The Michael Schenker Group (album)

The Michael Schenker Group is the first album by the hard rock band Michael Schenker Group.

The Michael Schenker Group
Studio album by Michael Schenker Group
Released	August 1980
Recorded	May - July 1980
Studio	Wessex Studios, London, UK
Genre	Hard rock, heavy metal
Length	39:28
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Roger 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
"Armed and Ready" / "Bijou Pleasurette" Released: August 1980 "Cry for the Nations" / "Into the Arena (live)" Released: October 1980

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Billboard	(favourable)[2][3]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal	8/10[4]

Made No. 1 on KTUH's charts on the week of 29 September 1980.[5]

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

6. "Into the Arena" (Schenker) - 4:10
7. "Looking Out from Nowhere" - 4:28
8. "Tales of Mystery" - 3:16
9. "Lost Horizons" - 7:04

2009 Reissue bonus tracks

10. "Just a Lover" (demo) - 4:34
11. "Looking Out from Nowhere" (demo) - 5:13
12. "Get Up and Get Down" (demo) - 3:59
13. "After Midnight" (demo) - 4:31
14. "Breakout" (demo) - 4:42
15. "Cry for the Nations" (radio edit) - 3:35
16. "Armed and Ready" (live at the Manchester Apollo) - 4:40
17. "Into the Arena" (live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London)

Personnel

Michael Schenker Group

• Michael Schenker - guitar
• Gary Barden - vocals

Session musicians

• Don Airey - keyboards
• Mo Foster - bass
• Simon Phillips - drums

Production

• Roger Glover - producer
• Jeremy Allom, Gareth Edwards - engineers

1979 demos on 2009 reissue

• Gary Barden - vocals
• Michael Schenker - guitar
• Billy Sheehan - bass
• Denny Carmassi - drums

1980 Live tracks on 2009 reissue

• Gary Barden - vocals
• Michael Schenker - guitar
• Paul Raymond - keyboards
• Chris Glen - bass
• Cozy Powell - drums

Charts

Year	Chart	Peak position	Sales	Weeks on Chart
1980	UK[6]	8	-	8
	Japan	59	12,600	7
	US[7]	100	-	-

References

1. Hinds, Andy. "Michael Schenker The Michael Schenker Group review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-07-17.
2. "Review: The Michael Schenker Group – Michael Schenker Group" (PDF). Billboard. 85 (36). 6 September 1980. p. 70. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 24 May 2020 – via American Radio History.
3. "Review: The Michael Schenker Group – Michael Schenker Group" (PDF). Billboard. 85 (39). 27 September 1980. p. 66. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 24 May 2020 – via American Radio History.
4. 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.
5. KTUH FM Honolulu - Charts - September 29th, 1980. URL:http://ktuh.fm/charts/1980/09/29
6. "Michael Schenker Group The Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-06-19.
7. "The Michael Schenker Group Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-06-19.