Michael (the Lover)

"Michael (the Lover)"[nb 1] is a soul song originally performed by American Chicago soul group the C.O.D.'s.

"Michael"
Single by The C.O.D.'s
B-side"Cry No More"
Released1965
GenreSoul
Length2:35
LabelKellmac/One Derful
1003
Songwriter(s)Larry Brownlee
Producer(s)Leon Singleton

The song was written by the group's lead singer Larry Brownlee[nb 2] who was murdered in 1978. It was released as a single on Kellmac Records in the United States and Stateside in the United Kingdom and made it to number 5 on the Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart in 1965. The song was produced by Leon Singleton and arranged by Pete Matthews.[1]

The song was later remade by the Mad Lads, appearing on their 1966 album The Mad Lads In Action (Volt 414), and by the Northern soul Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band (Piccadilly 7N 35359). Washington's version reached #39 on the UK charts. The 1980 song "Geno", a tribute to Washington and his band, notes "You were Michael the lover, the fighter that won".

Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band version

"Michael"
Song by Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band
A-side"Michael"
B-side"(I Gotta) Hold On To My Love"
Released1966
LabelPiccadilly 7N.35359
Composer(s)Larry Brownlee
Producer(s)John Schroeder
Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band singles chronology
"Que Sera, Sera"
(1966)
"Michael"
(1966)
"Always"
(1967)

The version of Michael by Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band became a chart hit for them but it also became a crowd favorite.

Background

It appeared on the Marble Arch compilation album, Stars of 67 which also featured "Puppet on a String" by Sandie Shaw and "Universal Soldier" by Donovan.[2]

Chart

Their version got to #39 in February 1967.[3] It also made its debut at on the Radio City City Sixty chart at no. 30 on the period of Sunday 29th January - Sunday 5th February 1967.[4] It got to no. 15 the following week,[5] but due to station owner, Dorothy Calvert being found guilty of operating a radio station inside UK territorial waters on February 8, 1967 and the station being closed that night, the single's course, as with other singles there would be unknown.[6]

Other recordings

Other versions by Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band includes a live version that appears on Hand Clappin, Foot Stompin, Funky-Butt ... Live! album.[7] An unreleased version recorded by Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band in 1968 appears on the Holdin' On With Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band EP which was released on the Acid Jazz label in 2013.[8]

Notes

  1. Sometimes written "Michael the Lover" or simply "Michael" (on the original C.O.D.'s single release).
  2. But credited to Brownlee, Lewis, and Washington on an Emase Records single.

References


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