Detective (1975 - 1978)

After relocating from London to Los Angeles, Michael teamed up with ex-Steppenwolf guitarist Michael Monarch to form Detective in March 1975.
They started off with a rhythm section which included drummer Denny Seiwell from Wings, before settling on Monarch's friends Jon Hyde on drums and Bobby Pickett on bass.

The band was signed to Led Zeppelin's own label Swan Song Records, after Michael invited Jimmy Page to a Detective rehearsal in the summer of 1975:
"We played "Johnny B. Goode" for four hours. He came down again the next night with Robert [Plant] and Peter Grant and some people, and we got on the label."

The last member of Detective, Yes-keyboardist Tony Kaye, joined the band during the recording of the first album, after having been on tour with David Bowie.
Their first, self-titled album, was released in April 1977. Led by the single "Recognition", the album sold around 75 000 copies.
The second album, It Takes One To Know One followed later the same year, and the band did many concerts as support for Kiss and Blue Oyster Cult.

Being on Swan Song had both its good and bad points, Michael said in a 1978 interview:

"We've been constantly criticised for sounding like Zeppelin. If we were on Columbia or something that wouldn't arise. Of course it's tremendous to be on this label. It's like a tight-knit rock and roll family."

Detective disbanded in the fall of 1978, before they had finished their third album.

Albums

1. Recognition (Monarch/Miller/Des Barres) (4:27)
2. Got Enough Love* (Monarch/Miller/Des Barres) (3:39)
3. Grim Reaper*
    (Monarch/Des Barres/Pickett/Hyde) (4:10)
4. Nightingale (Monarch/Hyde) (4:54)
5. Detective Man (Monarch/Hyde) (3:25)
6. Ain't None of Your Business*
    (Hobbs/Anderson) (4:29)
7. Deep Down (Monarch/Pickett) (3:06)
8. Wild Hot Summer Nights (Monarch/Hyde) (4:17)
9. One More Heartache* (Monarch/Hyde) (5:22)

Produced by Andy Johns and Detective, except * produced and engineered by Jimmy Robinson. Mixed by Andy Johns.

Michael Des Barres: lead vocals, Michael Monarch: guitars, Jon Hyde: drums, percussion and vocals, Bobby Pickett: bass guitar and vocals, Tony Kaye: keyboards

Released by Swan Song in April 1977
(LP: SS 8417)

1. Help Me Up (Hyde) (4:14)
2. Competition (Des Barres/Kaye/Monarch/Miller) (4:37)
3. Are You Talking To Me (Des Barres/Monarch) (4:35)
4. Dynamite (Hyde/Monarch) (5:25)
5. Something Beautiful (Des Barres/Monarch (arr) (4:19)
6. Warm Love (Hyde/Monarch) (5:24)
7. Betcha Won't Dance (Des Barres/Pickett) (4:24)
8. Fever (Hyde/Monarch/Pickett) (4:40)
9. Tear Jerker (Monarch/Kaye/Hyde) (4:30)

Produced by Steve Smith
Engineered by Richard Digby Smith
Associated Producers: Detective

Michael Des Barres: lead vocals, Michael Monarch: guitars, Jon Hyde: drums, percussion and vocals, Bobby Pickett: bass guitar and vocals, Tony Kaye: keyboards

Released by Swan Song in November 1977
(LP: SS 8504)

1. Help Me Up (5:21)
2. Got Enough Love (4:46)
3. Recognition (5:22)
4. One More Heartache (8:57)
5. Detective Man (4:31)
6. Grim Reaper (5:20)
7. Fever (5:35)
8. Nightingale (5:49)
9. Tear Jerker/Good Rockin' Tonight (5:41)

Recorded live at Atlantic Studios, New York, on Dec. 21, 1977.
Available only as a promo LP for radio stations.

Released by Swan song in 1978.

7" singles

Recognition June 1977 (US) Promo Swan Song (SS 70114) Side A: Recognition (Stereo) Side B: Recognition (Mono)

Recognition 1977 (Canada) Promo Swan Song (SWS 70114 C) Side A: Recognition Side B: Grim Reaper

Recognition 1977 (Japan) Promo Swan Song (P-207N) Side A: Recognition Side B: Grim Reaper

Something Beautiful February 1978 (US) Promo Swan Song (SS 70117) Side A: Something Beautiful (Stereo) Side B: Something Beautiful (Mono)

Unofficial live albums

1. Help Me Up
2. Got Enough Love
3. Recognition
4. One More Heartache
5. Detective Man
6. Grim Reaper
7. Fever
8. Nightingale
9. Tear Jerker
10. Good Rockin' Tonight

Unofficial, factory pressed CD.
Released by Oh Boy in 1991 (Oh Boy 1-9121).

Features the "Live From The Atlantic Studios"-concert recorded in New York on December 21, 1977.

1. Help Me Up (5:31)
2. Got Enough Love (4:41)
3. Recognition (5:13)
4. One More Heartache (8:46)
5. Detective Man (4:17)
6. Grim Reaper (5:12)
7. Fever (5:34)
8. Nightingale (5:46)
9. Tear Jerker/Good Rockin' Tonight (5:50)

Unofficial, factory pressed CD.
Released by Gamberetto (no catalogue number).

Features the "Live From The Atlantic Studios"-concert recorded in New York on December 21, 1977.