Mr. Mister was an American rock band from Phoenix, Arizona. They were active from 1982 until 1990. The band consisted of Richard Page on lead vocals and bass guitar, Steve George on keyboards/backing vocals, Pat Mastelotto on acoustic and electronic drums/percussion, and Steve Farris on guitars/backing vocals. Mr. Mister was the successor to the band Pages, fronted by Page and George from 1978 to 1981. By 1982, Page and George began putting together a more pop-oriented group with a permanent lineup, rounded out by drummer Mastelotto and guitarist Farris. All four members had done extensive session work for other artists and brought numerous influences to the band. The initial plan was to bring in a fifth member, a bass guitarist, but after realizing that Page, who was originally slated to be solely the lead singer, could also play bass, the members decided to remain a four-piece.
They released their first album (I Wear The Face) in 1984 and soon after Page was offered the chance to join both Chicago and Toto. He declined and Mr. Mister released Welcome To The Real World in 1985. Featuring lyrical contributions from Page’s cousin John Lang, the album spawned three top ten singles with two (Broken Wings and Kyrie) hitting #1. I can remember hearing Mr. Mister on the radio and seeing them on MTV and thinking that they were different than most of the other bands in rotation. They had a sophistication that seemed to be lacking in most top forty music at the time. They also wrote incredibly catchy songs.
Kyrie is one of my favorite songs of all time. As I have gotten older and really pondered the lyrics it means even more to me now. The title is Greek and comes from a Christian prayer that goes:
Kýrie, eléison; Christé, eléison; Kýrie, eléison
Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy
In the New Testament, the Greek phrase occurs three times in Matthew’s gopel:
- Matthew 15:22: the Canaanite woman cries out to Jesus, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David.” (Ἐλέησόν με κύριε υἱὲ Δαβίδ)
- Matthew 17:15: “Lord, have mercy on my son” (Κύριε ἐλέησόν μου τὸν υἱόν)
- Matthew 20:30f, two unnamed blind men call out to Jesus, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David.” (Ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς κύριε υἱὸς Δαβίδ)
The song is essentially a prayer asking God to watch over us as we make our way through life. The lyrics seemed meaningful back when I was fifteen but are especially poignant at fifty-two as I think back on my life and consider how much God has granted me mercy. When I sing along now it feels like I could have written them. I realize than many pop songs seem autobiographical when they connect with us but this one speaks to me on a different level. There are a handful of songs I wish I had written and this is near the top of the list.
If the lyrics aren’t enough to make this one a classic, the music is. It begins with an ethereal mix of synth and vocals and then that amazing synth riff leads into the verse. When the full band comes in the drums thumb and the guitar squeal in all the right places. There is an amazing breakdown in the middle (Oh oh oh) but the highlight is that chorus, that incredibly infectious chorus. It is instantly recognizable to any one who was alive back then even if they didn’t know what the lyrics were. It is one of those earworms that can get permanently lodged in your brain. The album version fades out so I prefer the ending for the video.
The song has been covered by at least three Christian groups (AVB, East to West, and Mark Schultz). It was also performed by Ringo’s All Starr Band when Page was a member.
Grace and peace.
That 80s Pastor Dude 