It’s a good news/bad news story. The iconic supergroup Mr. Big is releasing a new album of original material, but we’ll likely never have the opportunity to hear these tunes live. 

When Mr. Big announced The BIG Finish tour last year, the band members said that it was “time to mark the end of this chapter of their legacy” after their friend and drummer Pat Torpey lost his battle with Parkinson’s disease in 2018.

In the midst of their final tour and inspired by their fans who shared in their swansong over the past year, Mr. Big wanted to say thank-you and goodbye with a brand-new album.

Their tenth studio album, appropriately titled Ten, is out on July 12 and features 11 original tracks. Eric Martin, Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan pay tribute to Torpey by enlisting the talents of Nick D’Virgilio (Tears for Fears, Sheryl Crow, Peter Gabriel, etc.) on drums.

“Good Luck Trying” is first up on Ten. Catchy. Hooky. Bluesy. And unmistakable Billy Sheehan wizardry on bass. Yep, this is definitely Mr. Big.

Up next is “I Am You” and it’s a killer track. Eric Martin’s voice is made for rock and roll – and this outrageously talented band.

Eric says, “This new album doesn’t copy anything from the nine previous studio records. It’s all new stuff from scratch. This is raw, unadulterated riff rock and blues with all the Mr. Big trimmings.”

The funk kicks in with “Right Outta Here.” The eerie, trippy groove leads masterfully into Paul Gilbert being Paul Gilbert with one of his trademark ripping solos.

There’s a bit of a Beatles feel in “Sunday Morning Kinda Girl.” After interviewing Billy Sheehan last year, I’m not surprised. He repeatedly credited the Fab Four as being a strong influence in his legendary musical journey.

“As Good As It Gets” may be my favorite track on the album. It coherently showcases the individual brilliance of the band. Martin’s best vocal track. Gilbert’s hot licks. D’Virgilio’s catchy backbeat. And Sheehan’s bass showcase at the end of the song fit together beautifully.

Ten includes a bonus track on the European version of the album, but here in the U.S., it wraps up with “The Frame.” It’s an introspective song that reflects on the reality of how sometimes in life you “don’t always fit in the frame.”

I think it’s necessary at this point to thank the boys in Mr. Big for ten albums of amazing licks, riffs, funk and soul. And for decades of truly LIVE performances by some of the most talented musicians in the business.

Kudos to you for giving us all one last taste of original, authentic and inspirational rock and roll!

I’m Music Magazine Writer Steve Pawlowski