All I Need Is A Miracle by Mike + the Mechanics

Album: Mike & The Mechanics (1985)

Charted: 53 5

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The "Mike" in Mike + the Mechanics is Mike Rutherford, best known for his work with Genesis. Every member of Genesis embarked on other projects, with the solo efforts of Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins getting the most attention, but Rutherford did very well with with Mike + the Mechanics, whose biggest hit came in 1988 with "The Living Years."
"If you write a great song, you want a great voice, and that voice isn't me," Mike Rutherford said in explaining why he didn't sing in the band.

Rutherford used ex-Sad Cafe singer Paul Young (not to be confused with the Paul Young who sang "Every Time You Go Away"), for lead vocals on this track and three others from the album. Paul Carrack, known for his solo recordings and his work with Squeeze, sang on three other tracks. Young died in 2000 at age 53.
A track from Mike + the Mechanics first album, Mike Rutherford, who played guitar and bass on the song, wrote it with Christopher Neil, who produced the album. The song is about a guy who treated his girl horribly, and now wishes he had her back. It's a case of lyrical dissonance, as the jaunty beat belies the anguished storyline.

When we asked Rutherford what he thinks about the guy in the song, he answered: "He's lazy and he's average."
The video contains dialogue and follows a story arc where the band's manager needs a miracle to raise some cash so he can pay off a club owner. His shots are intercut with footage of the band performing at said club.

The clip was directed by Jim Yukich, who did many of the Genesis videos.
In the UK, this made #53 when it was first released, but did better when it was re-released in 1996, placing at #27.

Comments: 9

Anonymous from Laurie From ColoradoJohn From Cleveland, if that’s what I think you’re referring to, you’re hearing Peter Gabriel demonstrating the rhythm he wants in a song. I read somewhere that Gabriel was in the next studio and he was so loud that it bled over and the band decided to keep it in
Steve from CaliforniaBoth upbeat and ethereal, this is an absolutely perfect, unforgettable pop song. If anyone wants to know just what late 1985-early 1986 were like, all you have to do is play this song. It says it all! This song always reminds me of a restaurant that is no longer with us: The Parasol in Torrance, CA.
Bs from Arlington, VaTo echo the comment by John from Cleveland: I have also wondered this. We'll probably never know.
John from Cleveland, OhioI would like to know what is shouted in the introduction portion of the song. I have tried to isolate the voice and reverse it in case it is backwards-masked, but I cannot perceive anything that does not sound like gibberish.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 16th 1986, "All I Need Is a Miracle" by Mike + the Mechanics entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #74; eleven weeks later on June 1st, 1980 it peaked at #5 for one week...
It also reached the Top 10 in two other countries; #1 in Ireland and #8 in Australia...
Between 1985 and 1991 the British group had seven Top 100 records; three made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, "The Living Years" for one week on March 19th, 1989.
Joe from Chicago, IlPaul Carrack also sang lead on How Long by his one hit wonder band: Ace.
Don from B G, KyThis song went to #5 in the USA in 1986. I think that is much better than just a minor hit. True it only charted at #53 in the UK in 1986. For some reason M+TM did better in the USA market on their big songs than they did in their homeland of UK. The re-release in 1996 did not make the charts in the USA. We are still listening to the 1986 original in the USA. Quite a "miracle" for these days. The lead vocals are from the late Paul Young-y. Paul Carrack sings on the refrain, he is on the viewers left side of the stage.
Beach from Brooklyn, Nythis is def a classic 80s song and definitely not a minor hit
Joshua from Twin Cities, MnActually Paul Young sang lead on this track, not Carrack. (Carrack sang lead on the group's previous single, "Silent Running".) Young is not to be confused with solo artist Paul Young, who had a hit at about the same time in 1985 with "Every Time You Go Away".

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