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11 years ago
Michel Pagliaro: What The Hell I Got (1975)If you are from Montreal, my hometown, and you are from my generation, you heard this song a lot in the 1970s; Michel Pagliaro, a Québécois pop icon who was born and raised in Montréal; could sing in two languages, English and French. Alors, maintenant, s'il vous plaît donner ce une écoutez et vous vous retrouverez à Montréal au cours de l'été 1975.Biographical background can be found on his website:It would be in 1971 that Pagliaro's fortunes changed as he signed a deal through CHUM Ltd.'s CanCon fulfilling Much Records that provided him the opportunity to spread out into English speaking Canada with the hit "Give Us One More Chance". That same year came the release of his first English album (partially recorded at Abbey Road Studios). The British sounding "Lovin' You Ain't Easy", "Some Sing, Some Dance" and "Rainshowers" made Pagliaro a household name across CanadaIf 1971 was the year of the English breakthrough, the release of the french album "PAG" the following year establishing Michel Pagliaro as Quebec's first true rock star. "J'entends frapper", a hard driving rock classic in the "Johnny B. Goode" tradition would become the biggest selling 7" single in the history of Quebec music. The song even impacted English Canada where it went to number one at all the radio stations in the Kingston area. A second single from the album, "Fou de toi" becomes a smash hit also.Having become the first Canadian artist to be rewarded Gold records in both official languages, Pag builds on this success with the release of "Pagliaro Live", a double album recorded on tour in the summer of 1973. "Live" goes on to become his best selling album ever.Now recognized as a superb songwriter, Pag returns to his roots for some old time rock 'n' roll. First, he regroups his band members of the time, Hovaness Hagopian, George Lagios, Derek Kendrick and Billy Workman with some old friends and releases a band album under the name "The Rockers". The album features great fifties classics by Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Eddie Cochrane, some in English and some in French. Most notable is "Miss Ann" which had previously appeared on the Live album. This is followed up by one of several albums simply entitled "Pagliaro". Side one continued in the 'classics' vein of "Rockers" while side two featured new Pagliaro compositions.1975 saw a switch from RCA to Columbia Records, a move that seemed to revitalize him. Almost simultaneously, he would release "Pagliaro" and "Pagliaro I", the former in French, the later in English. Some songs were translations of each other, while others lived only in one language. "What The Hell I Got" was a radio smash in English Canada, while "Louise" and "Emeute dans la prison" rocked Quebec. Extensive touring throughout Canada accompanied these albums, including an appearance with Peter Frampton at Toronto's CNE. In Jonquiere, Quebec, the band played "Emuete dans la prison" (Riot in Cell Block #9) as a real life riot exploded outside the venue, fans frustrated at not gaining access to the sold out show.*************************What The Hell I Got by Pagliaro/WorkmanHey baby on my mindYou're doin' something to me all the timeToo much and always stonedI'm drinking baby, drinking all aloneDon't know what the hell I gotWhatever it is it's an awful lotHey, I'm gonna loose controlFrom my liver to my very soulYeah, yeah, yeah, yeahHey baby mind is blownNever ever want to answer the phoneTime and time again I've triedBut someone answers and I know he liesDon't know what the hell I gotWhatever it is it's an awful lotHey, I'm gonna loose controlFrom my liver to my very soulI don't want to be lonely, no, no, no, no, noI don't want to be lonely, lonely without loveSuitcases in my handPacking baby, packing all I canTunes rolling in my headMake me think of all the things you saidDon't know what the hell I gotWhatever it is it's an awful lotHey, I'm gonna loose controlFrom my liver to my very soulI don't want to be lonely, no, no, no, no, noI don't want to be lonely, lonely without loveDon't know what the hell I gotWhatever it is it's an awful lotHey, I'm gonna loose controlFrom my liver to my very soulI don't want to be lonely, no, no, no, no, noI don't want to be lonely, lonely without loveYeah, yeah, yeahWithout loveWithout loveHmmm, without loveYeah, yeah, without loveHmmm, without love********************More at Michel Pagliaro - What The Hell I Got