The Road (Mike + The Mechanics album)
The Road is the seventh studio album by Mike + The Mechanics, released in 2011 by Sony Music.[2] This was their first album to feature an entirely new lineup, retaining only Mike Rutherford.
| The Road | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 18 April 2011 | |||
| Recorded | 2009–10 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | Pop rock | |||
| Length | 46:00 | |||
| Label | Arista, Sony | |||
| Producer | Mike Rutherford, Christopher Neil, Graham Stack | |||
| Mike + The Mechanics chronology | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
Following the release of Rewired in 2004 and the supporting tour, the group stopped working. In 2009, rumours surfaced that Mike Rutherford had plans to resurrect the band and had begun working on a new album. It was reported that Andrew Roachford would become the new singer. Soon after, two other names were mentioned: Arno Carstens and Tim Howar. Early sessions produced the songs "Background Noise", "It Only Hurts for a While" and "Hunt You Down", with Carstens performing vocals.
The sessions continued through 2010. By the end of 2010, it was officially announced that Rutherford, Roachford and Howar had recorded a new Mechanics album. The rest of the band consisted of drummer Gary Wallis, guitarist Anthony Drennan and keyboard player Luke Juby.
The album was reissued in 2017 by the band's current label BMG (former owner of Arista).
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Road" | Christopher Neil, Mike Rutherford, Martin Sutton | Neil, Rutherford | 4:20 |
| 2. | "Reach Out (Touch the Sun)" | Jamie Norton, Andrew Roachford, Rutherford, Benjamin Weaver | Rutherford, Graham Stack | 4:03 |
| 3. | "Try to Save Me" | Neil, Roachford, Rutherford | Neil, Rutherford | 3:47 |
| 4. | "Background Noise" | Arno Carstens, Neil, Rutherford | Neil, Rutherford | 4:15 |
| 5. | "I Don't Do Love" | Tim Howar, Neil, Roachford, Rutherford | Neil, Rutherford | 4:34 |
| 6. | "Heaven Doesn't Care" | Neil, Rutherford, Sutton | Neil, Rutherford | 3:37 |
| 7. | "It Only Hurts for a While" | Carstens, Neil, Rutherford | Neil, Rutherford | 4:09 |
| 8. | "Walking on Water" | Norton, Roachford, Rutherford, Weaver | Rutherford, Stack | 3:41 |
| 9. | "Hunt You Down" | Carstens, Neil, Rutherford | Neil, Rutherford | 3:44 |
| 10. | "Oh No" | Howar, Neil, Rutherford | Neil, Rutherford | 4:17 |
| 11. | "You Can Be the Rock" | Neil, Roachford, Rutherford | Neil, Rutherford | 5:17 |
| Total length: | 46:00 | |||
Personnel
Mike and The Mechanics
- Mike Rutherford – bass, guitar, programming
- Tim Howar – lead and backing vocals (lead: 6, 10)
- Andrew Roachford – lead and backing vocals (lead: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 11), Wurlitzer electric piano
- Luke Juby – keyboards
- Anthony Drennan – guitar
- Gary Wallis – drums
Additional personnel
- Pete Adams – Hammond organ
- Toby Chapman – keyboards
- Jamie Norton – keyboards (2, 8)
- George Hewlett – organ (9)
- Martin Sutton – programming, guitar
- Ben Robins – programming (3, 10)
- Harry Rutherford – additional programming, backing noises, drums (4, 9)
- Ben Weaver – guitar (2), bass (8)
- Jamie Moses – guitar (3)
- Hugo Flower – guitar (9)
- Arno Carstens – lead vocals (4, 7, 9), backing noises
- Beverley Brown – backing vocals
- Hazel Fernandez – backing vocals
- Christopher Neil – backing vocals
- Mary Pearce – backing vocals
- Barrow Hills School Choir – choir (6)
Production
- Produced by Christopher Neil and Mike Rutherford – tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11
- Produced by Mike Rutherford and Graham Stack for Metrophonic Productions – tracks 2, 8
- Engineered and mixed by Harry Rutherford – all tracks
- Recorded at The Farm Studio; Chiddingford, Surrey
- Additional recording at Churchfield Studio, London and Tree House Studios; Cape Town, South Africa
- Mastered by Dick Beetham at 360 Mastering, London
References
- O'Brien, Jon. "The Road review". Allmusic.
- "Mike + The Mechanics – The Road (2011)" Genesis News Com. Retrieved 28 April 2011