- A Legendary 1981 Live Performance Captured on a Double LP from Tokyo's Iconic Budokan Hall
"MSG Michael Schenker Group's 'One Night at Budokan' (1982) encapsulates the peak of 1980s rock and metal. Produced by T.Leo Sato and Hiro Kadoma, engineered by Soiji Okumura and David Wooley, the live recording at Tokyo Budokan showcases virtuosity. Yukio Maehara's design and Koichira Hiki, Kazumura Yoshikawa's photography enhance the visual narrative. A sonic journey through time, this iconic 2LP 12" vinyl immortalizes a historic night in music."
In the realm of live music recordings, few albums have achieved the iconic status of "MSG Michael Schenker Group - One Night at Budokan." Released in 1982, this 2LP 12" vinyl LP album stands as a testament to the electrifying performance of the Michael Schenker Group on a memorable night at the Tokyo Budokan on 12 August 1981.
Capturing the Essence of a Musical Era
The early 1980s were marked by a dynamic evolution in the rock and metal music landscape. Michael Schenker, a virtuoso guitarist known for his work with UFO and the Scorpions, formed the Michael Schenker Group (MSG) to embark on a new musical journey. "One Night at Budokan" encapsulates this period, offering a sonic snapshot of a band at the peak of its prowess.
Production Prowess: T.Leo Sato and Hiro Kadoma
Behind the scenes, the album's production was skillfully handled by T.Leo Sato and Hiro Kadoma. Their meticulous approach ensured that the raw energy and musical finesse displayed on stage were faithfully translated onto the vinyl grooves. This production team played a pivotal role in crafting an album that not only documented a live performance but also elevated it to a timeless piece of musical history.
Engineering Excellence: Soiji Okumura and David Wooley
The responsibility of capturing the live essence fell on the shoulders of sound engineers Soiji Okumura and David Wooley. The challenges of recording a live show are numerous, yet their expertise resulted in a pristine audio quality that allowed listeners to feel the pulsating energy of the crowd and the thunderous resonance of the instruments. The balance achieved in the recording is a testament to the engineering finesse brought to the project.
Tokyo Budokan: The Epicenter of the Musical Spectacle
The choice of the Tokyo Budokan as the venue for this historic night adds another layer of significance to the album. The Budokan has been witness to legendary performances, and MSG added their chapter to this storied venue. The choice of Tamco Mobile Recording and the subsequent mixing at Air Studios further attests to the dedication to sonic perfection.
Visual Aesthetics: Yukio Maehara's Design and Photographic Brilliance
The album's visual appeal is equally noteworthy, thanks to the artistic vision of Yukio Maehara. The album cover design reflects the energy and intensity of the performance within, providing a visual narrative that complements the auditory experience. The photography by Koichira Hiki and Kazumura Yoshikawa captures the essence of the live show, freezing moments in time for posterity.
Hard Rock
Chrysalis 301 927
This 12" LP vinyl music record comes in a Fold Open Cover (FOC), also known as a Gatefold cover. The inner pages contain photos and artwork.
Record Format: 12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram
1981 – German / Holland
T. Leo Sato – Producer
Hiro Kadoma – Producer
Soiji Okumura – Engineer
David Wooley – Engineer
Live Recording: Tokyo Budokan, 12 August 1981
Mobile Studio: Tamco Mobile Recording
Mixing Studio: Air Studios
Yukio Maehara (DER) – Cover Design
Koichira Hiki – Photography
Kazumura Yoshikawa – Photography
This is the front cover of the live album MSG – One Night at Budokan, featuring a dynamic collage of five concert photographs of the Michael Schenker Group members performing live.
Each band member is captured in mid-performance and framed within tilted squares, creating an energetic and angular layout. The top right shows Michael Schenker in a leather jacket, playing a white Flying V guitar with intense concentration. Opposite him on the top left is Cozy Powell behind a black drum kit, captured mid-strike with a fierce expression.
Bottom left features vocalist Gary Barden in a sleeveless shirt, passionately singing into a microphone. To the right of him, Chris Glen is seen gripping a black bass guitar with a powerful stance. At the bottom right, Paul Raymond is leaping mid-air, playing a yellow Gibson Explorer guitar under stage lights, showcasing high energy and stage presence.
The background is black with electric blue diagonal streaks crisscrossing behind the photos, giving a sense of movement and voltage. The band’s acronym "MSG" is stylized in red in the bottom right corner. The album title "MSG One Night at Budokan" is printed in bold red and white at the top in a dramatic italic font.
This is the back cover of the album MSG – One Night at Budokan. Dominating the artwork is a dramatic, tilted live performance photo framed in red. It shows Gary Barden on the left, mid-vocal and gripping the mic stand with one hand while wearing a white jacket and black shirt. To his right, Michael Schenker kneels on stage, locking eyes with Barden while playing his signature white Flying V guitar. He wears a black leather jacket with metal studs and an intense expression.
The background features a black field laced with sharp, diagonal electric blue lines, giving the illusion of lightning bolts. The top half of the cover displays the full 4-side tracklisting in white sans-serif font, aligned diagonally and separated by side labels: Side 1 to Side 4. Each side lists three to four songs including: “Armed and Ready,” “Into the Arena,” “Doctor Doctor,” and “Are You Ready to Rock.”
Below the tracklist, the band lineup is listed clearly: Gary Barden – vocals, Chris Glen – bass, Cozy Powell – drums, Paul Raymond – keyboards, rhythm guitars, backing vocals, and Michael Schenker – lead guitar.
In the bottom-left corner, white text displays production credits: produced by T. Leo Sato, recorded at Budokan on August 12, 1981 by Tamco Mobile Recording, and mixed at Air Studios. Additional credits are given to designers and photographers including Yukio Maehara (DER) and Kazumura Yoshikawa.
The Chrysalis Records logo and catalog number (301 929-406) are shown on the top right corner, while the LC 1626 label code appears in a blue circle at the bottom right.
This is the inside gatefold photo from the album MSG – One Night at Budokan, presented as a vivid photo-collage of 15 rectangular images. Each image is bordered in red and arranged at dynamic angles against a deep black background.
The photos capture a mix of high-energy live performances, backstage moments, crowd shots, and venue visuals. Centered prominently is Michael Schenker playing his white Flying V guitar, bathed in warm red and orange lighting, wearing a leather jacket with chest exposed.
Surrounding him are shots of band members Chris Glen, Gary Barden, and Cozy Powell in action—singing, shredding, and drumming, all mid-performance. One image captures Cozy raising a drumstick in triumph, while another shows Gary leaning into the microphone passionately.
There are two large crowd shots taken from inside the Budokan arena showing a packed audience under massive lighting rigs. Additional images show the blue and white Tamco Mobile Recording truck parked outside, and a sign written in Japanese with "Michael Schenker Group" on the concert venue’s facade.
At the lower left, small white text credits the MSG road crew, listing Bob Pyle (Tour Manager and Drums), David Kirkwood (Sound), and others involved in lighting and keyboards. The layout and color scheme convey both the grandeur of the live event and the gritty intensity of touring life.
This is the second inside gatefold photo from the live album MSG – One Night at Budokan, showing a vibrant, multi-image collage of on-stage performance shots. The design mirrors the previous gatefold: rectangular photos with red borders, positioned at dynamic angles on a solid black background.
Most images highlight Michael Schenker front and center, performing in his iconic leather outfit and white Flying V guitar, often illuminated by deep stage lights. Several shots capture his trademark power stance, hair flaring mid-motion, radiating intensity and charisma.
Other images include Cozy Powell behind a Yamaha drum kit in motion blur, Gary Barden belting vocals in a sleeveless red shirt, and Chris Glen hammering his bass. Paul Raymond is also featured playing keys and rhythm guitar.
Crowd energy is captured in two key shots—one with the band in a collective bow and another with the crowd reaching forward in a burst of shared excitement. The lighting across images is theatrical, casting deep purples, reds, and blues to heighten the rock spectacle.
Along the bottom, white text gives detailed credits and thanks. Notable mentions include recording at the Tokyo Budokan on August 12, 1981, engineering by Tamco Mobile Recording, and mixing at Air Studios by David Wooley and MSG. Special thanks are extended to the UDO Agency staff and various crew members.
This is a close-up of the Side One record label from the vinyl LP MSG – One Night at Budokan, released by Chrysalis Records. The label features the distinctive Chrysalis design: a gradient blue-to-white background with the white butterfly logo near the bottom left.
Printed at the top in bold black type is the artist name Michael Schenker Group with the album title One Night at Budokan directly beneath it. Three tracks are listed for this side, including:
Production credits note the album was produced by M.S.G., David Wooley, and David Kirkwood. Copyright is attributed to Chrysalis Records Ltd., dated 1980/81.
On the right side of the label, pressing info includes: Side 1, STEREO, GEMA/ STEMRA licensing, catalog number 301 927, and matrix code S 301 927 A. The upper rim includes legal disclaimers in German prohibiting unauthorized duplication and distribution.
The label’s clean design and crisp typography make it highly legible, with the bold white “Chrysalis” wordmark standing prominently at the bottom.
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