Herman 'Ze German' Rarebell is a German drummer, best known for his time in the band Scorpions from 1977 to 1995, playing on 8 studio albums. Rarebell was an important composer in the history of the group, writing classic songs like 'Another Piece of Meat,' 'Falling in Love' and the second single from Savage Amusement 'Passion Rules the Game.'

Indeed, he wrote the lyrics for some of the most classic songs of the band like 'Rock You Like a Hurricane,' 'Make It Real,' 'Dynamite,' 'Blackout,' 'Arizona,' 'Bad Boys Running Wild,' 'Don't Stop at the Top,' 'Tease Me Please Me,' and many others!

Here on the highly impressive Herman's Scorpions Songs, his Friends include such rock and metal savants as Bobby Kimball (original singer of TOTO), Don Dokken (DOKKEN), Paul Shortino (QUIET RIOT), John Parr, Tony Martin (BLACK SABBATH), Alex Ligertwood (SANTANA), and even the beautiful sax playing Claudia Raab.

Everyone comes together to help sing and perform not only the Scorpions song, but also their greatest hits. And sure, most all these versions don't come too close to outshining, upstaging their well-known, highly-beloved masterpieces, but that was obviously never the game plan by Rarebell.

1. Rock You Like A Hurricane (Bobby Kimball)
2. Passion Rules The Game (John Parr)
3. Loving You Sunday Morning (Michael Voss)
4. Is There Anybody There (Alex Ligertwood)
5. You Give Me All I Need (Don Dokken)
6. Make It Real (Doogie White)
7. Dynamite (Johnny Gioeli)
8. Arizona (Thomas Perry)
9. Love Is Blind (Paul Shortino)
10. Don´t Make No Promises (Jack Russell)
11. Falling In Love (Gary Barden)
12. Another Piece Of Meat (Tony Martin)
13. Animal Magnetism (Michael Nagy)
14. Let It Shine (Al Crespo)

In truth, Herman's Scorpions Songs is an excellent, highly-listenable collection of newly resculpted classics for they do give an excellent new take on them. Not the first Scorpions cover album, and I'm sure it won't be the last, at least this time an ex-Scorpion (and the songwriter, at that) has taken the musical reins and brought us one Hell of a musical animal to play; especially when we need that boost of energy to take on the problems of the world!

Reviewed by: Russell A. Trunk