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
Resurrection
Michael Stanley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Over now I still recall a few times
After all I sometimes read a few lines
No hard feelings now
Guess you'd say I'm over you by now
Then here you are.
All the times I met the dawn, I just don't know
Just can't seem to get away
From the lies you sent my way for so long
Then here you are.
Standing in the doorway, framed in silhouette
Bringing with you memories I'm not over yet, no
Nothing really changed, no matter what you do
I've got nothing more than what I gave to you.
Can't you see that what we had was not a thing at all ?
Seeing you makes me realize I've been through it all
Loneliness is hard for me
Twice as hard if it were you and me
Then here you are.
Standing in the doorway, framed in silhouette
Bringing with you memories I'm not over yet, no
Nothing really changed, no matter what you do
I've got nothing more than what I gave to you
I've got nothing more than what I gave to you
I've got nothing more than what I gave to you.
The song Resurrection by Michael Stanley is a ballad that talks about the aftermath of a past relationship. The singer acknowledges that he has moved on and has no hard feelings towards his former lover, but as she reappears in his life, he realizes that he is not completely over her yet. The lyrics convey a sense of longing, confusion, and resignation.
The first verse talks about how the singer still remembers a few moments from the past relationship and how he sometimes reads the old messages, but he has no hard feelings towards the person and is over them. However, the second verse reveals that things are not as simple as they seem, as the person appears again in his life, bringing back memories that he thought were gone. He accepts that nothing has changed and he has nothing more to give to her, but still cannot escape the feelings that resurface.
The chorus repeats the lines "Standing in the doorway, framed in silhouette, bringing with you memories I'm not over yet," which is a powerful image that evokes the pain and vulnerability of seeing someone from the past that you are not ready to face yet. The song ends with the singer admitting that what they had was not much, but seeing the other person again makes him realize that he has been through it all.
Overall, Resurrection is a poignant and introspective song that explores the complex emotions that arise when we encounter someone from the past that we thought we have moved on from.
Line by Line Meaning
Over now I still recall a few times
Even though our relationship is over, there were a few good times that I still remember
After all I sometimes read a few lines
Occasionally, I read old messages or letters that remind me of you
No hard feelings now
I don't have any ill-will towards you anymore
Guess you'd say I'm over you by now
You might assume that I've moved on from our past relationship
Then here you are.
But now you've shown up and disrupted my peace
Restless nights are finally gone, keast I thought so
I thought I was finally free from the sleepless nights caused by my feelings for you
All the times I met the dawn, I just don't know
I lost count of how many times I stayed up until sunrise thinking about you
Just can't seem to get away
I can't seem to distance myself from your influence
From the lies you sent my way for so long
I was hurt by the lies you told me throughout our relationship
Standing in the doorway, framed in silhouette
As you stand in front of me, your outline creating a picture against the light in the background
Bringing with you memories I'm not over yet, no
Seeing you brings back past memories that I haven't completely moved past
Nothing really changed, no matter what you do
Despite your return, the situation and circumstances remain the same
I've got nothing more than what I gave to you.
In the end, I realize that I have nothing left to give you - emotionally or otherwise
Contributed by Leo I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.