal was shrill and all over the map didn't exactly help this one. rating: * star
- Opening up with some country flavored guitar, my initial expectations for 'Naked Circumstances' were pretty low. Luckily kicked along by some Al Kooper styled keyboards and a train of thought lyric (that was actually pretty funny), this morphed into one of O'Gara's Dylan influenced rockers. Only complaint was that the track faded out just as it was beginning to gather some steam. rating: **** stars
- Yes, yes, yes 'Sometimes You Know This World Can Be That Cruel' sounded like a young Van Morrison. Fantastic song with one of those looping melodies that drills into your head and won't let go. One of the album highlights. rating: ***** stars
- Sporting another nice electric guitar 'Taking Me Away from the Sea' sported a multi-tracked vocal and one of O'Gara's best melodies. rating: **** stars
- The most rock oriented song on the album, 'Keep Me From Going Under' was also my favorite performance. Killer growling lead guitars actually gave it kind of a Stones feel !!! rating: ***** stars
- In spite of the track listing that showed a ninth selection, the album ended with what was the most commercial song - 'Lead Me Away'. This one definitely had top-40 potential with another great chiming lead guitar and organ combo. Once again my only complaint was that the song faded out just as it was beginning to really rock. rating: ***** stars
- Who knows why, but while it was listed on the liner notes, 'Gunfighter' was missing in action. For anyone curious, it shows up on the "Michael O'Gara" album - see comments below.
Easily one of the best tax scam releases, I'd go as far as saying this one would be on my top-five tax scam listing. Even beyond the tax scam confines, how many mainstream released can you think of that only have one disappointing performance? I sure can't come up with many. And for those of you influenced by such things, this one appears in one of Hans Pokora's Record Collector Dreams books - I think it's the 4th volume.
"Michaelo" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Crazy People (Michael Delano) -
2.) Mystic Rider (Michael Delano) -
3.) Slow and Easy (Michael Delano) -
4.) Naked Circumstances (Michael Delano) -
(side
2)
1.) Sometimes You Know This World Can Be That Cruel
(Michael Delano) -
2.) Taking Me Away from the Sea (Michael Delano) -
3.) Keep Me From Going Under (Michael Delano) -
4.) Lead Me Away (Michael Delano) -
5.) Gunfighter (Michael Delano) -
This was also one of those rare tax scam releases that saw a subsequent legitimate reissue. The London label saw fit to release the album under the title "Michael O'Gara" (London catalog number PS-660). Technically it wasn't a straight reissue in that 'Naked Circumstances' was dropped in favor of the previously missing in action 'Gunfighter'.
