Mitch Malloy - Mitch Malloy

Mitch Malloy – Mitch Malloy

3.5
(2)

Based on this debut from Mitch Malloy, some people would’ve been wondering how close it came to being considered the second unofficial Tyketto album such is the alarming similarity.

Written by: gdmonline

ARTIST: Mitch Malloy
ALBUM: Mitch Malloy
LABEL: RCA/BMG
SERIAL: 61044-2
YEAR: 1992
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

LINEUP: Mitch Malloy – lead vocals, backing vocals, guitars * Michael Thompson, Kevin Dukes, Tristan Avakian – guitars * C.J Vanston, Jai Wilding – keyboards * Hugh McDonald – bass * Mickey Curry – drums * Jerry Hey – horns * Jerry Hey, Gary Grant – trumpets * Larry Williams, Daniel Higgins – sax * Michael Fisher – percussion * Backing Vocals – Bekka Bramlett, Devon Meade, Tommy Funderburk, Yvonne Williams, Vinnie James, Carol Rowley – backing vocals

TRACK LISTING: 01 Anything At All * 02 Mission Of Love * 03 Nobody Wins In This War * 04 Over The Water * 05 Problem Child * 06 Stranded In The Middle Of Nowhere * 07 Music Box * 08 Cowboy And The Ballerina * 09 Our Love Will Never Die * 10 Forever * 11 Mirror, Mirror

WEBLINKS: Site Link

Background

The greatest contribution that the small North Dakota town Dickinson has ever given the world is the voice and talent of singer Mitch Malloy. Looking somewhat between a male model, lifeguard and a cowboy, our Mitch decided instead to become a singing/songwriting melodic rocker. Lucky for us then, and bad luck for Chippendales lol!

Not content with furthering his education in the traditional way, Mitch opted for a musicians life in New York. Actually, four years before Malloy signed with the RCA label, he released an albums worth of material, much of which was re-released in 2003 by the defunct Now And Then label, fifteen years after the fact.

One assumes that RCA heard the material too and signed him. And what a good acquisition he proved to be. If people had heard the debut Tyketto album ‘Don’t Come Easy’ from the year before, then they would’ve been wondering how close this record came to being considered the second unofficial Tyketto album such is the alarming similarity.

The Songs

Some of those earlier 1988 demos found their way onto this album, notably ‘Forever’ and ‘Problem Child’. However it was a batch of songs that would lock on to the consciousness of AOR fans during 1992, that would seal the deal for Malloy.

The obvious choice for single was the happy-go-lucky jangle of ‘Anything At All’, which made it into the Billboard Charts, as did the beautiful ballad ‘Nobody Wins In This War’. The other stand out track for me was ‘Stranded In The Middle Of Nowhere’, a big sounding semi-ballad with the right mix of melody and edginess. Other goodies include the soaring AOR of ‘Our Love Will Never Die’ and the pulsing rocker ‘Forever’.

A couple of tracks didn’t quite do it for me though: ‘Mission Of Love’ complete with brass parps reminded me of the rock being peddled by British rockers Little Angels and FM at the same time. ‘Cowboy And The Ballerina’ was another track with a bluesy swagger and more brass parps that turned me off big time. Fortunately, the strength of the other songs more than outweighs the not so good tracks.

In Summary

The album raised a few hairs on the backs of people’s necks (for girlies it would’ve raised the heartbeat to danger levels.. lol!), but RCA saw enough to invest in album number two, and to have a say in the direction they wanted Mitch to go. Absolutely bad move.

1994’s ‘Ceilings And Walls’ proving to be less successful Why they opted to pursue an AC direction with Mitch a la Michael Bolton and Richard Marx remains a mystery to me. However, according to writings on the Internet, Mitch was happy with the result, despite being ordered by the label to change styles. If it were me, I would’ve told the label to f*** off, but then I probably would’ve gotten the boot!

To complete the role reversal, Mitch unofficially became the third lead singer for Van Halen during 1996, but an ill advised cameo by David Lee Roth with the rest of the band during this timeframe made the situation unpalatable for Malloy, who duly resigned from the band before they could get started. Thankfully, Mitch is still alive to tell the story, and has moved back into the rock scene again, hopefully with more melodic fireworks to come.

Video

Anything At All

Mitch Malloy - Anything At All (HQ)

Entire Album (Select Tracks)
Playlist: Mitch Malloy
Watch this playlist on YouTube


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