Mike Smith's Rock Engine/DC5

I just found out that Mike Smith has been doing some shows (12, I think) in the northeast. Isn't this the first time he's toured since the late 60's with the Dave Clark Five? Such a great singer with way too many silent years except for a few commercial jingles and the rare short interview. He's never mentioned when the subject of great rock vocalists is discussed. Check his only solo commercial release "It's Only Rock n Roll", released in the UK in 1990.

Why has Clark not taken advantage of the reissue boom for the last two decades and released at least all the old material? I know there are quite a few unreleased tracks that should be a guarantee of new interest in the band. "Always Me" is the only new material released since they disbanded in the early 70's. It's a pleasant ballad that is only the tip of the iceberg. I assume that Smith and Clark don't see eye to eye on the business matters but I've never heard of any specific disagreements between them.

For me, Smith and the DC5 rank right up there with the 60's work of the Kinks, The Beatles, The Pacemakers, Hollies, Stones etc. As I'm writing I'm listening to The Best Of the Dave Clark Five in stereo. Beautiful, beautiful, British Invasion music. Powerful vocals mixed with unique instrumental skills. No other British band sounded quite like them. I'm sure everyone here is familiar with the hits and a lot of you probably know their complete catalogue. All you younger forum members that have taken to the other British bands mentioned above owe it to yourself to seek out the original LPs and 45s and discover some of the forgotten gems from the 60s.

Anyway, I'm surprised about Smiths return and hope there are new recordings ahead. If anybody here got to see him on this short tour let us know how it was. Cleveland gets the last two shows, tonight and Sat. night. Wish I could be there!

 

I wish I'd known about this. Thanks for the info, Reader.

More info on the tour, Mike & the DC5:

http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Theater/9169/index2.html

mud-

 

You're welcome , Dave. If anyone runs across any more information about Mike Smith's Rock Engine spread the news!!!

 

To bad no Florida tour dates...

 

No Florida dates yet but don't lose hope. I suspect he's seeing what response he'll get and then schedule more shows. At least that's what I'm thinking. The west coast will probably get some shows next, who knows.

 

That's a possibility, Reader. I can't believe he'd come over here for just 12 shows.

mud-

 

Dave, don't forget that earlier this week Miike posted that he, Mike Smith, paid a surprise visit to the Letterman show on Monday, which I missed. I'd love to find a copy of that in my mailbox! Hint? (Please PM!)

 

I guess time will tell how well his tour goes...they may add a few spots.
Lots of performers seem to schedule their Florida appearances during the winter months...I wonder why? LOL...

 

I'm going to the special show that Mike is doing tonight (SUNDAY) for only 150 people in the 4th floor theater at "The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame", I will report here early next week on my experience!

Chris C

 

They played a casino gig up here, there was so little buzz that I didn't hear about it untill after it happened. I would have loved to have seen him.

 

FYI, the Smith & D'Abo album from 1976 was recently reissued on CD in Japan. Mike is unquestionably a great and criminally underappreciated vocalist. And fun to watch sing! We need some DC5 on DVD.

Jay

 

I've failed this forum. I love the DC5 and can't believe Mike Smith is here in Cleveland and I missed him. In fact, I have a good friend who gets us into several Rock Hall special gigs...he's out of town this weekend.

Chris, let us know how it is. Wish I was there. I'll scope the local papers and post what they had to say about the show(s).

 

Here's my review of last night's special event with Mike Smith and his band Mike Smith's Rock Engine! (Please note: I'm a radio announcer and not a writer, so please forgive my rambling!)

Approximately 150 of Dave Clark 5 fans shelled out $18 dollars a piece to see a bit of rare history last night (Sunday, March 30th) at the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland. Former lead singer Mike Smith was the only original member there along with his newly recruited band called "Mike Smith's Rock Engine." Inside of the small and fully packed 4th floor theater, Mike Smith offered a great and intimate evening of talk and music. The Rock Hall's curiator came out to introduce Mike and then proceeded to have a 20 or so minute discussion involving how he got involved with music and the Dave Clark 5. I found it interesting to learn that the Dave Clark 5 actually arrived in America only ONE week after The Beatles did! Another fact 'o interest was that The Dave Clark 5 appeared more times than any other musical act ever on Ed Sullivan (18 times). Sadly, not much was asked or said in regards to his relationship with Dave Clark today, although I ask him myself after the concert, if Dave ever intended to reissue any more of the DC5 catalog. He simply answered that Dave was in complete control of all that! I personally think that Mike would like to see the catalog reissued, especially since he co-wrote many of their biggest hits!

After the discussion was over on stage, Mike and his new band jumped right into DC5 greats, starting with one of my all-time favorites, "Try Too Hard!" While Mike and the band sounded damn good from the start, something was missing and by song 3 or 4 that "something missing" appeared...The huge reverb that The DC5 always used on Mike's voice! That changed everything and after that, all was well in the world for the next hour or so! While including almost all of the big Dave Clark 5 hits, Mike also performed a few songs that he loved while growing up including Fats Domino's "I'm Ready" and "Lawdy, Miss Clawdy", which he attributed to the King Elvis Presley. I guess that when I think of that song I always associate it with Lloyd Price. Oh well, the crowd bought into it all the same. Mike and the boys wrapped it up by playing "Any Way You Want It" including that perfect echo on the word hey and now I'll wrap it up by telling you that, without a doubt, Mike Smith still has that great voice and plays a mean piano. If you ever see that your area is getting a Mike Smith's Rock Engine concert, run, don't walk to your nearest ticketmaster and witness it all for yourself! A fun time was had by all!

Chris C

 

Chris, thanks for the review.

mud-

 

Mike Played here in NYC and I missed him!!! Damn.

 

Thanks for the review Chris. Here's the local paper's take on it...
http://www.cleveland.com/search/index.ssf?/base/entertainment/1049110116324010.xml?empre

 

DVD

 

Re: DVD

Mikey,

Yes, it's a darn shame! My only experience seeing the DC5 performance footage is the RSG showings on the Disney channel in the '80s, all owned by Dave. As I understand it, though, most (if not all) the DC5 material was NOT from RSG, but was edited in from other DC5 footage. They even showed the entire DC5 TV special one time (HOLD ON, I think). My mother taped over all of it while I was in college - grrr.

The RSG stuff is absolutely classic. And the Stones miming to "I Got You Babe" is brilliantly funny!

Jay