I believe UFO are one of the finest hard rock bands ever to come out of the UK (if you ignore the first 2 dodgy space rock albums). From 1974 to 1979 a series of great hard rocking albums with German maestro Michael Schenker providing guitar duties are probably the best known of their albums but those with Paul Chapman and later with Vinnie Moore on guitar are also very fine albums (there are just a couple of duffers in the mid 1980’s).
Schenker rejoined the band in the early 1990’s and they released a couple of well received albums before Michael left once again. This album is a show from Vienna from 1998 and all the classic UFO songs are present but the three songs from the WOW album fit in really well. I saw them on this tour so this release brings back good memories of a slightly over indulgent evening at Newcastle City Hall.
UFO in conjunction with Cleopatra Records have released a slew of live shows in the past year or so from shows in 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1998. I think they are all soundboard recordings but are presented pretty much as played, warts and all, so there is the odd flubbed note, missed line and at times the sound can be a bit muddy (especially on the earlier recordings). Lots of Phil Mogg’s between song chats are there. For me, that’s what makes them worth listening to, turn them up and its like you are there at the show. This Vienna show is a cracker.
Available on vinyl/CD/Bandcamp/Qobuz I can see I will be buying too many of these but man, what a band they could be when they were firing on all cylinders.
Listening to the patreon episodes of a history of rock in 500 songs, one of the claims to fame for the song Raunchy was it was what George played on the top of the bus for John to pass the audition….
As enjoyable as this album is 60 years on, what amazes me is it was only another 3 years to Strawberry Fields……
Alter Bridge: Blackbird
Not listened to any Alter Bridge in a while. Really enjoy their studio sound, but I’ve seen them live 3 times and left before the end all 3 times.
They are always far too loud and the sound is always so unbalanced in their Arena shows, even with ear plugs I find it uncomfortable.
I really like Mark Tremonti’s guitar work.
Karen Carpenter – vocals, drums Richard Carpenter – keyboards, vocals Joe Osborn – bass guitar Jim Gordon – drums Tony Peluso – guitar Bob Messenger – tenor saxophone Doug Strawn – baritone saxophone Earl Dumler – oboe, English horn Thad Maxwell – pedal steel guitar Tommy Morgan – harmonica Gayle Levant – harp
Recorded at A&M Studios, Hollywood / September 1974 – April 1975
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Happy Birthday Richard Carpenter!
born on 15th October 1946 Richard Lynn Carpenter at Grace-New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut (the same hospital where his sister, Karen, was later born)
(the same hospital where his sister, Karen, was later born)