Monday, July 11, 2011

Artist: Michael Zee, Album: Five Seven, Maybe Five Eight, Song: I've Got News For You

Michael Zee (aka Michael Zweig) was a singer songwriter from Ontario.  He cut his teeth during the seventies touring circuit which included time with artists like Ray Materick (see blog 4/16/11) and Segarini (see blog 1/8/11).  In 1984, he joined indie label, Ready Records, out of London, Ontario and cut his debut EP, Five Seven, Maybe Five Eight.  It was produced by Segarini and spawned the regional hit, I've Got News For You.  Michael would release a full length following this album and then began touring with a band called, The Fabulous Knockouts.  The members in that band all played on his debut EP and they still tour today, playing covers mainly.  Michael also started a successful jingle company called Candyland.  If you have ever found yourself singing along to the Home Hardware theme or the "This Place Will Be Rockin' On Saturday Night" song from Hockey Night In Canada, you can thank him for it.  Michael has also played with Bachman and Cummings, Tom Cochrane as well as the Carpet Frogs.  You can follow his band, The Fabulous Knockouts, at http://fabulousknockouts.com/.  Michael's solo discography is a difficult find today.  At the time of this blog, there was one copy of his debut EP trading on Ebay for $10.  However, you can download this particular track from Itunes as it is featured on a compilation entitled, 20th Century Masters Millennium Collection: The Best Of Ready Records Vol.2.  You can hear the song, I've Got News For You, on You Tube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdzW6LobCUo).  Thanks for reading and enjoy!