Word of Mouth

Artist: Mike + the Mechanics
Label: EMI Int'l
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 077778636526
EAN: 0077778636526
ASIN: B000024ZUT

Release Date: 1993-07-01

Word of Mouth

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Tracks:

Get Up
Word Of Mouth
A Time And Place
Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
The Way You Look At Me
Everybody Gets A Second Chance
Stop Baby
My Crime Of Passion
Let's Pretend It Didn't Happen
Before (The Next Heartache Falls)

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The Living Years
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Rewired

Customer Reviews:

Baffling why this Album wasn't more successful commercially.......2005-12-15

A trend that emerged in the mid 1980s was the emergence of the Supergroup. The term Supergroup refers to a group that is formed by multiple members that have achieved success in other groups. Probably the most popular of the Supergroups was The Power Station (Robert Palmer, Tony Thompson of Chic, John and Andy Taylor of Duran Duran). Other examples included Asia and the Traveling Wilburys. However for all practical purposes, it was The Power Station that put the term Supergroup on the map. Supergroups are formed for many reasons: Supergroups such as The Power Station and The Traveling Wilburys were basically formed to be (originally) one time efforts. Other groups such as Asia were formed following the demise of other bands. And yet others are formed as "side projects". Some people tend to forget when it comes to Mike + The Mechanics that they are a Supergroup. The band was formed as a side project by Genesis Guitar and Bass player Mike Rutherford. This side project would lead to commercial and critical success. Mike + The Mechanics first album, the self-titled album "Mike + The Mechanics" would have some commercial success - including three Top 40 hits. Their second album "Living Years" produced a #1 song and Record of the Year candidate in the title track - as well as commercial success. However, Mike + The Mechanics would run into the problem that many artists have when they try for that third consecutive commercially successful album - they strike out. That third album "Word of Mouth" wasn't quite at the creative level of the first two albums - yet I'm still amazed how this album was the commercial failure that it was.

Mike + The Mechanics retains the original lineup that was on the first two albums for "Word of Mouth". This includes the co-lead vocalists of Paul Carrack (formerly of Squeeze) and Paul Young (formerly of Sad Cafe), Keyboard player Adrian Lee, Drummer Peter Van Hooke, and of course, Mike Rutherford himself on Guitar and Bass. Christopher Neil returns again to co-produce the album with Rutherford. Russ Titelman also is a co-producer on 6 tracks. In addition Carrack and Lee make some songwriting contributions. While the first album had more of a classic rock feel, it was on "Living Years" where Mike + the Mechanics started to incorporate some Adult Contemporary sounds. For "Word of Mouth", the Adult Contemporary influence will be the dominant sound.

As for the lead vocals, the rule of thumb for the first two albums was that Carrack delivered the intense vocals while Young focused on the passionate vocals. There are still examples of Carrack and Young carrying out these styles, but I think the intensity and passion are turned down a slight notch because of the softer Adult Contemporary sounds that are on this collection.

The standout song on the album is the 8th track - "My Crime of Passion". The title of this song says it all as it deals with losing control during the heat of the moment. Paul Carrack takes the lead on vocals for this song and delivers with laser focused intensity. However, I've always felt that there should have been more duets between Carrack and Paul Young. It's pleasing that Paul Young provides some terrific vocals to supplement Carrack's vocals. Listen to how well that Young blends in with Carrack's vocals. This was the song that had songwriting contributions by both Carrack and Lee from a songwriting perspective. The result is a song that clearly sits on top of the Mike + The Mechanics portfolio.

The title track, "Word of Mouth" is another very good track. This is a song that deals with having faith in getting information from "word of mouth". This song is sung as a quasi-live song. A studio audience was brought in to help add to the "live" effect. Ultimately the command of this performance comes from the passionate vocals of Paul Young who does a terrific job.

The last track, "Before (The Next Heartache Falls)" is a very good track. This is one of those songs that does a heck of a job at "switching gears". Carrack handles the lead vocals on this song. This song starts out as a soft synth pop song, but then the tempo picks up and the guitars and drums begin to fold in. The London Community Gospel Choir provides some subtle background vocals.

Other songs worth checking out are "Get Up" - featuring Carrack delivering passionate vocals more in the mold that Young typically does. "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" has the hardest rock edge of any of the tracks - and Young delivers the vocals perfectly. "Everybody Gets a Second Chance" is a song that everyone can relate to and Paul Carrack's vocals make the message very believable. "The Way You Look at Me" has more of a synth pop feel, but it is highlighted by Carrack's trademark intensity in his vocals.

This album does fall slightly below the 5 stars I gave to the first two albums. I do feel there are three weaker songs in "A Time and Place", "Stop Baby", and "Let's Pretend it Didn't Happen". They aren't bad songs, but certainly not up to the level I heard on the first two albums. Certainly, I can't see those songs as the reason why "Word of Mouth" didn't do well commercially.

The liner notes include the lyrics for all of the songs as well as the songwriting and production credits. Overall, this is a very good album - and I'm completely shocked it didn't do well. In fact, Genesis would release "We Can't Dance" a few months later and achieve great commercial success, so it certainly wasn't due to the fact that the public was tired of Mike Rutherford. It seems like this album only was embraced by core Mike + The Mechanics fans - and that's a shame because this album has a lot to offer. Highly recommended.

sin paliativos.......2004-03-03

En otros comentarios se dice que no se entiende como este disco pudo no vender tanto como los dos anteriores. Yo diría que no se como llegaron a vender tambien los dos anteriores. En ambos se incluía un único tema que podía servir de gancho mientras que los demás eran pop de relleno. Probablemente este disco se ve lastrado porque, ni tan siquiera ofrece ese tema. Es un mal disco de cabo a rabo. Desde luego no tiene nada que ver con Genesis, pero no se trata de si se parece o no, sino de que lo que ofrecen es muy poco. Solo un montón de canciones insustanciales.

An Overlooked Gem From The Mechanics.......2004-01-27

The third album from Mike + The Mechanics, 1991's "Word Of Mouth," *should* have been a commercial success. Mike Rutherford's band outside of Genesis had had two hit albums in a row, including a #1 smash on the singles chart with the achingly beautiful title song from their second album, "The Living Years." Instead, "Word Of Mouth" sank like a stone---no hit singles at all, and the album didn't even chart. What happened? I can only guess that it was simply a case of bad timing. Since the late 70's, the members of Genesis had usually done one solo project apiece inbetween Genesis albums. But with "Word Of Mouth," Mike Rutherford got to make *two* solo projects, delivering another Mechanics album at a time when many fans were truly hungry for a new Genesis album, having not had one in five years. Rutherford quickly bounced back by rejoining Genesis for the highly successful "We Can't Dance" album, released later in the same year, but in the process, "Word Of Mouth" simply disappeared without a trace.It's a terrible shame that "Word Of Mouth" was neglected, because there are several songs on this wonderful album that could've been potential hits. The catchy opener, "Get Up," nicely sung by Paul Carrack, could easily have been a radio hit. The title song is an awesome, energetic sing-a-long rocker (complete with a cheering, sing-a-long audience), and brilliantly sung by the late, great Paul Young. "A Time And Place," sung by Carrack, is a beautiful ballad. Carrack also takes the mike for the very bouncy, finger-snapping "Everybody Gets A Second Chance," featuring a great guitar hook from Rutherford. Paul Young delivers more excellent vocals on the heartfelt "Stop Baby," and the passionate "Let's Pretend It Didn't Happen." There's even an excellent duet for the two Paul's on the fine popper, "My Crime Of Passion," and "Before (The Next Heartache Falls)" is a powerful closer, featuring a top-notch vocal from Carrack, and fine accompanyment from the London Community Gospel Choir. The songs, co-written by Rutherford, Carrack, B.A. Robertson and co-producer Christopher Neil are all excellent, the musical performances are strong, and the production is bright and sparkling.Unfortunately, "Word Of Mouth" is now out-of-print, but I'm very happy to see that many used copies are available here at Amazon, AND at good prices, so please don't miss out on adding this great buried treasure from Mike + The Mechanics to your CD collection. It may not have sold diddly back in 1991, but nonetheless, "Word Of Mouth" is a marvelous pop-rock offering from Mike Rutherford & company. Don't let this album pass you by!

A somewhat disappointing effort you may grow to love..........2002-09-20

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.

Mechanics need a pit stop.......2001-07-09

Mike Rutherford is in the unenviable and unavoidable position of being compared with his more successful colleagues from Genesis - Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel. This album does not help.

Most of the material on the Mechanics' third album falls away after the encouraging opening track "Get Up".

While there is plenty of slick pop throughout, most of the lyrics are a little flat. "Get Up", the title track, "Stop Baby" and "Let's Pretend It Didn't Happen" are the better moments.

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