PAGANINI - It's a long way to the Top - 12" Vinyl LP Album

  Paganini a Swiss Heavy Metal/Hard Rock band from the town of Basel, Switzerland. This band was founded by Marco Paganini in 1983. The main activity period was from 1983 until 1987 with it's original band-members: Marco Paganini - Lead Vocals, Edgar Zanoni - Guitars, Iso - Bass, P.B. Bega - Drums, Ralph Murthy - Guitars. Around 1988 the band was reformed with Marco Paganini remaining as only member from the original formation. This web page has photos of album covers, inner sleeves, record labels together with production details, musicians and track-listing.

 

Album Front Cover Photo of PAGANINI - It's a long way to the Top

Paganini's "It's a Long Way to the Top": Melodic Hard Rock in the Hair Metal Heyday
Album Description:

Released in 1987, Paganini's debut album "It's a Long Way to the Top" emerged during the peak of the hair metal era, offering a unique blend of melodic hard rock with a touch of European flair. This 12" vinyl LP album showcased the band's musical prowess and catchy songwriting, solidifying their place in the hard rock scene.

Historical Context

The late 1980s saw the hair metal scene explode in popularity, with bands like Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, and Poison dominating the charts. Paganini, hailing from Switzerland, offered a European perspective on the genre, incorporating elements of their native hard rock and heavy metal traditions into their sound.

Musical Exploration

"It's a Long Way to the Top" features a diverse range of musical styles, from anthemic rockers to power ballads. The band's songwriting is characterized by strong melodies, soaring vocals, and memorable guitar riffs. Marc Paganini's charismatic stage presence and powerful vocals are complemented by the band's tight musicianship, creating a dynamic and engaging sound.

Genre Fusion

While firmly rooted in the hard rock genre, "It's a Long Way to the Top" also incorporates elements of heavy metal and glam rock. This fusion of styles adds depth and complexity to the album, creating a sound that is both catchy and powerful. The band's ability to seamlessly blend different genres showcases their musical versatility and their willingness to experiment with different sounds.

Production and Recording

The album was recorded at Pink Tonstudios in Switzerland, a state-of-the-art facility known for its work with numerous rock and metal bands. Produced by Paganini and mixed by Erwin Musper, "It's a Long Way to the Top" boasts a polished and professional sound that captures the band's energy and passion.

Album Cover Art

The album cover, featuring a stylized image of the band members in front of a dramatic cityscape, perfectly embodies the album's hard rock aesthetic and aspirational themes. The bold colors and dramatic lighting create a visually striking image that captures the band's larger-than-life persona.

Essential Album Information For: PAGANINI - It's a long way to the Top

Music Genre:

Heavy Metal

Label & Catalognr:

Vertigo 830 790 / AA 830 790-1.1Y / LC 1633

Media Format:

Record Format: 12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram  

Year & Country:

1987 Germany

PAGANINI - It's a long way to the Top Production & Recording Information

Album Packaging

This album includes the original thick custom inner sleeve with album details, and photos of the Paganini band-members. 

Producers:

Vic Vergeat ( ex Toad ) - Producer

Vic Vergeat, a Swiss musician and producer whose dynamic career spanned decades and genres. Enter the World of Vic Vergeat

 

Recording Location:

This album "It's a Long Way To The Top" was Recorded and Mixed Karo Musikstudio, Munster, Germany.

  • Kalle Trapp – Producer, engineer, musician

    I hear his fingerprints all over the steel-plated rise of German heavy metal in the 1980s.

    Kalle Trapp was the studio alchemist who helped give German metal its hard edge and roomy, iron-walled punch. From my side of the glass, he looks like one of the quiet architects of the scene: first a late-1960s bassist in Wonderland, then the man behind Karo Studio in the 1980s. I hear his stamp on Mad Max from 1984 to 1987, on Destruction in 1987, on Assassin and Violent Force in 1987, on Pestilence, Grinder and Sieges Even in 1988, and most famously on Blind Guardian from 1988 to 1993, from "Battalions of Fear" through "Tokyo Tales". He later turned up with Saxon in 1990, 1995 and 1997, proof that his production style had both muscle and staying power.

    Kalle Trapp Wiki
    • Photography:

    Robert Ellis, London - Photographer

  • Robert Ellis – Photographer

    The guy with the press pass (and the nerve) who lived on rock tours from 1971 to 1993, catching the moments bands never planned to share.

    Robert Ellis is the kind of rock photographer I trust because the shots don’t pose, they confess. Seeing his work, the noise comes back in full color: sweat in the stage lights, backstage grins that last ten seconds, and that split-second where a band looks immortal before the van ride ruins everyone’s posture. Credits tell the timeline clean: he starts out in 1968, then lands at New Musical Express (1971–1975), moves through Melody Maker (1975–1976), and keeps rolling as a freelance gun-for-hire for titles like Sounds and Kerrang! (plus the occasional mainstream giant like Time). The real “band periods” here aren’t membership cards, they’re tour years: Ellis is on the road photographing bands across the rock and metal circuit from 1971–1993, then turns the archive into a home base by founding Repfoto in 1982 and later pushing his own book imprint, The Rock Library, in the 2010s. That’s the job done right: stay invisible, keep the shutter honest, and let the music leave fingerprints on the film.

    Robert Ellis Wiki

    • Musicians on: PAGANINI - It's a long way to the Top

    Band-members, Musicians:

    Mark Paganini - lead and backing vocals

    Ralph Murthy - guitars, backing vocals

    Edgar Zanoni - guitars, backing vocals

    Iso - bass, backing vocals

    P.B. Bega - drums, backing vocals

    Track-listing of: PAGANINI - It's a long way to the Top

    Tracklisting:
    1. It's A Long Way To The Top 04:22
    2. Rich Girl 03:53
    3. Salted Water Kisses 04:13
    4. One Of A Kind 03:03
    5. Our Rock Will Find A Way 03:55
    6. Mr. Big Mouth 04:51
    7. Hold You Back 04:00
    8. For Your Love 04:43
    9. Get Ready 04:11

    PAGANINI - It's a long way to the Top High Resolution & Quality Photos

    Front Cover Photo Of PAGANINI - It's a long way to the Top
    Front Cover Photo Of PAGANINI - It's a long way to the Top

     

    Note: The images on this page are photos of the actual album. Slight differences in color may exist due to the use of the camera's flash. Images can be zoomed in/out ( eg pinch with your fingers on a tablet or smartphone )

    Photo Of The Back Cover PAGANINI - It's a long way to the Top
    Photo of album back cover PAGANINI - It's a long way to the Top

     

    Close up of Side One PAGANINI - It's a long way to the Top record's label
    Close up of Side One PAGANINI - It's a long way to the Top

    Orange and Yellow Colour VERTIGO 830 790-1 Record Label Details: AA 830 790-1.1Y Made in West Germany LC 1633 GEMA ℗ 1987 Phonogram Gmbh, Hamburg

    Index of PAGANINI Vinyl Album Discography and Album Cover Gallery

    PAGANINI - It's A Long Way To The Top
    Thumbnail of PAGANINI - It's A Long Way To The Top album front cover

    Vertigo 830 790 / AA 830 790-1.1Y / LC 1633 , 1987 , Germany

    PAGANINI - It's A Long Way To The Top is a captivating 12" Vinyl LP that encapsulates the musical prowess and determination of the artist, taking listeners on a thrilling journey of highs and lows through its captivating melodies, skillful instrumentation, and thought-provoking lyrics, ultimately leaving an indelible mark on the soul of anyone fortunate enough to experience its sonic tapestry.

    Learn more
    PAGANINI - Weapon Of Love
    Thumbnail of PAGANINI - It's A Long Way To The Top album front cover

    Vertigo 826 068 , 1985 , Made in Germany

    "PAGANINI - Weapon Of Love" is a captivating debut release by Swiss Hard Rock/Glam Metal band "Paganini". Produced by Vic Vergaet and released in 1985 on Vertigo Record Label, the album showcases powerful rock anthems with a touch of glam, accompanied by a lyrics sleeve that adds depth to the listening experience

    Learn more