Mike McClellan - Playing It By Ear (1972)

Mike McClellan - Mike McClellan (1972). Mike was born in NSW and his first big break came when he won a television talent quest. From there he became a regular on the TV series Sound of Music. At this point Mike formed his own band called the Currency Blues Co. He trained as a teacher in Armidale in the 1960's and I believe he taught in schools in New South Wales before recording his first album for Col Joye's ATA records in 1972, under his own name. He recorded this debut album with the assistance of respective artists such as Graham Lowndes and Duncan McGuire (Ayers Rock). It was released in June 1972 and although it received some excellent reviews. nothing much came of it. The record company ATA did nothing to promote it. They did manage to get out a poster three months after it had been released but it received no airplay to speak of. Two singles were lifted from the album "Some Other Sunrise" and "Suzie, Get Off This Train" but neither made an impression of the charts. In my opinion, his record company should have released "Lonely Man" as a single, as it is clearly the strongest track on the album. Col didn't like his new material so he left and Mike recorded his next (and all subsequent albums) with EMI Australia. http://mikemcclellan.com.au/bio.html