Lee Michaels: Difference between revisions
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Michaels, also known as Mike Olsen, began his career with [[The Sentinals (band)|The Sentinals ]], a San Luis-based surf group which included [[Merrell Fankhauser]] and drummer [[Johny Barbata]] (later of [[The Turtles]], [[Jefferson Airplane]], and [[Jefferson Starship]]). Michaels joined Barbata in the Strangers, a group led by Joel Scott Hill, before moving to [[San Francisco]]. In 1967, he signed a contract with [[A&M Records]], releasing his debut, ''Carnival Of Life'', later that year. As a session musician, he'd play with [Jimi Hendrix], amongst others. |
Michaels, also known as Mike Olsen, began his career with [[The Sentinals (band)|The Sentinals ]], a San Luis-based surf group which included [[Merrell Fankhauser]] and drummer [[Johny Barbata]] (later of [[The Turtles]], [[Jefferson Airplane]], and [[Jefferson Starship]]). Michaels joined Barbata in the Strangers, a group led by Joel Scott Hill, before moving to [[San Francisco]]. In 1967, he signed a contract with [[A&M Records]], releasing his debut, ''Carnival Of Life'', later that year. As a session musician, he'd play with [Jimi Hendrix], amongst others. |
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Michaels' choice of the [[Hammond organ]] as his primary [[musical instrument|instrument]] was unusual for the time, as was his bare-bones stage and [[recording studio|studio]] accompaniment: usually just a single [[drummer]], most often a musician known as "Frosty" (Bartholomew Eugene Smith-Frost) member of [[Sweathog(Band)]] <ref>Who, based in Texas, continues to perform as Barry Smith or B.E. "Frosty" Smith:[http://www.soulhat.net/frosty.htm Experience Summary]; www.soulhat.net; [http://frostysmith.tripod.com/id17.htm Biography of Barry Smith]; www.frostysmith.tripod.com.</ref> or with [[Joel Larson]] of [[The Grass Roots]]. This unorthodox approach attracted a following in San Francisco, and some critical notice, but Michaels did not achieve real commercial success until the release of his fifth album (''Fifth''), which produced a surprise [[United States|U.S.]] [[Top 40|Top 10]] hit (#6 in the fall of 1971), "Do You Know What I Mean," and a [[Top 40]] follow-up, a [[cover version]] of the [[Motown Records|Motown]] standard, "Can I Get A Witness". Michaels recorded two more albums for A&M before signing a contract with [[Columbia Records]] in 1973. His Columbia recordings failed to generate much interest, and Michaels went into semi-retirement from the music business by the end of the decade. He currently owns a chain of restaurants, named '''Killer Shrimp''', around Southern [[California]]. Apparently, after a trip to New Orleans, Michaels invented a dish that his friends liked enough to urge him to open a restaurant. |
Michaels' choice of the [[Hammond organ]] as his primary [[musical instrument|instrument]] was unusual for the time, as was his bare-bones stage and [[recording studio|studio]] accompaniment: usually just a single [[drummer]], most often a musician known as "Frosty" (Bartholomew Eugene Smith-Frost) member of [[Sweathog (Band)]] <ref>Who, based in Texas, continues to perform as Barry Smith or B.E. "Frosty" Smith:[http://www.soulhat.net/frosty.htm Experience Summary]; www.soulhat.net; [http://frostysmith.tripod.com/id17.htm Biography of Barry Smith]; www.frostysmith.tripod.com.</ref> or with [[Joel Larson]] of [[The Grass Roots]]. This unorthodox approach attracted a following in San Francisco, and some critical notice, but Michaels did not achieve real commercial success until the release of his fifth album (''Fifth''), which produced a surprise [[United States|U.S.]] [[Top 40|Top 10]] hit (#6 in the fall of 1971), "Do You Know What I Mean," and a [[Top 40]] follow-up, a [[cover version]] of the [[Motown Records|Motown]] standard, "Can I Get A Witness". Michaels recorded two more albums for A&M before signing a contract with [[Columbia Records]] in 1973. His Columbia recordings failed to generate much interest, and Michaels went into semi-retirement from the music business by the end of the decade. He currently owns a chain of restaurants, named '''Killer Shrimp''', around Southern [[California]]. Apparently, after a trip to New Orleans, Michaels invented a dish that his friends liked enough to urge him to open a restaurant. |
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==Albums discography by label== |
==Albums discography by label== |
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Revision as of 14:10, 11 March 2009
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Lee Michaels (born 24 November 1945, in Los Angeles, California), plays the Hammond organ, piano, and guitar (plus vocals), was best known for his 1971 Top 10 pop hit, "Do You Know What I Mean".
Career
Michaels, also known as Mike Olsen, began his career with The Sentinals , a San Luis-based surf group which included Merrell Fankhauser and drummer Johny Barbata (later of The Turtles, Jefferson Airplane, and Jefferson Starship). Michaels joined Barbata in the Strangers, a group led by Joel Scott Hill, before moving to San Francisco. In 1967, he signed a contract with A&M Records, releasing his debut, Carnival Of Life, later that year. As a session musician, he'd play with [Jimi Hendrix], amongst others.
Michaels' choice of the Hammond organ as his primary instrument was unusual for the time, as was his bare-bones stage and studio accompaniment: usually just a single drummer, most often a musician known as "Frosty" (Bartholomew Eugene Smith-Frost) member of Sweathog (Band) [1] or with Joel Larson of The Grass Roots. This unorthodox approach attracted a following in San Francisco, and some critical notice, but Michaels did not achieve real commercial success until the release of his fifth album (Fifth), which produced a surprise U.S. Top 10 hit (#6 in the fall of 1971), "Do You Know What I Mean," and a Top 40 follow-up, a cover version of the Motown standard, "Can I Get A Witness". Michaels recorded two more albums for A&M before signing a contract with Columbia Records in 1973. His Columbia recordings failed to generate much interest, and Michaels went into semi-retirement from the music business by the end of the decade. He currently owns a chain of restaurants, named Killer Shrimp, around Southern California. Apparently, after a trip to New Orleans, Michaels invented a dish that his friends liked enough to urge him to open a restaurant.
Albums discography by label
A&M Records
- Carnival of Life (1968)
- Recital (1968)
- Lee Michaels (1969, One Way Records 1996)
- Barrel (1970, One Way Records 1996)
- Fifth (1971, Pickwick 1979, One Way Records 1996)
- Space and First Takes (1972)
- Lee Michaels Live (1973, One Way Records 1996)
Columbia
- Nice Day for Something (1973)
- Tailface (1974)
ABC Records
- Saturn Rings (1975)
Rhino
- The Lee Michaels Collection (1992)
One Way Records
- Absolute Lee by Lee Michaels (1996)
Shout Factory
- Hello: The Very Best of Lee Michaels (2004)
References
- ^ Who, based in Texas, continues to perform as Barry Smith or B.E. "Frosty" Smith:Experience Summary; www.soulhat.net; Biography of Barry Smith; www.frostysmith.tripod.com.