Classic Rock Album of the Day- UFO- Obsession (1978) ***
Today's selection is somewhat of change of pace. I would pretty readily guess that almost everyone born after 1965, has not heard this band. But these hardworking journeymen of over 40+ years almost produced 2 dozen studio albums. The kind of view I give them, is maybe the moniker of one of the greatest back up bands in AOR history. This band opened for almost everyone big in the 1970's and early 1980's. And this was a band as live, would give you your money's worth.
Very solid rocking band, that had good consistent albums, as produced. But, they just didn't get that one hot or series of hits that propelled other bands. Technically, they are very sound too. Maybe a tad too formulaic. And there is a certain degree of filler, in all their stuff, but I would be amiss to not mention that no rock audiophile should ignore this solid band. Concurrently, of course, you can kind of discern of the similarity of their sound to other similar groups of the era. You can hear, Free, Zep, Priest, among several others. I wouldn't call it copying, but there really isn't what I call a unique feel or sound that would set them apart, or spur a large or loyal following,
To pick one from their catalog, it was a tossup between this one, and the prior year's Light's Out (1977). Chose this one, as the I kind of liked the better cuts, and the riffs seem more concentrically centered and listenable. There are few stinkers, but I think and hope that you see that this was a band good enough not be be forgotten. No weak links in the lineup, songwriting is acceptable, but one has to realize that back in the 1970's there was a lot of competition in the day for $ for albums and concerts. These guys just didn't make the final leap to stardom. But thanks for the music though.
Fun Fact: Another band with not only no platinum studio LP's, but gold either. Amazing that they had that level of unrequited love, and still had the longevity of 22 studio albums (1970-2017).
Side 1-
------------
Only You Can Rock Me- Best UFO tune, by far. Made it to No. 50, and a what a shame it did no better. Well constructed chaotic standard, and about as good AOR sound as you are going to find the era. Many other bands made lesser tunes than this that charted much higher. Which is just more proof that there are so many intangibles in the music business dictating success. 1
Pack it Up (And Go). Very hard rocking that checks all the boxes, but doesn't too well trying to build on repeti-riff. A couple nice searing solos that sadly lean up against a Spinal Tap like bass/drum line. 4
Arbory Hill- Off tuned, flute(?), Recorder (?) that starts a Tullish like ditty , that then morphs quickly into a Judas Priest cover like stuff. Nope. 10
Ain't No Baby- Made the Priest reference, and there isn't an ingenious bit or innovative note in this one either. 8
Lookin' Out For No. 1- Obligatory ballad that works pretty weill outside their center expertise. Solos have more soul on this one, instead of fretting gymnatstics. 5
Side 2-
--------------
Hot n' Ready- Solid Opening on Side 2. i enjoy how they mixed this one, with more equity for all parts, instead the standard blaring guitar. Though, outside opener, the tune ends with some pretty strong ax work. 2
Cherry- I understood the need for band versatility to be displayed, but often that effort is not good. In this song it is a mix of good and bad, with some really neat hooking and soloing to at least save it. 6
You Don't Feel Me- Very nice add of some blues influsion that set this one apart from the rest of the album. Still a little too formulaic to meet my taste. Sadly UFO made at least a dozen or two other songs, that are very similar. Saw a lot of this in their early stuff. 7
Looking Out For No. 1 (Reprise)- No idea why the bad would semi-rehash a minute spot like this. Seemed pretty pointless 9
One More For the Rodeo- Hard rocker, and an upper tier cut from the LP. One thing, you are noticing though, that there is such a consistent meter and feel to this music, you might kind of get an idea, that their lack of songwriting breadth, just might be why this band never made it to its level of it's peers. 3
Born To Lose- Sappy ballad that recycles the melodic lines of Only You Can Rock Me. 11
Originally written November 29, 2023.
Today's selection is somewhat of change of pace. I would pretty readily guess that almost everyone born after 1965, has not heard this band. But these hardworking journeymen of over 40+ years almost produced 2 dozen studio albums. The kind of view I give them, is maybe the moniker of one of the greatest back up bands in AOR history. This band opened for almost everyone big in the 1970's and early 1980's. And this was a band as live, would give you your money's worth.
Very solid rocking band, that had good consistent albums, as produced. But, they just didn't get that one hot or series of hits that propelled other bands. Technically, they are very sound too. Maybe a tad too formulaic. And there is a certain degree of filler, in all their stuff, but I would be amiss to not mention that no rock audiophile should ignore this solid band. Concurrently, of course, you can kind of discern of the similarity of their sound to other similar groups of the era. You can hear, Free, Zep, Priest, among several others. I wouldn't call it copying, but there really isn't what I call a unique feel or sound that would set them apart, or spur a large or loyal following,
To pick one from their catalog, it was a tossup between this one, and the prior year's Light's Out (1977). Chose this one, as the I kind of liked the better cuts, and the riffs seem more concentrically centered and listenable. There are few stinkers, but I think and hope that you see that this was a band good enough not be be forgotten. No weak links in the lineup, songwriting is acceptable, but one has to realize that back in the 1970's there was a lot of competition in the day for $ for albums and concerts. These guys just didn't make the final leap to stardom. But thanks for the music though.
Fun Fact: Another band with not only no platinum studio LP's, but gold either. Amazing that they had that level of unrequited love, and still had the longevity of 22 studio albums (1970-2017).
Side 1-
------------
Only You Can Rock Me- Best UFO tune, by far. Made it to No. 50, and a what a shame it did no better. Well constructed chaotic standard, and about as good AOR sound as you are going to find the era. Many other bands made lesser tunes than this that charted much higher. Which is just more proof that there are so many intangibles in the music business dictating success. 1
Pack it Up (And Go). Very hard rocking that checks all the boxes, but doesn't too well trying to build on repeti-riff. A couple nice searing solos that sadly lean up against a Spinal Tap like bass/drum line. 4
Arbory Hill- Off tuned, flute(?), Recorder (?) that starts a Tullish like ditty , that then morphs quickly into a Judas Priest cover like stuff. Nope. 10
Ain't No Baby- Made the Priest reference, and there isn't an ingenious bit or innovative note in this one either. 8
Lookin' Out For No. 1- Obligatory ballad that works pretty weill outside their center expertise. Solos have more soul on this one, instead of fretting gymnatstics. 5
Side 2-
--------------
Hot n' Ready- Solid Opening on Side 2. i enjoy how they mixed this one, with more equity for all parts, instead the standard blaring guitar. Though, outside opener, the tune ends with some pretty strong ax work. 2
Cherry- I understood the need for band versatility to be displayed, but often that effort is not good. In this song it is a mix of good and bad, with some really neat hooking and soloing to at least save it. 6
You Don't Feel Me- Very nice add of some blues influsion that set this one apart from the rest of the album. Still a little too formulaic to meet my taste. Sadly UFO made at least a dozen or two other songs, that are very similar. Saw a lot of this in their early stuff. 7
Looking Out For No. 1 (Reprise)- No idea why the bad would semi-rehash a minute spot like this. Seemed pretty pointless 9
One More For the Rodeo- Hard rocker, and an upper tier cut from the LP. One thing, you are noticing though, that there is such a consistent meter and feel to this music, you might kind of get an idea, that their lack of songwriting breadth, just might be why this band never made it to its level of it's peers. 3
Born To Lose- Sappy ballad that recycles the melodic lines of Only You Can Rock Me. 11
Originally written November 29, 2023.
