The Michael Schenker Group (album)

Not to be confused with MSG (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.

The Michael Schenker Group
Studio album by Michael Schenker Group
Released	August 1980
Recorded	May–July 1980
Studio	Wessex, London, UK
Genre	Hard rock^[1] 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

Reception and legacy

Professional ratings

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

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) - 4:13

Personnel

Band members

• Michael Schenker – guitars
• Gary Barden – vocals

Session musicians

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

Production

• Roger Glover – producer
• Gareth Edwards – engineer
• Jeremy Allom – tape operator

1979 demos on 2009 reissue

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

1980 Live tracks on 2009 reissue

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

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. [1] 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. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
9. "Michael Schenker Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 17, 2023.