Artist:Lee Michaels
Song:Do You Know What I Mean
Album:Heighty Hi: The Best of Lee Michaels
The 1971 top ten hit Do You Know What I Mean was the only big hit for singer songwriter and organist Lee Michaels. Some of his other songs charted so he was not technically a one hit wonder. He was born Michael Olsen Nov. 24, 1945 in Los Angeles. He was a member of the surf rock band The Sentinals along with drummer and future member of The Turtles and Jefferson Starship John Barbata. It looks like Michaels was in that band just before they split up in 1966. Michaels and Barbata went on to a band led by guitarist Joel Scott Hill. Then Michaels moved to San Francisco. He was in an early version of guitarist Bob Segarini's band The Family Tree. They recorded an album for RCA in 1968. Before that Michaels left when he signed to a producer's contract with A&M Records. He convinced the guy who hired him Larry Marks to let him record as Lee Michaels. He released his debut album Carnival of Life. At first Michaels used a standard band of studio musicians. But by the 1969 album Lee Michaels, it was a two man band. It was Michaels playing Hammond B3 organ and a drummer. On the 1971 album 5th, the drummer was Joel Larson of The Grass Roots. Michaels played live like this too. Marks was still credited as producer but I doubt he was in the studio much. Apparently Michaels was upset that A&M did not promote his previous albums. So he recorded the commercially successful single Do You Know What I Mean. It reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single was a cover of the Marvin Gaye classic Can I Get a Witness. It reached #39 on the Billboard Hot 100. A&M wanted more of the same. But instead Michaels recorded the 1972 album Space and First Takes. The title track was 16 minutes long. It was deliberately non-commercial. He was sticking it to A&M for not supporting his early albums. A live album ended Michaels' A&M contract and he signed with Columbia. After two unsuccessful albums, Michaels retired from music and opened the restaurant chain Killer Shrimp. Michaels now owns the rights to his recordings which he has released on Manifesto Records. 5th is available but it's less than a half hour long. This comp is available but you can also get Do You Know What I Mean on plenty of various artist comps. Here's a video for Do You Know What I Mean by Lee Michaels.
I heard that song a lot and I mean a lot on the radio stations back in the 70's. They played that one to death. I never really liked it for some reason. Oh well. Thanks Frank. David.
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