Customer Reviews

Heavy Hitters

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Why is the flying V and MSG logo on this cover? This is not MSG, this is not Schenker's current band. It's just a sales gimmick to get attention. (Schenker himself, on his website, has confirmed he is quite upset with them using the MSG logo without his knowledge or permission.)

I feared the worst when I heard there was a third Schenker covers CD in the pipeline. Surprisingly, it's not as bad as the last 'schenker/pattison summit'. The production is a lot cleaner for one thing, Schenker's guitar actually sounds like Schenker, and he sounds more enthusiastic playing solos over these songs than he did on any of the 'Endless Toe Jam' cds. That could be attributed to actually playing with or meeting some of the other musicians (I'm just guessing) instead of just mailing in his solos like Greta "I vant to be alone" Garbo. (Phil Mogg spoke of his loner persona as far back as the mid 70's, when he would find Schenker always holed up on a room somewhere practicing solos endlessly, saying "I prefer to pratice alone.") For UFO, that anti-social chemistry seemed to work, but it certainly didn't with 'Schenker Pattison summit'.

I found about half of these songs worthwhile. I really liked 'Blood of the sun' with Leslie West on vocals, 'All shook up', 'War pigs', 'Out in the fields'.

'Hair of the dog' features a very Dan Cafferty like vocal from former Maiden God, Paul Dianno, but unfortunately, during the key 'son of a b...ch!!' vocal, someone else has to fill in the high notes, because he obviously can't do it, and that really detracts from the power of the song. If you can't sing it all the way through, then why bother? No real need for this cover. The 'Nazerth' version is unassailable.

What you really need to do when listening to cover versions is decide, "Is this better than the original? Would I ever listen to this version over the original?" In most cases here, I would have to say no. Sure, some of the arrangements are different, like 'I'm not talkin' by the Yardbirds, but it's still extremely weak compared to the original. Just because Schenker solos like mad all over the track does not make it good. It just sounds like he's trying too hard. The essential rhythm of the track, which is its strength, is completely missing, and as every guitarist worth his salt knows, you need an inspiring rhythm to play over or the solo is just pointless and worthless. Schenker is obviously trying to wring what he can out of it, but he deserves a better rhythm. And the vocal on this song is just laughable, and that's saying something, because Keith Relf was a one lung singer who wasn't exactly strong in the vocal dept. But he had PERSONALITY. Makes me really appreicate those old Yardbird recordings even more. So if this song brings attention to the original band, and the Jeff Beck version that's far superior, that's great.

Metal Gods, I beseech you! Why do you allow 'Doctor Doctor' to be covered again? This song needs to be permanently laid to rest. It's been done to death, on practically every UFO live album, every Schenker live album, plus remixes on his solos albums, etc, for the last 30 years. Ugh. And to think I used to like this song up until 'Strangers in the night' (Definitive version), but nothing has been improved or added to it since then, so "Doctor Doctor, please!...euthanize the patient!" UFO has such a huge back catalog of 'hidden gem' songs that could be covered today on an album like this, so who really needs to hear this again? Certainly not a UFO fan. I'm sure they're all sick of it.

Most pathetic here is the cover of Pink Floyd's 'Money'. The Floyd version is one of the most overplayed songs in the universe, and I wince when I have to hear it again, yet, I now have a renewed respect for it. As I said before regarding 'endless jam', Schenker is not a blues player. He may occasionly use 'blues scales' in some bastardized Euro metal fashion, but his blues phrasing, his timing, his selection of notes is a joke. The Schenker guitar tone is not a blues tone. I'm not 5% of the technical player that Schenker is, but I can play rings around him when it comes to the blues. German 'neo classical' guitarists just cannot play blues, (I'm also talking to you, Uli Roth). Heck, even Steve Vai can't play the blues worth a damn, so don't feel too bad. This song starts to seriously blow from the first five seconds, when you hear this completely useless scratching of the pick against the strings. It's like someone tuning up in the middle of a track. Is he trying to be cute? It's so irritating, it ruined the song for me instantly. And then it gets worse. Listen to a player like Dave Gilmour on the original. That is what the song needs. There is a reason Floyd is rarely covered by other bands or players. You cannot beat the feel/phrasing of David Gilmour. Robin Trower could play over this, but not Schenker.

Thankfully, this travesty is remedied by the Gary Moore cover, 'Out in the fields'. Since Moore and Schenker come from the same general school of thought, I really enjoyed his take on this classic. It doesn't surpass the original, but it doesn't embarass itself either. The biggest surprise here was hearing original MSG vocalist, Gary Barden, turning in a fine performance. The nostalgia of 1980 flooded over me when I thought about the good old days when MSG was creating its legend. I didn't know he was on it until I heard it. His voice is still the same and instantly recognizible to any MSG fan. This just makes me wish for an 'entire album' reunion between them, but we may have to make do with this and the track he contributes on the upcoming MSG '25th anniversary' studio CD.

'War pigs' has been covered a lot, but this is still a great take on it. The vocal, the playing, all top notch. Schenker is getting in the 'zone' on this one, mainly because he has time to stretch.

'Politician'? Again, why bother? This song should have been retired after 'Cream' did it. Robben Ford does the definitive cover of this song on his 'Mystic mile' Cd in 1993, because he changed the arrangement and improved the guitar riff, and he's an even better blues player than Clapton. Schenker once again, should stay away from blues songs. If a guy played like this in my local 'blues bar', he'd be booed off the stage for being completely out of his element. This reminds me of many band auditions I have witnessed, where you'd get the usual metalhead trying vainly to impress by wanking out a million notes (in a blues song!) where one would do, while the band rolls their eyes and calls, "Next!" Some guys like Scott Henderson can pull off the metal/fusion/blues switch because they understand what the blues is about, meaning knowing when to lay off the technical solos and endless fills, and know how to change their tone. Schenker hasn't got a clue when to play and when not to play. His timing is off, he plays way too much (didn't think I'd ever say that about Schenker) and his choice of notes is just absurd in relation to proper blues scales.

Top marks to 'Blood of the sun', 'All shook up', 'Out in the fields', and 'War pigs'

Medium marks to 'Hair of the dog', 'I don't live today' (Listen to Seal/Jeff Beck version to hear someone go BEYOND Hendrix. Beck is about the only one who could surpass Hendrix.)

Into the trash bin: 'Money', 'Politician', 'Doctor doctor', 'I'm not talkin'.

Enough of the covers. The chinks in Schenker's armor are starting to show. Up to the point he did these cover albums, he seemed beyond reproach, but these albums hurt, more than help his stature as a guitarist. I don't even know if he had a hand in choosing these songs or if they were picked by Mike (how can I make another quick buck?) Varney. If it's going to be a cover album, seeing Schenker's PERSONAL FAVORITES would be best.

On this one, Schenker's out of his element half of the time, and it's a step backward for someone of his talents. Like telling DaVinci to invent a cheese grater. He's not a bar band, nor does he belong in one. He's a true individual, has enough of his own brilliant ideas, his own style, (copied by everyone or an influence to every guitarist on the planet since the 70's) so at this point in his career, he doesn't need to do these things. He's released so many albums under UFO, MSG, solo, that are his own, and are LEGEND, these lame cover projects just seem like so much 'I need the money' filler.

Bob Kulick and Cleopatra Records, but mainly Bob Kulick released with compilation without Schenkers approval, or consent. Schenker did record the guitar parts, but everything else was plotted and concieved without his knowing and it shows. This is not an MSG release, this is a star-studded affair which happens to feature Schneker on all lead guitar on all tracks. Bob Kulick is a favorite to do these types of tribute releases, but this one was not with Michael Schenker's participation on the album. Schenker had no idea nor was told who is to perform on each song. While there are some good performances, it's a letdown and does not warrant to being either an MSG or a "real" Michael Schenker release. Bob Kulick and Cleopatra records are responsible for the misrepresentation of MSG on this slimeball release.

Michael's playing is better than ever.He has such a melodic touch and he knows when to hold a note and when to let em fly.Great classic rock song selection as well.The guests lend their specific talents to each track.Of note is the drumming from Aynsley Dunbar.A must have for Schenker fans.

Made in USA in 2005, Serial# CLP-1503-2, Playing Time 49:41

I first heard Michael Schenker on the Scorpions' "Lonesome Crow" album back in 1975 (I was too young in '72!), and have picked up everything featuring him ever since (trust me, that's a lot of stuff!)

I'm addicted to his versatile playing, his originality, his feel... and I must say that his performances on this CD are very interesting: he's not trying to copy the original versions (there are times when you'll recognize the songs almost only because of the lyrics!)

Unfortunately, the overall texture of the songs is very "empty": the diversity of members might be to blame, but no-one seems to be enjoying themselves (except maybe Michael!), there is very little chemistry going on; perhaps that's also due to the producing job... I don't know, it just sounds "synthetic".

Unlike his other 2 albums of "covers", this CD falls short of the mark; there is no "band" here, even if it's credited to the "Michael Schenker Group". Perhaps hoping for better sales than the "Schenker Pattison Summit" efforts by simply relying on the familiar (but long gone) MSG monicker.

The song selection is original (except for "Doctor Doctor"), and so is the choice of vocalists (except for pairing Leslie West and "Blood On The Sun"); how else would you hear former-Priest Ripper Owens sing Sabbath's "War Pigs".

This CD requires more than an open mind: even without prejudice, it's somewhat pale in comparison to the other 2 efforts of the same concept (but it often still rocks!)

Although it's good to hear nice riffs of hard-rock classics + rock anthem. I wonder why this CD is a MSG one ? After having sort out what happened in the official website of Michael Schenker, I understand that once again, this particulary good musician had suffered from things going out of his control.
Well, the songs are well played, with some virtuosity that is not on the original version.
Anyway, buy the CD, if not for the music on it, just to help Schenker to write some good albums like "Strangers in the night", "Assault attack" or "Written in the sand"...

Sylvie

Awesome line-up of talent, lack of effort by not writing/creating/producing new material. No one should care how great the covers sound, stuff like this gets old real quick to anyone who ever listened to Schenker. It was because of his originality and creativity that made him the guitar hero he is/was. Listening to this (and his other covers) is like microwaving a frozen dinner. The food's already there & prepared... just needing to be heated. Try something unique.. an entire album of original material.

Like the other two 'covers' albums from Michael Schenker, I did not like all the material on this album - but I liked most of it. Broadly, I think that Schenker writes better material himself than the songs that he covers - so if there's anything I don't like then its the fact that the material isn't also written by him. Schenker has released more than 50 albums (over a hundred if you count all the releases and live albums), and in my view only two or three of them are ropey - the rest are outstanding. 'Heavy Hitters' suffers from not being 'Schenker' enough. On about 70% of the tracks however, the music definitely works. Like the other cover records (Schenker Pattison summits) Schenker's soloing is blistering, soulful, and emphasises musicality and feeling over mere 'shred'. War Pigs is an orgy of in your face gutsy power from Schenker. Some 'shred-heads' or course will be able to name players who concentrate more on certain flashy two-dimensional techniques and speed than Schenker. But, as the famous philosopher Wittgenstein said, 'when genius fades, technique begins to show'. With Schenker, one is normally too involved musically to think about technique, which is part of his genius. Yet, familiarity with the whole corpus of Schenker's works paradoxically reveals a broader range of techniques than almost anybody else. On 'Heavy Hitters', though, as always with Schenker, technique is reigned in to serve the music. Admittedly, about 30% of the tracks covered are unredeemable musically, even by Schenker. You can almost tell this from the fact that Schenker struggles to find solos that fit them at all. One wonders if these tracks were picked for marketing purposes. On the 70% of the tracks, however - the good ones - he seems a lot happier. Incidentally, the Gary Moore cover is one of the ropey tracks in my view - Moore does it better. However, 'War Pigs' is a massive improvement on Sabbath's original in my view (silly lyrics though). If you like Schenker, get this album. If you don't like Schenker, what's your problem?

This is a misrepresented CD;Schenker put his trust in Kulick and was shafted. BUT...let me say this about Schenker. I had a compadre,a guitar player that had never heard Michael before,and he saw this laying about and stuck it in his personal CD player...and I didn't get it back 'till 3 days later. PROOF that everything he does has musical,guitar God merit.
Having said that,buy any OTHER CD by Schenker first and this one last.
The band sounds like a sophmoric cover band,only MS shines...

Guns 'n' Roses pulled off a pretty nice cover version of Nazareth's "Hair Of The Dog" because Axl Rose could hit the notes and approximate the attitude and screech of Dan McCafferty's original vocals. Former Iron Maiden frontman Paul Di'Anno just can't pull it off...he can't hit the notes, it's just a huge letdown if you've ever heard the original. Tommy Shaw fron Styx singing Pink Floyd's "Money?" EXCUSE ME? Leslie West turning in a half-hearted re-take of his OWN "Blood Of The Sun?" SEBASTIAN BACH on Hendrix's "I Don't Live Today?" Bad decisions, less-than-stellar performances. Time for Schenker to leave the "covers band" schtick behind.

since michael schenkers recent marital and financial problems, it was debatable whether or not he would ever recover. But let me tell you my friends he has done so in spades. even though these are just covers, he makes them all his own with a who's who cast of rock luminaries that shine on every track. the next thing i would like to see from mr. schenker is an album of originals that still showcase his unique talent.