Reactivate Live

Artist: Michael Schenker
Label: Zoom Club
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Box set
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 4
EAN: 5036408004581
ASIN: B000075A54

Release Date: 2006-01-09

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Listmania:

MICHAEL SCHENKER / MSG - Ranked

Tracks:

Armed and Ready
Cry for the Nations
Victim of Illusion
Into the Arena
Lost Horizons
Doctor Doctor
Lights Out

Tracks:

Armed and Ready
Cry for the Nations
Victim of Illusion
Natural Thing
Feels Like a Good Thing
Into the Arena
Rock Bottom
Looking Out from Nowhere

Customer Reviews:

1 star short of 5 because disc 3 is a bit disappointing.......2003-11-29

According to my internet-based research, all four discs are soundboard recordings---from the mixing desk at each venue, and this means that the signal is mixed for the mono PA system and therefore doesn't sound all that great through headphones. But, other than a few minor glitches here & there, they sound just fine through speakers---at least discs 1, 2, and 4. Disc 3 is from a rehearsal session in Kent, England in the Autumn of 1980 and sounds very rough at times (especially "Rock Bottom" & "Lights Out"). In fact, Schenker's performance on disc 3 is a bit dodgy and one can only assume that this is due to the fact that there was no audience to feed off of or impress. But nevermind. The performances on the other three discs are excellent. I disagree with one reviewer who suggested that this package is more for the "seasoned fan". It's not. It's for anyone who has ever heard even one Schenker song and liked it alot. The raw nature of the sound quality displays Schenker's virtuosity much better than the glossy and almost muffled quality found on "One Night At Budokan" (which, by the way, is still a damn good album to own). And as for "bum notes": Schenker was an inspirational performer. He played by feeling. He never tried to play a solo the same way twice. He played what he felt at the moment. This means that, despite the fact that there are multiple versions of the same songs in this Reactivate package, each one is a unique performance. The songs you hear on his studio albums were frameworks to jump in and out of during his concerts rather than straitjacket blueprints to confine himself to. And so, if you're gonna perform with spontaneity and inspiration rather than play your songs exactly like your studio versions (yawn), then you're bound to hit a few notes that seem out of place while you're burning a new path through old ground. Believe me, if you hear any "bum notes" on discs 1,2, and 4, you'll be glad rather than disappointed---glad because you'll hear them within awesome solos never to be repeated. Yes, Reactivate Live will be a welcomed addition to the collection of any true fan of Michael Schenker's astonishing talent ---despite the sad fact that each disc holds far less material than it's capable of. (Heavy sigh...) And the liner notes are a waste of space. They don't tell you anything about the history of the recordings. They don't tell you where they've been and how they were chosen---they don't even tell you WHO chose them. They don't tell you if each concert is presented in its entirety or if it's been edited---and if edited, why? No, all we get is some plonkerville prattle from Paul Raymond who has the cheek to say, in reference to the disc 2 show, "A good show by a band that promised so much but, due to the diversity of its members, never really quite delivered". Never quite delivered what? The moolah? The posh clothes & mansions & tropical islands? So what if they were never a HUGE corporate success? They rocked. They rocked harder than any other group. I don't know what Paul Raymond is talking about because I'll tell you what, this 4 disc set DELIVERS some of the very best heavy metal/hard rock guitar soloing you'll ever hear (and there's more on Back To Attack---in fact, even better!). Buy it. Play it through speakers. Turn off the EQ & Xtra Bass and other fun audio tricks---at least for your 1st listen---and hear it the way the audience's did. You'll air-guitar yourself dizzy in no time.

Let us be fair.......2003-05-23

Yes the recording a bit raw but they have a great energy about them. It is great to hear various recordings that show the early evolution of the band. It is no Stangers In The Night but for MSG fans that is a treat.

Worth it !!.......2002-12-01

If your a schenker fan , this boxed set is very cool...... what they are is soundboard tapes that the band taped themselves , there raw unmixed live show's......killer in my opinion , they have'nt been all doctored up ! #4 this to me sound's like a bootleg (a real good audience recording)........funny how we as human's have different opinions....and saying disc 3 is dissapointing from the "built to destroy tour" .........did you read the liner notes?? it's not from the tour at all , it's a rehearsal tape , theres no crowd , it's them getting ready for the tour , which is really cool (it's also not even close to that tour , these recordings are from 1980 before there 1st headlining tour........gary barden is a little loud at some points , but it's the nature of soundboard tapes.... I have been a huge fan of michaels since 1979 & this set is priceless , take it for what it is , great live soundboard tapes , much better than
the boot's floating around out there , & the packaging is nice......so if your an average fan , you probably are better off with a studio cd.....but those who want more , i highly recomend this !! long live MSG

Deactivate Reactivate.......2002-11-27

First-off, I love these guys (Schenker, Mogg et al). The one-star rating is unfortunately for the poor sound quality. Only the 4th CD (live from Osaka) is above bootleg quality, while the other three (for these ears at least) are rather poor. Not even as good as Werewolves of London and at the rather hefty cost, not really worth it. Gary Barden is uneven in the mix and then the keyboards are way too high on the 3rd CD (being the Built to Destroy Tour). On the plus side, some nice photos of the boys, being Paul Raymond, Cozy Powell (RIP) et al and some decent liner notes from Paul Raymond, although more details from Paulie would have been nice.

Music CD:

Music CD

Music CD

Music CD

Flatpicking 2002 ~ Various Artists

Tokyo Road-Best of

I Hate Therefore I Am ~ Cyclone Temple

Live in Palma ~ Dervish

El Amor y la Libertad ~ K'Jarkas

Les Incontournables ~ Gilberto Gil

A Tribute to Fuel ~ Various Artists

The Very Best of Showaddywaddy ~ Showaddywaddy

Porky's Revenge! ~ Original Soundtrack

Everlasting Night ~ Dannii Minogue