I've just found a new album by Tony Mcalpine and reminded those years when all the greatest rock/metal players released albums via Shrapnel Records.

Are you old enough (like me) to remember it? Which were your favorite albums?

I remember Mike Varney Productions and Shrapnel Records well. This is but one of my favorites.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8a8...fxRMFT9Rgr9diJa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFONOQKn4do...fxRMFT9Rgr9diJa


This post has been edited by AK Rich: Sep 19 2017, 05:06 PM

Yeah!! Both the Macalpine and Howe albums mentioned are in my top lists.

I would also like to add Marty Friedmans' "Scenes" - which is a stunning instrumental album.

edit - just listened to the first Macalpine track (I think it's called Autumn Lords) - gave me serious goosebumps. This is how all shred instrumentals should be written - with strong verses + choruses etc. + his chops back then were really tight.

This is THE quintessential Tony Mcalpine Record. IMHO. It's quite honestly his best work ever as far as I'm concerned and even includes guitar duets with the likes of George Lynch and others. Also, it shows his piano skills as well as he plays an incredible piece that really blew me away when I heard it. This is probably my fave shrapnel album A guy named Mike Varney ran Shrapnel and is credited with discovering many of the guitar "legends" that came up during the 80s including Paul Gilbert. Paul sent him a demo when paul was in his very early teens. Varney had no idea Paul was that young and tried to sign him. Once he found out how young Paul was at the time, he told him to take a bit of time and get as good as he could and signed him later with Racer X and the rest is history The best Racer X album is probably their live album EXTREME VOLUME as it shows Paul in all his glory going hell bent for leather with no sign of restraint, as well as the rest of the band simply going insane in their instruments, each taking a long solo all by themselves. Something that just isn't done that much anymore. Not that many touring bands have members that can take a 5 or 10 minute solo without boring the audience to death. Times have changed a lot, but the sheer musicians sheep on EXTREME VOLUME and on MAXIMUM SECURITY set the bar IMHO.

Todd

Me too Rich!
It's where I first heard of Cacophany, Ritchie Kotzen, Paul Gilbert, Vinnie Moore, Michael Lee Firkins, Michael Angelo Batio, Shawn Lane and a very young Yngwie!!!
Oh, and my friend Kim Nielsen's band 'Phantom Blue' were also signed to Shrapnel.

Yeah! I love those catchy songs by Tony! I'm now listening again.




Glory days!

Absolutely!



This post has been edited by Sensible Jones: Sep 21 2017, 01:04 PM

This cd was part of my MVP collection until it was stolen along with all my other cd's from my truck.
Lots of great musicians on this one.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrifugal_Funk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGRZGxjGAbk
<div style="position:relative;height:0;padding-bottom:56.21%"></div>

This post has been edited by AK Rich: Oct 24 2017, 04:44 PM