We need a forum for Lee Michaels!  

Hi Peggy,

This is my first post on any forum ever! I've followed the early career of Lee Michaels up to the 5th album after which I found his subsequent 2 A&M albums weak. In my opinion this concert segment blows away the entire live Lee Michaels album. It's unfortunate the rest of the set wasn't captured. The concert summary also needs to be corrected. The "self titled" Lee Michaels LP was his third album, recorded on June 2,1969, more than a year prior to this recording. Thumbs is the only track here from his then newly released fourth album "Barrel". I've noticed a few inconsistencies like this on the site. Other than that, the folks at the vault are doing a great job. I'm thrilled that this site exists. So... Does anyone know anything about Lee's history after the 1970s or how to get ahold of his later Columbia recordings on CD. I've been lucky enough to track down all of his A&M recordings on the One Way CD label from the mid 90's.

Gus56:

.....In my opinion this concert segment blows away the entire live Lee Michaels album. It's unfortunate the rest of the set wasn't captured. The concert summary also needs to be corrected. The "self titled" Lee Michaels LP was his third......

Thank you Gus! When I was logging this remarkable performance, I must have had Lee's 3rd & 4th albums reversed during my thought process, as I 'm a longtime fan of his first 5 albums as well. We always appreciate when you take the time to offer corrections or point out discrepencies in our notation. I have corrected this summary accordingly and it will replace the existing summary soon.

Please don't hesitate to bring notation errors to our attention. We're always striving for accuracy, but help in that area is always welcome.

And I agree with you. This recording leaves his official live album smoldering in it's ashes. I've heard a few other live recordings of Lee Michaels during my travels, but nothing surpasses the energy on this one.

Thanks again! MrBB

WOW...thank-you so much for providing several tracks from Lee Michael's performance. In the years between 1969 and 1972 I literally followed Lee up and down most of the northeast coast attending as many concerts of his as i could reasonably find when he still played with Frosty and his super-modified Hammond B-3. As a B-3 musician throughout my college years and then some I found the sounds and power he could achieve absolutely amazing. When hearing his music nobody then and now can believe that awesome music came from a two-piece band. My recollections of his shows were that he was stage left with the B-3 at an angle facing the audience and Frosty was slightly right of center with his drum kit. This modified B-3 was feeding a Leslie 122 that was specially and permanently miked at the upper rotors and lower rotating drum. I never saw the pre-amps or mixers specifically but across the back of the stage were probably between 6 and 10 Acoustic amplifiers. There is a partial pic of the B-3 lower manual near the black preset kets which shows the modification control panel Lee used to control the organ sounds and chorale/tremolo speed of the Leslie. With all stops out and the swell pedal to the "floor" the sound waves from the bass notes hit me like a punch in the stomach that I loved and couldn't get enough of. Such explosive amplification of one Hammond B-3 provided me not only the most amazing aural experience I ever had in a live concert but it was clearly to me a body and physical experience too. After a few short years of touring he damaged his ears, switched to a grand piano and then quit live concerts permanently. I want to thank Wolfgang's Vault for making this available. With all the playing Lee did at both Fillmore's and Winterland there must be a huge amount of material in the vault. I hope we get more. I do wonder why this concert was so abbreviated and edited as such. Thanks again....

David S Padawer

Pittsburgh, PA

David (aka Fasttraderone) wrote in the previous post:

I do wonder why this concert was so abbreviated and edited as such. Thanks again....

Hi David,
Always nice to hear from happy listeners, especially with interesting info to add. And wonder no more. That was simply all there was. The recording began with the set in progress. No editing whatsoever, other than the fade in to replace an abrupt startup on the master. The complete recording is here in all it's glory. MrBB

David from Pittsburgh again...When I read my post again this morning I realized I mentioned a picture of the control panel Lee had built for him just below the lower manual without mentioning where the picture can be found. It is on the front cover of the Lee Michaels Live album both US and imported editions. It's the same pic that is also on the cover of the CD of the same album but there the pic is so reduced in size as to make it nearly impossible to see the control panel with the lit rocker switches. I read that the organ was modified by a well-known instrument/keyboard modification company in southern California whose name I dont remember right now. Also read that when Lee quit the music business and moved to Hawaii he sold the B-3.

Also through the years I have looked almost everywhere trying to find the CD titled "Absolute Lee" which Lee played on, produced and sold through his own record label. Although his catalogue has gone through the hands of several oldies companies over the years the "Absolute Lee" CD has never been a part of it and thus reasonably readily available. If anyone that reads this knows where I can get a copy please let me know. Thanks and of course kudos to Wolfgangs Vault and all the wonderful and imaginative and dedicated people behind it.

Many, many memories from concerts at the Swing Auditorium in San Bernardino, CA. I must have seen Lee Michaels at least three times there. I've seen Hendrix, Cream, Credence, CSN&Y, Electric Flag and many others live in concert, and Lee Michael's concerts rank up there with the best of them. The energy at the Swing when he and Frosty played was AMAZING! This little piece on the Vault sure brought back the memories.

Thanks. Joe from SD

Lee at the Swing. Man, there's a memory pulled out of the past. Wooo!

 I too saw a whole bunch of great shows there. I think I got to see Lee about 6 times, ever time as awesome as the last.

Saw him at a smaller venue in Pasadena. Cripes, my ears must've buzzed for 12 hours after that show. And me almost hoarse from screaming. Awesome! (and I think it cost like $3.75 to get in.) I think that's was the show that Frosty puts his fist thru the head of his Roger's snare at the end of his drum solo. The whole place went nuts. What a great time.

It really is too bad that Lee doesn't get the recognition that he richly deserves.  The man was amazing in concert!

Play it again and turn it up L O U D !

Anybody at the swing was great. I grew up in that place. Started with the Stones there on Halloween. I must have been 12. Everybody played there. Zep, Purple, TYA, Cream, HENDRIX, Faces, Santana, Sabbath, and too many more to remember, but Lee Michaels always rated up there with all of them.

Also saw Lee and Frosty at Mother Lizards Ball, a VERY small club down the street.  I believe he used the same amp set up he used at the Swing. 12 hours ears buzzing?  I couldnt hear right for 2 days. No wonder he quit touring. I heard he played in SF Golden Gate park for the Chet Helms memorial, a couple of years ago, but missed it.

LONG LIVE THE SWING

and give us more Lee Michaels