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Our Top 10 Mike + The Mechanics Songs list takes a look at some of the most popular songs the band has released during its 20-plus-year career. Long known for his work in Genesis Mike Rutherford formed his own solo band Mike + The Mechanics in the 1980s as many of his Genesis bandmates were also celebrating solo projects and solo careers.
Top 10 Mike + The Mechanics Songs
# 10 – Silent Running
We open up our Mike + The Mechanics songs list with the sensational song “Silent Running.” The song was released on the band’s debut album entitled Mike + The Mechanics. The album was released in 1985. Mike Rutherford, co-wrote this song with his longtime musical collaborator, Scottish artist B.A. Robertson. Rutherford explained that the song was ultimately about traveling across time. The grandfather in this tale is able to peer into the future and warn his family that things in England aren’t looking well. He is trying to contact his loved ones to let them know to prepare for the looming calamity. That’s why there’s a phrase that goes “Can you hear me; can you hear me calling you?”
Lyrically, the phrase “Silent Running” does not appear; rather, it is a reference to the narrative structure in which the father continually asks the boy if he can hear him running. The song’s subtitle, “On Dangerous Ground,” was added to promote the film of the same name. Most of that effort was wasted, however, because the film was distributed in the United States under the name Choke Canyon (On Dangerous Ground was the UK title). Unfortunately, the film’s box office performance was not mirrored by the success of the song. There was no explanation given for the subtitling for American listeners.
# 9 – All The Light I Need
Continuing with our Mike + The Mechanics songs list we present the grand song “All The Light I Need.” The song was released on the album M6. The album was released in 1999. It was the third single released from the albums and the only one not to break onto the music charts. Paul Carrack sings lead vocals on the song.
# 8 – Save My Soul
The main vocalists for this version of Mike + The Mechanics recording were Andrew Roachford (“Cuddly Toy (Feel for Me)”) and Tim Howar. In “Save My Soul,” Roachford sings lead, he is seeking a higher power or a cause to dedicate his life. Many biblical allusions and a redemptive message are woven into this song. The song begins, “Traveled south to wash my sins away.”
The song was co-written by Roachford, Chief Mechanic Mike Rutherford, and Rutherford’s longtime friend and music producer Fraser T. Smith, who has also worked with Rick Wakeman, Craig David, Britney Spears, Lily Allen, and a plethora of other artists.
# 7 – Always Listen To Your Heart
In the number seven spot on our top 10 Mike + The Mechanics songs list is the very beautiful song “Always Listen To Your Heart.’ The song was released in 1999. In the beginning, multiple electric guitars are distorted, and the song slowly progresses with ordinary drumming. Listen to your heart, be honest, and demonstrate strength in every life; these pieces of advice may seem obvious, but Paul Young plays the part of a wise elder who has made mistakes and learned from them in order to bestow wisdom on the younger generation. Paul Young’s voice is layered over and over again to accompany the chorus.
# 6 – Let Me Fly
While many of Mike Rutherford’s compositions have an ominous tone, his song “Let Me Fly” is upbeat and optimistic. The message, he claims, is “In other words, don’t feel bad about anything. Try it out if you’re curious.” Mike + The Mechanics’ eighth studio album, and second with the Andrew Roachford and Tim Howar combination, is titled Self-Titled. Roachford, whose single “Cuddly Toy (Feel For Me)” was a smash in the UK, provided the lead vocals here.
This song was co-written by Johnny Hates Jazz lead singer Clark Datchler and Rutherford and Roachford. “Shattered Dreams” was a huge hit for them, and he wrote it. Just as on Mike + The Mechanics’ massive hit “The Living Years,” this one also incorporates a choir. Their lineup includes Cherrice Kirton, Godfrey Gayle, Joy Malcolm, Priscilla Jones, Subrina McCalla, and Xavier Barnett.
# 5 – Open Up
As Paul Carrack’s voice comes in, the song transforms from quiet synth beats and gritty guitar sounds into a melodic pop tune. Don’t be afraid to let your partner know how you feel;Paul Carrack begs for another opportunity in their relationship as well. Perhaps a breakup hasn’t happened quite yet, but by keeping quiet and not sharing sentiments, one is continually misunderstood and viewed as unreliable.
# 4 – Nobody Knows
Mike Rutherford, the band’s frontman and lyricist, and Christopher Neil, the album’s co-producer, wrote this heartfelt song. In the song, the protagonist dissects his love after it has ended. What’s killing him is how much time and effort they’ve both put into their marriage. A verse at the end of the song, “It kills merely knowing your children won’t be mine,” is particularly poignant. Paul Carrack, one-half of the singing duo Paul Carrack and Paul Young, was the primary vocalist here. The album’s title track was sung by Carrack as well.
# 3 – Over My Shoulder
One of Mike + The Mechanics’ biggest UK hits is “Over My Shoulder,” which was written by the band’s leader, Mike Rutherford, and the song’s singer, Paul Carrack. The protagonist of the song is reflecting on his relationship with his ex-girlfriend.
# 2 – All I Need Is a Miracle
Mike Rutherford, who is most known for his work with Genesis, is the “Mike” of Mike + the Mechanics. In addition to Genesis, each member pursued other endeavors; Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins’ solo careers received the greatest attention, while Mike Rutherford’s Mike + the Mechanics had great success, with their 1988 single “The Living Years” becoming a top ten smash.
Mike Rutherford once claimed, “If you write a great song, you want a fantastic voice, and that voice isn’t me.” This was his justification for not contributing vocals to the band. This and three other songs on the CD feature Paul Young, formerly of the Sad Cafe (not to be confused with the Paul Young who performed “Every Time You Go Away”). Paul Carrack, of Squeeze and solo fame, contributed vocals to three additional tracks.
Young passed away in the year 2000, at the age of 53. Mike Rutherford (guitar, bass) and Christopher Neil (record producer) wrote this song for the debut album by Mike + the Mechanics. The protagonist of the song has mistreated his girlfriend and now desperately wants her back. The upbeat rhythm defies the song’s sad subject matter, creating an instance of linguistic dissonance.
# 1 – The Living Years
We close out our top 10 Mike + The Mechanics songs list with the bands heartbreaking son “The Living Years.” The song was composed by Mike Rutherford and B.A. Robertson. As Robertson and Rutherford had experienced the loss of their fathers, the song is deeply personal to them both. Several drafts of the song were created. Before his father passed away in 1986, B.A. Robertson penned the first verse. Rutherford’s father also passed away that year. With this verse as inspiration, the two worked together to write the music, and then sometime later Robertson wrote the second stanza. He didn’t finish writing the song’s final verse until just before it was recorded.
Top 10 Mike + The Mechanics Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2022
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![Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach & UFO: 10 Albums That Changed My Life From humble East Coast origins to grandest stages worldwide, veteran bassist Rob De Luca has seen and done it all. De Luca first hit the local Boston rock and metal scene in the late 80s after meeting guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bonding over Van Halen before forming Bang. Regional success came quickly, but eventually, the members of Bang went their separate ways, with De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo heading to NYC and hooking up with Ray West and, later, DiBartolo to form Spread Eagle. By 1990, Spread Eagle was on the fast track, with a contract through MCA Records and a self-titled debut album poised to crush skulls. But poor timing and MCA's sad indifference left Spead Eagle out in the cold despite being a hard-boiled answer to Guns N' Roses's West Coast sleaze. Spread Eagle's first chapter came to an end in '95. As for Rob De Luca, his nimble fingers and gift for melody and songwriting kept him moving forward. Soon, he found a gig with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and the legendary outfit UFO. And in 2010, after coupling up with Ray West and his cousin Rik De Luca, Spread Eagle retook flight. During a break from Spread Eagle's increasingly busy touring schedule, Rob De Luca dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to run through the ten albums that changed his life. But only after adding, "I made a playlist of these songs, including some I've written or co-written. Do you hear any of these albums' influence on me?" Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LWJuhDrE8JmzhsmTeIDUq 10) Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs (1993) Here's an entry that was so important to me. This may be the darkest break-up album of all time. Greg Dulli has been in many projects, but I feel Gentlemen is his zenith. Somewhat undefinable at times but always profound and honest. Listen to "Gentlemen," "Fountain and Fairfax," and "What Jail Is Like." 9) In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi (1993) By this time, I had been sucked in and spit out by the major-label record industry. Glam came and went; grunge was history, too. I was searching for new sounds. When I heard Fugazi's twin guitar approach, I knew this was what was missing. Fugazi may be considered a less polished sound than the albums above; however, once you "get it," it hits you like a ton of bricks, and there's no going back. From the moment I heard Fugazi, I went to every NYC show after. It's easily some of the best concerts of my life, and possibly my favorite bassist in Joe Lally. And their DIY ethics refused to charge us more than $5 a show! In on the Kill Taker is a powerful album demonstrated in songs such as "Smallpox Champion," "Great Cop," and "Public Witness Program." 8) Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses (1987) I discovered many of these albums (sometimes long) after they were released. However, I was at the right place at the right time for this one. Steve Ostromogilsky had a Berklee College of Music lunch card and used to sneak out sandwiches for me. One day, he invited me to hang out at his place and listen to music. As we got off the train, he put Sony Walkman headphones on my ears and said, "Hey, check out this brand-new group." A song like "It's So Easy" was so different from the popular Sunset Strip sound at that time. Me and about 499 other informed rockers were lucky enough to see them on their first East Coast tour at the sold-out Paradise on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston (the same street Aerosmith started on). I saw Gn'R every tour after until I took a break when Buckethead joined. Gn'R is the band I've been lucky enough to see the most times live, almost 100! Everyone on this album is just stellar. Axl [Rose] had the tones, power, melodic sensibilities, and foresight to do what no other singer did then. Slash's playing was beyond memorable. Duff [McKagan] is one of the most underrated bassists in rock history, and learning his Appetite basslines is a masterclass. Steven [Adler] had the natural swing, and Izzy [Stradlin] was the secret weapon songwriter. Everything that's been heralded about this gem is deserved and true. Check out "It's So Easy," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone.' 7) Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) Another contender for my favorite album and band of all time. Using The Beatles machine (same recording studio, engineer, record label), Pink Floyd made what I feel is their strongest, most cohesive album (my second favorite of theirs would be Animals). This list mainly consists of bands with an instantly recognizable sound. Floyd is certainly no exception to that! This album included a solid handful of undeniable rock radio classics, bookended by two halves of the mind-blowing song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.' That song was written about former band member and founder Syd Barrett. It would be hard to live in a world without this album. Check out "Welcome to The Machine," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9),' or even better yet, listen to the whole thing in one sitting! 6) Decade by Neil Young (1977) About this time, I started playing guitar. As a beginner, it was comfortable jamming to this album because the chord changes were simple—a great "first ten years" retrospective of Neil's stunning, unique songwriting. Neil is a treasure who always writes from the heart and stands up for what's right. Check out "Southern Man," "A Man Needs a Maid," "Down by The River," and "After the Goldrush." 5) Highway to Hell by AC/DC (1979) When I heard this album, I was firmly "me." My life would be 100% focused on hard rock music forever. AC/DC are like air; they're ubiquitous. Everyone knows them and their incredible songs. However, as a young teen in Wilmington, Delaware, I only had WMMR 93.3 FM Philadelphia and a few friends to inform me about the world of Rock outside my bedroom. AC/DC had not gone mainstream, and their albums were available primarily in the USA as imports. To put things more in perspective, I only knew two people in the world who had heard of AC/DC. A friend had an import that we played in Steve Buckley's basement, which sounded ripping. When Highway to Hell was released, WMMR started spinning the title track, and I immediately bought the album, listening to it every single day after school. Then WMMR announced AC/DC was coming to the Spectrum in Philly, supporting Ted Nugent! I liked Ted but loved AC/DC, so my good friend Mick Cummins and I bought tickets, and he drove us up to the Spectrum (where we saw most of our concerts). Bon Scott was in fine form, and the band went over great. Although the crowd knew Ted better, Angus [Young] wouldn't let anyone upstage him. I'll never forget it! Unfortunately, Bon would be gone in 6 months. Check out "Walk All Over You," "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames," and "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." 4) Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith (1975) By the time I heard this, I was now in my teens. I had a childhood friend up the street, Jim Linberg (we're still good buddies). His older sister had a great album collection, including Toys in The Attic. Once I heard that groove, my taste changed. I lost interest in rock music that didn't have some sort of "swing" feel to it. I think Rocks is a slightly better Aerosmith album (and possibly my favorite album of all time), but both are perfect or very close. Check out "Uncle Salty," "Adam's Apple," "No More No More," "Round and Round," and "You See Me Crying." 3) Alive! by Kiss (1975) When I was still a little kid, I asked for Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke album for Christmas. The entire family came over for an enormous feast, and I dropped the needle. When my mother heard the content, she turned off the album and said I had to exchange it. My mom was cool, but I was young and knew much more about life than she suspected. Anyway, the next day, she drove me back to the store. In the music section, promoted on an "endcap" was a Kiss Alive! display. I had never heard of Kiss, but that cover picture told me I had to have it! My first foray into hard rock. Check out “Strutter.” I went through my Kiss phase very quickly, I believe in a matter of months because I discovered the previous entry, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. 2) Honky Chateau by Elton John (1972) When I was a wee lad, my parents bought a used Volkswagen camper van from my uncle Ozzie. My favorite Elton John album is Yellow Brick Road, but Honky Chateau is great and easily one of his best. It sent me down a lifelong rabbit hole of loving everything about the 1970s partnership between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The simple beauty of voice, the master songwriting, the perfect backing band, the clear, unobtrusive recordings, and always Bernie's incredible lyrics. The day this album was released, Elton became an unstoppable force that conquered the music industry. Check out "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man." 1) Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967) Another tape that was included in the VW Camper. The van had a bunch of music tapes, and one was Sgt Pepper. I was too young to understand the sophistication of the music, but that was one of the many skills of The Beatles. They attracted listeners at every level, even little kids. I still feel that immediate connection to Sgt Pepper; now, I hear so much more. It's an album that changed the world and the world of music. Check out "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds," "A Day In The Life," and "Fixing a Hole."](http://www.classicrockhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shutterstock_1815495569-1-300x200.jpg)
