Search - Michael Schenker :: Michael Schenker Group

Classic solo debut from Michael Schenker

R. Gorham | 08/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"THE BAND: Gary Barden (vocals), Michael Schenker (guitars), Mo Foster (bass), Simon Phillips (drums & percussion), Don Airey (keyboards).



THE DISC: (1980) 9 tracks clocking in at approximately 39 minutes. Included with the disc is a 6-page booklet containing song titles/credits/times (no lyrics), a brief intro from Jerry Ewing ("Classic Rock Magazine"), and some vintage pictures of Schenker. All songs written by Schenker and/or Barden. Now an import, this 1980 release is hard to find in stores. Digitally remastered (in Holland)... sadly, no bonus tracks. Label - Chrysalis Records.



COMMENTS: My introduction to the man named Schenker was in 1981 with the "MSG" album featuring the hit "On And On". From that point on, I've been collecting his material... old and new. Back in 1981, I remember searching and finding this '80 release on vinyl and wondering - why isn't this guy more popular? All Schenker's albums with UFO were next to purchase. 30+ years later Schenker still manages to squeeze out albums. In my opinion, Schenker is one of the all-time great rock guitarists... an underrated legend if ever there was one. He was clearly on a roll - playing on some of the great rock albums of the 70's and continuing into the 80's... with UFO - "Lights Out" (1977), "Obsession" (1978), "Strangers In The Night" (1978); and with MSG - this self titled album (1980), "MSG" (1981) and his best live album with MSG, "One Night In Budakon" (1981). In my book Schenker could do no wrong. I put him on the perch right below Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page... that lofty place where Ritchie Blackmore, Eddie Van Halen, Tommy Iommi, Randy Rhoads, David Gilmour, and Alex Lifeson are sitting. Yet, somehow, with all the music Schenker was appearing on, the popularity escaped the man. Rarely do you hear his material (specifically his solo and MSG material) on the radio. Perhaps it was the constant line of musicians entering and exiting his band... no consistency (?). On the flip side - maybe that is/was part of the appeal - you never knew what you were going to get on his albums. This "Michael Schenker Group" release started his solo career off with a bang. He put out numerous albums during the 80's and 90's but none were better than this first one... with "MSG" (1981) in a close 2nd place. This album starts off with one of my favorites in his entire catalog... a great rocking opener with a blistering guitar solo, "Armed And Ready". A solid one-two punch - track 2 is "Cry For The Nations" - a downright pleasant 30 second intro, followed by an explosion and the rest of the band kicking in... a slow rocker with meaning (another classic from his vast catalog). Other highlights include the 2 instrumentals - the acoustic "Bijou Pleasurette" and the heavy shredding "Into The Arena", "Looking Out From Nowhere", the acoustic power ballad "Tales Of Mystery", and the heavy 7 minute album closer "Lost Horizons". The album is solid all the way through - no filler tracks to be found. If you're looking to add some Michael Schenker to your collection, start with ANY of the UFO/MSG albums mentioned above. This is classic Schenker (5 stars).

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It's hard to explain...

Gergellor | Supimpalândia | 07/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Its hard to explain how Michael Schenker,e ven sometimes playing the simplest of solos, can make you feel emotion like nothing else... This guy has an unique style, sometimes even a mediocre song is worth a listen due to the solo...



Fortunately, this debut has no mediocre songs at all. It's classic after classic, greta stuff after stuff, a stellar line-up with Mo Foster, Simon Phillips and Don Airey. Gary Barden handles the vocals with competence, also. The album get you by the throat since the first chord, then never let it go. It's considered by many his ultimate masterpiece. You can't go wrong: if you like hard rock, this is one of the best of all times."