Lee Eugene Michaels (born Michael Lee Olson, November 24, 1945) is an American rock musician who sings and accompanies himself on organ, piano, or guitar. He is best known for his 1971 Top 10 US hit single, "Do You Know What I Mean". In 1988 he founded the Marina del Rey, California-based restaurant chain Killer Shrimp which he and his family continue to operate to this day.

Career

Music

Born in Los Angeles, California, United States, In 1967, he signed a contract with A&M Records, releasing his debut album, Carnival of Life, later that year with David Potter on drums. most often a musician known as "Frosty," (real name Bartholomew Smith-Frost), who was a member of Sweathog, and whose barehanded technique was an inspiration for John Bonham, or with Joel Larson of The Grass Roots. This unorthodox approach attracted a following in San Francisco, and some critical notice. (Sounds Magazine, for one, reported of Michaels that he had been called "the ultimate power organist.")

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! scope="row"| Carnival of Life

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  • Release date: 1968
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: LP

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! scope="row"| Recital

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  • Release date: 1968
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: LP

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! scope="row"| Lee Michaels

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  • Release date: 1969
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: LP

| 53

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! scope="row"| Barrel

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  • Release date: 1970
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: LP

| 51

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! scope="row"| 5th

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  • Release date: 1971
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: LP

| 16

| 38

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! scope="row"| Space and First Takes

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  • Release date: 1972
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: LP

| 78

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! scope="row"| Lee Michaels Live

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  • Release date: 1973
  • Label: A&M
  • Formats: 2-LP

| 135

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! scope="row"| Nice Day for Something

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  • Release date: 1973
  • Label: Columbia
  • Formats: LP

| 172

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! scope="row"| Tailface

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  • Release date: 1974
  • Label: Columbia
  • Formats: LP

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! scope="row"| Absolute Lee

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  • Release date: 1983
  • Label: Squish
  • Formats: LP

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| colspan="15" style="font-size:8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart

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Singles

{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center;

|-

!rowspan="2"|Year

!rowspan="2"|Title

!colspan="2"|Peak chart<br />positions

!rowspan="2"|Record Label

!rowspan="2"|B-side

!rowspan="2"|Album

|- style="font-size:smaller;"

!align=centre| US

!align=centre| AUS

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Compilation CDs

  • The Lee Michaels Collection (Rhino, 1992)
  • The Best of Lee Michaels (One Way, 1997)
  • Hello: The Very Best of Lee Michaels (Shout Factory, 2004)
  • Heighty Hi: The Best of Lee Michaels (Manifesto, 2015)
  • The Complete A&M Albums Collection [7-CD set] (Manifesto, 2015)

References

  • [ Lee Michaels Biography on allmusic.com]
  • Lee Michaels MySpace tribute page
  • Archive.org version of LeeMichaels.com (aka 'lee michaels personal web site') 2009-2015