Search - Michael Schenker :: Michael Schenker Group

Schenker and His Flying V Soar On First Solo Effort

James M. Cayon | Northampton, MA United States | 04/19/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Oh, if ONLY this album had gotten just a bit more play in these here parts 30 years ago.....it is, arguably, one of the best guitar records ever made, but then again, Michael Schenker's work with UFO was already downright spellbinding (see "Born To Lose" on Obsession for ample evidence; still one of the most plaintive, finest axe solos ever conceived - YES, the man really does deserve every superlative I accord him to describe his playing; the taut, tasty - and I MEAN 'tasty' - textures are like nothing before or since - closest in comparison might be to say it's equal parts Ronnie Montrose, Leslie West and Mick Ronson) but from start to finish, the German-born brother of Scorpions' rhythm guitarist Rudolf and equally musical sister Barbara sets a standard for excellence that simply does NOT let up. Fledgling vocalist Gary Barden, keyboard vet Don Airey, bassist Mo Foster and legendary session drummer Simon Phillips distinguish themselves in coloring the material aptly.



While Michael has wrestled with a lingering reputation for wrecklessness from the Seventies onward (prematurely ending multiple stints in both UFO and the Scorps) the remastering of his debut and its follow-up demonstrates that he very much cares about his work and fans alike. Any complaints about the production on both albums (especially MSG, the second) will likely be forgotten with the first few notes of "Armed and Ready" or "Are You Ready To Rock"; it is clear, loud and full. Schenker's first effort is damned funky ("Feels Like A Good Thing") pounding ("Victim of Illusion", "Into The Arena") rhythmic (his deft yet thundering Nostradamus saga "Cry For The Nations") haunting ("Lost Horizons", the unforgettable lead of which defies description, compares favorably to "Dazed And Confused") and melodic ("Tales Of Mystery") all at once.....you just cannot go wrong with this collection and, to a slightly lesser extent, its follow-up if loud, melodic British rock in keeping with, say, classic and more emotive Rainbow is your thing. Feels like a VERY good thing, indeed!"

The best guitarist to never break thru.

Gerstenberg II | Cleveland, Ohio | 08/14/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Michael Schenker's first solo record after he left UFO. This is a classic hard rock cd, a must have for anyone who loves great guitar playing. Songs like, into the arena, lost horizons, armed and ready, bijou pleasurette, and tales of mystery are my favorite of this 9 song disc. I must say the production of this cd makes Judas Priest's British steel sound like " The Wall (Bob Ezrin)". Cry for the nations opening keyboard line sounds like it was recorded on a 12 inch casio. Outside of that song Schenkers gift for writting makes up for the production errors. Just like Uli Roth " early scorpions " Al De'meola, Michael Schenker was one of the first neo-classical players on the scene."

Michael schenker,s awesome first cd remastered!!

Paul Mcguinn | chicago il usa. | 04/03/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"this cd is still great 29 years after it,s release in 1980!michael had just left the scorpions after some of the love drive tour and before that he left ufo as they were mixing the excellent strangers in the night double live master piece album,when in ufo on the obsession tour his flying v was all white..soon after that he created the famous two tone black and white trade mark flying v by the time he was back with the scorpions on the love drive tour...any way this debut album by schenker is chock full of classics such as;armed and ready,cry for the nations,victim of illusion,feels like a good thing and the instrumental into the arena the remastering is very good and the bonus tracks are interesting for the schenker fan this album is a must!"