Donated lovingly by former Swan Fungus benefactor “Viagra Falls,” who has disappeared in recent months because he got angry at me when his user name was picked up by my SPAM filter every time he tried to leave a comment on a blog post. I’ve tried to make amends in the hopes that he would contribute more to the Treasures From The Collector’s Slum series, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. I think I’m capable of digging up some gems and sharing them on my own without any help. As famed TV personality Bill O’Reilly once stated, “FUCK IT, I’LL WRITE IT AND WE’LL DO IT LIVE! FUCKIN’ THING…SUCKS!”
Privately released album from 1975 on the unknown JSR Records lael, Michael Fitzgerald’s Heatbreak is a kind of psychedelic/loner crossover album. Best I can tell, it was recorded and mixed in my home state of New Jersey. Funny, I never saw this in a cut-out bin or thrift store when I was starting to collect records. One look at that amazing, pencil-drawn cover and I would have been sold on it. Fitzgerald must have been a shore native, as Heartbreak was possibly recorded (and definitely mixed) in Long Branch. The airy, warm orchestrations imply a summery vibe that tends to counter the lyrical content of the album, which definitely falls in the “loner” genre. Lots of songs about lost loves and desired women. Hell, the album is called Heartbreak! Listen for the harpsichord, lush strings, woodwinds and more. How an album with a photograph of a guy standing next to a row of garbage cans sounds this beautiful is beyond me.
Not much information exists about Fitzgerald, and by “not much” I mean the Internet is completely void of information about the man. So, as usual, if any of you have intel regarding his whereabouts or the recording of Heartbreak, do not hesitate to get in touch with me.
Enjoy!
Michael Fitzgerald
Heartbreak
JSR Records, 1975
MediaFire DL Link
01. Sunrise
02. Rachel
03. My Guitar
04. Flowers & Friends
05. Olde Belle
06. More Than Dreams
07. Brand New Day
08. Roll In The Sky
09. Heartbreak
July 18th, 2010
Mike “skinny” Fitzgerald was a guitarist from Little Silver, NJ. In the 70s he was a fantastic electric guitarist and released this as a side to his work with the band Brew.
July 18th, 2010
PS I think the bassist is session bassist Bobby Heyer and drummer may be Danny Clayton of Sharpnel
July 21st, 2010
nice find. dig it
August 7th, 2010
OMG, I can’t believe I am listening to these songs. Mike Fitzgerald could totally rock. He played in a club I ran in 1980-1981 3 or 4 times. He was amazing. A real Jersey boy he came up with Springstein and Easy Street and played mostly in Jersey but would venture up to New Hampshire to do his thing. Played amazing acustic where he totally hammered away on his guitar. Truly one of the best bar performers I had ever seen. He had a great voice that these songs don’t do justice to. Thanks for finding this. You made my day to hear these songs. I once knew every word to every song. He was also a great guy that would hang out with everyone after his show and just be a regular guy.
September 26th, 2010
i have the original ‘more than dreams’ he wrote the song for me…
November 17th, 2010
I played drums with Michael (after the album came out) for his live band
“The Michael Fitzgerald Band” up untill the band broke up. I have many live
recordings and copies of the single he (we) put out ‘Lonley Days’ b/w
‘I wanna girl (that can stay out all night’.
December 12th, 2010
Once upon a time Mike (Skinny) Fitzgerald and I were very close friends. I was his roadie/soundman for several years for both his band and solo shows. An earlier reply mentioned the band Brew. Brew was Skinny on guitar along with Dick Thomas. Jimmy Gall on bass and Dan Clayton (yes, later of Shrapnel) on drums. That band lasted a year or so. Mike F. then joined forces with singer/piano player/harp master Dan Petraitis and formed the Crazy Chester Band. The original line up was Mike on lead, Jim Stahl on rythum guitar, Paul Fabry on bass, and Pete Lehmann on drums, and Danny P. on keyboards and vocals, and of course, his harmonicas.
The band built a strong following quickly and played at a lot of different shore area haunts. Sadly, Jim Stahl was killed in a tragic car wreck that took the lives of 2 others. Skinny left the CCB after a Jim’s death and focused on his solo efforts. The CCB, led by Dan went on to become a shore area favorite until Dan relocated to Nashville. Again, sadly, Dan passed from cancer in 2009.
Skinny performed up and down the shore for several years. Most notably at the Boatyard (see rear cover photo on Heartbreak), and Big Man’s West, a club in Red Bank, NJ owned by Clarence Clemens.
I sat in on Mike’s recording sessions for Heatbreak. Most of the tracks were recorded at a studio whose name escapes me, located in Perth Amboy, NJ. Mike played most of the instruments himself (including drums). The cover art was drawn by local artist Bruce Nevad. The song “old Belle” is about an elderly black lady from Fair Haven NJ that used to walk around pushing a shopping cart and asking for money. On occaision she used to climb into the Salvation Army donation box to nap.
Mike was hurt in a truck accident in the mid 80′s, he later moved to Hawaii.
I have not spoken to him since the early-mid 80′s, though I still consider him a friend.
Dave D.
March 14th, 2011
I believe this Heartreak albumn was recorded in 78/79
This may be the same fellow years later on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIHKd9Hmmik
Phil
April 24th, 2011
Pulled out an old album from an old friend and wondered what ever happened. We lost touch in the late 70′s. As a matter of fact the last time I saw Mike (never knew him as skinny LoL) I was invited to his concert at the Count Basie in Red Bank with his new band. Later we went to a party and after that night I never saw or heard from him again. All I remember was an English chap after the show asking me in gest why there was no statue of Bruce Springsteen as he left the tunnel coming into New Jersey.I thought that was kinda funny.But as I said I haven’t herd from Mike since then.I do remember going to his shows and fixing broken strings on his 12 string between songs.He was always kinda rough on them LoL.As i’m sitting here thinking I do also remember listening to demo cassette tapes. Don’t believe I ever kept any. Looking at the back of the album, part of the album was recorded in Long Branch and another part in Sayerville. I would never have remembered that but I do now remember a little of the Studio in Long Branch, but not while Mike was recording there.Well that’s all I have.
Mike if your out there, you were just thought of.
Peace
February 21st, 2012
This is bringing back memories. Back then I was good friends with “Skinnys” brothers Brian and Greg, as we went to high school together at RBC. We used to go see Mike perform at the Boatyard in Highlands and Toad Hall in Red Bank and probably some other places my brain can’t think of right now. We used to try and hawk the album and Brian and I would sometimes sing harmony during his shows. Good times they were. I haven’t seen or heard from any of them since those days. Thanks for the memories. Rich W.
February 21st, 2012
Wow this is really bringing back some old memories. Back in those days I went to high school with “Skinnys” brothers Brian and Greg. We used to go see him at the places he used to play like Toad Hall in Red Bank and the Boatyard in Atlantic Highlands as is pictured on the back of the album jacket. I remember hawking his albums at the shows and I have a copy somewhere around. His brother Brian and I would sing backup harmony on a couple of songs. Great times and great memories. Mike,Brian or Greg if you see this just a shout out from Rich Witk. Hope all is well.