Mr. Big

Mr. Big proved that it was possible to display virtuoso instrumental technique and still have hits. “Addicted To That Rush,” the opening track from their self-titled debut, was the hard rock equivalent of a “burner,” the kind of jazz tune bands program to give each other the chance to solo. Vocalist Eric Martin delivered the verses with passion and grit, halfway between Bad Company’s Paul Rodgers and Extreme’s Gary Cherone, but guitarist Paul Gilbert and bassist Billy Sheehan both got solo spots as drummer Pat Torpey laid down a hard, heavy beat. Throughout the album, Gilbert and Sheehan were a tag team, the bassist seeming to take the lead as often as the guitarist and doing things one might expect more from Stanley Clarke than a rock band. Even the ballad “Had Enough” began with a virtuoso bass interlude. But even if you stripped away the instrumental showboating, you’d still have a collection of very solid, radio-friendly rock songs.