All I Need Is a Miracle

"All I Need Is a Miracle" is a song performed by English pop rock band Mike + The Mechanics. Written by guitarist Mike Rutherford and producer Christopher Neil, it was first included on their 1985 self-titled debut album, and later released as a single in early 1986 in the USA, where it reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.[2] The song was sung by Paul Young on both the original recording and the 1996 re-recording for the band's Hits compilation album.[3]

"All I Need Is a Miracle"
Single by Mike + The Mechanics
from the album Mike + The Mechanics
B-side"You Are the One"
Released3 February 1986
Recorded1985
GenrePop rock, soft rock[1]
Length4:10
LabelAtlantic – Atlantic 89450
Songwriter(s)Mike Rutherford, Christopher Neil
Producer(s)Christopher Neil
Mike + The Mechanics singles chronology
"Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)"
(1985)		 "All I Need Is a Miracle"
(1986)		 "Taken In"
(1986)

In an interview prior to the song's release as a single, Rutherford commented, "The thing that makes 'Miracle' different, to me, is that it's a happy song – or it's primarily a happy song. It's 'up'. And I don't do that very often. ...It may not be optimistic, but it's a positive attitude to life."[4]

Details

"All I Need Is a Miracle" was the second single released by Mike + The Mechanics, following "Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)", which also reached the top 10.[2] "All I Need Is a Miracle" featured lead vocals by former Sad Café vocalist Paul Young.[5]

The cover of the single was twice recycled for Mike + The Mechanics albums, first for their greatest hits package Hits in 1996, and then for Mike & the Mechanics in 1999.

A new version of the song, titled "All I Need Is a Miracle '96", was included on Hits.[3]

In 1987, the song was nominated for "Best Pop Performance By a Duo or Group" at the 29th Annual Grammy Awards Ceremony.

Music video

The music video for "Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)" ends with footage of Mike + The Mechanics performing the song at a restaurant, and segues into the video for "Miracle". In the video, "All I Need is a Miracle" is the final song in the band's fictional set, so Mike + The Mechanics' tour manager (played by Roy Kinnear) attempts to settle up with the restaurant owner (played by Victor Spinetti) for the agreed sum of £250. However, the owner points out that due to the gig being arranged at the last minute, the restaurant is more than half empty, and refuses to pay. Moreover, he threatens to hold all the band's equipment (and "the guitarist's right arm" the early airings) as collateral until he is paid £500.

The bulk of the video then alternates between the band's performance (with Paul Carrack acting as the bassist) and the manager's adventures in trying to acquire the necessary £500. The manager's conflicts get worse when a Chinese hoodlum swipes his money while riding a bike. The manager runs after the thief and follows him to the basement of a restaurant in Chinatown where his money is being gambled away. There he attempts to gamble his money back by playing mah-jong. However, as he is winning, the thief and his cronies kick him out of the building. As he sits in despair, he attains his goal when he finds a lost dog and the grateful Rolls-Royce-driving owner hands him a large amount of money. The manager returns to the restaurant, pays the owner the £500, and gives the change to Rutherford, telling him to split it amongst the band.

Covers

In 1988, Rutherford's other band Genesis performed a section of the song as part of a solo career medley on the 1988 Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary concert. It is the only Mike + The Mechanics song to have been played live by the band. Genesis vocalist Phil Collins covered the song at the picnic by the lake in 1989. It was also referenced by him often during Genesis concerts, especially during the "Turn It On Again" medley.

In 2003, the song was covered by classically trained vocalist Tina Ann.[6]

Chart performance
Chart (1986) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] 8
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] 35
Canada Top Singles (RPM) 10
Germany (Media Control Charts)[9] 26
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[10] 31
United Kingdom (The Official Charts Company) 53
US Billboard Hot 100[2] 5
US Billboard Adult Contemporary 7
US Billboard Dance Play Singles 24
US Billboard Top Rock Tracks 6
Year-end chart (1986)Rank
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[11] 74

References
  1. Boone, Brian (2 August 2011). I Love Rock 'n' Roll (Except When I Hate It): Extremely Important Stuff About the Songs and Bands You Love, Hate, Love to Hate , and Hate to Love. Penguin. ISBN 9781101517314 – via Google Books.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (8th ed.). Billboard Books. p. 425. ISBN 0-8230-7499-4.
  3. "Mike + the Mechanics: Hits". allmusic. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  4. Neer, Dan (1985). Mike on Mike [interview LP], Atlantic Recording Corporation.
  5. Mike + The Mechanics (Media notes). Mike + The Mechanics. 1985.CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. "Tina Ann: Songs: All Songs". allmusic. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  7. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  8. "Ultratop.be – Mike & The Mechanics – All I Need Is a Miracle" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  9. "Chartverfolgung / Mike + The Mechanics / Single". Music Line (in German). Germany: Media Control Charts. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
  10. "Charts.nz – Mike & The Mechanics – All I Need Is a Miracle". Top 40 Singles.
  11. Nielsen Business Media, Inc (27 December 1986). "1986 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. 98 (52): Y-21.
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