Mike & The Mechanics Album: “Word of Mouth”

Just happened to see the 2004 Mike + The Mechanics + Paul Carrack concert on TV in HD today, and it caused me to dig back into my CD archives. Mostly, because I needed to hear the Paul Young tracks with original vocals again. No offense to Carrack's attempt to cover, but Young really had some strong, passionate vocals in his time. And, never was it more evident than on this album.

I am in agreement with several here that I was perplexed at the time this was released in 1991 that it wasn't a huge hit album. But, if I recall, this was the time when 80's bands were starting to be given the 'cold shoulder' by the record industry (I'm sure that sounds unbelievable to those fascinated with the 80's revival in the 2000's) in favor of 'Alternative Rock' (which itself was an oxymoron, since it was really what mainstream record companies were promoting at every turn). So, although certainly Mike Rutherford's "main band", Genesis, had some great success around this time; they were also "sure money" to the record execs. Mike + The Mechanics was not.

Certainly, nothing in this album wouldn't have proved to be a smash hit, were it to have been released 5 years earlier. It's a shame, because I believe on tracks like "Word of Mouth", "Everybody Gets a Second Chance", "Stop Baby" and "Before (The Next Heartache Falls)" --they really hit their stride with excellent production, lyrics, and music.

Unlike "The Living Years" album which was a bit of a downer thematically & musically for me, or "Beggar on a Beach of Gold" which was terribly uneven and musically obtuse -even bizarre at times; the "Word of Mouth" gives great rock when it wants to ("Get Up" & the title track), and lets out some refined passion & lyrics for the rest. Throughout it all, melody is a key constant ingredient ... the most since their first album, and less prone to meander into odd rhythms.

In all, "Word of Mouth" is an outstanding pop album. And, if you really love the 80's (not just the radio 'hits' that are endlessly replayed these days), and are interested in this band, you owe it to yourself to check it out.

Word of Mouth was the third album from the Mechanics and the beginning of the end concerning their US commercial success. Unfortunately grunge had arrived and pretty much killed melodic rock as a top 40 staple. "Word of Mouth" has some good tunes, especially the title track, "Get Up" and "Everybody Gets a Second Chance". One of the things I really liked about this record is the songs alternate between Paul Young and Paul Carrack as lead vocalist although Carrack has 6 songs and Young 4. This is probably the most consistent recording from the Mechanics and there are no surprises here. If you like melody driven A/C music this record is for you.

As many fellow reviewers have asserted, WORD OF MOUTH should have been more successful. The material is excellent, going from their trademark up-tempo anthems to their mellower mid-tempo ballads. This collection also uses the alternating lead vocals of Carrack and Young to their best abilities. While all 11 tracks have their own merits, I do have my personal faves: the pure energy and optimism of both GET UP and WORD OF MOUTH; the beautiful music of A TIME AND PLACE; the euphoric romance of THE WAY YOU LOOK AT ME; the desperation of STOP BABY and LET'S PRETEND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN and the eternal desire in EVERYBODY GETS A SECOND CHANCE.

Mike + the Mechanic5 were a talented blend of musicians and under Christopher Neil's savvy production WORD OF MOUTH wasn't the blockbuster it should've been, it's nothing to be ashamed of.

Mike and the Mechanics' Word of Mouth is a very good album. "Mike" is Mike Ruthorford from the band Genesis. Mike was the primary writer of Genesis' first top 40 hit in the U.S. in 1978, "Follow you, follow me". His excellent song writing ability carry over into this album much later in 1991. Mike was the bass player for Genesis but also played acoustic guitars in the early years of Genesis. After Steve Hackett left Genesis in 1977, Mike took over lead guitar in all of the subsequent Genesis albums. Paul Carrak sings several of the songs on "Word of Mouth", as he did on subsequent Mike and the Mechanics albums. Paul was first heard by many in 1975 as lead singer of the song "How long" which was a top 40 single in the U.S. in 1975.

A very good follow up to The Living years. All of the tracks are great, especially the title track.