Miracle Legion
Encyclopedia
Miracle Legion was an American
college rock
band formed in 1983 in New Haven
, Connecticut
. They earned modest renown, especially in their native New England
region. The original lineup consisted of singer/guitarist Mark Mulcahy
, lead guitarist Mr. Ray Neal, drummer Jeff Wiederschall, and bassist Joel Potocsky. In their early stages they received frequent comparisons to R.E.M.
, more for their presence and overall sound than for their lyrical content. Other than a few similar-sounding songs, the respective bands' sounds were largely dissimilar lyrically and musically, and as time passed, the comparisons became less valid. Their first EP
, The Backyard, was financed by Brad Morrison
and released on the Bridgeport, Connecticut
co-op label Incas Records in 1984 and became a college radio hit. Their first full-length album, Surprise Surprise Surprise, was released in 1987 on Rough Trade Records
, by which time Potocsky had been replaced by bassist Steven West. In 1988 the album Glad came out, a mixture of new songs and live tracks (which included a guest appearance by Pere Ubu
).
With the departure of drummer Wiederschall and bassist West in 1988, Mulcahy and Neal changed the direction of the band, becoming a duo and touring as the opening act for The Sugarcubes
. Their 1989 release of Me and Mr. Ray, recorded at Prince's Paisley Park Studios, led to the band finding a new rhythm section in drummer Scott "Spot" Boutier and bassist Dave McCaffrey. The album yielded a single, "You're the Ōne-Lee", the video for which had notable rotation on MTV
's "120 Minutes
" alternative music show. That year they signed with the (now-defunct) Morgan Creek Records, which funded their 1992 album Drenched with producer John Porter
(of Roxy Music
and The Smiths
fame). The band had a national if limited tour that year in support of the new album, mostly playing clubs and other small venues.
After Drenched, legal problems with the label left the band and its name in limbo. But interest continued, notably in the form of a Nickelodeon
offer for the band to write music for the television show The Adventures of Pete & Pete
, which was created by Miracle Legion fans Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi. Neal, disillusioned with the label experience, declined the offer; but Mulcahy accepted. He decided to do the project with Boutier and McCaffery under the name Polaris
, a project which lasted three years. Their track "Hey Sandy" became the show's theme song, and the band themselves appeared in at least one episode (Season 1, "Hard Day's Pete").
In 1996, the band's legal issues were resolved, and Miracle Legion released Portrait of a Damaged Family on Mulcahy's own Mezzotint Records label.
Since that final Miracle Legion album, Mulcahy has released three solo LPs and engaged in various other projects including film soundtrack work and a musical. Neal has recently begun to play shows again in the Northeast, both solo and with Jellyshirts. Miracle Legion's Drenched-era rhythm section of Boutier and McCaffrey have been staple members of Frank Black and the Catholics
. Wiederschall has maintained an active music career, playing for The Streams, Peacock Flounders, and Baby Huey
, as well as contributing to Mulcahy's 2001 solo album, SmileSunset.
In recent years, reruns of The Adventures of Pete & Pete on the Nick Jr.
cable network has unexpectedly renewed interest in (and led a new generation to) the music of Miracle Legion. Although much of Miracle Legion's overall recorded output remains out-of-print, their 1980's material is currently distributed by the Mezzotint label.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
college rock
College rock
College rock is a term that was used in the United States to describe 1980s alternative rock before the term "alternative" came into common usage. The term's use of the word "college" refers to campus radio stations located at institutions of higher education in Canada and the United States, where...
band formed in 1983 in New Haven
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. They earned modest renown, especially in their native New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
region. The original lineup consisted of singer/guitarist Mark Mulcahy
Mark Mulcahy
Mark Mulcahy is an American musician and former front-man for the New Haven, Connecticut-based band Miracle Legion in the 1980s to mid 1990s. The band earned modest renown, especially in their native New England region, but disbanded after a sad turn of events with their record label, Morgan Creek...
, lead guitarist Mr. Ray Neal, drummer Jeff Wiederschall, and bassist Joel Potocsky. In their early stages they received frequent comparisons to R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
, more for their presence and overall sound than for their lyrical content. Other than a few similar-sounding songs, the respective bands' sounds were largely dissimilar lyrically and musically, and as time passed, the comparisons became less valid. Their first EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, The Backyard, was financed by Brad Morrison
Brad Morrison
Brad Morrison is an American record producer, musician, artist manager, record label owner and radio personality.From 1978 to 2006, Morrison produced and engineered about 70 independent records...
and released on the Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
co-op label Incas Records in 1984 and became a college radio hit. Their first full-length album, Surprise Surprise Surprise, was released in 1987 on Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
, by which time Potocsky had been replaced by bassist Steven West. In 1988 the album Glad came out, a mixture of new songs and live tracks (which included a guest appearance by Pere Ubu
Pere Ubu (band)
Pere Ubu is an experimental rock music group formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1975. Despite many long-term band members, singer David Thomas is the only constant...
).
With the departure of drummer Wiederschall and bassist West in 1988, Mulcahy and Neal changed the direction of the band, becoming a duo and touring as the opening act for The Sugarcubes
The Sugarcubes
The Sugarcubes were an Icelandic alternative rock band formed in 1986 and disbanded in 1992. They received critical and popular acclaim internationally.-History:...
. Their 1989 release of Me and Mr. Ray, recorded at Prince's Paisley Park Studios, led to the band finding a new rhythm section in drummer Scott "Spot" Boutier and bassist Dave McCaffrey. The album yielded a single, "You're the Ōne-Lee", the video for which had notable rotation on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's "120 Minutes
120 Minutes
120 Minutes is a television show in the United States dedicated to alternative music, originally airing on MTV from 1986 to 2000, and then on MTV's sister channel MTV2 from 2001 to 2003....
" alternative music show. That year they signed with the (now-defunct) Morgan Creek Records, which funded their 1992 album Drenched with producer John Porter
John Porter (musician)
John Porter is an English musician and record producer.-Biography:He attended St Michael's School, Allerton Grange School, King's College, and Newcastle University....
(of Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
and The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
fame). The band had a national if limited tour that year in support of the new album, mostly playing clubs and other small venues.
After Drenched, legal problems with the label left the band and its name in limbo. But interest continued, notably in the form of a Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
offer for the band to write music for the television show The Adventures of Pete & Pete
The Adventures of Pete & Pete
The Adventures of Pete & Pete is an American children's television series produced by Wellsville Pictures and broadcast by Nickelodeon. The show featured humorous and surreal elements in its narrative, and many recurring themes centered on two brothers both named Pete Wrigley, and their various...
, which was created by Miracle Legion fans Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi. Neal, disillusioned with the label experience, declined the offer; but Mulcahy accepted. He decided to do the project with Boutier and McCaffery under the name Polaris
Polaris (band)
Polaris was a one-off musical project in the mid-1990s involving members of the New Haven indie rock band Miracle Legion.Mark Mulcahy, Spot "Scott" Boutier, and Dave McCaffrey performed music for the Nickelodeon television show The Adventures of Pete & Pete under the name Polaris because fourth...
, a project which lasted three years. Their track "Hey Sandy" became the show's theme song, and the band themselves appeared in at least one episode (Season 1, "Hard Day's Pete").
In 1996, the band's legal issues were resolved, and Miracle Legion released Portrait of a Damaged Family on Mulcahy's own Mezzotint Records label.
Since that final Miracle Legion album, Mulcahy has released three solo LPs and engaged in various other projects including film soundtrack work and a musical. Neal has recently begun to play shows again in the Northeast, both solo and with Jellyshirts. Miracle Legion's Drenched-era rhythm section of Boutier and McCaffrey have been staple members of Frank Black and the Catholics
Frank Black
Black Francis is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the frontman of the influential alternative rock band Pixies, with whom he performs under the stage name Black Francis. Following the band's breakup in 1993, he embarked on a solo career under the name Frank Black...
. Wiederschall has maintained an active music career, playing for The Streams, Peacock Flounders, and Baby Huey
Baby Huey
Baby Huey is a gigantic and naïve duckling cartoon character. He was created by Martin Taras for Paramount Pictures' Famous Studios, and became a Paramount cartoon star during the 1950s. Although created by Famous for its animated cartoons, Huey first appeared in comic-book form in an original...
, as well as contributing to Mulcahy's 2001 solo album, SmileSunset.
In recent years, reruns of The Adventures of Pete & Pete on the Nick Jr.
Nick Jr.
Nick Jr. was a programming block on the Nickelodeon television channel, seen on Nickelodeon weekday mornings. It was aimed at a preschool-age audience ages 6 and under. On September 28, 2009, Nick Jr. became its own official channel, replacing Noggin...
cable network has unexpectedly renewed interest in (and led a new generation to) the music of Miracle Legion. Although much of Miracle Legion's overall recorded output remains out-of-print, their 1980's material is currently distributed by the Mezzotint label.
Discography
- A Simple Thing (1983) demo
- The Backyard (1984) 12"/Cassette EP on Rough Trade Records
- Little Drummer Boy (1985) 7" Single on Incas Records
- Surprise Surprise Surprise (1987) LP/Cassette/CD(Japan Only) on Rough Trade Records
- Glad (1987) 12"/Cassette EP with Pere UbuPere Ubu (band)Pere Ubu is an experimental rock music group formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1975. Despite many long-term band members, singer David Thomas is the only constant...
on Rough Trade Records - Me and Mr. Ray (1989) CD/LP/CS on Rough Trade Records
- Drenched (1992) CD/CS on Morgan Creek Records,LP on Polydor Records
- Out to Play (1992) CD/12" EP on Morgan Creek Records (promo)
- We Are All Lost (1992) CD-EP on Morgan Creek Records (promo)
- Portrait of a Damaged Family (1996) CD on The Mezzotint Label
- Surprise Surprise Surprise (2010) Remastered Digital Re-release on The Mezzotint Label