MSG Live & Loud
by John Kindred
Staff Writer
Live & Loud offers digitally re-mastered songs recorded by the legendary guitarist Michael Schenker with his band MSG. The breakdown of the nine-track release includes six live tracks taken from previous live performances, the studio track “Written in the Sand” and his audio-biography in English and German.
Offering nothing “new” for longtime fans, this release falls in line with many previous “best of” or “greatest hits” packages that have been offered up over the years. And with such a minimal track listing, it really doesn’t do justice to Schenker’s long, tumultuous career. Starting his musical endeavors by forming the Scorpions with his brother in the early ‘70s, Schenker moved on to the British band UFO until his departure to form his own band MSG in the ‘80s.
Schenker displays his virtuosity throughout this brief foray into his musical journeys. Included are live songs from 1999’s The Unforgiven World Tour Live!, “Doctor Doctor,” “Lights Out” and the instrumental song “Captain Nemo.” Three more live songs are from 1997’s The Michael Story Live; “Assault Attack,” “Attack of the Mad Axeman” and “Natural Thing” also appear on the CD. And the lone studio song is the title track “Written in the Sand” from the ’99 release.
Chances are that, as a Michael Schenker fan, you have all the original releases in your collection. You probably own an ipod or MP3 player or still use CDRs to make your own MSG mix playlists or CDs. So you really don’t need another “best of” or “greatest hits” package. Unless you are a hardcore collector or Schenker newbie, this just won’t be a release you have to have.
Label: IMV/BLUELINE PRODUCTION
Tracks:
1. Doctor, Doctor (from The Unforgiven World Tour Live!)
2. Assault Attack (from The Michael Story Live)
3. Written in the Sand (from Written in the Sand)
4. Attack of the Mad Axeman (from The Michael Story Live)
5. Natural Thing (from The Michael Story Live)
6. Lights Out (from The Unforgiven World Tour Live!)
7. Captain Nemo (from The Unforgiven World Tour Live!)
8. History I (English Audio-biography)
9. History II (German Audio-biography)
Hardrock Haven rating: n/a