Mr. Big (Remastered) Mr. Big
- 1Addicted To That Rush (2023 Remastered)04:46
- 2Wind Me Up (2023 Remastered)04:11
- 3Merciless (2023 Remastered)03:57
- 4Had Enough (2023 Remastered)04:57
- 5Blame It On My Youth (2023 Remastered)04:14
- 6Take A Walk (2023 Remastered)03:57
- 7Big Love (2023 Remastered)04:49
- 8How Can You Do What You Do (2023 Remastered)03:58
- 9Anything For You (2023 Remastered)04:38
- 10Rock & Roll Over (2023 Remastered)03:50
- 1130 Days In The Hole (live) (2023 Remastered)04:12
- 12Next Time Around (2023 Remastered)03:43
- 13Want To Be Wanted (2023 Remastered)04:07
Info for Mr. Big (Remastered)
Released in 1989, Mr. Big was the scorching debut of one of the finest rock “supergroups”, featuring a veritable who’s-who of seasoned and well-respected players – vocalist and songwriter Eric Martin (of the Eric Martin Band), former David Lee Roth bassist Billy Sheehan, former Racer X guitarist and de facto leader Paul Gilbert and Pat Torpey (a recording and touring drummer who had worked with some of the biggest names including Ted Nugent, Belinda Carlisle, The Knack and Stan Bush) – the band quickly made a name for itself, and word spread about both their jaw-dropping technical ability and furious live performances, including opening for prog-rock legends Rush and the like.
The explosive tracks on the famed debut record would introduce the music world to the quartet’s alchemic ability to combine technical prowess and superb songwriting effortlessly, including the most-requested live staple “Rock & Roll Over,” the fan-favorite power ballad “Anything For You” (a track serious Mr. Big fans still talk about to this day) and the call-to-arms opener “Addicted To That Rush,” regarded as one of the definitive Mr. Big tunes, amongst the multitude of classics that would subsequently follow. There are also rarities that are truly worth revisiting, like the simultaneously soulful and raunchy “Wind Me Up” and the Billy Sheehan-penned party-starter “Blame It On My Youth.”
"It's too bad that Nevermind had to make this sort of rock unfashionable in the early '90s. Anchored by the world-class chops of guitarist Paul Gilbert and bassist Billy Sheehan, Mr. Big's debut album is an adrenaline-fueled dose of pure rock & roll attitude. Don't let the big hair and leather pants fool you; much like Bon Jovi, Mr. Big is definitely not in the same category as '80s pop-metal bands such as Poison. One difference is the fact that Mr. Big is composed of monstrously talented musicians. Witness, for example, the ascending guitar/bass figure in the beginning of "Addicted to that Rush" or the unison hits and strong groove to "Wind Me Up" or "Merciless." Eric Martin's sophomoric lyrics are admittedly the weakest link here ("Zip the lipstick on/Like BBQ sauce"), which often distract from his fine gritty voice, which is somewhere in between Steven Tyler and Steve Perry. The songwriting is also very strong, with the ballads "Had Enough" and "Big Love" especially showing the depth of Mr. Big's skill. At the same time, when they want to lay it down, they lay it down. The aforementioned "Addicted to that Rush" is both passionate and expertly delivered, with the band's technique and sheer drive complementing each other perfectly. Mr. Big was to equal the successes of their debut on their subsequent albums, but they were never again able to sustain that same level of quality over the course of an entire record." (Daniel Gioffre, AMG)
Eric Martin, vocals
Paul Gilbert, guitar
Billy Sheehan, bass
Pat Torpey, drums
Digitally remastered
Mr. Big
were one of the few "shredder" pop metal bands (translation: the bandmembers were highly proficient at their instruments) that prized songcraft as highly as virtuosity. The seeds for the group's formation were sown when bass player extraordinaire Billy Sheehan, often called "the Eddie Van Halen of bass," left David Lee Roth's solo band in 1988. Shortly thereafter, he began piecing together a new outfit comprised of former Racer X guitarist Paul Gilbert, drummer Pat Torpey, and singer Eric Martin, the latter of whom had issued a pair of obscure solo releases in the mid-'80s. By 1989, the newly formed quartet had already inked a recording contract with Atlantic, resulting in the release of a self-titled debut the same year. Despite finding a warm reception among musicians, the album failed to cross over to a mainstream rock audience in America; however, Mr. Big was an immediate success overseas in Japan.
The quartet broadened its horizons on its sophomore effort, 1991's Lean into It, which included the melodic psychedelic rocker "Green Tinted Sixties Mind" as well as a pair of ballads that would become sizable singles: the number one smash "To Be with You" and the Top 20 hit "Just Take My Heart." Despite issuing further releases like 1993's Bump Ahead and 1996's Hey Man, Mr. Big were unable to sustain such commercial success at home, although the group's popularity continued to soar in Japan (resulting in countless sold-out tours and such Japan-only live albums as Raw Like Sushi, Raw Like Sushi 2, Japandemonium, Mr. Big in Japan, etc.). Gilbert split from the group in the late '90s to pursue a solo career and was replaced by former Poison guitarist Richie Kotzen. The new lineup issued a pair of studio recordings, Get Over It and Actual Size, before launching a "farewell tour" in Japan, which culminated in their amicable breakup in 2002.
In early 2009, with the 20th anniversary of Mr. Big's debut on the horizon, the original lineup appeared on Japanese radio to announce that the group would be reuniting. A reunion tour was launched later that year, resulting in the release of 2009's double-disc concert album Back to Budokan, and the band headed home in September 2010 to record a new studio album in Los Angeles. The resulting What If was released three months later in Japan, followed by an American release in early 2011. The Pat Regan-produced ...The Stories We Could Tell was released in 2014, and in 2017 Mr. Big issued Defying Gravity, their third release since reuniting in 2010 and ninth studio long-player overall. (Greg Prato, AMG)
This album contains no booklet.