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metaljim1 Profile
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Purple fan

Registered: 05-2006
Posts: 338
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UFO remasters


UFO finally gets the remastering treatment they long deserved. They have just released the first three Schenker-era albums, with clear and powerful remastering, bonus tracks and new liner notes.

Phenomenon (original release 1974)
1. Oh My
2. Crystal Light
3. Doctor Doctor
4. Space Child
5. Rock Bottom
6. Too Young to No
7. Time on My Hands
8. Built for Comfort
9. Lipstick Traces
10. Queen of the Deep
11. Sixteen [demo w/Bernie Marsden on guitar]
12. Oh My [demo w/Bernie Marsden on guitar
13. Give Her the Gun [non-LP single A-side]
14. Sweet Little Thing [non-LP single B-side]
15. Sixteen [studio outtake]
16. Doctor Doctor [live BBC session]

I was 17 years old in 1974 and was working in a laundromat in the evening after school. I had an FM radio that I listened to all the time at work and one night they played this new song that just blew me away. The guitar solo was superb, building in intensity and speed until I was completely transfixed on the music. It hit a climax and I thought the song was over. Instead, the band then roared back into the riff that had started the song and finished in a blast of raw power and chaos. I sat there breathlessly waiting for the DJ to say who it was. He came on a minute or so later and said "That was UFO off their new album, Phenomenon. They played Doctor Doctor an hour or so later and that was it. I bought the album the next day and haven't looked back since. Not only my favorite UFO album, it remains one of my favorite albums off all time. In my eyes, only Force It matched the level of excitement throughout an entire album. If I had to only pick one though, it would be Phenomenon. From the bluesy swagger of Oh My to the delicate acoustic work on Crystal Light, from the majestic riffing on Queen Of The Deep to the hyperkinetic soloing on Rock Bottom, this album has it all. Not a weak moment, making it my pick for best rock album of 1974. The tracklisting for this remaster is the same as the European album. In the US, the opening track on side 1 and side 2 were switched. Too Young To No opened the album here and it’s a little hard to get used to Oh My doing the honors on this edition. That aside, this is a classic through and through. Of special interest are the two demos from the Bernie Marsden era of UFO. Long rumored to exist, but with no official confirmation until now, two of the four demos recorded by the short-lived Marsden line-up are made available for the first time ever.

Force it (original release 1975)
1. Let It Roll
2. Shoot Shoot
3. High Flyer
4. Love Lost Love
5. Out in the Street
6. Mother Mary
7. Too Much of Nothing
8. Dance Your Life Away
9. This Kid's/Between the Walls
10. Million Miles [studio outtake]
11. Mother Mary [Live]
12. Out in the Streets [Live]
13. Shoot Shoot [Live]
14. Let It Roll [Live]
15. This Kid's [Live]

If Phenomenon was a promising start, Force It is the full on deal closer. The album is much more linear in concept and forgoes all attempts at subtlety. Instead of the diversity and atmospheric nature of Phenomenon the band go for the jugular here. Sleek, mean and powerful, this is UFO at their heaviest. From the fade in screaming sustain of Let It Roll to the gentle acoustic picking of Between The Walls, Force It delivers a no nonsense, hard rocking, knock out punch. Hands down the best rock album of 1975 and another leap forward for Michael Schenker as he takes the rock guitar god crown. There’s not a weak moment here and between the heavy, groove driven riffing and the frantic soloing, one can easily be overwhelmed by it all. Superb, simply superb.

No Heavy Petting (original release 1976)
1. Natural Thing
2. I'm a Loser
3. Can You Roll Her
4. Belladonna
5. Reasons Love
6. Highway Lady
7. On with the Action
8. Fool in Love
9. Martian Landscape
10. All or Nothing [studio outtake]
11. French Kisses [studio outtake]
12. Have You Seen Me Lately Joan [studio outtake]
13. Do It If You Can [studio outtake]
14. All the Strings [studio outtake]

UFO consolidated their position with their 3rd release of the Schenker-era. Not quite as solid as their previous two albums, it nonetheless delivers the goods. Side 1 is perfect, consisting of a series of classic songs that should have catapulted the band to the top of the rock world. The album opens with the riff heavy Natural Thing, followed by I’m A Loser, which alternates gentle acoustic guitars with hyperspeed guitar solos. The adrenaline rush of Can You Roll Her is a highpoint of the album and a certified UFO classic. Schenker lays down the law here, establishing his intentions to take no prisoners. Blazing guitar work reigns supreme here and on Reasons Love. Five studio outtakes are added to the album, showcasing the more melodic side of the band. Schenker harmonizes with himself on several of these tracks and they are very Thin Lizzy-ish in their approach. Cool stuff and a worthy addition to any collection.
13/4/2008, 20:28 Link to this post Send Email to metaljim1   Send PM to metaljim1
 
purplextreme1 Profile
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Purple fan

Registered: 03-2008
Posts: 1
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Re: UFO remasters


Hey Jim...Fancy meeting you here–Lol! emoticon

Excellent review! I had those two "albums" on cassette way back when. It's nice to see they finally received the proper treatment. Cheers!
3/5/2008, 23:09 Link to this post Send Email to purplextreme1   Send PM to purplextreme1
 
MrsSnap Profile
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Purple fan

Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 2427
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Re: UFO remasters


quote:

metaljim1 wrote:
 Not only my favorite UFO album, it remains one of my favorite albums off all time.




Not only in your eyes. I was 17 too....... emoticon
4/5/2008, 10:02 Link to this post Send Email to MrsSnap   Send PM to MrsSnap
 
Boulder Bolin Profile
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Purple fan

Registered: 04-2007
Posts: 402
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Re: UFO remasters


The first three Schenker albums are favorites for me as well.Always preferred No Heavy Petting above the other two,but not by much! emoticon I also love the post -Schenker Mechanix-great mix of hard rock and commercial accessibility.Not an easy task to pull off with integrity intact,suffice to say UFO managed just fine.CHEERS
8/5/2008, 23:09 Link to this post Send Email to Boulder Bolin   Send PM to Boulder Bolin
 
sail away Profile
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Registered: 09-2007
Posts: 1741
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Re: UFO remasters


I'm getting Phenomenon to start with, always a fave with me too. If it sounds good I'll get the other two soon.
Heard doctor, doctor on the radio the other day and it sounded very good indeed.
They actually played getting tighter from CTTB just before doc. First time ever for both of these two.. for me anyway. On the radio that is...
13/5/2008, 20:28 Link to this post Send Email to sail away   Send PM to sail away
 
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Registered: 09-2007
Posts: 1741
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Re: UFO remasters


O'boy this is good, Schenker is brilliant!
15/5/2008, 18:51 Link to this post Send Email to sail away   Send PM to sail away
 
metaljim1 Profile
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Purple fan

Registered: 05-2006
Posts: 338
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Re: UFO remasters


quote:

sail away wrote:

O'boy this is good, Schenker is brilliant!



Add in the fact that he was all of 19 years old at the time he recorded Phenomenon and you have one amazing performance. As much as I loved the album when I was 17, I appreciate it so much more now. How could I (or anyone) know Schenker was rewriting the book on guitar playing back then? As you put it, he is brilliant!
16/5/2008, 2:13 Link to this post Send Email to metaljim1   Send PM to metaljim1
 
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Registered: 09-2007
Posts: 1741
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Re: UFO remasters


Sure is.. emoticon
16/5/2008, 16:37 Link to this post Send Email to sail away   Send PM to sail away
 


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