Maximum Security (Tony MacAlpine album)
Maximum Security is the second studio album by guitarist Tony MacAlpine, released in 1987 through PolyGram.[1] The album is MacAlpine's only release to enter the U.S. Billboard 200, reaching No. 146[2] and remaining on that chart for eleven weeks.[3]
| Maximum Security | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1987 | |||
| Studio | Prairie Sun Recording Studios in Cotati, California | |||
| Genre | Instrumental rock, neoclassical metal | |||
| Length | 38:53 | |||
| Label | PolyGram | |||
| Producer | Mike Varney | |||
| Tony MacAlpine chronology | ||||
| ||||
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
Andy Hinds at AllMusic gave Maximum Security 4.5 stars out of 5, calling it "much better" than MacAlpine's 1986 debut album Edge of Insanity, and "essential listening for anyone interested in instrumental guitar music." He went on to say "The album's captivating neoclassical/fusion forays are filled with plenty of beautiful melodies and hair-raising solos; MacAlpine simply lights up the fretboard—and the keyboard, for that matter. ... The variety of textures on this album—not to mention a wealth of beautiful melodies—keep it continually interesting." He also listed "Autumn Lords", "Hundreds of Thousands", "Tears of Sahara" and "Porcelain Doll" as highlights.[4]
Track listing
All music is composed by Tony MacAlpine, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Autumn Lords" | 3:26 |
| 2. | "Hundreds of Thousands" | 3:15 |
| 3. | "Tears of Sahara" | 3:46 |
| 4. | "Key to the City" | 4:38 |
| 5. | "The Time and the Test" | 2:39 |
| 6. | "The King's Cup" | 3:27 |
| 7. | "Sacred Wonder" | 4:13 |
| 8. | "Etude #4 Opus #10" (Frédéric Chopin) | 2:05 |
| 9. | "The Vision" | 3:30 |
| 10. | "Dreamstate" | 3:28 |
| 11. | "Porcelain Doll" | 4:26 |
| Total length: | 38:53 | |
Personnel
- Tony MacAlpine – guitar, keyboard, bass
- George Lynch – additional guitar solos (tracks 3, 9)
- Jeff Watson – additional guitar solos (track 6)
- Mike Mani – keyboard programming
- Deen Castronovo – drums (tracks 1–3, 5, 6)
- Atma Anur – drums (tracks 4, 7, 9–11)
- Steve Fontano – engineering
- Dino Alden – engineering assistance
- George Horn – mastering
- Mike Varney – production
Chart performance
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Billboard 200 | 146[2] |
References
- "Session notes: Maximum Security". tonymacalpine.com. Archived from the original on 2010-01-16. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
- "Maximum Security - Tony Macalpine | Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
- "Tony MacAlpine - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
- Hinds, Andy. "Maximum Security - Tony MacAlpine". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
External links
- In Review: Tony MacAlpine "Maximum Security" at Guitar Nine Records