Strangers In The Night [Remastered] - UFO

Well I first heard of UFO in 1979 by complete accident-via my local radio station Beacon Radio broadcasting a programme called "Stick it in your ear" a distant forerunner of today's "Planet Rock". I turned the radio on late as usual and I was listening to what turned out to be a track called "Rock Bottom" -half way through and faded out well before the end. But it certainly left an impression, so I tuned in the following ...
...it a few weeks then Radio 1broadcast a programme called "The Friday Rock Show" hosted by the late and sorely missed Tommy Vance. This time I got a full dose of UFO lisening to a track called "Lights Out" It proved to be all I needed to buy the album, on Vinyl from a local record dealer called Sundown for £6.99-a small fortune back in 1979. but worth every penny of it. Not a bad track on the album but eventually it was sold in ... more

Well I first heard of UFO in 1979 by complete accident-via my local radio station Beacon Radio broadcasting a programme called "Stick it in your ear" a distant forerunner of today's "Planet Rock". I turned the radio on late as usual and I was listening to what turned out to be a track called "Rock Bottom" -half way through and faded out well before the end. But it certainly left an impression, so I tuned in the following Saturday-no UFO and the week after still nothing. I left it a few weeks then Radio 1broadcast a programme called "The Friday Rock Show" hosted by the late and sorely missed Tommy Vance. This time I got a full dose of UFO lisening to a track called "Lights Out" It proved to be all I needed to buy the album, on Vinyl from a local record dealer called Sundown for £6.99-a small fortune back in 1979. but worth every penny of it. Not a bad track on the album but eventually it was sold in the great 1984 vinyl massacre (when I sold all my vinyl one night)

And again this is another album I rediscovered via the net. I listened to it via Napster, thought to myself "This is worth buying again" and then left it....I then went on a wild goose chase all round the West Midlands looking for it and eventually purchased it from the Dogs of CD retailers (see my other review...) HMV for
£19.99. Ouch...one of the most expensive single CD's in my collection on American Import. But it was Hobsons choice, no where else had it but at least it had two bonus tracks.

UFO have had many line up changes throughout their 35 yr history but the one below is regarded as their best and most fruitful-and is the one featured on the album:

PHIL MOGG-Vocals

MICHAEL SCHENKER- Lead Guitar

PAUL RAYMOND-Keyboards, Rhythmn Guitar and Backing Vocals

PETE WAY-Bass

ANDY PARKER-Drums

And onto the album the two bounus tracks marked with an asterix

HOT 'N' READY * the opening number on this edition, a fair start with some good guitar work but one of the two weak links. Not bad in absolute terms but overshadowed by the rest of the album

CHERRY* slow and melodic number about a stripper-for me it just doesn't work. Good for completion purposes only.

LET IT ROLL- a good fast number featuring Phil's powerful vocal efforts with a cracking overall band effort.

LOVE TO LOVE- the other slow almost balld type number available featuring a good display of Phils vocal talents and also some excellent keyboard work from Paul. The sting in the tail is at the end when Michael finally gets in on the act with his faultless guitar work.

NATURAL THING-The opening number on the original Vinyl/CD release. A fantastic start from Michaels guitar gets it all going with complimentary vocals from Phil-the number is about that "Natural Thing" we all love....

OUT IN THE STREET-Another excellent number more keyboard orientated with another superb performance by Phil. Slow in pace but but Michaels guitar work comes to the fore towards the end-giving it a surprise speedy and heavy ending.

ONLY YOU CAN ROCK ME-Michaels chords start the number, slow in pace but mean. A popular number about a working girl (Oh no....!) but another excellent effort.

MOTHER MARY-Starts to raptuous cheering and deservedly so. A heavy number with a good overall blend of guitar, keyboards and vocals.

THIS KIDS-Continues in the same vein as 'Mother Mary' but with a guitar solo of quality. It still makes the hair on the back of neck stand up even now.

DOCTOR DOCTOR a slowish start to an an all-time favourite about a love sick gent (thats still me when I see Colette). Guitar based-a headbanging special. Released as a single in 1979, charted at No 35 and even got the band a ( rather limp) appearance on Top of the Pops

I'M A LOSER-probably the most melodic track on the album. almost ballad like start but gets progressivly faster and heavier.

LIGHTS OUT-The track which made me buy the album 26 years ago.UFO at their fastest and heaviest best. Absolutly stunning work from Michael and a similar performance from the rest of the band makes it one of the two most essential tracks on the album. Raw, and blistering-it will leave you gasping for more!

And more is what you get on the next track...

ROCK BOTTOM-An 11+ minute epic which every member of the band gets involved more noticably than usual somewhere-even Andy whose drumming is mostly in the background helping to keep it all together has a short solo. Again though Micheal steals the show with an exceptionally long blistering solo. Quantity as well as quality-my personal favourite on the whole album. Superb!!

TOO HOT TO HANDLE-And if that didn't batter you into submission...another crowd pleaser but slows down a notch again an excellent overall effort with searing guitar work and vocals to match.

and then finally we have..

SHOOT SHOOT. Another blistering track tight and fast paced. The follow up single which also featured "Im a Loser" and "Only You Can Rock Me" pressed in clear vinyl 7"-probably long forgotten though i remember it having a superb cover pic of the band. charted though not fantastically at 48 in the UK. Having said that singles sold an awful lot better then than they do now do-equivalent sales toady would have probably put it in the Top Ten.

Now for the original UK release running order:

NATURAL THING
OUT IN THE STREET
ONLY YOU CAN ROCK ME
DOCTOR DOCTOR
MOTHER MARY
THIS KIDS
LOVE TO LOVE
LIGHTS OUT
ROCK BOTTOM
TOO HOT TO HANDLE
I'M A LOSER
LET IT ROLL
SHOOT SHOOT

In my opinion this running order was better-maybe I'm just liking what i'm used to despite the sleeve notes stating the version reviewed was the origial running order played at the gigs concerned.

So there it is, one of the best rock albums of all time. Near enough authenitc as well with a minimum of overdubs (which sadly have to be done on live albums occasionally-some live albums are so much corrected in the studio the only live thing about them is the audience!)

Drawbacks?

Whilst the album is superb and the 24 bit remastering has improved the sound quality, the same cannot be said about the supplied inlay and packaging.

In a word C**P! It should have featured lyrics which it didn't. The photos of the band are good but so small you can hardly make them out-WHY.

The quality of the printing is very poor-blurred edges etc the sort of thing you would get on a bootleg CD. Capitol you should be ashamed of yourselves!

No CD text available either-a Napster download for £6.99 features burnt-in CD Text-so sorry but there's NO EXCUSES Capitol.

And £19.99 is expensive for an album-even one of this quality.

So come on Capitol-get your act sorted out. Give us the packaging the artists and album deserves. Better still release it on a Hybrid SACD format and let the band really shine!

On this performance though, I'll never know why UFO weren't as big as Led Zeppelin.

If only that line up had stuck together...

FOOTNOTE-UFO were the support act to Blue Oyster Cult at the time it was recorded hence the review's title. It is certainly the genuine article despite the concerns about the cover but should you purchase it you'll see what i mean...

 

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