At one time, Mike Starrs was the Scottish lead vocalist of the German rock band Lucifer’s Friend, a musically diverse outfit that went on to influence several heavy metal and doom rock groups. He also fronted the jazz-rock band Colosseum II for one album and later Lake. Afterwards, Starr went on to manage bands as disparate as Wham! and Snow Patrol. But before all that, Starrs released Electric Garden in 1973, and it wound up being his only solo record.
This 16-track disc features the original album -- remastered by Starrs’ bassist Gerry Morris and approved by the singer and producer Tony Atkins -- plus a handful of non-album singles as bonus tracks. The songs sound very much of their time, with feel-good folk and singer-songwriter influences running throughout the record. The more upbeat tracks, including “Good Life,” the horns-infused “Looking For Love” and bonus cut “Da-Doo-Ron-Ron” (yes, that one), suggest why other rock bands were attracted to Starrs. His sweet-sounding voice at times recalls Roine Stolt and Freddie Mercury, and this reissue provides a glimpse into an overlooked slice of rock history.
In a neat packaging move, the booklet includes two sets of liner notes: the original ones from 1973 and new notes penned by Starrs in 2022.
1. Feel So Good
2. When It Comes to Love
3. Electric Garden
4. The Will
5. Good Life
6. To Everyone Concerned
7. Loving You
8. Beautiful Day
9. Looking for Love
10. I’ll Take Good Care of You
11. Hold On
12. Love Song
13. Witches Brew (Bonus Track)
14. Lost Without You (Bonus Track)
15. Da-Doo-Ron-Ron (Bonus Track)
16. Blue and White (Bonus Track)
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