Michael Schenker Group-Heavy Hitters
Deadline Music 2005
Anytime Michael Schenker puts out product, I find myself running to the store to buy it like a school girl, obsessed with one of those horrible, boy groups(they are NOT bands people). So, when I heard that this was in the works, I was naturally stoked. I was wondering how this would work? Another covers record? I mean Schenker has put out two already through Mike Varneys Shrapnel Records, Scheker/Pattison Summit & part II The Endless Jam. Of course, that was the same line-up & it was a pair of consistent records. To take several different line-ups, tributes record style & cut classic tracks together? How would this go over? Would there be any chemistry? Is this just another effort to cash in on a couple thousand copies?! Mike do you need the dough that bad?! Lets take a look blow by blow shall we?
1. All Shook Up: Providing vocals on this Elvis classic, is none other than Joe Lynn Turner, the arrangement has been changed a bit. You wouldnt recognize it from the Elvis version, which is a plus. It gets the blood pumping & sets the tone for the record.
2. Blood Of The Sun: Leslie West the once Mountain of a man, adds his blues influenced pipes to this track, surprisingly he doesnt play on any of the guitar tracks on this one. I was hoping to hear some like on the Schenker/Pattison Summit. Overall the track is solid, despite Michaels color by numbers effort on it.
3. Doctor Doctor: Jeff Scott Soto, current Soul SirkUS front man & formerly of just about every band of the 80s, sings on this UFO classic. Since Jeff has this soulful vocal, this stands out from the moment you hear him. I was impressed, he would have been the last person Id think of hearing covering UFO. Needless to say, Schenker blasts through this one with a fury.
4. War Pigs: From the opening note, despite the fact, that you know the song by heart, you know theres something special about this. When Tim Owens sings the first note, hes got your undivided attention & then you strap yourself in & enjoy the ride. This is easily, the top track on the record, both Mike & Tim deliver the goods, big-time on this song. And just in case you werent a believer? Listen to Tim Owens on here.
5. I'm Not Talking: The vocals are provided courtesy of the voice of the Anamaniacs. Yes, its Mark (S)Laughter. I have to give him credit, hes not as annoying on this track, as he was in his own band. Schenker does shred a bit on this one, over Marks scatting. A good effort overall.
6. Money: A Floyd cover? Yeah, the former Damn Wennie & Styx member Tommy Shaw lays down the pipes for this one & Edgar Winter outshines the mad axe man on this track! The sax sacks the axe!
7. Out In The Fields: A reunion of the most popular singer from MSG, as Gary Barden takes some time out from State Trooper to add his touch to this one. This is likely to be the most popular track with the Schenker faithful.
8. Hair Of The Dog: The first thing I wondered when I read that DiAnno was singing on Hair was, How is he going to nail the high notes on the chorus (a) son of a bitch?!
Well he doesnt. He uses the equivalent of a stunt double, when the time comes, a true disappointment. What a lazy bastard! Schenker plays like a son of a bitch on there, however. Kudos to David Glenn Eisley, for saving Pauls ass.
9. I Don't Live Today: The guy with the white boots, Sebastian Bach, sings on this one & both he & Schenker tear the roof off. Youd think there were both in the same studio feeding off one anothers energy, the reality is Bach sent in his vocals, then Mike came in & layed down his solo.
10. Politician: Yet another guy that played with MSG creeps into the line-up. I never considered Jeff Pilson a great bass player ,or a great singer for that matter, but the guy always had what counts. Heart. He impressed me significantly on song & maybe this is the kind of stuff he should be doing?! Schenker ends on a high note on this one.
The end result is a decent effort, worth your money, while you await new material from the most misunderstood guitarist alive today. The only complaint is that Schenker didnt play the rhythm guitar tracks, they were recorded Bob Kulick & the arraignments were also handled by him as well. So the question is, are these classics done the way Schenker would have really done them?
SIXXSWINE \m/
Deadline Music 2005
Anytime Michael Schenker puts out product, I find myself running to the store to buy it like a school girl, obsessed with one of those horrible, boy groups(they are NOT bands people). So, when I heard that this was in the works, I was naturally stoked. I was wondering how this would work? Another covers record? I mean Schenker has put out two already through Mike Varneys Shrapnel Records, Scheker/Pattison Summit & part II The Endless Jam. Of course, that was the same line-up & it was a pair of consistent records. To take several different line-ups, tributes record style & cut classic tracks together? How would this go over? Would there be any chemistry? Is this just another effort to cash in on a couple thousand copies?! Mike do you need the dough that bad?! Lets take a look blow by blow shall we?
1. All Shook Up: Providing vocals on this Elvis classic, is none other than Joe Lynn Turner, the arrangement has been changed a bit. You wouldnt recognize it from the Elvis version, which is a plus. It gets the blood pumping & sets the tone for the record.
2. Blood Of The Sun: Leslie West the once Mountain of a man, adds his blues influenced pipes to this track, surprisingly he doesnt play on any of the guitar tracks on this one. I was hoping to hear some like on the Schenker/Pattison Summit. Overall the track is solid, despite Michaels color by numbers effort on it.
3. Doctor Doctor: Jeff Scott Soto, current Soul SirkUS front man & formerly of just about every band of the 80s, sings on this UFO classic. Since Jeff has this soulful vocal, this stands out from the moment you hear him. I was impressed, he would have been the last person Id think of hearing covering UFO. Needless to say, Schenker blasts through this one with a fury.
4. War Pigs: From the opening note, despite the fact, that you know the song by heart, you know theres something special about this. When Tim Owens sings the first note, hes got your undivided attention & then you strap yourself in & enjoy the ride. This is easily, the top track on the record, both Mike & Tim deliver the goods, big-time on this song. And just in case you werent a believer? Listen to Tim Owens on here.
5. I'm Not Talking: The vocals are provided courtesy of the voice of the Anamaniacs. Yes, its Mark (S)Laughter. I have to give him credit, hes not as annoying on this track, as he was in his own band. Schenker does shred a bit on this one, over Marks scatting. A good effort overall.
6. Money: A Floyd cover? Yeah, the former Damn Wennie & Styx member Tommy Shaw lays down the pipes for this one & Edgar Winter outshines the mad axe man on this track! The sax sacks the axe!
7. Out In The Fields: A reunion of the most popular singer from MSG, as Gary Barden takes some time out from State Trooper to add his touch to this one. This is likely to be the most popular track with the Schenker faithful.
8. Hair Of The Dog: The first thing I wondered when I read that DiAnno was singing on Hair was, How is he going to nail the high notes on the chorus (a) son of a bitch?!
Well he doesnt. He uses the equivalent of a stunt double, when the time comes, a true disappointment. What a lazy bastard! Schenker plays like a son of a bitch on there, however. Kudos to David Glenn Eisley, for saving Pauls ass.
9. I Don't Live Today: The guy with the white boots, Sebastian Bach, sings on this one & both he & Schenker tear the roof off. Youd think there were both in the same studio feeding off one anothers energy, the reality is Bach sent in his vocals, then Mike came in & layed down his solo.
10. Politician: Yet another guy that played with MSG creeps into the line-up. I never considered Jeff Pilson a great bass player ,or a great singer for that matter, but the guy always had what counts. Heart. He impressed me significantly on song & maybe this is the kind of stuff he should be doing?! Schenker ends on a high note on this one.
The end result is a decent effort, worth your money, while you await new material from the most misunderstood guitarist alive today. The only complaint is that Schenker didnt play the rhythm guitar tracks, they were recorded Bob Kulick & the arraignments were also handled by him as well. So the question is, are these classics done the way Schenker would have really done them?
SIXXSWINE \m/
