Mike McClellan (born 24 August 1945) is an Australian folk pop singer-songwriter and musician who was performed since the late 1960s.
Biography McClellan began performing in the late 1960s and in 1972, released his debut album, titled simply Mike McClellan in 1972. McClellan toured extensively for the next two years playing the songs and previewing the material that would make up his next album.
In September 1974, McClellan's second album, Ask Any Dancer was released. The album peaked at number 22 on the Australian charts, and the album's lead single "Song and Danceman" was voted Song of the Year at the Annual Music Industry Awards in February 1975. In March 1976 McClellan released his third studio album, Until the Song is Done. The album peaked at number 61 on the Australian charts. McClellan recorded a live album, which was released in October 1977.
In 1979, McClellan compered his first television series, National Star Quest, which lead him to taking over the successful ABC program Country Road. Within a year, it was renamed and became Mike McClellan's Country Music and he continued to present the show for a further 3 years. In 1980, McClellan parted company with EMI and released Laughing in the Dark on the Albert's label. The album peaked at number 43 on the Australian charts and the single "The One I Love" peaked at number 45.
In 1982, McClellan travelled to the United Kingdom and United States. Upon his return in 1983, McClellan began writing for Mojo, then regarded a dynamic Australian ad agency, and he contributed words and music for clients such as Australian Airlines, Red Rooster, Channel 9, XXXX and Tooheys. McClellan left Mojo and, with a partner, set up his own agency called Kazoo. Kazoo grew rapidly and in 1991, was employing 30 staff. McClellan subsequently sold his share-holding in Kazoo and established Mike McClellan Pty Ltd.
In 1989, McClellan released his fifth studio album, The Heartland on the EMI label.
In 2001 a comprehensive retrospective of his recording career was released by EMI.
In 2011, McClellan released his first album of new songs in 20 years, titled If Only for a Moment, which was followed in 2014 by Dancing in the Rain and in July 2017, No Intermission.
Discography Studio albums + List of albums, with selected details and chart positions Title Details Peak chart positions AUS Mike McClellan Released: 1972 Format: LP Label: Ata (L-34537) — Ask Any Dancer Released: September 1974 Format: LP Label: EMI (EMA 305) 22 Until the Song Is Done Released: March 1976 Format: LP Label: EMI (EMA 320) 61 Laughing in the Dark Released: May 1980 Format: LP Label: Albert Productions (APLP.044) 43 The Heartland Released: 1989 Format: LP, CD, cassette Label: EMI (EMX 791277) — If Only for a Moment Released: July 2011 Format: CD, DD Label: Mike McClellan Pty Ltd (MM07) — Dancing in the Rain Released: 4 July 2014 Format: CD, DD Label: Mike McClellan Pty Ltd (MM08) — No Intermission Released: July 2017 Format: CD, DD Label: Mike McClellan Pty Ltd (MM09) —
Live albums + List of albums, with selected details and chart positions Title Details Peak chart positions AUS An Evening with Mike McClellan – Live Released: October 1977 Format: LP Label: EMI (EMC.2623) 97
Compilation albums + List of compilations, with selected details Title Details Repeat Prescription Released: 1987 Format: LP, cassette Label: Axis (AX 701365) Time and Time Again: The Best of the Song and Danceman Released: 2001 Format: 2×CD Label: EMI (72435356252-6)
Singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions Year Title Peak chart positions Album AUS 1972 "Some Other Sunrise" — Mike McClellan "Susie Get Me Off This Train" — 1974 "Song and Dance Man" 48 Ask Any Dancer "Rock 'n' Roll Lady" — 1975 "Country Morning" — rowspan="2" "Change Your Ways" — "Carry Me (Until the Song Is Done)" — Until the Song Is Done 1976 "Room Service" — 1977 "Another Night" — 1980 "Good Companions" — Laughing in the Dark "The One I Love" 45 "Rock 'n' Roll Man" — 1986 "Face to Face" — The Heartland 1987 "The Heartland" — 1989 "Murmur of the Heart" —
Other singles + List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions AUS N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 19 June 1988. "The Garden"(as Australia Too) 1985 22
References