Lee Michaels - Space First Takes

Review by Ana Delmas

Space First Takes by Lee Michaels – A Trip Back to ‘96 Alright, so let’s talk about Space First Takes by Lee Michaels. Released in 1996 (yeah, I know—how is that almost 30 years ago?!), this album's got some serious vibes going on. It's rock, but not just any rock—it leans into psychedelic and hard rock territory without being too pretentious about it. You can tell Lee Michaels was just vibing out here, letting his creativity run wild. First off, the credits alone make this album stand out. With Joel Christie holding down bass duties, Keith Knudsen smashing those drums, and Drake Levin shredding guitar riffs, there's no shortage of talent. But honestly? The real star here is Lee himself—he handles vocals, organ, piano, AND wrote all the tracks. Dude clearly doesn’t mess around when it comes to wearing multiple hats. Now, onto the songs. There are five tracks total, but two really stuck with me: “Hold On To Freedom” and “Own Special Way (As Long As).” “Hold On To Freedom” hits different right from the start. The opening riff grabs you like an old friend pulling you into a hug. It’s got this raw energy that feels both nostalgic and fresh at the same time. And Lee’s voice? Man, he’s pouring his soul into every word. It’s one of those songs where halfway through, you find yourself nodding along even if you didn’t mean to. By the end, you’re like, "Wait…was that four minutes or fifteen?" That’s how good it is. Then there’s “Own Special Way (As Long As).” This track has more of a laid-back groove compared to the punchiness of “Freedom,” but don’t mistake chill for boring. The piano work here is next-level smooth, weaving in and out of the melody like a lazy river on a summer day. And the lyrics? Super relatable. Like, we’ve all been in situations where we’re trying to figure out what makes someone tick, right? This song nails that feeling perfectly. One thing worth mentioning is how unpolished yet genuine everything sounds. In a world full of overproduced albums, Space First Takes feels refreshingly human. Sure, maybe the mix isn’t perfect, and yeah, sometimes the transitions between sections feel a little rough—but honestly? That adds charm. It’s like listening to a live jam session rather than something overly rehearsed. Reflecting on this album now, it kinda blows my mind that it came out in '96. Psychedelic rock wasn’t exactly mainstream back then, so props to Lee for sticking to his guns. Honestly, after spinning these tracks a few times, I couldn’t help but think: What if Lee had dropped this today instead? Would TikTok teens be losing their minds over “Hold On To Freedom”? Probably. Either way, it’s cool knowing music like this still exists—a little slice of rock history waiting to be rediscovered. Oh, and random thought: If aliens ever visit Earth, I’d totally play them this album first. Something tells me they’d dig it.

Download Lee Michaels - Space First Takes

Artist: Lee Michaels
Album: Space First Takes

Rock

1996

Rating: 3.33

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Filename: lee-michaels-space-first-takes.zip

MP3 size: 23.6 mb
FLAC size: 169.6 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Space & First Takes	16:43
First Names	13:37
Own Special Way (As Long As)	4:26
Hold On To Freedom	4:56

Video

Hold on to Freedom-Lee Michaels

Images

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Catalog Numbers

OW 33645

Labels

One Way Records
Not On Label

Listen online

lytte på nettet
écouter en ligne
ouvir online
escuchar en línea
kuunnella verkossa
ascolta in linea
online anhören
lyssna på nätet
online luisteren

Formats

CD
Album
Reissue
Remastered
CDr

Companies

Role	Company
Manufactured By	Amazon.com kydc

Credits

Role	Credit
Bass	Joel Christie
Drums	Keith Knudsen
Guitar	Drake Levin
Organ	Lee Michaels
Piano	Lee Michaels
Vocals	Lee Michaels
Written-By	Lee Michaels

Barcodes

Barcode: 0 46633 36452 2
Barcode (Text): 8 03680 63445 5

About Lee Michaels

Lee Eugene Michaels (born Michael Olsen, November 24, 1945, Los Angeles, California, USA) is a Rock musician who sings and accompanies himself on organ, piano, or guitar. He is best known for his energetic virtuosity on the Hammond organ, peaking in 1971 with his Top 10 pop hit single, "Do You Know What I Mean".

Real Name

Michael Olsen

Name Vars

L. Michaels
L.Michaels
Lee
Lee Michael
Lee Micheals
M. Lee
Michaels
Micheals

Aliases

Michael Olson

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s a cool fact: Lee Michaels, the mastermind behind *Space First Takes*, was a one-man powerhouse. Released in 1996, this album blends Psychedelic Rock and Hard Rock, showcasing his skills on organ, piano, and vocals. What’s wild is that he wrote all the tracks himself, including standout tunes like "Hold On To Freedom" and "Own Special Way." The album even features legendary musicians like Keith Knudsen on drums and Drake Levin on guitar, adding extra depth to its groovy, spacey vibes. It’s a hidden gem from the US rock scene!