When it came to classification, Mr.
Big always posed a bit of a problem.
On the one hand, the band had a big-league virtuoso lead guitarist (Paul Gilbert) who just loved to shred and a hotshot bass player (Billy Sheehan) who regularly topped guitar magazine polls.
On the other, all of Mr.
Big's hits were sappy (if tuneful) AC-lite through and through, thanks in large part to the mainstream pop sensibilities of lead vocalist Eric Martin.
Big, Bigger, Biggest! captures this dichotomy fairly well.
Songs like "Colorado Bulldog" and "The Electric Drill Song" are showcases for Sheehan and Gilbert to unleash their chops in a fierce flurry of notes, whereas "Be With You" and the cover of Cat Stevens' "Wild World" are pure ballad heaven.
On occasion, like on "Take Cover" and "Green Tinted Sixties Mind," both impulses come together in something approximating harmony.
And the three new tracks are not half bad either.
The question never has been whether Mr.
Big has the musical talent to play like Van Halen -- the band does (and on tracks like "Stay Together," one of the previously unreleased songs, the resemblance is uncanny).
The pity is that the group hasn't been able to consistently match its playing talent with as strong a songwriting ability.
As a collection of Mr.
Big's finest moments, Big, Bigger, Biggest!, featuring a full four tracks apiece from the breakthrough albums Lean Into It and Bump Ahead, is pretty much the best you can do.
| Title/Composers | Performer | Listen | Time | Size | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Addicted to That RushPaul Gilbert, Billy Sheehan, Pat Torpey | Mr. Big | Play | 04:46 | 10 MB | 35 MB |
| 2 | Green-Tinted Sixties MindPaul Gilbert | Mr. Big | Play | 03:31 | 8 MB | 26 MB |
| 3 | To Be with YouDavid Grahame, E. Martin | Mr. Big | Play | 03:28 | 7 MB | 23 MB |
| 4 | Just Take My HeartAlex Call, Eric Martin, André Pessis | Mr. Big | Play | 04:24 | 10 MB | 28 MB |
| 5 | Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Electric Drill Song)Paul Gilbert, Eric Martin, André Pessis, Billy Sheehan, Pat Torpey | Mr. Big | Play | 03:56 | 9 MB | 29 MB |
| 6 | Wild WorldCat Stevens | Mr. Big | Play | 03:29 | 7 MB | 26 MB |
| 7 | Colorado BulldogTony Fanucchi, Paul Gilbert, Eric Martin, Billy Sheehan, Pat Torpey | Mr. Big | Play | 04:13 | 9 MB | 30 MB |
| 8 | Promise Her the MoonEric Martin, André Pessis | Mr. Big | Play | 04:06 | 9 MB | 30 MB |
| 9 | Nothing But LovePaul Gilbert | Mr. Big | Play | 03:46 | 8 MB | 28 MB |
| 10 | Take CoverPaul Gilbert, Eric Martin, André Pessis | Mr. Big | Play | 04:40 | 10 MB | 35 MB |
| 11 | Goin' Where the Wind BlowsEric Martin, André Pessis | Mr. Big | Play | 04:19 | 9 MB | 30 MB |
| 12 | Seven Impossible DaysPaul Gilbert | Mr. Big | Play | 02:38 | 6 MB | 18 MB |
| 13 | Rock & Roll Over | Mr. Big | Play | 03:48 | 8 MB | 28 MB |
| 14 | Not One Night (Previously unreleased) | Mr. Big | Play | 03:38 | 8 MB | 26 MB |
| 15 | Unnatural (Previously unreleased) | Mr. Big | Play | 03:22 | 7 MB | 25 MB |
| 16 | Stay Together (Previously unreleased) | Mr. Big | Play | 03:35 | 8 MB | 27 MB |
| 61 mins | 141 MB | |||||
| 61 mins | 453 MB | |||||
| Artist | Job | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alex Call | Composer |
| 2 | Kevin Elson | Engineer, Mixing, Producer |
| 3 | Tony Fanucchi | Composer |
| 4 | Larry Freemantle | Art Direction |
| 5 | Genevieve Gazon | Production Director |
| 6 | Paul Gilbert | Composer, Guitar, Vocals |
| 7 | David Grahame | Composer |
| 8 | John Halpern | Cover Photo, Photography |
| 9 | William Hames | Photography |
| 10 | John Harrell | Photography |
| 11 | Alan Kennedy | International Coordination, Project Coordinator |
| 12 | Bob Ludwig | Mastering |
| 13 | E. Martin | Composer |
| 14 | Eric Martin | Composer |
| 15 | Donald May | Art Direction |
| 16 | Mr. Big | Primary Artist |
| 17 | André Pessis | Composer |
| 18 | Billy Sheehan | Bass, Composer, Vocals |
| 19 | Tom Size | Engineer, Mixing |
| 20 | Mark Spiro | Composer |
| 21 | Cat Stevens | Composer |
| 22 | Pat Torpey | Composer, Drums, Vocals |
| Quality | Format | Encoding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | MP3 | 320kps 44.1kHz | MP3 is an audio coding format which uses a form of lossy data compression. The highest bitrate of this format is 320kbps (kbit/s). MP3 Digital audio takes less amount of space (up to 90% reduction in size) and the quality is not as good as the original one. |
| CD Quality | FLAC | 16bit 44.1kHz | FLAC is an audio coding format which uses lossless compression. Digital audio in FLAC format has a smaller size and retains the same quality of the original Compact Disc (CD). |
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