The Living Years

Last updated

"The Living Years"
TheLivingYears.jpg
Single by Mike + The Mechanics
from the album Living Years
B-side "Too Many Friends"
Released27 December 1988 [1]
Recorded1988
Genre Soft rock
Length5:32
Label Atlantic, WEA
Songwriter(s) B. A. Robertson, Mike Rutherford
Producer(s) Christopher Neil, Mike Rutherford
Mike + The Mechanics singles chronology
"Nobody's Perfect"
(1988)		"The Living Years"
(1988)		"Seeing Is Believing"
(1989)
Official video
"The Living Years" on YouTube

"The Living Years" is a soft rock ballad written by B. A. Robertson and Mike Rutherford, and recorded by Rutherford's British rock band Mike + The Mechanics. It was released in December 1988 in the United Kingdom and in the United States as the second single from their album Living Years . The song was a chart hit around the world, topping the US Billboard Hot 100 on 25 March 1989, the band's only number one and last top ten hit on that chart, [2] and reaching number-one in Australia, Canada and Ireland and number 2 in the UK. It spent four weeks at number-one on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. Paul Carrack sings lead vocals on the track.

Contents

The song addresses a son's regret over unresolved conflict with his now-deceased father. It won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically in 1989, [3] and was nominated for four Grammy awards in 1990, including Record and Song of the Year, as well as Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best Video. In 1996, famed composer Burt Bacharach opined that the song was one of the finest lyrics of the last ten years. [4]

In 2004, "The Living Years" was awarded a 4-Million-Air citation by BMI. [5]

Background

The song was inspired by Mike Rutherford and B.A. Robertson realizing their fathers had died around the same time, and they later learned singer Paul Carrack's father had died when he was young, as well. [6]

Rutherford said: [6]

Being of similar age, we both came from an era where our parents had lived through two world wars, when young men wanted to be like their fathers – wear the same clothes, do the same things. But then there was a huge change and our generation wanted to be anything but their fathers. It wasn't our parents' fault, there was just a big social change. Pop music had come along, The Beatles, denim trousers... for the first time, teens had their own culture. That's how our generation couldn't really talk to our parents in the same way.

So we had the idea of writing a song about how you never really talk to your father, and you miss out on these things.

Music video

The music video was directed by Tim Broad and premiered in January 1989. It was filmed in October 1988 in West Somerset, England, near Porlock Weir and the hamlet of Culbone. [7] The video features Mike Rutherford with his then-eight-year-old son, Tom. It also includes an appearance by actress Maggie Jones, best known for playing Blanche Hunt in the soap opera Coronation Street . [8]

The video also shows the group playing the song (with Paul Young playing keyboards), with two sets of choirs singing the chorus with them, an all-boys church choir and an adult choir.

Composition

The song is entirely in the key of A♭ Major. [9]

Personnel

Mike + The Mechanics

Additional personnel

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (1988–1990)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [10] 1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [11] 18
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [12] 25
Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders) [13] 22
Canada Top Singles (The Record) [14] 4
Canada Retail Singles (RPM) [15] 2
Canada RPM 100 (RPM) [16] 1
Ireland (IRMA) [17] 1
Japan (Oricon International) [18] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [19] 20
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [20] 20
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [21] 11
Norway (VG-lista) [22] 10
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [23] 6
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) [24] 2
US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) [25] 1
US Billboard Hot 100 [26] 1
US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [27] 5
West Germany (GfK) [28] 13

Year-end charts

Chart (1989)Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM) [29] 3
United States (Billboard) [30] [31] 31

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [32] Platinum70,000^
Japan (RIAJ) [18] Gold 
New Zealand (RMNZ) [33] Platinum10,000*
Sweden (GLF) [23] Gold25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [34] Gold400,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Covers

There are alternative recordings of the song, [35] instrumental as well as vocal, reggae to classical crossover, from artists as diverse as American country music band Alabama, Chris De Burgh, West End theatre star Michael Ball, Marcia Hines, Engelbert Humperdinck, James Last, The London Symphony Orchestra, Christian artist Russ Lee, Rhydian, John Tesh, Russell Watson, the London Community Gospel Choir, the Newsboys, The Isaacs, The Katinas, Japanese singer Kaho Shimada, Italian band Dik Dik and Michael English.

Mike + The Mechanics band member Paul Carrack, who performed the original lead vocal, has made a number of solo interpretations. His father died in an industrial accident when Carrack was eleven, making the lyrics particularly poignant for him. [36] It is still a mainstay of Carrack's live performances today. [37]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Carrack</span> British musician (born 1951)

Paul Melvyn Carrack is an English singer, musician, songwriter and composer who has recorded as both a solo artist and as a member of several popular bands. The BBC dubbed Carrack "The Man with the Golden Voice", while Record Collector remarked: "If vocal talent equalled financial success, Paul Carrack would be a bigger name than legends such as Phil Collins or Elton John."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike and the Mechanics</span> English rock band

Mike and the Mechanics are an English rock supergroup formed in Dover in 1985 by Mike Rutherford, initially as a side project during a hiatus period for his other group Genesis. The band are known for the hit singles "Silent Running", "All I Need Is a Miracle", "Taken In", "The Living Years", "Word of Mouth", and "Over My Shoulder".

<i>Heart of Stone</i> (Cher album) 1989 album by Cher

Heart of Stone is the nineteenth studio album by American singer-actress Cher, released on July 10, 1989 by Geffen Records. As of January 1991, the album had sold more than 4 million copies worldwide. The album was supported by Cher's 1989–1990 Heart of Stone Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Got My Mind Set on You</span> 1962 song by James Ray

"Got My Mind Set on You" is a song written and composed by Rudy Clark and originally recorded by James Ray in 1962, under the title "I've Got My Mind Set on You". An edited version of the song was released later in the year as a single on Dynamic Sound Records credited to Ray with Hutch Davie Orchestra & Chorus. The song features a variety of instruments, including a Chinese Lute, but it is uncertain whether Ray or the orchestra played the lute.

<i>Beggar on a Beach of Gold</i> 1995 studio album by Mike + The Mechanics

Beggar on a Beach of Gold is the fourth album by Mike + the Mechanics, released on 6 March 1995. This album contains three singles: the No. 12 hit "Over My Shoulder", the No. 33 hit "A Beggar on a Beach of Gold", and the No. 51 single "Another Cup of Coffee". All three songs charted in Germany as well, and "Another Cup of Coffee" was also popular in Russia; "Over My Shoulder" was particularly successful in France, reaching No.9. The album was certified Gold by the BPI for sales of 100,000 copies. Adrian Lee performed on this album as a session musician following his departure from the band, and this was drummer Peter Van Hooke's last album as an official member of the band as he left the band shortly after the album's release.

<i>Mike + The Mechanics</i> (1985 album) 1985 studio album by Mike + The Mechanics

Mike + The Mechanics is the debut album by the Genesis bassist and guitarist Mike Rutherford's band Mike + The Mechanics in 1985. The album reached number 26 on the Billboard 200 album charts and had three hit singles. "Silent Running", featuring lead vocals by Paul Carrack, and the uptempo "All I Need Is a Miracle", featuring lead vocals by Paul Young, both reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at numbers 6 and 5 respectively, with the former also peaking at number 1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The third single off the album, "Taken In", was a lesser hit, reaching No. 32 on the Hot 100 and No. 7 on the Adult Contemporary chart. "Silent Running" and "All I Need is a Miracle" were also hits in the UK, reaching numbers 21 and 53 in the UK Singles Chart respectively.

<i>Living Years</i> 1988 studio album by Mike + The Mechanics

Living Years is the second album by Mike + The Mechanics, released in 1988. The album reached number 13 on the US Billboard 200 and number 2 on the UK Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Got It</span> 1989 single by Roy Orbison

"You Got It" is a song from American singer Roy Orbison's 22nd studio album, Mystery Girl (1989). The song was released posthumously on January 3, 1989, after Orbison's death from a heart attack on December 6, 1988. The song was issued with "The Only One" as the B-side and was later released with "Crying". The single reached number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Adult Contemporary chart, returning Orbison to the top 10 for the first time in 25 years. "You Got It" also reached number three on the UK Singles Chart and entered the top five in 10 other countries. Although it is an Orbison solo single, Orbison's fellow Traveling Wilburys bandmates Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne co-wrote the song and played instruments on the record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Invisible Touch (song)</span> 1986 single by Genesis

"Invisible Touch" is the title track and first single from the 1986 studio album of the same name by the English rock band Genesis. The song is a group composition which featured lyrics written by drummer and lead vocalist Phil Collins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Young (singer, born 1947)</span> English singer (1947–2000)

Paul Young was a British singer and songwriter. He achieved success in the bands Sad Café and Mike + the Mechanics.

"The Best" is a song by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler from her seventh studio album, Hide Your Heart (1988). It was written by Mike Chapman and Holly Knight. Produced by Desmond Child, Tyler's version became a top-10 hit in Norway but was a minor hit elsewhere.

"When You Walk in the Room" is a song written and recorded by Jackie DeShannon. It was initially released as a single on November 23, 1963, as the B-side to "Till You Say You'll Be Mine". It was re-released as an A-side in September 1964, and later included on the album Breakin' It Up on the Beatles Tour. The single charted on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 99.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How Long (Ace song)</span> 1975 single by Ace

"How Long" is the debut single by the English band Ace, from their 1974 debut album, Five-A-Side. It reached No. 3 on both the US and Canadian charts, and No. 20 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Probably Me</span> 1992 single by Sting and Eric Clapton

"It's Probably Me" is a song originally released in 1992 as a collaboration by Sting featuring Eric Clapton, Michael Kamen, and David Sanborn. Released from the soundtrack to the action comedy film Lethal Weapon 3 in June 1992, the song reached number 20 on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart and number 12 on Canada's RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart. It was more successful in Europe, peaking at number one in Italy, number four in France, and number six in the Netherlands.

<i>Word of Mouth</i> (Mike + The Mechanics album) 1991 studio album by Mike + The Mechanics

Word of Mouth is the third album by Mike + The Mechanics, released in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Will Keep Us Alive</span> 1994 single by Eagles

"Love Will Keep Us Alive" is a song written by Jim Capaldi, Paul Carrack, and Peter Vale and recorded by American rock band the Eagles. It was first performed by the Eagles in 1994, during their Hell Freezes Over reunion tour, with lead vocals by bassist Timothy B. Schmit. This is the last single to feature Don Felder, who was terminated from the band in 2001. The song was nominated at the 38th Grammy Awards for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Over My Shoulder (Mike + The Mechanics song)</span> 1995 single by Mike + The Mechanics

"Over My Shoulder" is a pop rock song by British rock supergroup Mike + The Mechanics. It was released on 13 February 1995 as the first single from their fourth album, Beggar on a Beach of Gold (1995). Written by Paul Carrack and Mike Rutherford and sung by Carrack, it was the most successful single from that album, peaking at number 12 on UK Singles Chart. It became the band's only hit in certain European countries, including Switzerland and France; in the latter country, it reached number nine and spent 20 weeks in the top 50.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All I Need Is a Miracle</span> 1986 single by Mike + The Mechanics

"All I Need Is a Miracle" is a song performed by English pop rock band Mike + The Mechanics. Written by guitarist Mike Rutherford and producer Christopher Neil, it was first included on their 1985 self-titled debut album, and later released as a single in early 1986 in the USA, where it reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was sung by Paul Young on both the original recording and the 1996 re-recording for the band's Hits compilation album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Still the Same (Bob Seger song)</span> 1978 single by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band

"Still the Same" is a 1978 song written and recorded by the American singer Bob Seger. It hit #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and was an international hit.

This is the discography of the British band Mike + The Mechanics. They have released nine studio albums, three compilation albums, more than thirty singles, and one concert video.

References

  1. ↑ "Mike And The Mechanics Discography - UK". 45cat.com. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  2. ↑ "Weekly Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 Songs from the First 50 Years, 1980–1989". Billboard.
  3. ↑ "Mike Rutherford". IMDb . Retrieved 8 December 2009.
  4. ↑ "Do you know the ways to Monterey? Santa Fe? Whitley Bay?." Mojo . March 1996.
  5. ↑ "BMI London Awards: Song List". Bmi.com. 5 October 2004. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
  6. 1 2 "How I Wrote "The Living Years" by Mike + the Mechanics' Mike Rutherford". Songwritingmagazine/co/uk. 27 December 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  7. ↑ Davis, Mick; Lassman, David (30 March 2020). Visitors' Historic Britain: Somerset: Romans to Victorians. Pen and Sword History. ISBN   9781526706195 – via Google Books.
  8. ↑ "Obituary: Coronation Street's Maggie Jones". BBC News. 2 December 2009. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  9. ↑ "The Living Years (2014 Remastered)" on YouTube
  10. ↑ "Mike + The Mechanics – The Living Years". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  11. ↑ "Mike + The Mechanics – The Living Years" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  12. ↑ "Mike + The Mechanics – The Living Years" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  13. ↑ "Radio2 Top 30 Artiest: Mike & The Mechanics | Radio2". VRT (in Dutch). Top30-2.radio2.be. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  14. ↑ Nanda Lwin (1999). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. ISBN   1-896594-13-1.
  15. ↑ "RPM 100 Singles – April 15, 1989" (PDF). RPM . Vol. 49, no. 24. p. 6. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  16. ↑ "RPM 100 Singles – April 8, 1989" (PDF). RPM . Vol. 49, no. 23. p. 6. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  17. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Living Years". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  18. 1 2 Tatsaku, Ren (2011). The Oricon Sales Report (in Japanese). Tokyo: Oricon Style – Recording Industry Association of Japan.
  19. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Mike & The Mechanics" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  20. ↑ "Mike + The Mechanics – The Living Years" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  21. ↑ "Mike + The Mechanics – The Living Years". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  22. ↑ "Mike + The Mechanics – The Living Years". VG-lista. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  23. 1 2 "Swedish single certifications – Mike + The Mechanics – The Living Years" (in Swedish). Swedish Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 11 November 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  24. ↑ "Mike & The Mechanics". Official Charts. United Kingdom. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  25. ↑ "Mike + the Mechanics Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  26. ↑ "Mike + the Mechanics Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  27. ↑ "Mike + the Mechanics Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  28. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Mike + The Mechanics – The Living Years" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  29. ↑ "Top Singles - Volume 51, No. 8, December 23, 1989". RPM. 23 December 1999. Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  30. ↑ "1989 The Year in Music: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 101, no. 51. 23 December 1989. p. Y-22.
  31. ↑ "Longbored Surfer - 1989". Longboredsurfer.com. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  32. ↑ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – 1989". ARIA . Retrieved 29 November 2020– via Imgur. N.B. The triangle symbol besides a title indicates platinum certification. The annual chart for 1989 listed on the ARIA website is missing some certifications.
  33. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Mike + The Mechanics – The Living Years". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 11 November 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  34. ↑ "British single certifications – Mike & the Mechanics – The Living Years". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  35. ↑ "The Living Years versions search". AllMusic . Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  36. ↑ "Band biography". Houseofmanyrooms.com. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  37. ↑ "Paul Carrack Discography". Carrack-uk.com. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.