Yngwie Malmsteen - Inspiration (1996)+ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Produced by Yngwie Malmsteen. Co-produced by Chris Tsangarides. Recorded at Studio 308, Miami, Florida. Drums Recorded at Heptagon Studios, Malmo, Sweden. Mixed at Criteria Studios, Miami, USA. Engineers: Chris Tsangarides, Keith Rose, Yngwie Malmsteen, Anders Johansson, Jeff Scott Soto. Art Direction / Design: Ioannis / Steven Jacaruss at Vivid Images Int. Photography: Mark Weiss. Additional Photography: Larry Di Marzio. Cover Painting: Asari Yoda. Cover Photography: Hiroyuki Yoshihama. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track Listing 1) Carry On Wayward Son (Kerry Livgren) 5:09 2) Pictures Of Home (Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord, Ian Paice) 4:56 3) Gates Of Babylon (Blackmore, Ronnie James Dio) 7:12 5) In The Dead Of Night (Eddie Jobson / John Wetton) 6:11 6) Mistreated (Blackmore, David Coverdale) 7:30 7) The Sail Of Charon (Ulrich Jon Roth) 5:06 8) Demon's Eye (Blackmore, Gillan, Glover, Lord, Paice) 4:53 9) Anthem (Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Neil Peart) 4:19 10) Child In Time (Blackmore, Gillan, Glover, Lord, Paice) 8:08 11) Spanish Castle Magic (Hendrix) - Japanese bonus track ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "I hope you enjoy listening to this as much as I enjoyed doing this album." - Yngwie ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1) Carry On Wayward Son (Kerry Livgren) 5:09 (from Kansas "Leftoverture" (1976)) "I was introduced to Kansas rather late and I realized what I'd missed out on. From then on I've always loved the band and this song." Jeff Scott Soto - Lead Vocals; Yngwie Malmsteen - Guitars; Marcel Jacob - Bass; Dave Rosenthal - Keyoboards; Anders Johansson - Drums. Chorus: Carry on my wayward son, For there'll be peace when you are done Lay your weary head to rest Now don't you cry no more Once I rose above the noise and confusion Just to get a glimpse beyond the illusion I was soaring ever higher, but I flew too high Though my eyes could see I still was a blind man Though my mind could think I still was a mad man I hear the voices when I'm dreamin', I can hear them say Chorus Masquerading as a man with a reason My charade is the event of the season And if I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know On a stormy sea of moving emotion Tossed about I'm like a ship on the ocean I set a course for winds of fortune, but I hear the voices say Chorus Carry on, you will always remember Carry on, nothing equals the splendor Now your life's no longer empty Surely heaven waits for you Chorus ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2) Pictures Of Home (Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord, Ian Paice) 4:56 (from Deep Purple "Machine Head" (1972)) "Deep Purple was a very big influence on me when I grew up. This song was always my favorite from the "Machine Head" album. It was the third album I owned and it was very special to me." Joe Lynn Turner - Lead Vocals; Yngwie Malmsteen - Guitars, Bass; Mats Olausson - Keyboards; Anders Johansson - Drums. Somebody's shouting Up at a mountain Only my own words return Nobody's up there It's a deception I'm alone here With emptiness eagles and snow Unfriendliness chilling my body And whispering pictures of home Wondering blindly How can they found me Maybe they don't even know My body is shaking Anticipating The call of the black hooded crow I'm alone here With emptiness eagles and snow Unfriendliness chilling my body And whispering pictures of home Here in this prison Of my own making Year after day I have grown Into a hero But there's no worship Where have they hidden my throne I'm alone here With emptiness eagles and snow Unfriendliness chilling my body And whispering pictures of home ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3) Gates Of Babylon (Blackmore, Ronnie James Dio) 7:12 (from Rainbow "Long Live Rock'n'Roll" (1978)) "When I first bought the album "Long Live Rock'n'Roll" by Rainbow I wasn't very impressed. The first songs were so commercial I thought. When the last song of the first side came on (this when there still was vinyl LPs around) I was completely floored. Gates Of Babylon was so dramatic and mystical. Until this day this is one of my favorite songs ever written. Thank You Ritchie. I slightly changed the arrangement, as on the other songs, to do it my own way..." Jeff Scott Soto - Lead Vocals; Yngwie Malmsteen - Guitars, Bass, Sitar; Jens Johansson - Keyboards; Anders Johansson - Drums. Chorus 1: Look away from sea I can take you anywhere. Spend a vision with me A chase with the wind. Chorus 2: Move close to me I can make you anyone I think you're ready to see The gates of Babylon The power of what has been before Rises to trap you within A magic carpet ride a genie may be more A city of heavenly sin Sleep with the devil and then you must pay Sleep with the devil the devil will take you away Oh Gates of Babylon You can see but you're blind Someone turned the sun around But you can see in your mind The Gates of Babylon You're riding the endless caravan Bonded and sold as a slade A sable dance removing all the veils Getting as good as you gave Sleep with the devil and then you must pay Sleep with the devil the devil will take you away Chorus 1 & 2 The power of what has been before Rises to trap you within A magic carpet ride a genie may be more A city of heavenly sin Sleep with the devil and then you must pay Sleep with the devil the devil will take you away Black Gates of Babylon The devil is me And I'm holding the key To the gates of sweet hell Babylon ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4) Manic Depression (Hendrix) 3:40 (from Jimi Hendrix "Are You Experienced" (1967)) "Here's just another kiss-ass song from the genius of Mr. Jimi Hendrix. He's the reason I picked up the guitar at the age of seven." Yngwie Malmsteen - Lead Vocals, Guitars, Bass; Anders Johansson - Drums. Manic depression is touching my soul I know what I want but I just don't know How to, go about gettin' it Feeling sweet feeling, Drops from my fingers, fingers Manic depression is catchin' my soul Woman so weary, the sweet cause in vain You make love, you break love It's all the same When it's, when it's over, mama Music, sweet music I wish I could caress, caress, caress Manic depression is a frustrating mess Well, I think I'll go turn myself off, And go on down All the way down Really ain't no use in me hanging around In your kinda scene Music, sweet music I wish I could caress, caress, caress Manic depression is a frustrating mess Ow! ow! Music sweet music sweet music Sweet music sweet music Hooo! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5) In The Dead Of Night (Eddie Jobson / John Wetton) 6:11 (from the album "UK" (1978)) "My great friend Peter Rooth gave me a tape of this album in 1980. I never heard guitar playing like that before. The arrangement includes odd time and intricate instrument arrangement. For years I've been doing this in rehearsal and at sound checks. I just love this one." Mark Boals - Lead Vocals; Yngwie Malmsteen - Guitars, Bass; Jens Johansson - Keyboards; Anders Johansson - Drums. Are you one of mine who can sleep with one eye open wide? Agonizing psychotic solitary hours to decide Reaching for the light at the slightest noise from the floor Palms of hands perspire, heart goes leaping at a knock from the door In the Dead of Night (2) Rich and powerful ascend complicated bends to be free To indulge in what they will and jaded thrill or fantasy Shuttered windows that belie all stifled cries from within And prying eyes are blind to proceedings of the kind that begin In the Dead of Night (4) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6) Mistreated (Blackmore, David Coverdale) 7:30 (from Deep Purple "Burn" (1974)) "My absolute Blackmore / Coverdale favorite. I love the "Made In Europe" version and I tried to make this as live as possible." Jeff Scott Soto - Lead Vocals; Yngwie Malmsteen - Guitars, Bass; Mats Olausson - Keyboards; Anders Johansson - Drums. I've been mistreated I've been abused I've been struck downhearted baby I've been confused 'Cos I know - Yes, I know I've been mistreated Since my baby left me I've been losing my mind I've been lonely I've been cold I've been looking for a woman To have and hold 'Cos I know - Yes, I know I've been mistreated Since my baby left me I've been losing my mind ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7) The Sail Of Charon (Ulrich Jon Roth) 5:06 (from Scorpions "Taken By Force" (1977)) "Once again this was introduced by a former band member. I have always loved phrygian modes and I was immediately in love with this song and Uli Roth's guitar playing." Mark Boals - Lead Vocals; Yngwie Malmsteen - Guitars, Bass; Anders Johnasson - Drums. Dark night, there is no light In the realm of the black magic man Soul's flight into the cold blight Of the destroyer's magic land Poor man, whose spirits are stronger They're a little too weary You're starting to... Blind man, you're suckin' your own blood Soon black magic's dying You'd better start crying Blind man, you're suckin' your own blood Soon black magic's dying You'd better start crying Throw out your evil desire The dark king's kingdom is Made out of mire Throw out your evil desire The dark king's kingdom is Made out of mire Keep on for the kingdom of light There is no darkness, there is no night ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8) Demon's Eye (Blackmore, Gillan, Glover, Lord, Paice) 4:53 (from Deep Purple "Fireball" (1971)) "When I was eight my sister, Lollo, gave me my very first album, Deep Purple "Fireball". The song "Demon's Eye" had a guitar solo I practiced day and night..." Joe Lynn Turner - Lead Vocals; Yngwie Malmsteen - Guitars, Bass; Jens Johansson - Keyboards; Anders Johansson - Drums. I don't mind just what you say I never heard you baby Never heard you anyway I don't care what you do Just so long as it ain't me and you Sly sly like a demon's eye Everything's good Everything's fine You don't know It's the end of your time How does it feel To be turned away I've know it baby I've known it every day Sly sly like a demon's eye Don't need you anymore Don't want you baby Handging round my door You slip and slide Around my brain You think you're so clever But you know you're insane Sly sly like a demon's eye ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9) Anthem (Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Neil Peart) 4:19 (from Rush "Fly By Night" (1975)) "The very first time I heard Rush was at a friend's house in 1976. The album was "Fly By Night". When this song, "Anthem", started it really hit me hard." Mark Boals - Lead Vocals; Yngwie Malmsteen - Guitars, Bass; Anders Johansson - Drums. Know your place in life is where you want to be Don't let them tell you that you owe it all to me Keep on looking forward, no use in looking 'round Hold your head above the ground and they won't bring you down Anthem of the heart and anthem of the mind A funeral dirge for eyes gone blind We marvel after those who sought New wonders in the world, wonders in the world, Wonders in the world they wrought Live for yourself -- there's no one else More worth living for Begging hands and bleeding hearts will Only cry out for more Well, I know they've always told you Selfishness was wrong Yet it was for me, not you, I Came to write this song ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10) Child In Time (Blackmore, Gillan, Glover, Lord, Paice) 8:08 (from Deep Purple "Deep Purple In Rock" (1970)) "I liked the "In Rock" and "Made In Europe" versions very much of this song. This is my blend of it. I made sure to put on a totally crazy guitar solo, as you may hear..." Mark Boals - Lead Vocals; Yngwie Malmsteen - Guitars, Bass; Dave Rosenthal - Keyobards; Anders Johansson - Drums. Sweet child in time you'll see the line The line that's drawn between the good and the bad See the blind man shooting at the world Bullets flying taking toll If you've been bad, Lord I bet you have And you've been hit by flying lead You'd better close your eyes and bow your head And wait for the ricochet ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11) Spanish Castle Magic (Hendrix) - Japanese bonus track Joe Lynn Turner - Lead Vocals; Yngwie Malmsteen - Guitars, Bass; Anders Johansson - Drums. It's very far away It takes about a half and a day to get there If we travel by my uh, dragon-fly No it's not in Spain But all the same you know, it's a groovy name And the wind's just right. Hey ! Hang on my darling Hang on if you wanna go Here it's a really groovy place It's uh, just a little bit of uh, said uh, Spanish Castle Magic. The clouds are really low And they overflow with cotton candy And battle grounds red and brown But it's all in your mind Don't think your time on bad things Just float your little mind around Look out ! Ow ! Hang on my darling, yeah Hang on if you wanna go Get on top, really let me groove baby with uh Just a little bit of Spanish Castle Magic Yeah baby, here's some Yeah, ok babe, ok It's still all in your mind babe Oww ! Yeah ! Ah ! Hang on my darling, hey Hang on, hang on if you wanna go And it's happening, oh no, damn hey ! That's right baby, listen A little bit of Spanish Castle Magic Hey ! Little bit of Spanish Castle Magic Hey hey ! I can't uh, sing this song, no Yeah, ok baby Get on baby Yeah It's all in your mind baby Little bit of daydream here and there Oh ! Yeah ! Ooh ! yeah ! Ow ! Ev'rything's gonna be alright babe! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CD 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1) Interview Yngwie in conversation with old friend Leif Edling. Part.1 (1:22) (both) 'Cheers', 'Cheers' YM/LE - Alright, alright, so why it's... Nice to see you again. YM - Yeah Man, y'know it's been a little while. LE - What have you been up to lately? YM - Well I've been doing quite a lot of things y'know, like playing some tennis, hanging out by the pool and shit like that, but other than that actually I've been like y'know recording a record with some of my old friends and, erh, since we're sitting here in Studio 308, ere, is the debut album from this particular facility, and, arh the albums called 'Inspiration' and it's basically called that because thats what these songs did to me when I first heard them when I was very young. Y'know I heard these songs and I felt they were very strong musical statements and I wanted to do, like sort of like, y'know, pay some homage to these guys y'know that inspired me and that's basically what this record is about and y'know I would like to point out that more, more or less that very very clearly first of all is that it's not a cover album, it's not covers, it's, it's..., it's songs that were done by other people but it's done very, very much my own way and erm, I deliberately actually changed some of the things around and ere, y'know obviously the music has to speak for itself y'know. I mean but ere, y'know you guys wanna (means 'you want to') hear it, you make your own decision on that, y'know. LE - I mean, erh, you're an extremely successful artist, you got a long line of great albums behind you - why do an album consisting of these songs at this point? YM - I'd, I'm not, it's sort of thing I always wanted to do y'know?, 'cus I played on a few Purple tribute albums, I played on the few other things, and stuff like that y'know and I felt that when people did these things they were just like too faithful to the original, ere, and it didn't show exactly what the original did to them as musicians, whereas the music that I put on this album obviously is the songs that they wrote y'know, but they're done very much in the manner where I'm showing you "Ok, you gave me this back in '75, or '72 or whatever, and this is me now doing this, and that's a huge difference, and I really feel that that's something I felt like strongly about and I really wanted to do it y'know and plus it was like the whole album was made..., it was a big laugh..., the whole album, I mean lie y'know everybody's my friend, you know like it's just my old pals coming in and say' Hey Joey, you know, you wanna ('want to') come down my studio and we'll sing some songs or whatever, or Jeff or Mark, and it just turned out a party, like the whole album was a party y'know? it's a lot, a great deal of fun y'know?, I mean, that's all it is really. But it's quite serious as well, y'know..., ere...., it's ere....Man, y'know, I could tell you stories about how the album was actually made, I mean like, y'know, me and Jens were sitting here, and y'know, we had a few drinks y'know, I mean like y'know a couple bottles of wine and everything and just had a click track and a sympticode and just played it and then we sent it over to Anders, which is his brother who is also a very dear friend of mine and he just threw his drums down and sent it back to me, and I put it back on my Studer and listened "Oh, this is cool" y'know?, and I mean you know the whole thing was done very casually but it actually turned out to be a lot greater than I expected it to be actually, yeah. (5:20) LE - Ok, so what's on this Inspiration CD? YM - Ah well, we have y'know, as I said before, I mean like when I was very young, I started playing when I was 7, but when on my 8th birthday my sister gave me a Deep Purple album called 'Fireball' and I was completely run over, I mean like I felt I was hit by a gas truck y'know?, it was ridiculous, I mean I couldn't believe it y'know?, and since then Purple was my biggest ... y'know, thing, y'know, so anyway, 'Demons Eye' is there, 'Child In Time', immediately after 'Fireball' I went out and bought the other Purple album that I knew which was 'In Rock', so I had 'Child In Time' which had the most insane guitar solo I ever heard and ere I,... I... I really quite, y'know, overdid it on this one, it's like the longest guitar solo I ever put on tape, y'know?, I mean, it's like it goes on forever, I mean it's like a very long solo. (6:19) LE - What will Blackmore say about this? YM - Well, God Bless his soul, I hope he likes it, y'know, I mean, Blackmore had an enormous impact on me as a kid and ere, y'know, I would really like for him to ... hear this, and actually even like it. And, ere, of course the next album which came out was 'Machine Head', and my favourite from that album was not 'Highway Star' or 'Smoke On The Water', it was 'Pictures Of Home' which I put on as well, and erh, as far as the Hendrix stuff goes there's 'Manic Depression' - I even sing 'Manic Depression' on my own y'know?, I bought this very expensive Noilan microphone that made even me sound good ! - it's incredible. Ere, as far as other Purple stuff we have ere, 'Mistreated', erm which I always loved the version on 'Made In Europe'. I thought it was an amazing version y'know and erm, I didn't really try to copy that version or the 'Burn' version, I just like, I just...and I think Jeff did an amazing job on there by the way, but anyway, as far as different bands y'know like I always loved 'UK'. I thought 'UK' was amazing when I heard UK I did.. this waas something brand new, I just thought it was amazing, so I had to put 'In The Dead Of Night' from UK on there ... ere.. (7:40) EL - I see an old 'Rush' song... YM - Yes, there's even a 'Rush' song on there, yes. It's funny because it all, y'know..., it was very sporadically put together y'know?, it was, nothing was really extremely, y'know...'planned out', y'know?, except I knew I had to do some of these songs. Erm, the 'Rush' song - I really enjoyed doing the bass work on that y'know, I also love to play the bass even though I'm y'know, I suppose a guitar player, but there's also other bands y'know erm, that I really liked. I liked very early 'Scorpions', I loved Uli Jon Roth , I thought..., I still..., I mean to this day I think he's just, y'know, God, y'know? He's amazing y'know, and erh, I have in actually the last few years become very friendly with him and we're very good friends and everything, and I played him the version of 'Sails Of Charon' from tape over the 'phone, and he said "..Sounds lot better than the original" - that's his words, not mine. (8:40) EL - Except from Paganinni or Bach, who is the best, Hendrix, Blackmore, or Uli Jon Roth? YM - I don't know why it is best I think that most guitar players are actually like little girls, y'know?, I mean this is like jealousy shit going on and everything like that and I just.., I don't go for that at all, I mean, I don't think that way. I don't say things like that y'know?, I mean either you're good or you're not, y'know?, I mean there's so many good guitar players, I mean, they're everywhere. I mean, Holdsworth, is incredible. I mean but y'know, he's a little 'left field', y'know?, I mean he's into his jazz thing, which is cool, but what I love about Holdsworth for instance, is that ere, y'know, what we do have in common, me and Holdsworth, is the fact that he modeled his giotar playing from a saxophone - I more or less modelled my guitar playing from a violin, y'know, so there, y'know, thats I think, that's where it all stands apart y'know? (9:38) EL - You have your own personality of sound? YM - Exactly, yeah, right, y'know, but I mean as far as Uli, y'know, I mean, Uli is about as good as you can get, y'know, on the guitar, and Richie Blackmore I think in the early days were by far, by any standards, the best, y'know, I mean 1972, there wasn't anybody that played like Richie, nobody, y'know?, I'm sorry Jimmy Page and all those guys, I mean like I'm sure they were great in their own little way, but as far as being a guitar player,Richie Blackmore took them all, took them all out. It's not, it's to me there's no comparison, y'know?, but then there of course later I mean I didn't hear Uli until 1979 or something like that, erh.. (10:30) EL - What did you think when you heard? YM - 'Tokyo tapes' was it?, I.., fuck, I loved it y'know? I mean I thought it was fantastic really I mean I still do and ere... EL - He's got an amazing live sound. YM - Oh, yes,... Oh yes, y'know, it's even better now because now we're both very close friends and everything and y'know we have tremendous respect for each other and ere, I gave him a guitar and everything, and y'know, I mean God Bless his soul, really. ------------------------------------------------------------------------