Miracle Legion

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Miracle Legion
Origin New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Genres
Alternative rockcollege rockjangle pop
Years active
1983–19962016–2017
Labels
Rough TradeIncasPolydorMorgan CreekMezzotint
Associated acts
PolarisJellyshirtsFrank Black and the CatholicsThe StreamsPeacock FloundersWadi
TripRelative StrangersBaby Huey
Website Mezzotint.com
Members
Mark Mulcahy
Ray Neal
Scott Boutier
Dave McCaffrey
Past members
Jeff Wiederschall
Joel Potocsky
Steven West

Mark Mulcahy of Miracle Legion performing at The Chapel in San Francisco. Photo:
Aaron Rubin
Miracle Legion was an American college rock band formed in 1983 in New Haven,
Connecticut. They earned modest renown, especially in their native New England
region, but also in the UK, where they were feted by music media such as NME and
Melody Maker.

Contents
1 1983–88
2 1989–92
3 1993–96
4 Post-breakup
5 Reunion
6 Discography
6.1 Studio albums
6.2 Extended plays
6.3 Live album
6.4 Singles
7 References
1983–88
The original lineup consisted of singer/guitarist Mark Mulcahy, lead guitarist Ray
Neal, drummer Jeff Wiederschall, and bassist Joel Potocsky. In their early stages
they received frequent comparisons to R.E.M., more for their presence and overall
sound than for their lyrical content. Other than a few similar-sounding songs, the
respective bands' sounds were largely dissimilar lyrically and musically, and as
time passed, the comparisons became less valid. Their first EP, The Backyard, was
financed by Brad Morrison and released on the Bridgeport, Connecticut co-op label
Incas Records in 1984 and became a college radio hit. Their first full-length
album, Surprise Surprise Surprise, was released in 1987 on Rough Trade Records, by
which time Potocsky had been replaced by bassist Steven West. In 1988, Glad came
out, consisting of new songs and live tracks (which included a guest appearance by
Pere Ubu). The same year, Miracle Legion's rhythm section departed, leaving only
Mulcahy and Neal in the band.[citation needed]

1989–92
With the departure of drummer Wiederschall and bassist West in 1988, Mulcahy and
Neal continued Miracle Legion as a duo, touring as the opening act for The
Sugarcubes. Their 1989 release of Me and Mr. Ray, recorded at Prince's Paisley Park
Studios, reflected the band's new direction with its stripped-down instrumentation.
The album yielded a single, "You're the One Lee", the video for which received
modest rotation on MTV's 120 Minutes alternative music show. That year, the band
found a new rhythm section, drummer Scott Boutier and bassist Dave McCaffrey, and
signed with the now-defunct label Morgan Creek Records, which funded their 1992
album Drenched produced by John Porter (of Roxy Music and The Smiths fame). The
band had a limited national tour that year in support of the new album, mostly
playing clubs and other small venues. The song "So Good" off of Drenched was
featured in the 1993 film The Crush.

1993–96
After Drenched, legal problems with the label left the band and its name in limbo.
Interest continued, however, most notably in the form of a Nickelodeon offer for
the band to write music for the television show The Adventures of Pete & Pete,
which was created by Miracle Legion fans Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi. Neal,
disillusioned with the label experience, declined the offer; but Mulcahy accepted.
He decided to do the project with Boutier and McCaffery under the name Polaris, a
project which lasted three years. Their track "Hey Sandy" became the show's theme
song, and the band themselves appeared in at least one episode (Season 1, "Hard
Day's Pete"). In 1996, after the legal issues associated with their run with Morgan
Creek were resolved, the band put out their final release to date Portrait of a
Damaged Family on Mulcahy's own Mezzotint Records label.

Post-breakup
Since the final Miracle Legion album, Mulcahy has released five solo albums and
engaged in various other projects including film soundtrack work and a musical.
Neal began playing shows again in the Northeast, both solo and with Jellyshirts.
Boutier and McCaffrey have been staple members of Frank Black and the Catholics.
Wiederschall has maintained an active music career, playing for The Streams,
Peacock Flounders, and Baby Huey, as well as contributing to Mulcahy's 2001 solo
album, SmileSunset.[1]

In 2009, Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy was released as a tribute
to Mulcahy's deceased wife and featured various artists covering Miracle Legion
songs, as well as songs from Polaris and Mulcahy's solo career.

Reunion
The band reunited in the summer of 2016, touring the Northeast and Midwestern U.S.
as well as the UK in support of the reissue of Portrait of a Damaged Family.[2] The
tour continued until the spring of 2017, during which the band released a live
album, Annulment.

Discography
Studio albums
Surprise Surprise Surprise (1987) LP/Cassette/CD(Japan Only) on Rough Trade Records
Me and Mr. Ray (1989) CD/LP/CS on Rough Trade Records
Drenched (1992) CD/CS on Morgan Creek Records,LP on Polydor Records