On disc: Mr. Big

 
 Back To Budokan
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 What If...
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Live From The Living Room
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Live From Milan
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 

Live From Milan

(Frontiers Records - 2018)



 
 

 

While promotion Defying Gravity Mr. Big stopped in Milan and that show was recorded for a live album with an additional Blu Ray. Nobody knew at that time that it would be one of the last shows of drummer Pat Torpey who passed away early 2018 after battling Parkinson's Disease. At the tour he already played drums just one a few songs, but handled the tambourine and added backing vocals. Drummer Matt Starr took over on the other songs. So this live recording is a special one.



As so many times in the past they kicked off with Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy - a classic. Next in line American Beauty off What If, their 2010 release. As usual Eric Martin and his mates mix old and new songs, and with guys like Billy Sheehan and Paul Gilbert on strings it's no surprise that live these guys get a chance to shine even more.




 


As usual Mr. Big isn't presenting the songs exactly as on disc, they take the chance to make little changes to make it interesting, but not to a point where the songs is completely changed!



Their hit Addicted To That Rush they blow up to 10 minutes running time, so you can imagine that there are some solo passages and improvisation to discover. In the middle of the song Eric Martin takes to the fans about addictions and what's driving them for so many years. And towards the end Eric Martin introduces the band, even if everybody at the show will know these guys.



Just take a look at the set list! It has all the classic and some new tunes. This album is a must-have for Mr. Big fans and everybody who loves their sound! So get your copy now!





Track list:
Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy

American Beauty

Undertow

Alive And Kickin'

Temperamental

Just Take My Heart

Take Cover

Green-Tinted Sixties Mind

Everybody Needs A Little Trouble

Price You Gotta Pay

Paul's Solo

Open Your Eyes

Wild World

Damn I'm In Love Again

Rock And Roll Over

Around The World

Billy's Solo

Addicted To That Rush

To Be With You

1992

Colorado Bulldog

Defying Gravity
 
    





 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Live From The Living Room

(Frontiers Records - 2012)



 
 

 

Mr. Big don't need to be introduced, they did 7 studio albums and even more live albums - some have been just released in Japan - and now they have another live album for their fans. You might wonder, why another live album... Well, this time it's an acoustic live album which make sense, coz they are best known for To Be With You, an acoustic track. The acoustic album was recorded in Japan during a promotion trip for What If..., so the majority of the songs is from that album.



The kick off with Undertow, a great choice, coz it's a dynamic rocker. As expected Eric Martin's voice is up front, but there is still enough space for the rest to shine. Still Ain't Enough For Me is quite heavy for an acoustic tune and has an authentic rock'n'roll feeling - and even offers a cool bass solo! One of the highlights is Voodoo Kiss! Mr. Big vary but stay true to the original as well. Another great one is Stranger In My Life, an intensive tune which is dedicated to the folks who served. At the second part of the album the band is joined by a string quartet. Unfortunately due to adding the string quartet they had to stick to the original tunes and couldn't drift off. And actually that makes the part without the string quartet more entertaining. But I understand the reasons, so I don't want to criticize them for it, even if it makes me hope for another acoustic album where they offer more classics and can drift wherever they want, just limited by the acoustic setting. Especially To Be With You could have do with an acoustic make-over. The closer Nobody Left To Blame is a heavy rocker where the string quartet isn't as present as at the previous tracks.br>


Still, it's a great album which every fan of acoustic rock, hard rock and Mr. Big should grab! Hopefully the awesome foursome will do a few acoustic shows next time they hit the road!





Track list:



Undertow

Still Ain't Enough For Me

As Far As I Can See

Voodoo Kiss

Take Cover

Around The World

Stranger In My Life

All The Way Up

To Be With You

Nobody Left To Blame

 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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What If... 

(Frontiers - 2011)



 
 

 

Mr. Big is back with a studio album recorded by the original line-up, something their fans have been waiting for. What If... was produced by Kevin Shirley, so there is no need to talk about the production here.

Most rock fans will know at least the bands smash hit To Be With You, but the band always had some rockers to offer.

The opener is called Undertow, a heavy, riff-based rocker which they choose to be the first video. At Undertow guitarist Paul Gilbert shows off his skills, but not like some others with long solo passages! With American Beauty they offer a typical Mr Big rocker with a prominent bass line, varying drum patters, a cool guitar solo - and on top Eric Martin's unique vocals. This song could have been recorded for Lean Into It! Time to slow down for Stranger In My Life, a melancholy balladesque tune. A song like Nobody Takes The Blame won't be everybody's darling, it's a bit experimental... in a way. The fast rocker Still Ain't Enough For Me is another showcase of the guys technical skills, but also catchy. Sheehan's bass reminds me a bit of Addicted To That Rush - but I should listen to the later one again for confirmation. At As Far As I Can See Eric Martin can shine, he's still an outstanding singer. A ear catcher! But even if Eric Martin can showcase his talent, the others do to. One of my faves is I Won't Get In My Way, a mid-paced rocker with a catchy vocal line. Not too polished, but with great harmony vocals. After the fast rocker Around The World - with some big backings - they close the album with I Get The Feeling, a melodic rocker which brings back the 80's. Not really a highlight of What If..., but still a decent track!

Unforgiven is the bonus track in Europe and the USA, a tune which gives Paul Gilbert another chance to show his talent. Perhaps not the song which make you pick up the album again, but there are others which will make you spin it again.

It's been 10 years since their last studio album, but with What If... Mr. Big  show that they are still alive and kickin'!

 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Back To Budokan

(Frontiers - 2009)



 
 

 

Mr. Big were the super group of the late 80's and they took the hard rock scene by storm. They had several smash hits and toured successfully. In 1999 guitarist Paul Gilbert left the band and was replaced by Richie Kotzen, but in 2002 Mr. Big disbanded. The fans of the band extraordinary still loved the album and wanted them back. Early 2009 the band reunited and played some shows in Japan. This double CD - as well as the DVD - are documenting the return of the hard rock's Fab Four.

As so many times before the band kicked off with Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Electric Drill Song), one of their classics. Actually the live album has all their classics - and more - to offer. Together the foursome creates something magic, the songs sound fresh and the band sounds like they enjoyed being back on stage.... Back To Budokan is what the fans were waiting for - the band back on the road and a live album which reflects their whole career. The sound is very good, but that's no surprise and also solo performances of Billy Sheehan, Paul Gilbert and Pat Torpey won't surprise any fan. Just that the solos are a bit too long... at least for me. And the backing vocals partly sound a bit strange, but hell it's a live album! The acoustic version of Wild World shows Eric Martin very expressive and it seems like he's singing this one for someone special... And again Mr. Big show that their songs can shine when reduced to the basics like the acoustic version of Goin' Where The Wind Blows. They mix rockers and ballads, so they rock the house with Colorado Bulldog after playing To Be With You. And with Deep Purple's Smoke On The Water they present one of the most covered songs. I Love You Japan was followed by Baba O'Riley (The Who), personally I prefer the original... With Shyboy the set ends, but not the CD!

Additionally the band added 2 new studio tracks and an acoustic version of To Be With You. The first new track is Next Time Around, a melodic rocker which has the authentic Mr. Big sound - and won't disappoint their fans! With Hold You Head Up the foursome try something new, but they don't push it too far. Even if this one won't make every Mr. Big fan happy... If Mr. Big are fully back will only a new studio album show, meanwhile you can have a great time with Back To Budokan.





Track list:


CD1:



Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Electric Drill Song)

Take Cover

Green-Tinted Sixties Mind

Alive and Kickin'

Next Time Around

Hold Your Head Up

Just Take My Heart

Temperamental

It's For You - Mars

Pat Torpey Drum Solo

Price You Gotta Pay

Stay Together

Wild World

Goin' Where The Wind Blows

Take A Walk



CD2:



Paul Gilbert Guitar Solo

Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan Duo

Double Human Capo

The Whole World's Gonna Know

Promise Her The Moon

Rock & Roll Over

Billy Sheehan Bass Solo

Addicted To That Rush

To Be With You

Colorado Bulldog

Smoke On The Water

I Love You Japan

Baba O'Riley

Shyboy

Next Time Around *

Hold Your Head Up *

To Be With You **



* New studio tracks

** Exclusive bonus track - acoustic version

 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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