If you thought Mike McClellan might be ready to give it away you’d be very wrong. Reviewing a recent McClellan album Trevor Leeden wrote, “Four decades has done nothing to erode McClellan’s musical strengths and on the evidence here he remains one of our finest acoustic singer-songwriters.”

You begin to understand something of the extraordinary history that quote encompasses when you realise that he has been on stage, guitar in hand, since 1965. Universally known as The Song And Dance Man after his acclaimed 1974 hit, he’s hosted TV shows, had many of his songs covered around the world, recorded 10 albums, two of which went gold and played concerts to audiences who have remained enthralled by the magic of his singing and playing ever since he first stepped into the spotlight.

The reaction to the release of his 2022 album Behind Every Mask reinforced just how remarkable his career has been when Bob Dylan granted him permission to use the final lines from one of his most acclaimed songs for his Letter To America, a powerful lament for the country that had so influenced his creative development.

You’ll still hear Song and Danceman, The One I Love and Rock’n Roll Lady on radio, along with several new songs, among them I Wonder Who You’re Waiting For and If Sorrow Should Find You from what is now a very extensive catalogue of great songs.

Reviewers who have commented on his releases of the past decade have invariably remarked that his new recordings easily meet and, more often than not, exceed the high bar he set when climbing the charts and picking up gold albums back in the 70s and 80s.

Remarkably he is singing and playing as well, if not better, than he has ever done. Steve Britt recently wrote,
“McClellan is still the consummate performer – a wonderful singer, guitar player and songwriter who keeps the audience in the palm of his hand.”