The Michael Schenker Group (album)

The Michael Schenker Group is the debut studio album by English hard rock band Michael Schenker Group, released in 1980. This was the first album after Schenker's departure from UFO in 1978 and brief reunion with Scorpions for the album Lovedrive.

Not to be confused with MSG (Michael Schenker Group album).

The Michael Schenker Group
Studio album by
Michael Schenker Group
ReleasedAugust 1980
RecordedMay–July 1980
StudioWessex Studios, London, UK
Genre
Length39:28
LabelChrysalis
ProducerRoger Glover
Michael Schenker Group chronology
The Michael Schenker Group
(1980)		 MSG
(1981)
Michael Schenker chronology
Lovedrive
(1979)		 The Michael Schenker Group
(1980)		 MSG
(1981)
Singles from The Michael Schenker Group
  1. "Armed and Ready" / "Bijou Pleasurette"
    Released: August 1980
  2. "Cry for the Nations" / "Into the Arena (live)"
    Released: October 1980

Reception and legacy
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic [2]
Billboard(favourable)[3][4]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal8/10[5]

The album was a commercial and critical success, entering the charts in the US, the UK and Japan, and was supported by the singles "Armed and Ready" and "Cry for the Nations". The album also topped the KTUH's charts on the week of 29 September 1980.[6]

The song "Armed and Ready" is featured in the video game Guitar Hero: Metallica.

Track listing

All songs written by Michael Schenker and Gary Barden unless otherwise noted.

Side one
  1. "Armed and Ready" - 4:05
  2. "Cry for the Nations" - 5:08
  3. "Victim of Illusion" - 4:41
  4. "Bijou Pleasurette" (Schenker) - 2:16
  5. "Feels Like a Good Thing" - 3:44
Side two
  1. "Into the Arena" (Schenker) - 4:10
  2. "Looking Out from Nowhere" - 4:28
  3. "Tales of Mystery" - 3:16
  4. "Lost Horizons" - 7:04

2009 Reissue bonus tracks
  1. "Just a Lover" (demo) - 4:34
  2. "Looking Out from Nowhere" (demo) - 5:13
  3. "Get Up and Get Down" (demo) - 3:59
  4. "After Midnight" (demo) - 4:31
  5. "Breakout" (demo) - 4:42
  6. "Cry for the Nations" (radio edit) - 3:35
  7. "Armed and Ready" (live at the Manchester Apollo) - 4:40
  8. "Into the Arena" (live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London) - 4:13

Personnel
Band members
Session musicians
Production
  • Roger Glover – producer
  • Gareth Edwards – engineer
  • Jeremy Allom – tape operator
1979 demos on 2009 reissue
1980 Live tracks on 2009 reissue

Charts
Chart (1980) Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[7] 59
UK Albums (OCC)[8] 8
US Billboard 200[9] 100

References
  1. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  2. Hinds, Andy. "Michael Schenker The Michael Schenker Group review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  3. "Review: The Michael Schenker Group – Michael Schenker Group" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 85, no. 36. 6 September 1980. p. 70. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 24 May 2020 – via American Radio History.
  4. "Review: The Michael Schenker Group – Michael Schenker Group" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 85, no. 39. 27 September 1980. p. 66. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 24 May 2020 – via American Radio History.
  5. Popoff, Martin (1 November 2005). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 316. ISBN 978-1894959315.
  6. KTUH FM Honolulu - Charts - September 29th, 1980. URL:http://ktuh.fm/charts/1980/09/29
  7. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  8. "The Michael Schenker Group | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  9. "The Michael Schenker Group Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
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