McAULEY SCHENKER GROUP – Perfect Timing [SHM-CD Remastered +2]

Universal Japan have been reissuing a bunch of great albums freshly remastered, pressed on high quality SHM-CD, most of them including bonus tracks and sold at a very affordable price (around 15 bucks each). Among the batch arriving to our mailbox are the McAULEY SCHENKER GROUP terrific albums. Let’s go with “Perfect Timing“, one of my favorites.

“Perfect Timing” was the first collaboration between Michael Schenker and Robin McAuley (ex-Grand Prix and Far Corporation), resulting in Schenker’s first top 100 US hit with the song “Gimme Your Love.”
The band featured an eclectic mix of musicians in terms of nationalities. McAuley hails from Ireland originally, while Schenker and drummer Bodo Schopf are both from Germany.

American guitarist Mitch Perry had originally played in bass virtuoso Billy Sheehan’s band, Talas (and had later joined the revamped Australian/American version of the band Heaven), while bassist Rocky Newton and guest keyboardist/rhythm guitarist Steve Mann were British and had previously been members of the band Lionheart.

Well, of the 3 McAuley-Schenker Group, “Perfect Timing” is my favorite. But more than that, it’s one of my favorite albums from 1987, a fantastic year for Melodic Hard Rock.

Unlike Schenker’s earlier material, which had a similar vibe to former bands UFO, this version of the band leaned more towards a commercial, American, pop-metal melodic hard rock sound.
The debut featured Michael’s first hit single, “Gimme Your Love”, a hooky, catchy number. I remember seeing the video on Headbanger’s Ball back in the ’80s, and immediately purchased the vinyl next day.
And fall in love with the album.

“Perfect Timing” also features awesome melodic hard rockers including “Here Today – Gone Tomorrow”, “I Don’t Wanna Lose”, and “No Time For Losers”. As was the tradition in the ’80s, there are two typical power ballads as well, “Follow The Night” and “Time”, both superb in their own right.
There is no better title for this album; Schenker provides his outstanding as usual guitar work but here in control mode, at the service of the songs, and Robin McAuley delivers a varied palette of his wide vocal abilities.

The third factor to launch this album to the stratosphere is the man behind the desk; Produced, Engineered & Mixed by guru Andy Johns, “Perfect Timing” sounds glossy, punchy, multi-dimensional. For me, without a doubt, this is one of the best produced Rock albums of all time.

This Japanese remaster on SHM-CD is simply awesome: the already fantastic original production is pumped up on all the sonic spectrum with incredible results. And we have two bonus tracks.
In my book, this is a MUST HAVE.

Universal Japan ~ 国内盤 | SHM-CD | UICY-25516

01 – Gimme Your Love
02 – Here Today-Gone Tomorrow
03 – Don’t Stop Me Now
04 – No Time For Losers
05 – Follow The Night
06 – Get Out
07 – Love Is Not A Game
08 – Time
09 – I Don’t Wanna Lose
10 – Rock ‘Til You’re Crazy
BONUS TRACKS:
11 – Gimme Your Love [7” single]
12 – Follow The Night [edit version]

Robin McAuley – lead vocals
Michael Schenker – lead guitar
Mitch Perry – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Rocky Newton – bass, backing vocals
Bodo Schopf – drums
add. musicians;
Steve Mann – keyboards, rhythm guitars
Produced, Engineered & Mixed by Andy Johns

BUY IT !
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/UICY-25516
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