Michael J. Mullins

Michael J. Mullins
Michael J. Mullins
Also known as Mick Mullins
Born 9 November 1953 (1953-11-09) (age 57)
Origin England
Genres Pop music, R&B, Salsa music
Occupations Singer, Composer
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1982–present
Labels RCA Records, Ronco, WEA Records,
Associated acts Modern Romance (band)
Cliff Richard

Michael J. Mullins (born Michael John Mullins, 9 November 1953) is an English lead vocalist, backing singer, and songwriter best known as the lead singer of Salsa band Modern Romance (1982–85). Modern Romance achieved eight Top 40 singles and two hit albums. After the band called it quits in 1985, Mullins continued working within the music industry, most notably as a backing singer for Cliff Richard: he can be seen singing with Cliff Richard live on Top of the Pops, for Christmas number one single Mistletoe and Wine (1988).[1]

Contents

Early music (1981-82)

Mullins began his music career as a backing vocalist and musician for Modern Romance (band). He is thanked on the sleeve of their debut album, Adventures in Clubland (1981), on which he provided vocals and guitar. During this time he also appeared with the band on episodes of Top of the Pops, and provided further vocals on their single, By the Way (I'm Still in Love with You) (1982). The lead singer for Modern Romance was, at the time, Geoff Deane, who had formed the band with David Jaymes, two remnants of punk rock band The Leighton Buzzards. Modern Romance had reached #1 in Venezuela with their album Adventures in Clubland - which also earned them a Gold Disc there - and had scored four UK hits, Mullins often lending his vocals and talents as a musician to their live TV appearances and studio work. However, in 1982, Deane would leave the band to pursue a solo career.[1]

Modern Romance (1982-85)

Following the departure of Geoff Deane in late 1982, the Jaymes/Deane era came to an end, and Mullins took over as Lead vocalist for Modern Romance (band). Their first single - in what would become known as the Jaymes/Mullins era - climbed the UK charts, reaching the top-five. "Best Years of our Life" - which peaked at #4 in the UK - would be the band's highest charting single. They quickly followed-up Best Years ... with the similar sounding single, "High Life", which quickly climbed to the #8 position. Modern Romance were holding their own with bands like Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet, and a myriad TV and magazine appearances followed. They were regulars on Top of the Pops and even made an appearance at the Royal Variety Performance.[1]

Modern Romance subsequently released their second studio album titled Trick of the Light (1983). The album was a success, reaching a respectable #53 on the UK Album Chart, and one significant change since the then new line-up was the re-recording of the single "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" [New Version], which was included on Trick of the Light, Mullins lending the song his softer vocals. The album itself has since made it into the Taschen book, 1000 Record Covers, that showcases the most interesting and original vinyl cover art from the 1960s - 1990s (Mullins and David Jaymes grace the front cover of the album).[2] The third single to be taken from this album - Don't Stop That Crazy Rhythm (1983) - made the Top 20, rising to #14. The last single - an uncharacteristic ballad called Walking in the Rain (1983 song) (1983) - settled again in the Top 10 at #7.[3] Mullins toured with Modern Romance extensively, across Europe and the Far East. They picked-up silver and gold discs along the way, released the album Juanita (1983) in Japan, and reached the #1 spot in Thailand with Walking in the Rain (1983).[4]

Despite Modern Romance becoming a big name in Pop music, it seemed that David Jaymes and Mullins remained generally at the forefront. It was their faces that appeared on most of the album and single front covers, the rest of the band's photos could be found on the reverse. Vinyl Picture discs of the singles "High Life" (1983) and Don't Stop That Crazy Rhythm featured the faces and signatures of both Jaymes and Mullins (one on each side), and on the posters included with these singles. The pair also appeared in an article for the Tucker's Luck TV annual titled Best 1980s Artifact; Mullins (and Jaymes) appeared alongside Nick Heyward of Haircut One Hundred, Boy George of Culture Club, Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran, and Steve Norman of Spandau Ballet.[5][6] By now, Mullins was prominent enough in the industy to make personal appearances on show like Mike Read's Pop Quiz, whilst the band as a whole enjoyed live performances on TV shows hosted by Kenny Everett, Russell Harty, and The Krankies.[1][5]

By Christmas of what would become known as the Modern Romance watershed year - 1983 - they were ready to release the album, Party Tonight, a compilation containing all the band's hits from both the Jaymes/Deane era and the Jaymes/Mullins era, as well as a handful of cover versions and B-sidess. Party Tonight (1983) - produced by Tony Visconti and released in the UK on the Ronco label - made a significant dent on the UK Album Chart, cracking the Top-50 at #45. Mullins' vocals could also be heard - along with the rest of the band - across the radio waves, as jingles for the Radio 1 evening show were adapted from various Modern Romance hits. The single, Good Friday / Good Feelings [re-mix] was released simultaneously and reached the UK #96 position. Both Party Tonight and Good Friday shared the same cover art, a photo still captured from the band's 1983 ITV advert for Party Tonight. It was around this time that band member John Du Prez went his own way and, taking stock of the poor success of the single Good Friday, Modern Romance decided it was time for a change in both image and music style.

The mid-eigthies, however, were not very kind to the band. Modern Romance began with their transformation, Mullins and the rest now sporting long hair and leather jackets.[7][8] Their first single release in the new year was the cover version of the song Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) (1984). But the record failed to chart, as did their third studio album, Burn It! (1984), and its subsequent singles: Burn It! (1984), That's What Friends Are For and, finally,Move On (1984). Something they had failed to do. The album featured more of an Electronic-Dance music sound in places, spiced with some soulful ballads, mainstream pop, and the Salsa music tune, Move On, which looked back to their Salsa music days, sounding very much like "High Life", Best Years ..., and Good Friday. Burn It! was produced by Tony Visconti and featured additional percussion by Luis Jardim. They attempted another cover version - Tarzan Boy (1985) (1985) - and then released an anthology single, Best Mix of Our Lives (1985), which contained the hit singles Everybody Salsa, Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey, High Life (1983 song), Don't Stop That Crazy Rhythm, and Best Years of Our Lives (1982 song). The single was backed with Best Years of Our Lives [remix]. It reached the #81 position on the UK chart.

It was reported in a 1985 edition of The Sun newspaper - in the entertainment column - that Mullins was to quit Modern Romance.[9] Many 1980s pop bands were suffering towards the close of the 1980s and it seemed that Modern Romance were unable to shake that Latin Beat. Mullins would turn full circle and return to the role of backing vocalist.

Discography

Albums (Modern Romance)

  • Adventures in Clubland (1981) (Backing vocals, Guitar, Thanked on Sleeve) Venezuela #1 [Certified Gold]
  • Trick of the Light (album) (1983) [compilation] UK #45
  • Party Tonight (1983) UK #53
  • Juanita [Japan] [compilation] (1983)
  • Burn It! (1985)
  • Modern Romance: The Platinum Collection [compilation] (2006)

Singles (Modern Romance)

  • By the Way (I'm Still In Love With You) [backing vocals] (1982)
  • Best Years of Our Lives (1982 song) (1982) UK #4
  • High Life (1983 song) (1983) UK #8
  • Don't Stop That Crazy Rhythm (1983) UK #14
  • Walking in the Rain (1983 song) (1983) UK #7 Thailand #1
  • Good Friday (1983 song) /Good Feelings [re-mix] (1983) UK #96
  • Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) (1984)
  • Burn It! (single) (1984)
  • Move On (1984 single) (1984)
  • That's What Friends Are For (1984 song) (1984)
  • Tarzan Boy (1985) (1985)
  • Best Mix of Our Lives (1985) UK #81

Notes

The compilation album, Modern Romance: The Platinum Collection was released on CD in 2006, and contains a wide variety of the band's songs from the Jaymes/Mullins era. Adventures in Clubland has also been released on CD. Trick of the Light can be found on CD import from Japan, and his highly sought after by audiophiles. Each album - up until Burn It! - is available on vinyl and Cassette Tape, although long out-of-print.

Songwriting credits

  • Walking in the Rain (1983 song) / Walking in the Rain (Blues) - Single (1983) UK #7 Thailand #1
  • Good Friday (1983 song) - Single (1983) UK #96
  • After All This Time - Album Track - Trick of the Light (album) (1983)
  • Leave Me On My Own - Album Track - Trick of the Light (album) (1983)
  • Burn It! (single) - Single (1984)
  • Move On (1984 single) - Single (1984)
  • That's What Friends Are For (1984 song) - Single (1984)
  • That's Entertainment - Album Track - Burn It! (1984)
  • I'll Always Remember You - Album Track - Burn It! (1984)
  • Keep A Candle Burning - Album Track - Burn It! (1984)
  • Take Another Look - Album Track - Burn It! (1984)
  • Wasting Away - Album Track - Burn It! (1984)
  • Burn It! (single) [reprise] - Album Track - Burn It! (1984)

Television

Self

Music videos

Live appearances

  • Knebworth Festival with Cliff Richard [backing vocals] June 30, 1990 [as Mick Mullins][10]
  • Live and Kicking Tour with Cliff Richard [backing vocals] April/May, 2004 [as Mick Mullins][10]

External links

Videos featuring Mullins

  • Best Years of Our Lives - Top of the Pops - [1] (1982)
  • Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White - Top of the Pops - Mullins on Guitar - [2] (1982)
  • Walking in the Rain - Top of the Pops - [3] (1983)
  • Walking in the Rain - Official Video - [4] (1983)
  • Don't Stop That Crazy Rhythm - Official Video - [5] (1983)
  • Don't Stop That Crazy Rhythm - Top of the Pops - [6] (1983)
  • High Life - [unknown venue] - Trick of the Light suits - [7] (1983)
  • Mullins on Pop Quiz [part 1-4 available] - [8] (1984)
  • Cliff Richard - Mistletoe & Wine - Top of the Pops - Mullins as Backing Vocalist [9] (1988)

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Lee-Williams, Matt: Modern Romance, Biography, Internet Movie Database [accessed] April 27, 2011.
  2. ^ Ochs, Michael, 1000 Record Covers, Taschen, 25th Edition, 2005, pp.700.
  3. ^ Modern Romance, Discography, Discogs Website [accessed] April 27, 2011.
  4. ^ Modern Romance, The Official Modern Romance Website [accessed] April 27, 2011.
  5. ^ a b Lee-Williams, Matt: Jaymes, David, Biography, Internet Movie Database [accessed] April 27, 2011.
  6. ^ Tucker's Luck Annual, IPC Publishing, 1983, Tucker's Luck: The Books [accessed] April 27, 20.11.
  7. ^ Just My Imagination, Single Cover Photo, 1984.
  8. ^ Burn It!, Album Cover Photo, 1984.
  9. ^ The Sun, 1985, Newspaper, Bizarre Page [issue unknown].
  10. ^ a b Cliff Richard Song Database [accessed] April 27, 20.11.

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