A group of 40 concerned North Coast musicians have pooled their talents under the banner C.A.R.E. (Cleveland Artists Recording for Ethiopia), and the resulting single is in the stores.
Called "The Eyes of the Children," the song was written by Michael Stanley and his bandmates Kevin Raleigh, Danny Powers and Bob Pelander plus Mark Avsec of Donnie Iris and the Cruisers.
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| Donnie Iris takes his turn at the mike |
Half of the record's proceeds will be donated to the USA for Africa cause and distributed through its channels. The rest will be given to the Hunger Task Force of the Cleveland Interchurch Council for relief of hungry people on the home front.
"The big thrust was to help some people," Stanley said recently. "There are many people in incredibly horrible situations on the African continent, and we want to do what we can for them. On the other hand, there are people hurting just around the corner or down the street."
The C.A.R.E. project was spearheaded by Dale Solly, of WKYC-TV and Denny Sanders of WMMS. Stanley then signed on and helped recruit the musicians.
"The Eyes of the Children" features a stellar line-up of vocalists. Featured singers include Benjamin Orr of the Cars, Donnie Iris, Alex Bevan, Skip Martin and Kenny Pettus of the Dazz Band, Rickie Medlocke of Blackfoot, Joe Vitale, Mimi Hart of the Bopkats, Paul Fayrewether of Fayrewether and Stanley, Raleigh Powers and Pelander of MSB.
In the chorus are Mary Martin, former members of the Rasberries and musicians from the Cleveland Bands I-Tal, Moonlight Drive, Nation of One, Beau Coup and Wild Horses. MSB provided the instrumental track.
"I have to give people a lot of credit for blindly committing to this thing without really knowing if the tune would be any good or anything," Stanley said.
Like USA for Africa's "We Are the World" and Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas Time?" before it, "The Eyes of the Children" has soloists singing a line or two in succession, with a massed chorus. Otherwise, as Stanley put it, the record "is a lot more up and a lot more rock 'n' roll in terms of attitude."
The song's chorus begins: "And the eyes of the children don't see black or white; there's no politics, no nations, on a cold and hungry night..."
Recording was done at Beachwood Studios over a two week period in April. Stanley said juggling the schedules of 40 busy musicians was akin to "moving the Army."
"It was one of the neatest projects I've ever been involved with," Stanley said. "We feel strongly about what we are trying to achieve with this. The fact that so many talented people could get together and work harmoniously was a real rush."
Released on Buzzard Records, "The Eyes of the Children" single is being distibuted nationally by MCA Records. Both 7- and 12-inch versions are available. An accompanying video clip of the song is being released to "all the regular video outlets," Stanley said.
The Michael Stanley Band will perform "The Eyes of the Children" during its Blossom Music Center concerts at 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. Stanley has invited all the musicians on the record to join in onstage.
Tickets for the show, available at Ticketrons, are $14 pavillion and $11 lawn.