Perhaps one of the most misunderstood choruses ever recorded (a friend of mine says she’s sure Richard Page is singing: ‘Carry a laser down the road that I must travel’), this song still soars with all the melody and imaginative arrangements. you would expect from Richard Page & Company.
While most people still argue over whether religious undertones are at the heart of Richard Page’s voice, the lyrics were actually written by John Lang. His religious upbringing and, more specifically, the sounds of the hymns he grew up singing were the only impetus for the ‘Kyrie’. Mister Mister, in fact, insists that there is no overt spiritual undercurrent beyond the fact that Lang’s lyrics and Richard Page’s vocal melodies just click together. They liked the sound of it and, in the words of Eddie Van Halen: ‘If it sounds good, it IS good!’
Written while the band was on tour opening for none other than Adam Ant, the band developed the song upon returning to the studio for the ‘Welcome to the Real World’ sessions. They were looking for a solid, upbeat number to counter other slow tracks like ‘Broken Wings’ and ‘Kyrie’ came out. Mister Mister gave the song the full treatment with punchy, syncopated keyboards, growling but well-placed guitars, and one of the most sublime mid-song groove/feel changes in living memory.
Comprised of vocalist/bassist Richard Page (who had been highly sought after by Toto and Chicago in the ’80s), guitarist Steve Farris (who has since toured with Whitesnake and others), keyboardist/vocalist Steve Gorge (who he would also work with Jewel), and art-rock drummer Pat Mastelotto (whose grooves have graced records by everyone from The Rembrandts to Kink Crimson); the band produced three albums, the most recent finally seeing the light of day in November 2010 after nearly 20 years of waiting by fans.
From start to finish, all three albums have a plethora of great music, but the standouts are ‘Is It Love’, ‘Broken Wings’ and, without a doubt, the masterful ‘Kyrie’ – Mister Mister’s timeless classic.