AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Kim Mitchell

Artist:Kim Mitchell

Song:Patio Lanterns

Album:Shakin' Like a Human Being

Kim Mitchell is frequently described as the quintessential Canadian rock singer. He had success in Canada first as lead singer of the band Max Webster then as a solo artist in the mid-80s. He was never able to break through in the US. So most American music fans have probably never heard Mitchell. He was born July 19, 1952 in the Western Ontario city of Sarnia. He played in bands as a teen and he moved to Toronto after finishing high school. He brought lyricist Pye Dubois with him. Dubois is not a musician but he wrote lyrics for all of Mitchell's songs with Max Webster and as a solo artist. That kind of relationship is unusual in a band but not unheard of. Robert Hunter was not a member of The Grateful Dead but he wrote lyrics for Jerry Garcia songs. Max Webster was formed in 1972 and they had success until the band ended in 1981. Mitchell didn't actually leave Max Webster. Other guys left until Mitchell was the only one left. So he decided to go solo and signed with Tom Berry's Alert Records with EMI Canada distribution. Mitchell was on Atlantic in the US. Berry had worked for Max Webster's label Anthem. Mitchell was his first signing when he started Alert. Mitchell wrote and produced all his albums. Dubois wrote the lyrics. Patio Lanterns is from the 1986 album Shakin' Like a Human Being. It reached #12 on the Canadian Singles chart. The album is available as a budget CD. Mitchell had several hits in Canada but only one chart single in the US. This is because CRTC regulations for radio and TV in Canada create an artificial market for Canadian content. So no one knows what will do well outside Canada. Mitchell recorded five albums for Alert. In 2004, he worked as a DJ for Toronto Radio station Q107. Mitchell still performs live and records occasionally. He has slowed down considerably since a 2016 heart attack. Mitchell was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020. Here's the video for Patio Lanterns by Kim Mitchell.