In late 1982, MSB released what would be their final album for EMI: "You Can't Fight Fashion". The single, "My Town", had made it to 29 on Billboard Magazine's charts, sales were good, and the band was on tour, when EMI stunned the band by offering them an 'extension', rather than a contract renewal with a long-term financial committment. When Michael confidently 'called their bluff', their label pulled the plug, halting promotion and tour-backing immediately.
Although it was a financial blow that staggered the band, they gamely continued performing venues in the Northern Ohio and Midwest circuit, producing two independent releases, 1983's "Inside Moves", and "Fourth And Ten" in 1984 (recorded live at Blossom Music Center--a two nighter that saw the venue's all-time attendance records shattered), before formally disbanding in late 1986, shortly after performing nine 'farewell' concerts at Cleveland's Front Row...
"...We broke up not because we didn't like each other, but because we couldn't survive. It was the hardest thing I've ever done. It was like a group divorce," Michael Stanley would later recall, to Cleveland Magazine in a July, 1994 interview.
"After we did the last show with the band in December, 1987 (the Front Row Club "farewell" shows), I didn't touch a guitar for six months," Michael Stanley said in a 1992 interview, "...I wanted to walk away from it for awhile. I thought, 'Yeah, I'll stop for a little bit, come back and it'll be like turning on the faucet.' It was the total opposite. It was like writer's block for a long, long time."
In late 1991, the 'block' fell away...
Not surprisingly, Michael's 'post-MSB' years found him still working in the Cleveland-area entertainment spotlight: he served as co-host of WJW-Channel 8's "Cleveland Tonight" and "P.M. Magazine", 'til they were canceled, and later as a weekly featured reporter for TV8's "First Look". It was only natural he'd find music calling him again, and he overlapped his television career with a new one in radio broadcasting--as afternoon disc jockey and on-air personality at Cleveland's WNCX 98.5...
Coming Up For Air...
In December, 1991, during a Las Vegas vacation, Michael suffered a heart attack. The near-tragedy resulted in Michael's re-evaluation of his life and career, and, with renewed determination and perspective, he began building a life of balance, exploring new interests while rediscovering old ones. He 'settled in', buying Chagrin Falls acreage, and lent his support to a number of good causes and charitable projects. Former Ohio native and MSB-fan, Razor & Tie Records' Cliff Chenfield, had contacted him, and the 'compilation' release they had discussed, "Right Back At Ya", was released in February, 1992, leading to a following decision to 're-issue' the entire Michael Stanley catalog. Michael remarked, in a 1994 Cleveland Magazine interview, "After a six-year drought, we had eight albums out one year and four the next. I finally got to have a copy of everything we'd done."
In 1993, Michael reunited with Jonah Koslen, Bob Pelander and Jennifer Lee (an area singer whose vocals had contributed to many MSB studio projects and concert appearances) to form The Ghost Poets. With the MSB reissues selling so well, Cliff Chenfield decided to release the group's eponymously-titled "The Ghost Poets" through Razor & Tie Records in 1994. Sales that followed were good, but local airplay was difficult--a Cleveland 'blackout' had resulted, as many radio stations viewed Michael Stanley--WNCX's highly-visible personality--as a competitor. The Ghost Poets continued to perform for a little over a year after the release, when a decision was made to disband the effort, and move on...
Following the quiet disbanding of The Ghost Poets, Michael went into the studio with another set of former MSB bandmates--including Bob Pelander, drummer Tommy Dobeck, bassist Michael Gismondi and guitarist Danny Powers--and recorded his first 'solo' endeavor since 1973's "Friends & Legends".
"Coming Up For Air", a quiet, intensely emotional and introspective album that centered around the title track--Stanley's chilling reliving of his recent heart attack--was released through Intersound Music (now Platinum Entertainment) on February 27, 1996.
"Though declaring a 1994 Blossom 'MSB reunion' concert as the 'final' one, Michael Stanley continued to perform with several long-time friends and former band members in and around the Cleveland area, billed as 'Michael Stanley & Friends'. Not surprisingly, his solo work led him to a decidedly 'acoustic' approach: in April, 1997, a two-nighter at Akron's Tangiers was duly recorded, and released by Razor & Tie Records as "Live In Tangiers: The Acoustic Shows" on June 3, 1998...
The release was received warmly by his fans and new converts alike, and the following 2 years were ones spent engaged in work on his next studio release. On June 6, 2000, of "Eighteen Down": elegantly titled (as an eighteenth album -- nineteen if one includes his debut endeavor with Silk, "Smooth As Raw Silk" -- spanning a musical career of over three decades) and brimming with new songs that both rocked with heartland spirit and embraced an oftimes-reflective maturity. Again, many familiar names joined Michael Stanley in the creation of that effort.
Now, and on "The Ground" with "The Farrago Sessions"...
The following year saw Michael maintaining a busy schedule of work at WNCX, 'Friends' appearances and creative time in the studio mulling his next move. All was right in the world...
September 11, 2001, changed a lot of lives, and Michael was no exception. Tragedy has long inspired art, perhaps as a memorial to loss, grief and change. And, in the process, we are tutored as to what is really 'right in the world', and made stronger by the realization. It was a muse that would lead Stanley to pen new material that reflected this, to cherish family and embrace friends.
By now, "Michael Stanley & The Resonators" had become the band's performing moniker, and they were pleasing their loyal MSB fans while winning over new ones, with a set list of old favorites and clever covers interspersed with fresh originals...
Not long after, a gumbo of Cleveland talent began rocking the Northcoast music scene as "The Midlife Chryslers", composed of musical alumni of the Resonators, MSB, The TopKats, My Old School, Jonah Koslen and the Gentleman Rockers, Wish You Were Here and more...
It was during this storm of creative activity that Michael somehow found the time to hit the studio and begin work on "The Ground", released on October 21, 2003. The momentum continued, and an inspired collection of Michael's personal favorites, "The Farrago Sessions", resulted, dropping late summer, 2006. Featuring such gems as "I Wish It Would Rain", a medley-fied pair of classics, "Withi-Tai-To" and "Sweet Jane", and a dozen other goodies, "The Farrago Sessions" is Michael's first-ever "cover" set, but, judging by the favorable response, won't be the last...
Michael continues to man the airwaves as afternoon 'drive-time' personality at Cleveland's popular WNCX, while performing with "The Resonators" and "Midlife Chryslers" throughout Ohio...
The pace shows no signs of letting up...
------------------------------
Michael Stanley passed away on March 4, 2021 - RIP:
https://obits.cleveland.com/obituaries/cleveland/obituary.aspx?n=michael-stanley-gee&pid=197948363&fhid=10879
Guilty
Michael Stanley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here comes the falling out
Here comes the wave and the turn,
Here comes the crash and the burn
And here comes I′m sick of crying,
Here comes man I quit trying
Here comes I hate you and I'm giving back all that you gave to me
Here comes the bones you shook
Here comes the dread and denial,
Here′s where you've been all the while
And here comes I'm sick of groveling,
Here comes that′s all that ever happens
Here comes I hate you and I′m giving back all that you gave to me
Cause lately I'm dreaming of angels and cranes
In some kind of purgatory dodging CIA
A head full of sweat, waving black flags
To throw out the bodies, cut down on the drag
Take ′em to a desert, to a dried up well
Tell 'em they′re in heaven and mutter, welcome to hell
I've been guilty, guilty;
I′ve been guilty, guilty
Of all these things,
All these things, all these things, mmmm, now
Here comes the razor of doubt,
Here comes the falling out
Here comes the wave and the turn,
Here comes the crash and the burn
And here comes I'm sick of groveling,
Here comes that's all that ever happens
Here comes I hate you and I′m burning all that you gave to me
Cause lately I′m dreaming of angels and cranes
In some kind of purgatory dodging CIA
A head full of sweat, waving black flags
To throw out the bodies, cut down on the drag
And take 'em to a desert, into a dried up well
Tell ′em they're in heaven and mutter, welcome to hell
I′ve been guilty, guilty;
I've been guilty, guilty
Of all these things,
All these things, all these things, all, all
I need someone to save me
I need someone to save me
I need someone to save me
I need someone to save me
I need someone to save me
I need someone to save me
I need someone to tell me everything′ll be alright, alright
It'll be alright, it'll be all right
Things′ll be alright, alright
Gonna be alright, gonna alright, alright, alright, alright
The song "Guilty" by Michael Stanley is about the end of a relationship and the feeling of being guilty that comes with it. The lyrics describe the various stages of the relationship's breakdown, from doubts and falling outs, to waves and turns, and ultimately to a crash and burn. The singer is tired of crying and trying to hold on, and now hates his partner and wants to give back everything they gave to him. He feels that he has been guilty of all the things that caused the destruction of the relationship.
The chorus brings in some imagery of war and conflict, with the singer dreaming of angels and cranes in a purgatory, dodging the CIA. He has a head full of sweat, waving black flags, and wants to throw out the bodies and cut down on the drag. He contemplates taking them to a desert and telling them they're in heaven while muttering "welcome to hell." The guilt he feels is strong enough to make him feel like he deserves to be punished.
The song expresses the desperation of someone who feels guilty for causing a relationship to end and needs someone to save them and tell them everything will be alright. It's a powerful, emotional song that captures the pain and sadness of a relationship ending, and the sense of guilt that often comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Here comes the razor of doubt,
Here comes the feeling of uncertainty and insecurity.
Here comes the falling out
Here comes the result of a failed relationship.
Here comes the wave and the turn,
Here comes the unpredictability and instability of life.
Here comes the crash and the burn
Here comes the pain of the failed relationship and the unpredictability of life.
And here comes I′m sick of crying,
And here comes the feeling of being emotionally exhausted from crying.
Here comes man I quit trying
Here comes the feeling of giving up on trying to make the relationship work.
Here comes I hate you and I'm giving back all that you gave to me
Here comes the feeling of anger towards the other person and the desire to get rid of everything associated with the relationship.
Here comes the baited hook,
Here comes the feeling of being misled or tricked in the relationship.
Here comes the bones you shook
Here comes the revelation of the other person's true nature and the realization of being betrayed by them.
Here comes the dread and denial,
Here comes the feeling of fear and refusing to accept the reality of the failed relationship.
Here′s where you've been all the while
Here's where the other person's true intentions have been all along.
And here comes I'm sick of groveling,
And here comes the feeling of being tired of trying to appease the other person and constantly apologizing.
Here comes that′s all that ever happens
Here comes the feeling of being stuck in a cycle of negativity and hurt.
Here comes I hate you and I′m giving back all that you gave to me
Here comes the feeling of intense anger towards the other person and the desire to cut all ties with them.
Cause lately I'm dreaming of angels and cranes
Because lately the singer is dreaming of hope and moving on from the hurtful relationship.
In some kind of purgatory dodging CIA
In some kind of limbo, trying to avoid feeling like they are being watched and judged for their actions.
A head full of sweat, waving black flags
Feeling overwhelmed and distressed, like waving a flag of surrender.
To throw out the bodies, cut down on the drag
To let go of the past and move on from the negativity weighing them down.
Take ′em to a desert, to a dried up well
Cutting off ties with the past completely, leaving nothing behind and moving on to a new place in life.
Tell 'em they′re in heaven and mutter, welcome to hell
Ironically telling themselves and others that they are in a better place, even though it feels far from it.
I′ve been guilty, guilty;
The artist admits to feeling guilty for their role in the failed relationship.
I′ve been guilty, guilty
The artist repeats their admission of guilt.
Of all these things,
Of all the ways they feel they have failed in the relationship.
All these things, all these things, mmmm, now
All the things they feel guilty about, and the weight of the guilt they bear.
I need someone to save me
The singer needs someone to help them move on from the pain of the past relationship.
I need someone to tell me everything′ll be alright, alright
The singer needs reassurance and to be told that things will get better.
It'll be alright, it'll be all right
The hope that things will eventually become better and that they will be able to move on.
Things′ll be alright, alright
The assurance that things will eventually become better.
Gonna be alright, gonna alright, alright, alright, alright
Repeatedly reinforcing the hope that everything will eventually become better.
Writer(s): matthew ryan
Contributed by Miles L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.