Today’s classic song of the day is “Do You Know What I Mean” by Lee Michaels. Released in May of 1971, this single went all the way to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the Cash Box Top 100.
Lee Michaels wrote, produced, and performed “Do You Know What I Mean.” The song is about a guy running into his girlfriend with another guy and asking if she still cares for him. (“So I asked her if she still cared/She didn’t hear me, she just stared.”) She replies this way:
Lee, you haven’t loved me in nearly four years
You haven’t noticed that I held back my tears
And now you have, but it’s really too late
Better find yourself another girl
Better find another girl
Better find another place
Sounds to me like he deserves what’s coming to him, if you know what I mean.
“Do You Know What I Mean” was not Lee Michaels’ only hit, although you probably don’t remember his only other entry on the Billboard charts, a cover of “Can I Get a Witness” that stalled at #39. Lee Michaels released nine albums, including one live album, between 1968 and 1974. He sang and played Hammond organ, sometimes with only a drummer as accompanist. After his last album went absolutely nowhere, he pretty much retired from the music business, later becoming a restaurateur. In 1988, he opened the Killer Shrimp restaurant in Marina del Rey, California, and still runs it today.
That brings us to today’s daily bonus video of the day, Mr. Lee Michaels and his Hammond organ performing “Do You Know What I Mean” live on the October 12, 1973, episode of The Midnight Special. It’s been fourteen days since I don’t know when…
