If you like Schenker era UFO you might be surprised or even shocked by their first album which (I believe) was marketed as 'space rock' which is basically one of those somewhat descriptive terms for a form of psychedelic music characterized by effects laden guitar, vocals and even background sound. It bears some resemblance to the mid to late 70s heavy cock rock version of UFO (three of the four members of this lineup remained in the band) but definitely has a rather distinctive sound and feel perhaps owing to the fact that UFO was - for a time - somewhat the house band of the 'underground' London club of the same name. Yes, this is the same club Pink Floyd, Tomorrow (Steve Howe's pre Yes band) and others experimented with lights sounds and feels sometimes being spied on by the likes of the Beatles in disguise (no joke).
In my opinion this album comes through as rather confident and even somewhat well crafted considering how 'out there' it sometimes is but maybe that's a testament to just how great 'average' rock bands were in the London scene of the very late 60s to very early 70s.
Forgive me for not having the album in front of me and going from memory. If my recollection is too far off I'll come back and edit this steaming pile of words. I will list them in the order I remember hearing them on the cassette I bought in a bargain bin in the late 80s (for $1 no less).
Side Two (sorry this is the order I first heard the album)
1) Timothy - This song is driving and smooth and immediately made me glad I forked out 100 pennies for it. The up tempo drums and bass are slammed and strafed with a sort of chorusy lead guitar that provides as much extra rhythm content as counterpoint type coloring (well maybe not counterpoint...). The song is about Timothy Leary but nothing like the trippy tunes that had up until that point been written about the man. The drums and bass are tight and almost perfectly flowing, the guitar soars and reels in an ethereal realm while the vocals provide vary musical narration.
Great tune. Very nice.
2) Follow You Home - is a song that is something of a 'formula rock song' almost wholly predictable in delivery but with a rather darker edge that fits they lyrics (a guy kind of stalking his love interest...or...something...) quite well. But again it is the 'space guitar' that provides a very interesting near counterpoint to what might otherwise be a trite or even mundane (if well delivered) song. The singing is very well done. I particularly am fond of the ending chorus.
3) Treacle People - If this was the only tune of any value on this tape I would still feel it was a dollar very well spent (and in those days dollars didn't come easy for my unskilled dreamer ass). When they list psychedelia in the dictionary this song would maybe be an archetype. The bass and guitar are again perfectly in synch. Pete Way plays a slow but extremely low end almost droning foundation while Mick Bolan ( if I'm remembering his name correctly) again plays the ether using enough effects on his guitar to almost sound like a keyboard but with enough remaining crunch to make you glad it isn't.
The vocals are long and drawn out but very powerful as is the entire execution of the piece.
One of my favorite UFO songs of all time and I am a huge fan of the Schenker stuff.
4) Who Do You Love - is (I believe) the first cover on this album and my favorite version of this rock standard. The approach UFO uses is perfectly at home on this album (ethereal and somewhat playing outside the main theme during the musical interludes wherever no vocals are present) but remarkably different than any other version I've ever heard. It uses the 'Bo Diddly' riff as a mainstay during the verses but almost like a Jazz song can't wait to nose dive away from the main theme wherever it can. The drums and bass again carry the tune seemingly effortlessly.
5) Evil - rather formulaic. Well done but completely unsurprising. I don't dislike the song but neither does it do much for me.
Side One
6) Arriving UFO - an instrumental with a lot of atmosphere and 'space sounds' but more an ambient track than anything really memorable.
7) Boogie With George - is another party song and rather run of the mill.
8) C'mon Everybody - is the Cochrane classic delivered very competently and I think it manages to kind of put you in the room in the late 60s with 'bare feet slapping on the floor'.
9) Can't remember the name of this tune. Not a good sign.
10) (Come Away) Melinda - is I believe another cover though I'm not really sure. It is another long drawn out drone with reverb and echo but done in an almost haunting manner. Phil Moog delivers again with a lot of power and confidence that if lacking even slightly would have tanked this vocal heavy song.
In my opinion this album comes through as rather confident and even somewhat well crafted considering how 'out there' it sometimes is but maybe that's a testament to just how great 'average' rock bands were in the London scene of the very late 60s to very early 70s.
Forgive me for not having the album in front of me and going from memory. If my recollection is too far off I'll come back and edit this steaming pile of words. I will list them in the order I remember hearing them on the cassette I bought in a bargain bin in the late 80s (for $1 no less).
Side Two (sorry this is the order I first heard the album)
1) Timothy - This song is driving and smooth and immediately made me glad I forked out 100 pennies for it. The up tempo drums and bass are slammed and strafed with a sort of chorusy lead guitar that provides as much extra rhythm content as counterpoint type coloring (well maybe not counterpoint...). The song is about Timothy Leary but nothing like the trippy tunes that had up until that point been written about the man. The drums and bass are tight and almost perfectly flowing, the guitar soars and reels in an ethereal realm while the vocals provide vary musical narration.
Great tune. Very nice.
2) Follow You Home - is a song that is something of a 'formula rock song' almost wholly predictable in delivery but with a rather darker edge that fits they lyrics (a guy kind of stalking his love interest...or...something...) quite well. But again it is the 'space guitar' that provides a very interesting near counterpoint to what might otherwise be a trite or even mundane (if well delivered) song. The singing is very well done. I particularly am fond of the ending chorus.
3) Treacle People - If this was the only tune of any value on this tape I would still feel it was a dollar very well spent (and in those days dollars didn't come easy for my unskilled dreamer ass). When they list psychedelia in the dictionary this song would maybe be an archetype. The bass and guitar are again perfectly in synch. Pete Way plays a slow but extremely low end almost droning foundation while Mick Bolan ( if I'm remembering his name correctly) again plays the ether using enough effects on his guitar to almost sound like a keyboard but with enough remaining crunch to make you glad it isn't.
The vocals are long and drawn out but very powerful as is the entire execution of the piece.
One of my favorite UFO songs of all time and I am a huge fan of the Schenker stuff.
4) Who Do You Love - is (I believe) the first cover on this album and my favorite version of this rock standard. The approach UFO uses is perfectly at home on this album (ethereal and somewhat playing outside the main theme during the musical interludes wherever no vocals are present) but remarkably different than any other version I've ever heard. It uses the 'Bo Diddly' riff as a mainstay during the verses but almost like a Jazz song can't wait to nose dive away from the main theme wherever it can. The drums and bass again carry the tune seemingly effortlessly.
5) Evil - rather formulaic. Well done but completely unsurprising. I don't dislike the song but neither does it do much for me.
Side One
6) Arriving UFO - an instrumental with a lot of atmosphere and 'space sounds' but more an ambient track than anything really memorable.
7) Boogie With George - is another party song and rather run of the mill.
8) C'mon Everybody - is the Cochrane classic delivered very competently and I think it manages to kind of put you in the room in the late 60s with 'bare feet slapping on the floor'.
9) Can't remember the name of this tune. Not a good sign.
10) (Come Away) Melinda - is I believe another cover though I'm not really sure. It is another long drawn out drone with reverb and echo but done in an almost haunting manner. Phil Moog delivers again with a lot of power and confidence that if lacking even slightly would have tanked this vocal heavy song.
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