STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT (A double live album)

"HELLO (insert name of city here). WOULD YOU PLEASE WELCOME FROM ENGLAND

U.F.O."

Up goes the roar and the opening bars kick in. Without question, this is one of the defining rock albums of all time. It regularly appears in "Greatest of All Time" lists, despite being released back in 1979. The reason? Well, have you heard it recently? Go on - if its in your collection, dust it off and pop it on the old record player and TURN IT UP!

Start to finish, packed with great songs, singing and playing and (mostly) live to boot. It most certainly catches a band who know what they are doing. Recorded in USA, mostly Chicago but also Louisville, there is not a duff track on here. I know a live album is almost a "greatest hits" album, but sometimes you just need to hear them live.

This line up of Mogg / Way / Schenker / Raymond / Parker is seen as many as the best. Given the band carried on for a further 40 years after this album is perhaps a bit of a dis-service but there is no doubting the talent on show here.

We all know what Michael Schenker can do with his Gibson Flying-V, but he was at his absolute peak on every song. I didn't see him play with UFO, but did with MSG.

Paul Raymond providing rhythm guitar, keyboards AND backing vocals was very much for me the forgotten genius of the band. Without him, there would have been no accompaniment in "Love To Love", no rhythm to "Doctor, Doctor" and no support in "Rock Bottom". I saw him play with a later incarnation of UFO, when "Atomik Tommy M" was the lead guitarist (no, I don't know what happened to him either). Raymond's talent was sadly taken from us in 2019, just after UFO finished the UK-leg of their farewell tour. #RIPPaulRaymond

What has not been written about Pete Way? He was teetotal and good living - I doubt those phrases were ever used. He was however a fine bass player and stage showman, contributing writing to a great many of the band's songs, Lights Out to name but one. Again, I didn't have the opportunity to see him with UFO, but did see him with his band, Waysted some years later. Also, a talent taken from us in 2020, #RIPPeteWay

Drummer Andy Parker is not going to win awards for technicality, but in terms of stout, dependable backing he is one of the best. His tub-thumping throughout is loud, sound and something to behold. He was still playing with the band at the end, giving it everything he had. Again, one I didn't see with UFO, but also when he played in Waysted.

That leaves the voice! Phil Mogg is without a shadow of a doubt one of the greatest British rock singers of all time. It would be unfair to say he had a narrow range, his voice fit every UFO song he had a hand in, which was pretty much all of them. What he had, was depth, soul and meaning. Its unusual to find those in a rock singer. I'd put him on a par with Ronnie James Dio for all those. Also the lyrics he wrote were more than above-par. Not just singing a song, but more often than not telling a story. He was also a great frontman. I saw him twice, both as UFO leader. He recently announced his retirement, but given he is over 75, I think he deserves a bit of down time.

Schenker actually left the band at various points of the tour, such was his humour in those days, his place being taken by the late Paul Chapman, who took up the role full-time following the release of this album.

I came upon this album thanks to a friend of a friend in about 1984. He actually offered me to borrow it for a while and then return it when I had finished with it. Let's just say, I'm not finished with it yet! What you have to understand is that possession is 9/10ths of the Law. That recurs often in my tales of "how I came upon this album" section.

I am so glad to have this. Its hard to pick out favourite tracks. "Love To Love", Only You Can Rock Me", "Rock Bottom", "Shoot Shoot". How can you separate those? You just have to listen to them all, right through and take it all in.

Some years after "taking ownership", I downloaded a new updated version of the album, which had a few different tracks included and a different running order. For me, there should have been no messing with this album. It is one of rock's sacrosanct offerings. To be enjoyed at your leisure, so just Lie Back and Enjoy It.

Track Listing

Natural Thing

Out In The Street

Only You Can Rock Me

Doctor Doctor

Mother Mary

This Kids

Love To Love

Lights Out

Rock Bottom

Too Hot To Handle

I'm A Loser

Let It Roll

Shoot Shoot

Phil Mogg - Vocals

Michael Schenker - Lead and Rhythm Guitar

Paul Raymond - Rhythm Guitars, Keyboards, Backing Vocals

Pete Way - Bass Guitar

Andy Parker - Drums