Album Review — Mr. Big

Mr. Big — Live From Milan

It has been a rough year in the Mr. Big camp with the passing of drummer Pat Torpey. The band released the double disc Live From Milan this week to commemorate one of Torpey’s last performances with the band.

The signing of Mr. Big a few years back was a major coup for Frontiers Records. The band has released three great records under the label including 2017’s Defying Gravity. Performing a show in Italy, the home of Frontiers Records, was the perfect setting for the live recording.

At 22 tracks there is good value here. There are five tracks from their latest record which makes it a must own for someone like me who owns every live recording the band has released. I do wish they played a few more new songs but five is as much as could be expected.

The band sounds great as always. And they play all the hits including “Addicted To That Rush”, “To Be With You”, “Just Take My Heart” and “Wild World”. Highlights other than the new tracks including “Undertow”, “Take Cover” and “Rock And Roll Over”.

The future of the band is unknown but hopefully the band continues on. Matt Starr has performed admirably as Torpey had been limited in drumming duties over the last few years. Mr. Big is one of the few bands that continue to release great new music every couple of years so hopefully this record isn’t the end. But even if it is, it’s a fitting tribute to the legacy of Pat Torpey and this great band.

Overall — 95 out of 100

Tracklist

Disc 1:

01. Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy
02. American Beauty
03. Undertow
04. Alive And Kickin’
05. Temperamental
06. Just Take My Heart
07. Take Cover
08. Green-Tinted Sixties Mind
09. Everybody Needs A Little Trouble
10. Price You Gotta Pay
11. Paul’s Solo
12. Open Your Eyes
13. Wild World
14. Damn I’m In Love Again

Disc 2:

01. Rock And Roll Over
02. Around The World
03. Billy’s Solo
04. Addicted To That Rush
05. To Be With You
06. 1992
07. Colorado Bulldog
08. Defying Gravity