Search Artist / Band Alphabetical

▼

Saturday, July 31, 2021

Alaska - Live Baked Alaska (2002) | Review, Fun Facts & Trivia

Alaska - Live Baked Alaska (2002) album front coverAlaska - Live Baked Alaska (2002) album back cover

Alaska - Live Baked Alaska (2002)

Album front and back image covers

Alaska – Live Baked Alaska (2002): Album Overview, Tracklist, Credits & Trivia

Live Baked Alaska is a live album by British hard rock/AOR band Alaska, released in March 2002. The record captures the energy of the band’s performances during the mid‑1980s, when Alaska — fronted by legendary guitarist Bernie Marsden (former Whitesnake member) — carved out a melodic rock identity blending blues‑tinged guitar work with arena‑ready hooks.

The album includes classic live renditions of material drawn from Alaska’s 1984–1985 period, showcasing the band’s stage presence and musicianship. Although more of a fan‑oriented live archival release than a major commercial hit, Live Baked Alaska serves as an essential document for collectors and fans of 1980s melodic hard rock.

📀 Album Overview

  • Artist: Alaska

  • Album: Live Baked Alaska

  • Release Date: March 9, 2002

  • Format: Live album (CD)

  • Genre: Hard Rock / Melodic Rock / AOR

  • Recording Era: Live recordings from 1984–1985 UK shows

  • Label: Zoom Club / Windsor (typical for release)

  • Duration: ~64 min (approximate from listings)

This live set draws on performances from the heyday of Alaska (the mid‑1980s), when the band toured in support of their two studio albums (Heart of the Storm and The Pack).

🎸 About Alaska & Bernie Marsden

Alaska was formed by English guitarist Bernie Marsden after his departure from Whitesnake. The band featured melodically driven rock with blues‑leaning guitar work and strong vocal performances. Their studio work in the mid‑1980s produced Heart of the Storm (1984) and The Pack (1985), defining Alaska’s sound.

Live Baked Alaska collects live performances from that era, presenting them decades later for fans and archival interest rather than chart‑topping commercial success.

🎶 Tracklist (Approximate / Common Versions)

Official published tracklists for this live album are rare online, but typical Live Baked Alaska releases include a selection of live versions of classic Alaska songs recorded between 1984 and 1985, such as:

  1. Whiteout

  2. Don’t Say It’s Over

  3. Voice on the Radio

  4. Susie Blue

  5. Heart of the Storm

  6. I Need Your Love

  7. Can’t Let Go

  8. Other Side of Midnight

  9. Headlines

  10. The Sorcerer

(Note: Exact track order and inclusion may vary by edition; multiple live recordings exist across various reissues and collector issues.)

🎤 Possible Live Personnel

While exact credits on the Live Baked Alaska CD are hard to source without liner notes, the core Alaska touring lineup from the era typically included:

  • Bernie Marsden – Guitar & backing vocals

  • Robert Hawthorn – Lead vocals

  • Richard Bailey – Keyboards

  • Brian Badhams – Bass Guitar

  • John Marter – Drums

These musicians formed the “classic” Alaska lineup responsible for the mid‑1980s recordings that this live album draws from.

📌 Release Notes & Context

  • Live Baked Alaska was issued long after the band’s original active period — nearly 17 years after their heyday.

  • The album functions largely as a historical live showcase, giving fans of Bernie Marsden and 1980s British hard rock a chance to hear the band’s live energy preserved from vintage performances.

  • Official chart data and major awards information are not typically associated with this release, indicating its niche appeal primarily to devoted fans and collectors.

🧠 Fun Facts & Trivia

  • 🎸 Rare Archival Release: Unlike mainstream live albums by major rock acts, Live Baked Alaska was released on smaller labels and likely pressed in limited quantities, making it a sought‑after title for collectors of Bernie Marsden’s work.

  • 📀 Captures Classic Era: The recordings come from live performances during Alaska’s prime period (1984–1985), showcasing the band before they split and Marsden moved into other projects.

  • 🎤 Melodic Hard Rock Showcase: The live performances demonstrate the band’s blend of melodic rock, bluesy guitar solos, and ‘80s arena rock aesthetics — a style that endeared Alaska to fans of melodic guitar‑driven rock.

📝 Summary

Live Baked Alaska (2002) stands as a nostalgic live collection from Alaska’s classic era (mid‑1980s), led by guitarist Bernie Marsden. The album’s archival nature gives listeners a window into the band’s live energy and musicianship, serving both as a collectible and a historical document of this melodic hard rock outfit’s stage presence. 





More Albums: