THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: UFO (Page 2 of 2)

UFO – No Place To Run

September 3, 2021 /

This album was a problem for the band at the time, as it was the first album since the departure of Michael Schenker. He was replaced by ex-Lone Star guitarist, Paul ‘Tonka’ Chapman. There was also an addition of Paul Raymond on keys and guitar. A lot of fans did not like this Schenker-less record, as he was a hero to a lot of them, but if truth be told, the songs were a lot stronger without him in the long run. UFO recorded 22 full length studio albums (not including Live albums) before they called it a day, and that’s not a bad run for a rock band.

Lettin’ Go is a great opening tune and I would say is a typical sounding UFO track – with some nice playing by Tonka. The old blues standard, Mystery Train, follows and is given the full treatment. It again shows that Tonka is more than capable of replacing the crazy German. This is one of the best sounding UFO albums, and I think it’s no coincidence that this album was produced by George Martin. It’s also a UFO tradition to put in a track that is there to just fill space, and here that falls to This Fire Burns Tonight.

Young Blood was the single that was released before the album, and it didn’t do a whole bunch, apart from announcing that there was a new album about to drop. I actually liked it, as to me, this is the real UFO. This is definitely a more mature sound for the band, and I guess that’s what George Martin was trying to do as the track, No Place To Run, feels as though the band are expanding their sound. Money Money is my favourite track on the record as I love the lyrics and the gallop of the tune.

I think the cover photo is hilarious here, as a very cheap attempt to disguise the fact that they are standing in an Esso garage has been made by placing electrical tape covering the logo.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

UFO – Live In Youngstown 1978

August 3, 2021 /

For those of you familiar with UFO’s live album Strangers In The Night, you will be familiar with some of this recording. Strangers was captured over five nights and cobbled together to make the classic album we all know and love. This album is one of those nights in its entirety and in the correct running order. One thing you notice is that this album is a lot more raw and in your face, begging the question how many overdubs were layered onto Strangers? That doesn’t bother me that much if I’m honest, as I like this album a lot. Mr. Schenker is on fire, and it’s cool to hear this version of the band again after all these years playing their asses off. Plus, you get to hear tracks not on the original release namely, Pack It Up (And Go), Cherry, and On With The Action.

UFO were one of the best live acts around and this album is a great testament to a once great band. There are not many tracks that I don’t like by this band and all this album is killer. My favourites are Let It Roll, Natural Thing, Lights Out and the usual sing-a-longs Doctor Doctor, and Shoot Shoot. If you want a lesson in how to do hard rock, then buy yourself this (or Strangers) – you won’t regret it. It’s worth it just to hear how good Michael Schenker was around this time.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

UFO – Phenomenon

March 12, 2021 /

Formed back in ’68, but it wasn’t until the release of this album in ’74, and the introduction of Michael Schenker on guitar, that the band started to find their sound. You will still hear that typical early seventies rock sound on some of the songs here for sure, but there are two all time UFO classic songs to be found here. To most fans (me included), the golden period for the band was from this album until the departure of Schenker, after the release of one of the all time great live albums, Strangers In The Night. On a side note, Schenker was only 18 when he left the Scorpions to join UFO. Other than Schenker’s guitar, it was the vocals of Phil Mogg that made the band unique. If there ever was a category that was a typical English Rock Band, then number 1 top of the list would be UFO.

Anyway, into the album we go. We have two very standard rock songs to start us off with Too Young To know and Crystal Light, each brought to life by Schenker’s guitar and Mogg’s vocals. Third track in is Doctor Doctor, which when the live album was released, would be put out as a single by the record company and would break the Top 20. A very simple rocker, but very effective and would become an anthem for the band. Fun fact, Iron Maiden plays this track over the PA just before they take the stage at every show. A very hippy-ish number, Space Child, follows with an acoustic riff, again a great vocal and guitar makes this the stand out track on Side 1 for me. Classic track number two, Rock Bottom, closes out Side 1 and another very simple but effective track.

Side 2 begins with Oh My, the only full band collaboration on the album, and it’s probably the weakest track on the album despite a cool solo from Schenker. Time On My Hands follows, a nice song that shows the softer side of the band. Built For Comfort, a cover of the Willie Dixon song, is next and shows the early roots of the band. A short Schenker penned instrumental, Lipstick Traces, is next before the album closer Queen Of The Deep – a song that they would close the set with around this time.

The albums that followed this would see them develop the sound into a full hard rock band and gain them success and make them a top drawer live band.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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