Michael Schenker Group Michael Schenker/London,UK 1982

The best real album of the “ASSAULT ATTACK TOUR” is here. This work was recorded at the “Hammersmith Odeon” performance on November 26, 1982. This is an audience album that records the highlight performance in the UK with the best sound. After the release of the album “Apocalypse”, Graham Bonnet suddenly left the band, but M.S.G. called back his ally Gary Barden and started the tour as if nothing had happened. Instead of a star player, this tour is very popular with an ironclad ensemble that focuses on the basic premise that “Michael Schenker is the main character”. However, it is true that the sound source situation on this tour was not good and there were many “so-so” recordings. Among them, this work has been known as a classic for a long time. It boasts a special sound and a complete recording of the show among many recordings, and is a famous recording that has reigned as the “best of the ASSAULT ATTACK TOUR” by collectors around the world. This work is a definitive edition in which such a famous recording has been re-digitized from the original master provided by the recorder. In fact, it was a Japanese person who accomplished this recording. At that time, it was a work by a recorder who went to the UK to experience the real M.S.G. In fact, the sound of this work is wonderful in that it combines a neat sound typical of Japanese people with the heat of the real thing. Although the real on-site feeling is not the type that is called “like a sound board”, the clear and bold musical sound is vivid to the details, and it is extremely elegant that even a poor line recording / FM sound source can be rejected. Until now, the strongest record of “ASSAULT ATTACK TOUR” was famous for “SOUTHAMPTON 1982” of “stakeholder audience recording”, but even in front of that great masterpiece, it is a sound that does not give in half a step. Although the quality is on par with “SOUTHAMPTON 1982”, the live depicted in that sound is surpassed by this work. The set list is wonderful. Even “Bijou Pleasurette”, “Victim Of Illusion” and “Looking For Love” that were not heard in “SOUTHAMPTON 1982” are played in abundance. In particular, “Bijou Pleasurette” is not a guitar solo like the album, but an evolved version in which the theme melody is dramatically developed with a band arrangement. I have no intention of criticizing the masterpiece “God (The Return of the Flying Arrow)”, but I wanted to hear this version recorded in the studio… It is such a great instrumental number. However, since there is no “Feels Like A Good Thing” that was played on “SOUTHAMPTON 1982”, it is not immediately “SOUTHAMPTON 1982 is unnecessary!”, but this work wins in the sense of “summary of early M.S.G.” Furthermore, the band that plays such a set is also wonderful. The kickoff performance of the tour was the Reading Festival in August, and the band’s engine is full throttle in this work, which has been performed for three full months since then. The whole show is packed with delicious performances that run at full speed but are not tired at all. Gary Barden proves that he is in top form. He sings his own songs comfortably, but on this day he even sings Graham’s “Rock You To The Ground” and “Desert Song” beautifully. Of course, the high notes that even Graham himself struggles with are not exactly as they are in the studio, but his voice is stable and seems like Gary’s original. He even shows off a singing voice that makes you think, “I don’t need Derek St. Holmes for this.” The show is truly a safe and fulfilling one, but there are many obstacles to success. Suddenly, he does something wrong with the great song “Into The Arena.” The bass solo livens up the song, and for some reason Michael doesn’t come in at the highlight! He goes completely astray and gets confused to the point of collapse. He manages to recover and return to the ending of the grand finale, but it’s a very spectacular flop. It’s one of their favorites, and I don’t know how many times they’ve played it since the band was formed, but perhaps they were in such good form that they let their guard down… Michael’s tone is sweet and sad, and his recovery phrases are also lustrous, so the contrast is striking, as they were in their prime. Another thing that makes you think, “What?” is the MC at the beginning of Disc 2. Gary boldly calls out “Looking For Love,” but the song that starts is “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie.” At this point, Gary is in a state of confusion… but he himself happily hums the intro to “Let Sleeping Dogs Lie.” It seems that he doesn’t even realize that he made a mistake, and you can enjoy this rare and interesting scene. The mistake was so interesting that I ended up spending a lot of words on it, but that’s just a minor thing. The live performance itself is a masterpiece in which the performance/singing voices jump out one after another, without any mistakes. Although the “ASSAULT ATTACK TOUR” has a strong impression that “Graham is gone”, the contents were a very fulfilling concert that summarized the charm of the early M.S.G. It is a rare recording that completely records that charm with the best sound. This is the highest peak version. If you are going to “ASSAULT ATTACK TOUR”, this is the one to “first of all”. Because it is the big prime, it is a masterpiece of a live album where even mistakes can be laughed off. Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK 26th November 1982 TRULY PERFECT SOUND(from Original Masters) Disc 1(51:00) 1. Intro. 2. Ulcer 3. Cry For The Nations 4. Attack Of The Mad Axeman 5. Rock You To The Ground 6. Bijou Pleasurette 7. Victim Of Illusion 8. Into The Arena 9. Desert Courvoisier Concert 11. Lost Horizons Disc 2(43:32) 1. Band Introduction 2. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie 3. Looking For Love 4. Armed And Ready 5. Doctor Doctor 6. Are You Ready To Rock 7. Rock Bottom Michael Schenker – Guitar / Gary Barden – Vocals / Andy Nye – Keyboards / Chris Glenn – Bass / Ted McKenna – Drums