Produced by Dave McNair
Bohemia Beat 0003 ~ Released February '95
When I Lived In The Wild is unquestionably a major breakthrough, even for an artist as exceptional as Michael Fracasso. His 1992 debut on Dejadisc, love and trust, had critics and fans raving, and this one had them turning somersaults. The 14 songs are radiant with vision, grab you from the first run-through, and reveal an astonishing range of moods and influences. The haul the listener crisscross through the American landscape of folk, pop, R & B, and dead-ahead rock'n'roll to ultimately lay claim to new territory that is Fracasso's alone. Michael's effortless tenor, at once both pliable and searing, has never before sounded so stunning or evocative. And, from opening salvo to delicate finale, the talents of Fracasso's band, Horse Opera, provide non-stop thrills. Within a month after release When I Lived In The Wild reached #7 on the then brand new Gavin Americana radio chart, and stayed in the Top 10 for 5 weeks.
The Songs 1. Tell Mary 2. The Widow's Son 3. Back To Oklahoma 4. Words As Weapons 5. Nervous Mind 6. Big Sister 7. How Very Inconvenient 8. When I Lived In The Wild 9. Coffeyville 10. Man With 21 Faces 11. Forever For Now 12. One By One 13. Sleepless Nights 14. Near & Far All songs, words, and music by Michael Fracasso Episode Sixteen Music, BMI
The Players Michael Fracasso & Horse Opera: Michael Fracasso - Acoustic guitar, vocals Mike Hardwick - Acoustic & electric guitar, lap steel Rafael Goyal - Drums George Reiff - Bass Guest Musicians: "Scrappy Jud" Newcomb - Electric guitar Michael Ramos - Accordian David Mansfield - Violin Ian McLagan - Hammond B-3 Organ Riley Osbourn - Wurlitzer, Hammond Organ Frank Kammerdiener - Cello Dave McNair - Percussion Guest Vocalists: Kim Longacre, Iain Matthews, Tom Fruend, Fuji (barking)
"Tell Mary" from When I Lived In The Wild suggests
that the tremulous tenor of Michael Fracasso has the heart-melting potential
of Gene Pitney or Don Everly.... Fracasso's voice remains a marvelous instrument
throughout." "Fracasso will soon be recognized as a great songwriter
in places beyond Texas." "He fashions 14 tracks that read with all the depth and
vision of a fine novel. In a voice that crosses Roy Orbison's angelic swoon
with Buddy Holly's boyish trills, Fracasso sings his poetic and picturesque
compositions with palpable emotion." "Fracasso's voice is a marvelously expressive instrument
which breaks and hiccups in all the right places and which he uses to draw
out his lyrics, wrapping them around the melody lines of the songs for maximum
effect. When I Lived In The Wild is literate, hard rocking, and passionate,
and marks Fracasso as an emerging talent to watch." "Fracasso's second album is a record to grow old with.
He's a writer of great humor and an accumulation of careful moments and
images. He's perfectly willing to rock out, so tagging him as a singer/songwriter
seems limiting." "Wow! Michael Fracasso manages to sound Forbertian, Dylanish,
and even Everlyesque in the course of 54 minutes without also sounding derivative
or stale. When I Lived In The Wild is so good, maybe one day we'll be calling
someone Fracassoesque. Fracasso scores at will on his second album.
To
Order from 
Rounder Records (sound clips too) lyrics to Near & Far Michael Fracasso News Bio On The Roadlove and trust
on Dejadisc Michael Fracasso Home
Lyrics to Near & Far
Bo Beat Home