Album Review: UFO At The BBC: On Air 1974 – 1985

March 28th, 2013 by jason

Chrysalis

This is a lovely thing. Admitedly, it is likely to be of most interest to collectors and completists. Then again, at just over £12 at a well known on-line music retailer (other retailers are available), who wouldn’t want to get their covetous digits on this fine box set of 5 CDs, and 1 DVD covering the bands most creative period, captured live at the BBC.

Chrysalis/EMI have had a seriously good crack at remastering and reissuing their UFO’s back catalogue. The studio albums scrubbed up a treat and were relaunched a little while ago with rare material and live tracks. Then came the nicely researched and packaged collections with a bit more bonus material . Finally, last year came the excellent official bootleg live box set 75-82. So what can another collection of hidden gems really add to this burgeoning portfolio?

Plenty. Whether you want to hear the many shades of ‘Doctor Doctor’ or ‘Rock Bottom’ captured here, or want to explore bucket loads of other worthy stuff.

CD 1- 1974: Possibly, the most interesting CD here. An In Concert set that features a rare pairing of Michael Schenker and Paul Chapman on lead guitar. ‘Tonka’ Chapman dipped in and out of UFO’s line up in the early days before taking over officially from Schenker in 1979. ‘Oh My’, ‘Built For Comfort’ and Space Child’ really benefit from the (ultimately doomed) twin lead guitar experiment. The second half is from a Bob Harris session later the same year, by which time Tonka had moved on. ‘Time On My Hands’ is a bluesy stretch only captured rarely the properly excellent, boogie driven ‘Give Her The Gun’ is a joy. This was the first single recorded by the Schenker-era line up in ’73, but didn’t make the album.

CD 2 – 1975 – 1977: The final disc featuring Schenker is an In Concert recording with the band in blistering form, rattling through six tracks from ‘Force It’ and ‘Phenomemon’’ that would be live staples for years. The final three tracks are from a John Peel session where ‘Try Me’ stands out as an introspective and tender track, stripped down from the album version and with Schenker at his mercurial best.

CD 3 – 1980: a full In Concert set from the band’s ‘No Place To Run’ tour. Despite Schenker’s departure, the band were riding the crest of a wave and confidence oozes from every track. Beyond the classic tracks, ‘Mystery Train’ just smokes and ‘Cherry’ shows off UFO’s knack of changing pace and mood without dropping the intensity.

CD 4 – 1982: Another In Concert set from the ‘Mechanix’ tour. Neil Carter had replaced Paul Raymond on keys and rhythm guitar by now, and had introduced sax on the previous year’s studio platter.

Much to the chagrin of founder member, Pete Way who left shortly after this tour, citing (amongst other things) unease with the ballads and the use of sax. So it is ironic that this set captures some of the band’s harder, heavier material in full force. ‘We belong To The Night’, ‘Long Gone’, ‘Doing It All For You’ and ‘Makin’ Moves’ are UFO at their powerful best.

CD 5 – 1985: Recorded at Knebworth, supporting their (first) comeback album ‘Misdemeanor’. The strength of the songs on that album was totally undermined by a synth-heavy, pop-influenced production. A massive disappointment.

This set is valuable because it captures the band in their natural arena playing some rarely heard good tracks like ‘Blinded By A Lie’ and ‘Night Run’. It hints at what might have been with a decent sound and a proper guitarist! (Apologies to Atomik Tommy M.)

DVD 1 – 1979 – 1982: Here’s a collector’s item! UFO’s BBC TV appearances – and there are more than you might think. The TOTP content is amusing for the posing and poncing around, but the priceless material for the purist is the bevy of excellent live tracks from the Old Grey Whistle Test and the (long forgotten) Oxford Road Show.

This collection is an absolute treat. Go on indulge yourself.

*****

Dave Atkinson

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