Michael (the Lover)
1965 soul song by The C.O.D.'s
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Michael (the Lover)"[nb 1] is a soul song originally performed by American Chicago soul group the C.O.D.'s.
The song was written by the group's lead singer Larry Brownlee[nb 2] who was murdered in 1978.[citation needed] 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 who 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" | |||
| Released | 1966 | |||
| Label | Piccadilly 7N.35359 | |||
| Composer | Larry Brownlee | |||
| Producer | John Schroeder | |||
| Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
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 29 January - Sunday 5 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]
