When we posted the tracklist and background information for Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy, we hadn’t heard anybody’s contributions. As we said then, the compilation’s 21-track lineup is impressive, the reason behind it — the sudden death of Mulcahy’s wife Melissa (pictured), leaving him to raise his three-year old twins alone — heartbreaking. Now, going beyond the names next to the contributions, we can report that the opening track, Thom Yorke’s percussive, electro-tinged cover of Miracle Legion’s “All For The Best,” is also impressive. He didn’t mail it in, making it his own, while retaining the spirit of the original. As a result, fans of Radiohead, Miracle Legion, and Mulcahy should equally enjoy.
Indeed that is his brother Andy on backing vocals. A contextual refresher:
01 Thom Yorke – “All For The Best”
02 The National – “Ashamed Of The Story I Told”
03 Michael Stipe – “Everything’s Coming Undone”
04 David Berkeley – “Loves The Only Thing That Shuts Me Up”
05 Dinosaur Jr. – “The Backyard”
06 Chris Harford & Mr Ray Neal – “Micon The Icon”
07 Frank Black – “Bill Jocko”
08 Vic Chesnutt – “Little Man”
09 Unbelievable Truth – “Ciao My Shining Star”
10 Butterflies Of Love – “I Have Patience”
11 Chris Collingwood (Fountains Of Wayne) – “Cookie Jar”
12 Frank Turner – “The Quiet One”
13 Rocket From The Tombs – “In Pursuit Of Your Happiness”
14 Ben Kweller – “Wake Up Whispering”
15 Josh Rouse – “I Woke Up In The Mayflower”
16 Autumn Defense – “Paradise”
17 Hayden -”Happy Birthday Yesterday”
18 Juliana Hatfield – “We’re Not In Charleston Anymore”
19 Mercury Rev – “Sailors And Animals”
20 Elvis Perkins – “She Watches Over Me”
21 Sean Watkins – “A World Away From This One”
Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy is out 9/29 via Shout! Factory. It can be pre-ordered at Amazon. An additional 20 tracks from folks like A.C. Newman, Buffalo Tom and Laura Veirs will be released digitally.
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I like this cover. I just don’t like how underrated Mark is/was. And I wish there were more Polaris covers on this compilation. Kids: stop listening to shit and give MM a try.
Sick cover.
Thom should cover this one next. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mvQ8ZTwIDg
It’s really sad to hear of Mark’s loss, but equally heartening to see that his music is known and loved by so many other artists. Most of Miracle Legion’s catalogue is out of print, and only available on vinyl/cassette if you can find it. This cut is from “Surprise Surprise Surprise,” an energetic, layered, and evocative album with two sides of outstanding tracks. Mark lives and plays in the Notheast states, and his stuff is available from his own label, mezzotint.
While the circumstances of so many people ‘discovering’ Mark now are sad, his music is beautiful, and his lyrics and vocals come from a deep personal place. Please do enjoy his music and wish him well.
Thanks, Thom and Andy. Prayers, blessings, and thanks for everything, Mark.
thanks for the Radiohead tip! their sound guy really knows how to use space!
haha it’s “i’m a WEIRDO” not WIDOW you stupid whiney Vampire Wkd lovin’ new-wave hipster cock, get it right cap’n jealous:D
Ive just read 100% of these comments, and 99.9% of you miss the point entirely. RIP, thank you to Thom and all other contributing artists, and all the best luck on the success of this project.
I agree with many people here… this is one of the most heartwarming songs (or covers, or interpretations etc…) I have heard in a long time! “Say you love me, let’s just say you love me”… goosebumps!!!…. Mark Mulcahy’s writting is just amazing, and Thom Yorke’s emotional interpretations only makes it better.
And I love the fact that the Yorke brothers were both involved in this, because after all the song as well as the purpose of this tribute is all about family.
On another note, I do hope Radiohead could continue in this direction of making more experimental work, but keeping it emotional…. Thom’s ability to make voice patterns is the most beautiful thing, and I only think adding the rest of the gang would make it even more amazing.
cheers to all and dear respects to the Mulcahy family!
Banana cheese egg souffee? Jalapeno parmesan bow-tie pasta bake.
i love this song! it’s a great T-
amazing.
That song felt quite good , little bit long maybe
one word
OUTSTANDING
A beautiful cover. My heart goes out to Mark Mulcahy and his children, as a husband of a young wife who is suffering severe health problems I have had the horrible nightmare that is your unfortunate reality play as a possibility again and again in my head…
felicitaciones! un placer escuchar.!
wow i mean i always knew he was pretty well loved, but i don’t think i ever realised quite how many thom yorke groupies there are…
yeah! can’t wait for his songs in twilight. I’m a 13 year old girl. I love tom york. he’s the best!
Billyside, why do I have a hard time believing you are a 13 year old girl? Oh, maybe because you’re not!
P.S. Beautiful song
excellent
Not a huge radiohead fan, but I love the original Miracle Legion song. After a couple of listens, this one grew on me. It captures the spirit of the original, while obviously coming from a different angle. The guitar part is excellent, it gives the electronic smoothness texture. Please buy the record, it’s a wonderful thing for Mark Mulcahy and his family, and also his wife’s memory.
Awesome Cover! Of a great song. I found more of mark mulcahy’s music at mezzotint.com. It’s a terrible thing that happened, but music can help in so many ways.
I just get goosebumps when “Watch my brother” comes in and Andy comes in. Its insane.
I have been hoping for YEARS that Thom and Andy would do a song together…am I dreaming or did this finally really happen? And the way Andy joins in right on the “watch? my brother” line, it’s just…YES…*swoon*
Very nice to see the old Unbelievable Truth song on this album too, I always loved their cover of that tune!! =)
Please people, remember yr taste only matters inside of yr own head. The Yorkes have every right to do what they will with what they do. Please pick up a trumpet or kazoo or MPD32 and make your own noise. It will do you a world of good.
Oh snap I just found out Thom had a brother last week, I dig this. And I just found out Madlib has a little brother “Oh No”, who makes beats and soundscapes. Perhaps this is a funky-dope-brother omen. I’m gonna go call my brother.
Muito boa a canção!!! sempre visito o site e sempre vejo, ouço e adimiro coisas boas!!! valeu Thom pela maravilhosa canção! bye!
This song is perfect Thom and Andy. Fondly, and Fragile Knees… Amanda
I was so smitten by the song… I conveyed the wrong message. I most certainly meant to say… “fondly on fragile knees” not “and fragile knees”… not yet, anyway. Lovely Thom and Andy… I cannot wait to have the opportunity to meet you someday. Kindest Regards, Amanda
How curious… I was so smitten with the song that I conveyed the wrong message, completely! What I meant to say was “fondly on fragile knees” not “fondly AND fragile knees” hah! Not yet, anyway. Thank you for your beautiful contributions Thom and Andy. Kindest Regards, Amanda
great track Thom
I like it very much.
This track neither gives me hope for Yorke’s next solo album nor makes me want to listen to any of Mulcahy’s work.
Production wise, I love how ‘dry’ they keep it. No quantizing; just played and recorded with minimal use of effects. Like the golden era of DIY :’78-’80. Reminds me of the Gadgets(Matt Johnson’s first band) or Thick Pigeon(Miranda Stanton & Carter Burwell). Love the off time percussive sticks.
God take that stick out of your ass.
absolutely fantastic version by Thom. I am not really a radiohead fan, but got into Mark Mulcahy after Thom and Andy mentioned him as their favourite singer. Mark deserves all of this, I met him at a tiny gig in Nov 2005 in Nottingham; i chatted with him for a while and he is one of the kindest most down to earth people you could meet. I hope Mark can carry on making music as his songs are truly beautiful. Thank you Thom.
I love how he experiments with the stereo effect switching the beat quickly from right to left, and the naked drumstick sound is great too. I personally really liked the raw guitar in the middle, it was very agressive and I like the loud snare beat. Harmony with his bro was good, not the best song for displaying Thom’s unique vocal range, but better than I thought it was gonna be. I’ll give this Mark Mulcahy a listen now too.
For someone who have never before heard or Thom Yorke, Mark Mulcany or Miracle Legion, I’ll have to say I loved this song from the very first moment I heard it! Work really is love made visable and you can clearly see it in the result…a beautiful masterpiece!
Here’s to more!!!
ps. Thank you FORREST, I really couldn’t have said it better myself!
May want to take that link down, kinda defeats the whole purpose of the benefit album don’t ya think? How would ya like it if your dearest died and people started stealing your shit?
so where can i buy the song then? can you give me the link asap. kthxbye.
can’t you listen here and then wait for the album’s release in september like everyone else? i get downloading some hard to find / out of print music, but it is a benefit album… will be on itunes and everywhere in a couple weeks.