Welcome to Mr Mister.......
A product of the L.A. session-musician community (which also produced the harder-rocking Toto), Mr. Mister enjoyed a brief but massive burst of popularity during the mid-'80s, crafting an atmospheric, vaguely progressive variation on slick, radio-ready pop/rock. While they disappeared almost as quickly as they arrived on the scene, their two number one hits, "Broken Wings" and "Kyrie," remain enduring classics of '80s mainstream pop.
Mr. Mister was formed in 1982 by bassist/lead vocalist Richard Page and keyboardist/vocalist Steve George, boyhood friends from Phoenix, AZ, and accomplished session men. The two had previously played together in a jazz fusion outfit called Pages, which recorded three major-label albums from 1979-1981 (the final one being more pop/rock-oriented). Plagued by a lack of sales, an abundance of personnel shifts, and an uncertainty over direction, the group disbanded by the end of 1981, and Page and George returned to their session careers (they'd previously done vocals on Village People records, among others). The two wrote songs and offered backup for artists including REO Speedwagon, John Parr, Chaka Khan, the Pointer Sisters, Donna Summer, Al Jarreau, and Kenny Loggins, and conceived the idea for their own band while on tour with Andy Gibb. The first to join was guitarist Steve Farris, who had been working with Eddie Money; next was drummer Pat Mastelotto, who had done numerous sessions for producer Mike Chapman. Page's cousin, lyricist John Lang, was invited to collaborate on material as he had done for Pages, and the group quickly landed a deal with RCA on the strength of several showcase concerts.
Mr. Mister's debut album, I Wear the Face, was released in 1984, producing one chart single, "Hunters of the Night," which failed to reach the Top 40. It didn't sell very well, which made the band's breakthrough with their sophomore effort all the more surprising. Welcome to the Real World, issued in May 1985, perfected the band's blend of Genesis-style pop, swirling keyboard textures, slightly spiritual lyrics, and polished studio craft. Page had turned down offers to join Toto and Chicago, and his faith in Mr. Mister was justified with the release of the album's first single, "Broken Wings." It took a few months to catch on, but helped by the band's prominent tour slots, it climbed all the way to the top of the pop charts before year's end, and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Group. The follow-up, "Kyrie," duplicated that feat in March 1986, and Welcome to the Real World topped the album charts the same week, on its way to platinum sales. Third single "Is It Love" reached the Top Ten, and the band consolidated their success with appearances at several awards shows and benefit concerts.
Work on their third album was slowed by Mastelotto's back problems, and once song selection was completed, lyricist Lang moved to New York to attend graduate school. The album, Go On, was released in fall 1987; its lead single, "Something Real (Inside Me/Inside You)," barely scraped the Top 30, despite its appearance on Miami Vice. Second single "Healing Waters" was released only in Europe, yet still managed a Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Performance, Duo or Group. "Stand and Deliver," originally intended for Tina Turner, was used in the Edward James Olmos film of the same name; still, Go On simply couldn't catch hold the way its predecessor had. Disagreements between Page and Farris led to the latter's departure from the group in July 1988. Mr. Mister never settled on a permanent replacement, using Trevor Rabin and Buzzy Feiten in their subsequent recording sessions. Those sessions were dedicated to what was to be the band's fourth album, Pull; however, an RCA roster purge left them homeless, and the record was deemed too proggy and uncommercial to be picked up by any other label (it still has not been officially released). Before the end of 1989, Mr. Mister decided to break up.
Still, the individual members' musical pedigrees ensured that they wouldn't be wanting for work. Mastelotto played drums on XTC's Oranges and Lemons (among many other albums), and joined King Crimson in 1994; he also plays in the progressive/experimental rock band Mastica. Page co-wrote Madonna's 1994 hit ballad "I'll Remember," which led to his forming the group Third Matinee with Madonna producer Patrick Leonard. They released an album in 1994 but broke up the following year, and Page issued his solo debut, Shelter Me, in 1996; he eventually moved into Disney musicals, among other vocal gigs. Lang formed the post-grunge band Djinn, which released Radio Beirut in 1995. George served as Kenny Loggins' music director from 1991-1997, and subsequently toured with Jewel. Farris toured with Whitesnake in 1997, and recorded with Tori Amos 4 Non Blondes, and others.
Words from All Music Guide.
Mr Mister -
I Wear The Face
"The first Mr Mister album"
The Tracks are: Hunters Of The Night, Code Of Love, Partners In Crime, 32, Runaway, Talk The Talk, IŽll Let You Drive, I Get Lost Sometimes, I Wear The Face & Life Goes On.
Musicians on the I Wear The Face album: Richard Page, Steve George, Steve Farris & Pat Mastelotto.
Available from RCA Records/Original release year: 1983
Mr Mister -
I Wear The Face
"CD release of the first Mr Mister album"
The Tracks are: Hunters Of The Night, Code Of Love, Partners In Crime, 32, Runaway, Talk The Talk, IŽll Let You Drive, I Get Lost Sometimes, I Wear The Face & Life Goes On.
Musicians on the I Wear The Face album: Richard Page, Steve George, Steve Farris & Pat Mastelotto.
Available from RCA Records/Original release year: 1983
Mr Mister -
Welcome To The Real World
"The commercial break thru album"
The Tracks are: Black/White, Uniform Of Youth, DonŽt Slow Down, Run To Her, Into My Own Hands, Is It Love, Kyrie, Broken Wings, Tangent Tears & Welcome To The Real World.
Musicians on the Welcome To The Real World album: Richard Page, Steve George, Steve Farris & Pat Mastelotto.
Available from RCA Records/Original release year: 1985
Mr Mister -
Go On . . .
"The last album from Mr Mister"
The Tracks are: Stand And Deliver, Healing Waters, Dust, Something Real (Inside Me/Inside You), The Tube, Bare My Soul, Control, Watching The World, Power Over Me, Man On A Thousand Dances & The Border.
Musicians on the Go On . . . album: Richard Page, Steve George, Steve Farris, Pat Mastelotto, Alex Acuna, Lenny Castro, Stan Lee Revue, Bill Champlin, Tamara Champlin, Carmen Twillie & Phil Perry.
Available from RCA Records/Original release year: 1987
Mr Mister -
Best Selection
"A collection of Mr Mister songs"
The Tracks are: Is It Love, Uniform Of Youth, DonŽt Slow Down, Stand And Deliver, Something Real (Inside Me/Inside You), 33, Kyrie, Control, Welcome To The Real World, Hunters Of The Night, Code Of Love, Man Of A Thousand Dances, Broken Wings & The Border.
Musicians on the Best Selection album: Richard Page, Steve George, Steve Farris, Pat Mastelotto and others.
Available from BMG Victor/Original release year: 1994
Mr Mister -
Broken Wings
"Best of Mr Mister"
The Tracks are: Broken Wings, Is It Love, Hunters Of The Night, Black/White, Kyrie, Is It Love, Uniform Of Youth, Stand And Deliver, Healing Waters, Something Real, The Tube, Control, Watching The World, Power Over Me, Man Of Thousand Dances, Run To Her & Welcome To The Real World.
Musicians on the Broken Wings album: Richard Page, Steve George, Steve Farris, Pat Mastelotto and others.
Available from Camden Records/Original release year: 1998
Mr Mister -
Broken Wings
"The Encore collection"
The Tracks are: Broken Wings, Is It Love, Stand And Deliver, Hunters Of The Night, Welcome To The Real World, Something Real (Inside Me/Inside You), The Border, Kyrie, I Wear The Face & Life Goes On.
Musicians on the Broken Wings album: Richard Page, Steve George, Steve Farris, Pat Mastelotto and others.
Available from BMG Records/Original release year: 1999
Mr Mister -
Welcome To The Real World/I Wear The Face
"Two original albums"
The Tracks are: CD1: Black/White, Uniform Of Youth, DonŽt Slow Down, Run To Her, Into My Own Hands, Is It Love, Kyrie, Broken Wings, Tangent Tears & Welcome To The Real World CD2: Hunters Of The Night, Code Of Love, Partners In Crime, 32, Runaway, Talk The Talk, IŽll Let You Drive, I Get Lost Sometimes, I Wear The Face & Life Goes On.
Musicians on the Welcome To The Real World/I Wear The Face album: Richard Page, Steve George, Steve Farris & Pat Mastelotto.
Available from Eagle Records/Original release year: 2000
Mr Mister -
The Best Of . . .
"Best of Mr Mister"
The Tracks are: Broken Wings, Is It Love, Stand and Deliver (from the movie Stand & Deliver, Hunters of the Night, Run To Her (from the movie American Anthem), Something Real (Inside Me/Inside You), Kyrie, Black/White, The Border, Talk The Talk, Healing Waters & Waiting In My Dreams (Previously Unreleased).
Musicians on the Best Of: Richard Page, Steve George, Steve Farris, Pat Mastelotto and others.
Available from Buddha Records/Original release year: 2001
Mr Mister -
Best Of Original Hits
"Best of Mr Mister"
The Tracks are: Broken Wings, Hunters of the Night, Black/White, Kyrie, Is It Love, Uniform Of Youth, Stand And Deliver, Healing Waters, Something Real (Inside Me/Inside You), Tube, Control, Watching The World, Power Over Me, Man Of A Thousand Dances, Run To Her & Welcome To The Real World.
Musicians on the Best Of Original Hits: Richard Page, Steve George, Steve Farris, Pat Mastelotto and others.
Available from Generic Records/Original release year: 2002
Mr Mister -
The Best Of Mr. Mister
"UK best of release"
The Tracks are: Broken Wings, Hunters of the Night, Black/White, Kyrie, Is It Love, Uniform Of Youth, Stand And Deliver, Healing Waters, Something Real (Inside Me/Inside You), Tube, Control, Watching The World, Power Over Me, Man Of A Thousand Dances, Run To Her & Welcome To The Real World.
Musicians on the Best Of Original Hits: Richard Page, Steve George, Steve Farris, Pat Mastelotto and others.
Available from Camden Records/Original release year: 2003
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