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MR. BIG HIT BACK IN EUROPE WITH THE RELEASE OF WHAT IF…:
Frontiers Records is proud to announce the highly anticipated European release of Mr. Big's new studio album entitled What If… on January 21, 2011. The North American release, also on Frontiers records, shall follow in February with more exciting details to be announced!
What If… is Mr. Big's first “all original” album since the reunion of the four original members, Eric Martin, Paul Gilbert, Billy Sheehan and Pat Torpey back in early 2009. Sixteen years after the release of Hey Man, the new recording is set to bring back MR. BIG on the height of the current Hard Rock scene.
Guitarist Paul Gilbert said: “This is the first MR. BIG album I have been a part of, since fourteen years and it was done in a snap. It was fun and we had really a good time in making this one”. Continues Billy Sheehan “It's so great to be back with Paul, Eric and Pat too. We wrote this record like we did in the old days for the first 2 records. Jamming together in the same room to write songs”. Pat Torpey adds “Some of the recording process is different now from what we were used to in the old times. But I think this record really managed to capture the performances of the band, not of the individual musicians”.
Eric Martin concludes: “I like to compare this to the first album, when we just got to know each other in a rehearsal studio and cut it in 8 or 9 days. This is like chapter 2. We had so many years, so many records and so many things behind us. Now this feels like a beautiful brand new chapter starting for all of us”.
What If… was produced by Kevin Shirley (Journey, Aerosmith, Rush, Iron Maiden) and the release will be followed by a World Tour which will kick off in South America in March and will hit Europe in early summer.
Formed in 1988, Mr. Big forged its place in hard rock history by combining trademark "shredding" musicianship with awesome vocal harmonies. The original line-up * vocalist Eric Martin, guitarist Paul Gilbert, bassist Billy Sheehan, and drummer Pat Torpey. Mr. Big produced numerous hit songs that ranged across a wide array of rock genres * be it ballads, heavy metal, or blues rock.
Their hits included "To Be With You" (Billboard Hot 100 number one single in 15 countries for weeks, in 1991, propelling the band the band to huge international success and record sales in the multi-millions), "Wild World", Green-Tinted sixties Mind", "Just Take My Heart", and a host of heavy metal songs that were played mostly during their live performances: "Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy", "Addicted to that Rush", "Colorado Bulldog", and "Take Cover".
“What If…” will be released in a special edition CD + DVD in digipak, regular CD, vinyl and digital download and in a limited edition luxury box including the CD, DVD, LP and exclusive memorabilia.
“What If…” track listing includes: Undertow; American Beauty; Stranger In My Life; Nobody Takes the Blame; Still Ain't Enough for Me; Once Upon a Time; As Far As I Can See; All The Way Up; I Won't Get In My Way; Around The World; I Get The Feeling; Unforgiven (exclusive bonus track for Europe / North America * not on vinyl edition).
The DVD will include the video clips of “Undertow” and “All the Way Up” plus a documentary “Making of” the album including interviews and exclusive behind the scenes features of the four members.
The first single “Undertow” will have an official promotional launch on November 27.
Just to add a few comments since I have been most fortunate to hear the new record - this is a seriously hard rocking Mr. Big album. It has the raw energy and feel of the debut, with the intimacy of Lean Into It and even a little of the Hey Man mood. But above all - this sounds like a fresh, energized Mr. Big and in places, heavier than ever. There is an updated contemporary feel to several of the tracks, especially in Paul Gilbert's sound, while on other tracks, it is as if the band was recording a sequel to Lean Into It.
And I have to say that the entire album is riddled with shredding Paul & Bill guitar and bass solos and a pummeling drum sound. And Eric Martin sounds as if he hasn't aged a day since 1991.
A few personal favourites at this early time:
Undertow - hard hitting, but moody melodic rocker with a vibe similar to Take Cover from Hey Man. Very commercial.
American Beauty - Straight ahead uptempo hard rocker with a hook.
Stranger In My Life - big commercial ballad, but still rocks. Just Take My Heart perhaps? But better!
Nobody Takes the Blame & Still Ain't Enough for Me - Heavy heavy heavy!
Around The World - Big rock n roll anthem.
I Get The Feeling - Another big harmonious chorus.
A full track by track review in the weeks to come. But not a weak track in sight on What If...
MR. BIG HIT BACK IN EUROPE WITH THE RELEASE OF WHAT IF…:
Frontiers Records is proud to announce the highly anticipated European release of Mr. Big's new studio album entitled What If… on January 21, 2011. The North American release, also on Frontiers records, shall follow in February with more exciting details to be announced!
What If… is Mr. Big's first “all original” album since the reunion of the four original members, Eric Martin, Paul Gilbert, Billy Sheehan and Pat Torpey back in early 2009. Sixteen years after the release of Hey Man, the new recording is set to bring back MR. BIG on the height of the current Hard Rock scene.
Guitarist Paul Gilbert said: “This is the first MR. BIG album I have been a part of, since fourteen years and it was done in a snap. It was fun and we had really a good time in making this one”. Continues Billy Sheehan “It's so great to be back with Paul, Eric and Pat too. We wrote this record like we did in the old days for the first 2 records. Jamming together in the same room to write songs”. Pat Torpey adds “Some of the recording process is different now from what we were used to in the old times. But I think this record really managed to capture the performances of the band, not of the individual musicians”.
Eric Martin concludes: “I like to compare this to the first album, when we just got to know each other in a rehearsal studio and cut it in 8 or 9 days. This is like chapter 2. We had so many years, so many records and so many things behind us. Now this feels like a beautiful brand new chapter starting for all of us”.
What If… was produced by Kevin Shirley (Journey, Aerosmith, Rush, Iron Maiden) and the release will be followed by a World Tour which will kick off in South America in March and will hit Europe in early summer.
Formed in 1988, Mr. Big forged its place in hard rock history by combining trademark "shredding" musicianship with awesome vocal harmonies. The original line-up * vocalist Eric Martin, guitarist Paul Gilbert, bassist Billy Sheehan, and drummer Pat Torpey. Mr. Big produced numerous hit songs that ranged across a wide array of rock genres * be it ballads, heavy metal, or blues rock.
Their hits included "To Be With You" (Billboard Hot 100 number one single in 15 countries for weeks, in 1991, propelling the band the band to huge international success and record sales in the multi-millions), "Wild World", Green-Tinted sixties Mind", "Just Take My Heart", and a host of heavy metal songs that were played mostly during their live performances: "Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy", "Addicted to that Rush", "Colorado Bulldog", and "Take Cover".
“What If…” will be released in a special edition CD + DVD in digipak, regular CD, vinyl and digital download and in a limited edition luxury box including the CD, DVD, LP and exclusive memorabilia.
“What If…” track listing includes: Undertow; American Beauty; Stranger In My Life; Nobody Takes the Blame; Still Ain't Enough for Me; Once Upon a Time; As Far As I Can See; All The Way Up; I Won't Get In My Way; Around The World; I Get The Feeling; Unforgiven (exclusive bonus track for Europe / North America * not on vinyl edition).
The DVD will include the video clips of “Undertow” and “All the Way Up” plus a documentary “Making of” the album including interviews and exclusive behind the scenes features of the four members.
The first single “Undertow” will have an official promotional launch on November 27.
Just to add a few comments since I have been most fortunate to hear the new record - this is a seriously hard rocking Mr. Big album. It has the raw energy and feel of the debut, with the intimacy of Lean Into It and even a little of the Hey Man mood. But above all - this sounds like a fresh, energized Mr. Big and in places, heavier than ever. There is an updated contemporary feel to several of the tracks, especially in Paul Gilbert's sound, while on other tracks, it is as if the band was recording a sequel to Lean Into It.
And I have to say that the entire album is riddled with shredding Paul & Bill guitar and bass solos and a pummeling drum sound. And Eric Martin sounds as if he hasn't aged a day since 1991.
A few personal favourites at this early time:
Undertow - hard hitting, but moody melodic rocker with a vibe similar to Take Cover from Hey Man. Very commercial.
American Beauty - Straight ahead uptempo hard rocker with a hook.
Stranger In My Life - big commercial ballad, but still rocks. Just Take My Heart perhaps? But better!
Nobody Takes the Blame & Still Ain't Enough for Me - Heavy heavy heavy!
Around The World - Big rock n roll anthem.
I Get The Feeling - Another big harmonious chorus.
A full track by track review in the weeks to come. But not a weak track in sight on What If...
