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| Michael
Stanley Band "You Break It . . . You Bought It!" 1975 Epic Records |
I'm
Gonna Love You Dancing in the Dark Step the Way Waste a Little Time on Me Lost in the Funhouse Again Gypsy Eyes |
Face
the Music Sweet Refrain Highway Angel Where Have All the Clowns Gone Song for My Children |
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| A
very mellow, acoustic-folk flavoured outing, the debut for MSB. Listening
to this and then their later stuff, it's interesting to see how much they actually changed over the years. |
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| Michael Stanley Band Ladies' Choice 1976 Epic Records |
Ladies'
Choice Calcutta Auction Strike Up the Band Heavy Weight One Good Reason |
Let
it Slide Blue Jean Boy Old Dancin' Fool Edge of the Sky Love Hasn't Been Here Choice and Sanborn |
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| Okay,
more of a pop-rock outing with this one. This is also the album that started
to garner the band more attention, at least locally (Cleveland, Ohio). |
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| Michael Stanley Band Stage Pass 1977 Epic Records |
Midwest
Midnight One Good Reason Real Good Time ______________ Will You Love Me Tomorrow Waste a Little Time On Me Pierette Rosewood Bitters |
Nothing's
Gonna Change ..............My Mind Calcutta Auction Movin' Right Along ___________ Wild Sanctuary Let's Get the Show On the .................. Road Strike Up the Band |
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| Here's
where it really begins: the legend of MSB. Revered by their hometown
(Cleveland, Ohio, and surrounding areas), they couldn't buy a break anywhere else in the nation. Touring incessantly, opening for several well-known acts around the country, MSB went on to set the concert attendance record for Blosom Music Center (3 sold-out nights in a row, 18,500 people a night - 1981). A year later, they broke their own record. No major act has ever come close to matching this feat. And here is where it all began. |
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| Michael Stanley Band Cabin Fever 1978 Epic Records |
Baby
If You Wanna Dance Long Time (Looking for a Dream) Misery Loves Company Why Should Love Be This Way Slip Away |
Who's
to Blame What'cha Wanna Do Tonight Only a Dreamer Fool's Parade Late Show |
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| You
can hear them knockin' on the door with this one, but still very few let
them in. Too bad, because this is a good record. |
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| Michael Stanley Band Greatest Hints 1979 Arista Records |
Last
Night Don't Lead with Your Love Promises Down to the Wire No Turning Back |
Back
in My Arms Again Beautiful Lies Lights Out Hold Your Fire We're Not Strangers Anymore |
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| THIS
is the one that broke the band. If you lived in the Cleveland, Ohio, area,
you had to own every MSB album from this one on. If you didn't, you'd be expelled from the community and shunned until you broke down and purchased them all. Cleveland does love its own. |
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| Michael Stanley Band Heartland 1980 EMI Records |
I'll
Never Need Anyone More ...... (Than I' Need You Tonight) Lover Don't Stop the Music He Can't Love You Working Again |
All
I Ever Wanted Say Goodbye Hearts On Fire Voodoo Carolyn Save a Little Piece for Me |
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| An
incredible album - filled with memories of Blossom Music Center,
summer, frisbees in the park . . . a strong connection to my formative teen years. Every song a classic, every memory a gem. I love this record. |
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| Michael Stanley Band
North Coast 1981 EMI Records |
In
the Heartland When You're Heart Says ............................. It's Right Somewhere in the Night You're My Love Heaven and Hell Don't You Do That to Me |
Falling
in Love Again Tell Me Chemistry Victim of Circumstance We Can Make It Let's Hear It CD Bonus Tracks: Somewhere in the Night (live) Shut Up and Leave Me Alone ................. ............... (live) |
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| Hard
to follow up a wonderful album like Heartland, but the boys did try.
Touted by the local media (Scene Magazine and WMMS 100.7 FM in particular) as the triumph of the local Cleveland band, it was just a bit too Top 40 for me. Didn't have the MOR crunch (is there such a thing?) as the last record, and I think they were trying just a bit too hard to repeat the success of Heartland's 'He Can't Love You.' Still a good record, though. |
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| Michael Stanley Band MSB 1982 EMI Records |
In
Between the Lines If You Love Me Night by Night When I'm Holding You Tight Spanish Nights |
One
of Those Dreams Love Hurts Hang Tough Just a Little Bit Longer Take the Time |
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| At
the time, every MSB release with greeted with cheers from the hometown
crowd. Looking back, this one pales in comparison to their other 80s albums. Too mellow, too serious, too much a Springsteen-wanna clone. Couple of good tunes, but overall a very lacklustre album. |
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| Michael Stanley Band You Can't Fight Fashion 1983 EMI Records |
Hard
Time Just Give Me Tonight Someone Like You Highlife |
My
Town The Damage is Done Fire in the Hole How Can You Call This Love Just How Good (A Bad ............. ......... Woman Feels) |
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| I
think this is a great record! Sure, it was basically the last hurrah for
MSB (last LP on a major label, last video ["My Town"]), but this has an air of assertiveness about it that is infectious. A sense of 'this is it, our last shot at the big time and we're gonna make it.' This album has a feeling of confidence from the first chord to the last. |
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| Michael Stanley Band Fourth and Ten . . . 1984 MSB Records |
My
Town Someone Like You Shut Up and Leave Me Alone Fire in the Hole |
In
Between the Lines Lover Somewhere in the Night He Can't Love You |
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| The
beginning of the end for MSB. Poorly recorded, a single album to
boot . . . this from the powerhouse of the Cleveland music scene? |
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| Michael Stanley Band Inside Moves 1986 MSB Records |
Show
Me Something No Big Deal When All is Said and Done Somebody Else's Woman |
Here
Come the Kids Inside Moves Headlights Poor Side of Town Bop Till Ya Drop CD Bonus Tracks: Hard Die the Hereos Shut Up and Leave Me Alone Hey Angel Rock Me Easy Kiss It Off |
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| The
heartbeat was fading rapidly, the body twitching uncontrollably . . . MSB
was in its death throes and just didn't know it. Instead of going out on top, they whimpered along to the end and then still clung to what little life they had left. A bit harsh? Maybe, but if there's one thing I can't understand is why bands insist on milking themselves way past the point of worth. Why fade away tragically when you can burn out dramatically? |
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Ya like? check these out! |
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