Mike&The Mechanics - Silent Running excellent - see pic

The songwriting on this album is top-notch. "Mike + The Mechanics" is best known for the three singles that were released from this collection: "All I Need is a Miracle", "Taken In", and "Silent Running". The songs "All I Need is a Miracle" and "Taken In" are pop songs. "All I Need is a Miracle" was a Top 10 hit and "Taken In" was a Top 40 hit. While "Miracle" was the most successful track on this collection, I actually felt it was relatively the weakest (compared to the others). It isn't a very complex song, however it is a "fun" song. You can hear Young's passion on this song. "Taken In" is a softer song that discusses someone who has been deceived many times, but now no longer is going to fall prey to deception. It's the most underrated of the three songs that were released.

Track Listing:

1 Silent Running
2 All I Need Is a Miracle
3 Par Avion
4 Hanging by a Thread
5 I Get the Feeling
6 Take the Reins
7 You Are the One
8 A Call to Arms
9 Taken In

It was the first of these three singles that really launched the success of Mike & The Mechanics - that song was "Silent Running". This song was a Top 10 hit, but probably is one of the deepest tracks on the album. This song deals with a man who is on the run and is worried about the safety of his family. In a lot of ways, this song almost was a prototype for the sound that would be heard on later works such as "We Can't Dance" and "Calling All Stations". This collection contains the full version of "Silent Running" - much better than the shortened radio-edit version heard on radio. Carrack delivers the perfect intensity for both "Taken In" and "Silent Running".

While Rutherford and company clearly establish their own footing with this collection, the strongest song still is the contribution from Genesis - "A Call to Arms". This song deals with those being called to defend a cause. I think this is one of the best songs that Carrack and Young actually work the vocals together;. Carrack delivers the lead vocals with the high level of intensity that is needed for this song. However it's Young coming in with the passionate background vocals - namely "Sweet Avalon - the heat is on". The song almost has a mantra-like quality in the chorus.

The great thing about this album is that every song is really good. "Par Avion" and "You are the One" have both a gentle, yet haunting feel. "Hanging by the Thread" has more of a harder rock edge with some nice harmonies. "I Get the Feeling" almost has a feel for being a Carrack solo song - this is a definite "feel good" song.

This CD has been test played to ensure you get what you pay for. No surprises here. All come with jewel case, liner booklet and the CD disc itself.

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