MSG (Michael Schenker Group album)

Not to be confused with The Michael Schenker Group (album).

MSG is the second album by the hard rock band Michael Schenker Group, released in 1981. Producer Ron Nevison's high production values resulted in the recording of this album going over budget, a crippling debt that dogged the band for the rest of their short career. MSG saw Schenker reunited with his former UFO bandmate Paul Raymond, and was the last album to feature Gary Barden until 1983's Built to Destroy.

MSG
Studio album by Michael Schenker Group
Released	September 1981
Recorded	March–May 1981
Studio	AIR Studios, London and Montserrat
Genre	Hard rock
Length	36:47
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Ron Nevison
Michael Schenker Group chronology
The Michael Schenker Group (1980) MSG (1981) One Night at Budokan (1982)
Singles from MSG
"Ready to Rock" / "Attack of the Mad Axeman" Released: August 1981

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal	7/10[2]

Track listing

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Ready to Rock"		3:26
2.	"Attack of the Mad Axeman"		4:17
3.	"On and On"		4:41
4.	"Let Sleeping Dogs Lie"	Barden, Chris Glen, Cozy Powell, Paul Raymond, Schenker	5:21

All tracks are written by Michael Schenker and Gary Barden except where noted

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
5.	"But I Want More"		6:56
6.	"Never Trust a Stranger"	Raymond	4:24
7.	"Looking for Love"		4:03
8.	"Secondary Motion"		3:42
Total length:			36:47

2009 reissue bonus tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
9.	"Never Trust a Stranger (Rough Monitor Mix)"	Raymond	4:33
10.	"Natural Thing"	Schenker, Phil Mogg, Pete Way	4:18
11.	"Feels Like a Good Thing"		3:53
12.	"Looking Out from Nowhere"		5:55
13.	"Shoot Shoot"	Schenker, Mogg, Andy Parker, Way	4:39
14.	"Doctor Doctor"	Schenker, Mogg	5:31
15.	"Lights Out"	Schenker, Mogg, Parker, Way	5:09
Total length:			71:33

• Tracks 10 to 15 recorded live at the Manchester Apollo on 30 September 1980

Personnel

Band members

• Michael Schenker – lead guitar
• Gary Barden – lead and backing vocals
• Chris Glen – bass
• Cozy Powell – drums
• Paul Raymond – keyboards, rhythm guitar

Additional musicians

• Stephen Stills, Billy Nicholls – backing vocals

Production

• Ron Nevison – producer, engineer, mixing
• Rick Isbell, Renate, Mike Stavrou, David Wooley – assistant engineers
• Gareth Edwards – live tracks engineer

Charts

Chart (1981)	Peak position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[3]	31
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[4]	15
UK Albums (OCC)[5]	14
US Billboard 200[6]	81

References

1. Hinds, Andy. "Michael Schenker Group - MSG". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
2. Popoff, Martin (1 November 2005). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. pp. 316–317. ISBN 978-1894959315.
3. "Dutchcharts.nl – Michael Schenker Group – MSG" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
4. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
5. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
6. "Michael Schenker Group Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 17, 2023.