Rank The First Four Mr. Big Albums

[timstar78]

As far as your preference, how would you rank the first four Mr. Big studio albums with Paul Gilbert? Feel free to share any favorite songs or other items of note...

1989 S/T
Lean Into It
Bump Ahead
Hey Man

1.
2.
3.
4.

[timstar78]

1. Lean Into It
Love it top to bottom..."Green Tinted Sixties Mind" is the coolest pop song; who would ever think of the ever-shredding Paul Gilbert writing it. In addition to the obvious cuts, love the deep album tracks such as "Road To Ruin" and "My Kinda Woman."

2. 1989 S/T
Solid debut. "Addicted" is a monument to musical mischief and one of these days it is my goal to play Paul's solo cleanly. "Had Enough" is a great ballad and really summed up the potential of the band, also dig "How Can You Do What You Do" a lot (nice assist Mr. Cain). The musicianship is on full display, but I think Paul and Billy still played for the songs if that contradiction makes any sense.

3. Bump Ahead
I like this album a lot. "Colorado Bulldog" is another "Addicted"-type song -- Paul's intro lick is nearly impossible. Great songs on this set -- "Price You Gotta Pay" (Mr. Big with harmonica); "Promise Her The Moon" (such a well-written and well-performed ballad); "Mr. Gone," "Nothing But Love" (another anomaly Paul tune); "The World's Gonna Know" (what a great intro); and so on. When I think about this album, I think about how in 1993 all my friends were listening to Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, AIC, et. al., and I was picking up the new Mr. Big album...

4. Hey Man
Not as solid as the other three, but still some great moments a la "Take Cover" and "Goin Where The Wind Blows."

[Deb]

LOL don't even get me started.........

1. Hey Man
I'm a vocals gal, and to me this has some of Eric's best MB vocals on it. And I just find the sound on this album to be excellent. Take Cover is one of my favorites on this one, just love the mix of drums/bas/guitar right from the start http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIuicNwYBgA Along with Where Do I Fit In, Goin' Where The Wind Blows and If That's What It Takes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g2TrEdi5ZQ and lyrically really like the song The Chain http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjRpgU_jdHM

Atlantic has finally allowed official videos again. Goin' Where The Wind Blows http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc0vAwAAQ2U&ob=av2n

2. Lean Into It
Love the whole thing too. Great mix of songs on there, rock, pop, bluesy. My Kinda Woman, agreed, great tune....really like Lucky This Time too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iqd1JKO1SL8 My favorite's on most of these albums I find are the ones with kind of an R&B feel to them, probably why one of my faves is Voodoo Kiss. And one of my favorite intros....Paul's intro on Just Take My Heart, beautiful! Damn this song sounds just as good 20 years later! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Awmr6NHVXE

3. 1989 S/T
Two of my favorite songs are from this album. Some absolutely great bluesy playing, along with EM's R&B influenced delivery.....great stuff! Probably my fave on this album is Big Love (would loooove to see this one thrown in a setlist again) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDwr63QVzJA and Merciless http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyXbX2kL0og
And love Take A Walk that one comes across great live, PG scream and all. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4OS0O6WQNg

4. Bump Ahead
Easily my favorite song from this album is Tempermental (lol can never have too much cowbell) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p28i_QkwNAU. Mr Gone has great harmonies too http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1MahZfFFFY Like their cover of Free's Mr Big on this album too.

I am SO ready for a new album and tour in 2011!

[timstar78]

LOL don't even get me started.........

1. Hey Man
I'm a vocals gal, and to me this has some of Eric's best MB vocals on it. And I just find the sound on this album to be excellent. Take Cover is one of my favorites on this one, just love the mix of drums/bas/guitar right from the start http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIuicNwYBgA Along with Where Do I Fit In, Goin' Where The Wind Blows and If That's What It Takes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g2TrEdi5ZQ and lyrically really like the song The Chain http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjRpgU_jdHM

Atlantic has finally allowed official videos again. Goin' Where The Wind Blows http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc0vAwAAQ2U&ob=av2n

2. Lean Into It
Love the whole thing too. Great mix of songs on there, rock, pop, bluesy. My Kinda Woman, agreed, great tune....really like Lucky This Time too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iqd1JKO1SL8 My favorite's on most of these albums I find are the ones with kind of an R&B feel to them, probably why one of my faves is Voodoo Kiss. And one of my favorite intros....Paul's intro on Just Take My Heart, beautiful! Damn this song sounds just as good 20 years later! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Awmr6NHVXE

3. 1989 S/T
Two of my favorite songs are from this album. Some absolutely great bluesy playing, along with EM's R&B influenced delivery.....great stuff! Probably my fave on this album is Big Love (would loooove to see this one thrown in a setlist again) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDwr63QVzJA and Merciless http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyXbX2kL0og
And love Take A Walk that one comes across great live, PG scream and all. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4OS0O6WQNg

4. Bump Ahead
Easily my favorite song from this album is Tempermental (lol can never have too much cowbell) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p28i_QkwNAU. Mr Gone has great harmonies too http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1MahZfFFFY Like their cover of Free's Mr Big on this album too.

I am SO ready for a new album and tour in 2011!

Nice descriptions...what a talented band that has all the right ingredients: great songs, top-notch musicianship, and EM's voice.

I had forgotten about "The Chain" from "Hey Man" -- I like that track very much. Also love the laid back, bluesy vibe of "If That's What It Takes."

We'll have to start a thread on the Kotzen era albums too... (love "Actual Size.")

I'm with you for the new album/tour in '11. I am really excited as they described it as being in the "Lean Into It" vein. Can't wait (and I hope they do a U.S. tour)...

[Deb]

Nice descriptions...what a talented band that has all the right ingredients: great songs, top-notch musicianship, and EM's voice.

I had forgotten about "The Chain" from "Hey Man" -- I like that track very much. Also love the laid back, bluesy vibe of "If That's What It Takes."

We'll have to start a thread on the Kotzen era albums too... (love "Actual Size.")

I'm with you for the new album/tour in '11. I am really excited as they described it as being in the "Lean Into It" vein. Can't wait (and I hope they do a U.S. tour)...

Speaking of Kotzen era..........Eric and Billy are over in London and did a little impromptu acoustic show at Yamaha yesterday. LOL, like how EM says "haha.....and you'll probably never hear it again". It's great to have Paul back and all, but I wish they would throw at least one or two of those Kotzen era songs in a coming setlist. Eric still sounds friggin fantastic on this stuff. Electrified ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mnVhHW4Bm0

[timstar78]

Nice descriptions...what a talented band that has all the right ingredients: great songs, top-notch musicianship, and EM's voice.

I had forgotten about "The Chain" from "Hey Man" -- I like that track very much. Also love the laid back, bluesy vibe of "If That's What It Takes."

We'll have to start a thread on the Kotzen era albums too... (love "Actual Size.")

I'm with you for the new album/tour in '11. I am really excited as they described it as being in the "Lean Into It" vein. Can't wait (and I hope they do a U.S. tour)...

Speaking of Kotzen era..........Eric and Billy are over in London and did a little impromptu acoustic show at Yamaha yesterday. LOL, like how EM says "haha.....and you'll probably never hear it again". It's great to have Paul back and all, but I wish they would throw at least one or two of those Kotzen era songs in a coming setlist. Eric still sounds friggin fantastic on this stuff. Electrified ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mnVhHW4Bm0

Nice gem from "Get Over It." Eric's voice does sound great! Killer solo from Billy too.

Hope that might mean a song or two from the Richie era for the upcoming tour...

[sniper16]

1. Lean Into It excellent more polished than the first
2. 1989 S/T very good rawer than lean
3. Bump Ahead good songs
4.Hey Man a little different

[jestor92]

Lean Into It, just a great album start to finish

Bump Ahead - Riding in the tracks of Lean Into It. Not as good, but still a damn solid album with a couple filler tracks.

Mr. Big - Not a huge fan of the album, but it's solid

Hey Man - Only like a few of the tracks on the album. Though Take Cover IMO is one of their finest songs.