[.ca] Michael Schenker Group

Three songs of highest quality:
In 1979, Michael Schenker's time as UFO's guitar wizard had come to an end, but Schenker didn't slow down though. He formed his own band under the name of Michael Schenker Group (MSG), and together with Gary Barden (vocals) among others, he released his first (solo) album in 1980. Some people (Schenker fanatics?) consider this to be a real heavy metal masterpiece. Among the nine tracks, there are two instrumental ("Bijou pleasurette" & "Into the arena"), a slow ballad ("Tales of mystery") of average standard, and two heavy mediocre tunes by the name of "Victim of illusion" and "Lost horizons". That leaves us with the really excellent stuff - "Cry for the nations", "Feels like a good thing", and "Looking out from nowhere" are all in world class, while "Armed and ready" is more or less a blue print number when it comes to heavy metal. Although it's a good song, it doesn't have the ability to really reach the sky. The debut M.S.G album is without doubt one of the classic albums from the heyday of traditional heavy metal, and it can almost compete with the finest from UFO.

The majestic beggining of the Wonder Boy solo career!:
This is where it all started for Michael's solo career. It is a career that would see an endless stream of musicians to work with Michael's difficult temper, and a career with many high and lows, including the infamous "hair pop metal phase" of MAcAuley Schenker Group (ugh!) For this debut, the line-up included singer Gary Barden (whom capability to write good lyrics was never his strong point, unfortunately. The lyrics here a real let down...) master session drummer Simon Phillips, bassist Mo Foster and keyboard man Don Airey. It was produced by Deep Purple man Roger Glover. The alubm is close to perfeciton in terms of hard rock / metal, the songs flow in a great manner, Schenker is playing like hell and, definitely, this is not like "UFO PART II". It has Schenker's trademark all over it, of course, but not UFO's trademark compositions. It is Schenker's own thing, no doubt about that. It's a highly recommended gem.

• Armed and Ready
• Cry for the Nations
• Victim of Illusion
• Bijou Pleasurette
• Feels Like a Good Things
• Into the Arena
• Looking out from Nowhere
• Tales of Mystery
• Lost Horizons