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"Taken In"
Single by Mike + The Mechanics
from the album Mike + The Mechanics
B-side"A Call to Arms"
ReleasedJune 1986[1]
Recorded1985–1986
GenreSoft rock[2]
Length4:17
LabelAtlantic – Atlantic 89404
SongwritersMike Rutherford, Christopher Neil
ProducerChristopher Neil
Mike + The Mechanics singles chronology
"All I Need Is a Miracle"
(1986) 		"Taken In"
(1986) 		"Nobody's Perfect"
(1988)

"Taken In" is a song performed by Mike + The Mechanics. Written by guitarist Mike Rutherford and producer Christopher Neil, it was the third single released in June 1986 from their 1985 self-titled debut album, and the third to become a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[3]

Composition

[edit]

As with all the songs on Mike + The Mechanics, "Taken In" began life as a bit of material on a set of demo tapes that Mike Rutherford showed to producer Christopher Neil. According to Rutherford, this particular fragment "has to be the tiniest bit you've ever heard on my tape... If you closed your eyes, you missed it. And Chris [Neil] picked it out, again, and said 'You work on that.'"[4]

Details

[edit]

"Taken In", like the preceding single "All I Need Is a Miracle", features lead vocals by former Sad Café vocalist Paul Young.[5][6]

It reached number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1986; it was the band's last US Top 40 appearance until 1989's "The Living Years".[3]

The lyric "There's one born every minute, and you're looking at him" is a reference to the popular expression "There's a sucker born every minute."

Reception

[edit]

Cash Box said that it "taps a smooth, synth/ sax approach; sultry summer sound with a fool-for-love theme."[7] Billboard called it a "mild, swaying mood piece."[8]

Music video

[edit]

The video for the song opens with Mike Rutherford placing a collect call to their fictional tour manager, Roy (played by Roy Kinnear, in a reprise of his role from "All I Need Is a Miracle"). Roy acts suspicious, initially pretending to be absent, and is visibly relieved when Rutherford tells him that due to trouble with the tour van, the band has not yet reached the lodgings that Roy booked for them. After the van is repaired, the band reaches the house and sets up for some rehearsal before bed. The reason behind Roy's odd behavior then becomes apparent: he has accidentally double-booked the house to a family with a half dozen children, who are awakened by the band's performance. The mother is confused and upset by the band's presence, but the father (played by actor/comedian Richard Belzer), seeing that the children are enjoying the music, suggests that they let the band finish the song and then sort things out. Afterwards, Rutherford apologizes to the father and appeals to him to let them stay. He readily agrees since the children all like the band members, and they all spend the next day at the beach. The band then heads back on tour, but the van breaks down again. In an apparent play on the band's name, they try to fix it themselves, but the same family drives by and gives them a lift. As they drive off, all the band's equipment piled up on the car's roof, the father comments that they seem poorly managed and offers to be their new manager.

The role of bassist in the video was played by Paul Young's former bandmate Ashley Mulford. Mulford did not play on any of Mike + The Mechanics's actual sound recordings, but was part of their real life touring band for a time.

Personnel

[edit]

Mike + The Mechanics

Additional personnel

Chart performance

[edit]
Chart (1986) Peak
position
Canadian RPM Top Singles 39
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary.[9] 7
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 32

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Taken In

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
"Taken In" is a pop rock ballad performed by the English supergroup Mike + The Mechanics, serving as the ninth and final track on their self-titled debut studio album released in October 1985. Written by Genesis guitarist Mike Rutherford and producer Christopher Neil, the song features lead vocals by Paul Young and explores themes of betrayal and disillusionment in relationships. Issued as the album's third single on June 30, 1986, it achieved moderate commercial success, reaching number 32 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 7 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Mike + The Mechanics was formed in 1985 by Rutherford during a hiatus from Genesis, with the lineup including vocalists and , alongside session musicians such as drummer and keyboardist Adrian Lee. The band's debut album, produced by Neil and Rutherford, blended and new wave elements, yielding two prior top 10 singles—"Silent Running" and "All I Need Is a Miracle"—which helped propel the LP to number 26 on the Billboard 200. "Taken In," with its melancholic melody and introspective lyrics about being deceived by false promises, exemplified the group's knack for crafting emotionally resonant pop anthems. The single's B-side, "A Call to Arms," was a track featuring vocals by , and the release was supported by a directed by Jim Yukich featuring narrative elements of family drama. While not as commercially dominant as the album's earlier hits, "Taken In" contributed to the enduring popularity of Mike + The Mechanics, whose success outside Genesis highlighted Rutherford's songwriting versatility and the band's ability to produce chart-topping material through the late 1980s and beyond.

Production

Writing

"Taken In" was written by Mike + The Mechanics' guitarist Mike Rutherford and producer Christopher Neil in 1985, as part of the sessions for the band's self-titled debut album. The track emerged from collaborative efforts where Rutherford contributed musical elements, including guitar riffs, while Neil helped shape its overall structure into a soft rock ballad. Its creative origins trace back to a brief demo fragment that Neil selected during the early album sessions. The song's inspiration draws from themes of deception and gullibility, centered around the hook lyric "There's one born every minute," reflecting the protagonist's repeated victimization by false promises. Paul Young served as the lead vocalist for the track.

Recording

"Taken In" was recorded in 1985 primarily at AIR Studios in , with additional sessions at The Farm in , , and Air Studios in , as part of the sessions for Mike + The Mechanics' self-titled debut album. The track's production was handled by , who also co-wrote the song with , while engineering duties were led by Nick Davis, with assistance from Paul Gomersall. The recording incorporated a smooth, synth/sax approach, featuring synthesizers from the keyboards and prominent lines to enhance its texture. Lead vocals on "Taken In" were performed by , formerly of , with backing vocals provided by the core band members and additional contributors. Instrumentation included guitars and bass by , keyboards by and Adrian Lee, and drums by . Supplementary keyboards were played by Derek Austin and Ian Wherry, while saxophone parts were contributed by John Earle and Ray Beavis. Additional vocals came from Gene Stashuck and John Kirby, with also providing backing vocals. The final track length was set at 4:17, capturing the band's polished pop-rock sound through meticulous mixing by and Davis.

Personnel

  • Mike Rutherford – guitars, bass
  • Paul Carrack – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Paul Young – lead vocals
  • Adrian Lee – keyboards
  • Peter Van Hooke – drums
  • Derek Austin – additional keyboards
  • Ian Wherry – additional keyboards
  • Alan Murphy – guitar
  • Luís Jardim – percussion
  • John Earle –
  • Ray Beavis –
  • Gene Stashuck – additional vocals
  • John Kirby – vocals
  • Alan Carvell – backing vocals
  • Christopher Neil – backing vocals, producer, mixing
  • Linda Taylor – backing vocals
  • Nick Davis – engineer, mixing
  • Paul Gomersall – assistant engineer

Release

Commercial release

"Taken In" was released as the third single from Mike + The Mechanics' self-titled debut album on June 30, 1986, in the United States by . The single was issued under catalog number 7-89404 and served as part of the ongoing promotion for the 1985 album, succeeding the earlier singles "" (October 1985) and "All I Need Is a Miracle" (March 1986). It was also released in markets such as on August 25, 1986. While the album received broad international distribution through Records in starting October 21, 1985, the "Taken In" single was primarily focused on the market with limited promotion elsewhere. This release came amid the band's rising profile as a led by Genesis bassist , building on the success of prior singles to position the group in the pop-rock landscape.

Formats and promotion

"Taken In" was primarily released as a 7-inch vinyl single in the United States on (catalog number 7-89404), featuring the edited version of the title track on the A-side and the track "A Call to Arms" as the B-side. This format was issued with a picture and pressed at 45 RPM, making it the standard commercial single for the track. A promotional 12-inch vinyl edition (Atlantic PR 900) was also distributed in the US at 33⅓ RPM, containing the LP version of "Taken In" on both sides to support radio and club play. Promotional efforts for the single emphasized radio , particularly targeting contemporary stations, where it achieved significant rotation leading to a peak position on the format's chart. The track was incorporated into the band's setlists during their tour, which supported the debut and helped sustain momentum from prior singles. positioned "Taken In" as a "sultry summer with a fool-for-love theme," leveraging its smooth synth and elements to appeal to seasonal listening preferences. Post-1986, the single appeared in remastered reissues of the band's debut , including the 1995 reissue and the 2005 remaster featured on the compilation Hits, both enhancing audio quality for formats. It was included on the 2025 compilation Looking Back – Living The Years. By the , "Taken In" became widely available digitally through streaming platforms such as and , often as part of the remastered catalog.

Content

Composition

"Taken In" is classified as with pop elements, characteristic of the band's contemporary style. The track functions as a mid-tempo , proceeding at approximately 93 beats per minute, and has a runtime of 4:17. The song is composed in and follows a verse-chorus form, featuring an intro, two verses, a repeating chorus, a bridge, and an outro. Instrumentation includes prominent synthesizers from keyboard contributions, a notable saxophone solo performed by Steve Gregory, and layered guitars by Mike Rutherford, which together establish a mild, swaying mood through simple arrangements. The saxophone solo provides an emotive highlight in the bridge section. The composition draws from 1980s adult contemporary and styles, aligning with the band's broader output in polished . Production techniques, handled by and , are typical of mid-1980s recordings.

Lyrics

The lyrics of "Taken In" center on the theme of and in a romantic relationship, depicting a who repeatedly falls victim to a manipulative partner's false promises and insincere affections. The narrator expresses a growing awareness of being exploited, portraying the lover as a "fair-weather friend" who uses charm and lies to maintain control. This theme is evident throughout the verses, where the protagonist grapples with emotional manipulation and . The narrative arc progresses from initial to profound and . It begins with the being "taken in" by alluring commitments, as in the opening lines: "Taken in, taken in again / Wrapped around / Of some fair-weather friend / Caught up in the promises / Left out ." This sets a tone of , building through verses that highlight the lover's duplicity—"You say / When I look in your eyes / I want to believe you / But you know how to lie"—to a chorus of outright . The chorus reinforces emotional exposure, repeating "I don't believe it" in response to the partner's reassurances, culminating in self-reflective during the bridge. Key phrases underscore the song's exploration of gullibility and relational theft. The titular refrain "Taken in, taken in again" captures the cycle of being duped, while metaphors like "wrapped around the finger" evoke being easily controlled. A pivotal line in the bridge—"There's one born every minute / And you're looking at him"—references the adage often attributed to , highlighting the narrator's admission of being a perpetual "sucker" in love. These elements emphasize the protagonist's realization of their own foolishness amid the lover's deceit. The song employs to amplify its emotional impact, including repetition in the chorus ("I don't believe it") to convey mounting disbelief and exhaustion. Metaphorical language around and , such as "taken for a ride" and "caught up in the promises," illustrates the relational dynamic as a con or , enhancing the theme of manipulation without overt sentimentality. Written by and producer , the form a concise story of romantic disillusionment.

Promotion

Music video

The official music video for "Taken In," directed by Jim Yukich, was released in 1986 to accompany the single's promotion. Filmed on a low-key production in , it stars band members and co-lead vocalists and , with comedic actors reprising his role as the bumbling tour manager from the prior "All I Need Is a Miracle" video, and portraying the sleazy father of a roadside family. The storyline humorously illustrates a tour mishap mirroring the song's themes of and misfortune: the band's vehicle breaks down en route, prompting a to their inept manager, who has double-booked their at a remote owned by Belzer's shady family; the group unwittingly rehearses and performs there for the enthusiastic children, only to be taken advantage of through awkward family dynamics and comedic exploitation during an overnight stay and . Blending straightforward band performance footage with skit-based humor, the video emphasizes visual gags around the "taken in" premise, clocking in at approximately to align with the track's length.

Live performances

"Taken In" debuted live during Mike + The Mechanics' 1986 U.S. tour in support of their self-titled debut , where it quickly became a regular setlist staple throughout the . The song appeared consistently in concerts across and Europe during this period, often positioned mid-set following tracks like "" and before "All I Need Is a ." Key live performances of "Taken In" in the 1986–1987 tours featured on lead vocals, as he had performed the track on the original studio recording. Notable examples include the band's show at the Southern Star Amphitheatre in Houston, Texas, on June 26, 1986, and the Tower Theatre in , on June 19, 1986, where Young's soulful delivery emphasized the song's emotional structure. These renditions maintained the full-band arrangement, highlighting the interplay between Young's vocals and the ensemble's instrumentation. Following Paul Young's death in 2000, later versions of "Taken In" in live sets were led by , who had shared vocal duties with Young since the band's formation. Live performances during the and beyond incorporated arrangement changes, such as extended solos that amplified the song's atmospheric bridge, as heard in bootleg recordings from the era. Acoustic renditions emerged in the tours, including a stripped-down version recorded live in the in 1991, which showcased a more intimate, guitar-driven interpretation. The song had few documented television appearances, with no confirmed performances on major programs like or U.S. late-night shows, though the band promoted other singles from the album on such platforms. No major festival headlining slots featured "Taken In" prominently. Among fans, the track is often highlighted for its anthemic, chorus during concerts, fostering audience participation in its uplifting refrain.

Reception

Critical reception

Upon its release in 1986, "Taken In" received positive notices from music trade publications for its polished production and atmospheric qualities. Cash Box highlighted the track's "smooth, synth/sax approach" and described it as a "sultry summer sound with fool-for-love theme," praising its methodical pulse that complemented the vocals. The song's blend of synthesizers and was seen as evoking a relaxed, evocative vibe suitable for adult contemporary radio. Critics appreciated Paul Young's vocal delivery, which conveyed emotional depth in the narrative of romantic deception, though some observed that the track's mellow tempo lacked the driving energy of the band's harder-edged material like "Silent Running." In a 2015 retrospective album review, Classic Rock Review named "Taken In" the standout closer on the debut album, commending its "subtle, sad and steady mood" and how the understated arrangement provided an ideal backdrop for Young's pained performance. Retrospective assessments have positioned "Taken In" as an underrated entry in Mike + The Mechanics' catalog, often compared to "" for shared melodic sensibilities and Rutherford's knack for catchy, mid-tempo pop-rock hooks. While not as explosive as the band's bigger hits, it has been favorably reevaluated for its sophisticated arrangement and thematic resonance, contributing to the album's enduring appeal in '80s discussions. Overall, reviews were generally favorable, emphasizing its radio-friendly appeal without marking it as a definitive standout single.

Commercial performance

"Taken In" peaked at number 32 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1986, where it spent a total of 15 weeks on the chart. The single also performed strongly on adult contemporary radio, reaching number 7 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. Internationally, the song achieved limited success, failing to enter the UK Top 40. In Canada, it peaked at number 39 on the RPM Top Singles chart. Despite modest chart placements, "Taken In" marked Mike + The Mechanics' final US Top 40 hit until "The Living Years" reached number 1 in 1989. The track's performance was primarily driven by radio airplay rather than robust physical sales, with the single contributing to the band's growing popularity in the mid-1980s pop rock scene.

References

  1. https://www.allmusic.com/album/mike-the-mechanics-mw0000650496
  2. https://americansongwriter.com/remember-when-mike-rutherford-hires-some-mechanics-and-finds-major-success-outside-genesis/
  3. https://www.musicvf.com/song.php?id=29012
  4. https://songoftheday.ca/2023/09/06/taken-in/
  5. https://imvdb.com/video/mike-and-the-mechanics/taken-in
  6. http://adrian-catchpole.appspot.com/oldweb/GenesisDiscography.pdf
  7. https://genius.com/Mike-the-mechanics-taken-in-lyrics
  8. https://www.discogs.com/release/4320597-Mike-The-Mechanics-Mike-The-Mechanics
  9. https://www.discogs.com/release/6765034-Mike-The-Mechanics-Mike-The-Mechanics
  10. https://www.discogs.com/release/4980923-Mike-The-Mechanics-Mike-The-Mechanics
  11. https://thegenesisarchive.co.uk/mike-mechanics-debut/
  12. https://www.facebook.com/mikeandthemechanicsofficial/posts/taken-in-was-released-as-a-single-on-30th-june-1986the-song-is-the-third-single-/806234420873324/
  13. https://www.discogs.com/release/5418164-Mike-The-Mechanics-Taken-In
  14. https://www.discogs.com/release/7605943-Mike-The-Mechanics-Taken-In
  15. https://www.discogs.com/master/79820-Mike-The-Mechanics-Mike-The-Mechanics
  16. https://www.classicrockreview.com/2015/08/1985-mike-and-mechanics/
  17. https://www.discogs.com/release/1205483-Mike-The-Mechanics-Taken-In
  18. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1986/CB-1986-06-21.pdf
  19. https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/mike-the-mechanics-looking-back-the-living-years/
  20. https://open.spotify.com/track/3FyQI0F89mBTSK8jfpzXWV
  21. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mike-the-mechanics-mn0001373380
  22. https://tunebat.com/Info/Taken-In-Mike-The-Mechanics/5vsMTYFLTKFa35jmE3bIV6
  23. https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/mike-the-mechanics/taken-in-chords-3238394
  24. https://www.discogs.com/release/14655976-Mike-The-Mechanics-Mike-The-Mechanics
  25. https://www.genesis-news.com/article/mike-the-mechanics-mike-the-mechanics-album-review/
  26. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7504300/fullcredits/
  27. https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2013/12/20/who-knew-that-mike-the-mechanics-were-such-storytellers/
  28. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7504300/
  29. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/mike-the-mechanics/1986/tower-theatre-upper-darby-pa-63cfa66f.html
  30. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/mike-the-mechanics/1986/pier-84-new-york-ny-2bfa904a.html
  31. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/mike-the-mechanics/1986/kiel-opera-house-st-louis-mo-2bcd5886.html
  32. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/mike-the-mechanics/1986/expo-theatre-vancouver-bc-canada-2bc1e8c6.html
  33. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny5v4DqTj1c
  34. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/mike-the-mechanics/1986/southern-star-amphitheatre-houston-tx-23fa904f.html
  35. https://www.genesis-news.com/article/mike-the-mechanics-paul-young-1947-2000/
  36. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikXXDNUwHTk
  37. https://www.facebook.com/groups/579879349677672/posts/1286290019036598/
  38. https://musicchartsarchive.com/artists/mike-and-the-mechanics
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