Another day, another box set. Have to be somewhat selective to protect the disappearing bank account – however this one’s an essential. The Michael Schenker Group Live & Ready 1980-1984.
Five CDs, a DVD, lots to read in the booklet and all in a proper sturdy box. Hours worth of Schenker at his towering peak at this time. His first foray post-UFO and he’s untouchable as one of the finest rock guitarists of his generation with this spell of MSG in the early 1980s.
The band’s on fire too – Paul Raymond scarpered from UFO to join for a while, Chris Glen on bass and the mighty Cozy Powell thumping the drums. The weak spot for me was Gary Barden. Capable but not the best in my opinion.
Yes, there were line-up changes along the way and I’ll get to them as we go through each CD and performance.
First up is a show from Manchester Apollo on the first tour in 1980. That stupidly good debut album was (and is) spectacular. The majority of it makes up the set along with a few UFO “staples”. I imagine you may be able to guess which……
It’s all storming stuff. Full of fire and energy. If you saw them on that tour (I did….!) you may still recall how great it was. In particular the majestic Lost Horizons and the UFO classics.
As great as it is, Barden lets the side down a bit. His limitations are exposed somewhat. Inconsistent and struggles with the higher notes. Perhaps he was nervous and overreaching by trying too hard.
Some of the between song crowd banter is cringe worthy. When he goes on about Manchester being so great with the best football team and tries to get the crowd to chant United with no success you can imagine the tumbleweed blowing across the stage.
He does get better. Iffy vocals apart, this set from the first tour has Michael on another level.
The classic live album issued as One Night at Budokan from the 1981 Japanese dates is split over CDs two and three. One of the greatest live albums up there with the likes of Strangers in the Night etc.
The songs from the (then) unreleased second MSG album come out on top for me – for example On and On, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie and my favourite Never Trust a Stranger. Barden sounds more comfortable too.
Here’s Armed & Ready:
Disc 4 is from the Hammersmith Odeon in 1983. Ted McKenna in on drums and former Ted Nugent sidekick Derek St. Holmes comes in too. This tour came after the release of Assault Attack. Of course the great Graham Bonnet did the vocals on that album though as we know he didn’t last long and Barden’s back on vocals here.
The performance saw the light of day as Rock Will Never Die. Another muscular set with Schenker sublime as usual The Assault Attack songs slot in nicely especially the majestic, atmospheric Desert Song.
Disc five is from Tokyo in August 1984. MSG were running out of steam at this point with the disappointing Built to Destroy album. A much different line up for this performance that that which recorded Built to Destroy.
Andy Nye and Ted McKenna remained. Barden had gone (again) as had Chris Glen. Here we have Ray Kennedy on vocals and Dennis Feldman on bass. It’s not a bad performance though does have something of a going through the motions feel to it.
The DVD has the Hammersmith 1983 and Tokyo 1984 performances. The booklet is a good read. Comprehensive notes and an interview with Michael who gives his perspective on this classic period of MSG.
So very nice to have all this in one place to enjoy just how great Schenker and the group were in the early 1980s.
In my opinion, one of the only other guitarists who could come near him back then was the late, very great Paul Chapman. Ironically the man who replaced Michael in UFO.
On UFO – the Chapman era albums are seeing deluxe edition reissues with live stuff. No Place to Run was released last year and The Wild The Willing and the Innocent is due on 1 May. Review to follow of course.
Don’t miss out in this MSG box. Peak Schenker.
>> MSG LIVE & READY BOX SET ON AMAZON <<
Please support the site and buy me a coffee.
https://buymeacoffee.com/nwobhm
As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.