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.
