Artist Details - RecordDB

ID 266

First Name Mike

Last Name McClellan

Display Name Mike McClellan

Biography Mike McClellan was born in NSW and his first big break came when he won a television talent quest. From there he became a regular on the TV series 'Sound of Music'. At this point, Mike formed his own band called the 'Currency Blues Co' in the mid-sixties. During the 60's, he trained as a teacher in Armidale and taught in schools in New South Wales before recording his first album for Col Joye's ATA records in 1972, under his own name. He recorded this debut album with the assistance of respective artists such as Graham Lowndes and Duncan McGuire (Ayers Rock). The album was released in June 1972 and although it received some excellent reviews, nothing much came of it, probably because his record company ATA did nothing to promote it. They did manage to get out a poster three months after it had been released but it received no airplay to speak of. Two singles were lifted from the album "Some Other Sunrise" and "Suzie, Get Off This Train" but neither made an impression on the charts. In my opinion, ATA should have released "Lonely Man" as a single, as it is clearly the strongest track on the album. Col didn't like his new material so he left and Mike recorded his next (and all subsequent albums) with EMI Australia.His second album, 'Ask Any Dancer', was released in England and Europe and in November, 1974 he made the charts with 'Song and Dance Man'. The single was highly acclaimed and was covered by artists in England, America and South Africa.In 1975, he released a third album on the EMI label entitled 'Until The Song Is Done' but this too made no real impact on the charts as did the single "Carry Me".In March, 1976 Mike came up with a more aggressive, rock style sound on his 'Coming Up For Air album'. A single, 'Caddie' (inspired by the movie) was lifted from it and its release coincided with his successful tour of Australia with Melanie.A proposed trip to the US following an offer to record in Nashville unfortunately didn't materialise and it wasn't until mid 1977 that Mike surfaced again with an album and a single entitled 'Another Night'.In September '77 he recorded a live album for EMI which was released in November under the title of An Evening With Mike McClellan - Live.In 1979, he went on to host a television country music show. In 1982, he toured overseas and his return to Australia in '83 marked another change in his career. Weary of the constant traveling he sought more stability for he and his family. Mojo, then regarded as the most dynamic ad agency in the country, persuaded him to write for them. For 2 years he contributed some of the most memorable advertising on television, writing the concepts, words and music for clients such as Australian Airlines, Red Rooster, Channel 9 and growing the already established XXXX and Tooheys campaigns for the agency. Invigorated by new challenges he and a partner left Mojo and set up their own agency which they called Kazoo. It grew rapidly over the period from '86 to '91. The 2 partners became 3, the staff went from 3 to 30 and the billings through the roof.Through all the demands on his time he still managed to release a new album in 1990. The Heartland is considered by many who know his work to be as good as anything he has recorded and marked a return to the EMI label.He subsequently sold his share holding in Kazoo to re-establish Mike McClellan Pty Ltd and take complete control of his own destiny once more. He needed the time to write for himself and take advantage of the dramatic changes that had been happening in the communications industry.1998 marked the release of a single commissioned for Warner Music. But the three songs it contained were a little different to past McClellan discs. They were tributes to three great Australian sportsmen, Mark Taylor, the much-admired former Aussie cricket captain, the great Sir Donald Bradman, and David Campese, often called “the Bradman of Rugby.”Late 2001 saw the release of a comprehensive retrospective of his recording career. Personally chosen and carefully remastered from the original tapes Time. And Time Again. is a double CD containing 35 of his best songs. Among them are re-recordings of two from his very first album, a studio version of California Cool that was only ever released as a B side on a single and New York City Blues, a never before released gem that was recorded during the sessions for The Heartland CD but didn't fit comfortably with the other songs.Late 2001 also saw the first of what were standout concerts with his old friends Kevin Johnson (who wrote Rock'n Roll I Gave You All The Best Years of My Life) and Doug Ashdown (Winter In America). A sell out crowd at Sydney's Basement and a standing ovation said it all – “Their artistic and intelligent acoustic alchemy had a capacity house singing, stamping and tingling beyond the witching hour. A night indelibly imprinted”, said Glenn A. Baker.In 2005, in conjunction with Andrew Pattison, who established Melbourne's premier acoustic venue the Troubadour, he brought to Australia and shared the bill with the wonderful US singer/songwriter Danny O'Keefe. The concert crowds reinforced his belief that there was still a sizeable, enthusiastic audience in Australia for acoustic music of depth, conviction and real quality.

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