Michael Schenker Heavy Hitters CD

HEAVY HITTERS is Michael Schenker's "covers" albums.
Michael Schenker: Michael Schenker.
Personnel: Michael Schenker (guitar, slide guitar); Gary Barden, Jeff Pilson, Jeff Scott Soto, Joe Lynn Turner, Leslie West, Paul Di'Anno, Sebastian Bach, Tim "Ripper" Owens, Tommy Shaw, Mark Slaughter (vocals); Bob Kulick (guitar, background vocals); Jeremy Rubolino (strings, keyboards); Edgar Winter (saxophone); Brett Chassen (drums, background vocals); Mike Baird, Aynsley Dunbar, Vinny Appice, Simon Wright (drums).
Additional personnel: Chuck Wright, Jeff Pilson, Marco Mendoza , Mike Inez, Philip Soussan, Rudy Sarzo, Tony Franklin, Tony Levin (bass guitar); Eric Singer (drums); Edgar Winter, Gary Barden, Jeff Scott Soto, Joe Lynn Turner, Leslie West, Mike Baird, Paul Di'Anno, Sebastian Bach, Aynsley Dunbar, Tim "Ripper" Owens, Tommy Shaw, Vinny Appice, Mark Slaughter, Simon Wright , Bob Kulick.
Audio Mixers: Bob Kulick; Brett Chassen.
Recording information: Office Studios, Van Nuys, CA.
Illustrator: Ben Nunez.
Arranger: Bob Kulick.
There have been countless cover albums over the years, where established rock artists redo favorites from their formative years (David Bowie's PIN UPS, Rush's FEEDBACK, etc.), and the 2005 Michael Schenker release HEAVY HITTERS treads upon similar terrain. Put together by renowned studio musician Bob Kulick (best known to Kiss fans as the brother of Bruce Kulick, and as a guest guitarist on numerous Kiss albums), HEAVY HITTERS puts Schenker together with quite a few notable names from both the heavy metal and classic rock genres. Featured are covers of Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" (featuring Tim "Ripper" Owens on vocals), Pink Floyd's "Money" (with Tommy Shaw), Mountain's "Blood of the Sun" (with Leslie West), and Nazareth's "Hair of the Dog" (with Paul Di'Anno). Also featured are a pair of tracks that are "Schenker related"--a cover of UFO's classic "Doctor Doctor," while former MSG singer Gary Barden reunites with Schenker on a cover of Gary Moore and Phil Lynott's "Out in the Fields." While longtime fans would undoubtedly rather have had a new studio album by the Michael Schenker Group, HEAVY HITTERS is your typical fun cover set, which at times serves as a glimpse into Schenker's musical roots.
There have been countless "cover albums" over the years, where established rock artists redo favorites from their formative years (David Bowie's Pin Ups, Rush's Feedback, etc.), and the 2005 Michael Schenker release Heavy Hitters treads upon similar terrain. Put together by renowned studio musician Bob Kulick (best known to Kiss fans as the brother of Bruce Kulick, and as a guest guitarist on numerous Kiss albums), Heavy Hitters puts Schenker together with quite a few notable names from both the heavy metal and classic rock genres. Featured are covers of Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" (featuring Tim "Ripper" Owens on vocals), Pink Floyd's "Money" (with Tommy Shaw), Mountain's "Blood of the Sun" (with Leslie West), and Nazareth's "Hair of the Dog" (with Paul Di'Anno). Also featured are a pair of tracks that are "Schenker related" -- a cover of UFO's classic "Doctor Doctor," while former MSG singer Gary Barden reunites with Schenker on a cover of Gary Moore and Phil Lynott's "Out in the Fields." Other featured special guests include Aynsley Dunbar, Mike Inez, Edgar Winter, Tony Levin, Rudy Sarzo, Sebastian Bach, Eric Singer, and Mark Slaughter, among others. While undoubtedly longtime fans would have rather had a new studio album by the Michael Schenker Group, Heavy Hitters is your typical fun cover set, which at times serves as a glimpse into Schenker's musical roots. ~ Greg Prato