A look back at the making of “Dear Michelle (the Fighting’s Begun)”

I rarely seek out my music for pure listening pleasure. The reason is a cross between being too critical of everything I could have done better and a good dose of humble pie that prohibits me from falling in love with my efforts or appearing like a self-serving egomaniac. Besides, I know what I have done; I seek enjoyment out of what others have accomplished musically. Music is a fabulous medium that isn’t a zero-sum game. In other words, someone else’s achievement does not diminish my efforts one bit. With no winner and loser, it makes it very easy to “cheer” for someone else in the music business. All this said, occasionally I have an It’s My Party tune thrust upon me while traveling with one of my friends who just so happens to have our stuff on their playlist. 

Out of nowhere, “Dear Michelle (the Fighting’s Begun)” came cranking out of the car speakers while I was the passenger. It had been eight years since I last heard that song, and to my ears, it sounded great! I wasn’t listening intently at a mix-down session in 2012; instead, I was enjoying a fresh sound in 2020. The complexity of the arrangement bedazzled me since I know it was recorded totally in my living room on a portable system without the benefit of a control room. Yes, the engineer, a brilliant musician in his own right by the name of Richard Wattie, was in the room with the performers. 

Any story about this song must begin with its writing and inspiration. “Dear Michelle (the Fighting’s Begun)” is a Paul Kanack composition. Paul has been a part of the It’s My Party team in some capacity since 1986. In 1988 Paul cut his songwriting teeth, composing several songs for the group, including “Walking With Me,” which piqued the interest of Richard Gotterher, who had worked with the Angels, Blondie, and the Go Gos. Paul had always admired the Shangri-las, specifically Mary Weiss, the lead singer, and wanted to create a sound-alike record. Taking inspiration from two songs, “I Can Never Go Home Anymore, and “Long Live Our Love,” Paul fashioned “Dear Michelle (the Fighting’s Begun).” This song is track two on the Wanna Make Him Mine EP, a three-song effort that diplomatically parsed out one lead vocal per singer. Shelbie sang the opening title track. Kylie sang the last song, “Bus Driver,” while Michelle sang the song that is her namesake. The premise of the song is a young couple separated by a foreign war that takes a girl’s boyfriend far from home.

As particular as Paul is when it comes to keeping with the vision he sees for his songs, he was remarkably open to my suggestions. Rich Wattie also provided useful feedback as well during the recording. We pulled all the stops on this song, using symphonic chimes, tympani, viola, violin, trumpet, and oboe, along with the typical bass, guitar, piano, drums, and hand percussion. Rich mixed the song at the Eastman School of Music’s control room, and Matt Guarnere of What’s Real Unlimited mastered the EP.

The musicianship on this recording is top-shelf. The mother and daughter team of Alice Kanack and Daphne Pickens handled the string instruments. Alice trained under Shinichi Suzuki in Japan, and her daughter gets her musical abilities from both her mother and father, Ray Pickens. Mark Viavattine handled the oboe part, the first time we had ever used one on a track. Although Mark had never played the oboe before, his saxophone skills came in handy, and he picked up the instrument with aplomb. Rich politely pushed me aside and played all of the mallet percussion, as that was one of his majors at the Eastman School of Music, and boy did he do the song some favors. Michelle did her usual outstanding job, interpreting the song with the expression that Paul demands. I especially like the ending monologue, where Michelle moves from trepidation, to hope, to affirmation. As a final twist in the arrangement, the song resolves on a major chord to drive Michelle’s optimism home. You can listen to the song here on Spotify. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.