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Rating: We are in 1975 when UFO releases their fourth album, the second with Michael Schenker, "snatched" from his brother Rudolf's Scorpions, on guitar after "Phenomenon", a convincing episode from the previous year in which the four took a turn in their style following Mick Bolton's departure, heading towards that solid hard rock that will henceforth characterize them.
"Force It" is the second step of a group towards their masterpiece, that "Lights Out" which will see the light two years later. The compositions begin to include keyboard parts, and the gears driven by Phil Mogg's voice, Pete Way's bass, Andy Parker's drums, and Michael Schenker's guitar are well-oiled.
The German guitarist barely speaks English, but this does not prevent him, alongside Way and Mogg, from creating songs like "Let It Roll", "Shoot Shoot", or "Mother Mary", all tracks that will become their classics and serve as pillars in their live performances. Schenker is one of those instantly recognizable guitarists, able to elevate the level of any piece with one of his solos; for confirmation, listen to "High Flyer", a ballad illuminated by a solo in which he manages to condense so much feeling in just a few notes that for many "normal" guitarists it would be unthinkable.
But one must not fall into the error of considering UFO merely an appendage of Schenker. On the contrary, Way and Mogg know their stuff, they know how to write great pure hard rock pieces and deserve credit for having devised a winning formula, in which Schenker's guitar fits like a marvelous diamond.
Until misunderstandings begin to materialize, leading to Schenker's departure in 1978, whose character poorly reconciles with that of the other members, UFO enjoys a very fruitful creative season, producing a series of great albums that project them among the greats of 70s hard rock, and "Force It" is a fundamental step in that journey, not yet on the level of "Lights Out," but still an album of excellent music.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 Let It Roll (03:57)
Michael Schenker; Phil Mogg; The Miggs
Cold run Speed Highway was the place where we'd all go
When our nerves were razor sharp, and we'd all let it roll
Let it roll
Let it roll, let it roll
Let it roll
Our machine's geared up, and we're really layin' it down
Layin' it out, let it roll
When these wheels get rollin'
Let them roll right over you
'Cause I'm well greased down, and I'll always win it through
Let it roll, let it roll
Let it roll
Let it roll, let it roll
Our machine's geared up, and we're really layin' it down
Layin' it out, let it roll
[Instrumental]
Cold run Speed Highway was the place where we'd all go
When our nerves were razor sharp, and we'd all let it roll
Let it roll
Let it roll, let it roll
Let it roll
Our machine's geared up, and we're really layin' it down
Layin' it out, let it roll
02 Shoot Shoot (03:40)
Andy Parker; Michael Schenker; Pete Way; Phil Mogg
Was a fast tough woman loved to play the clown
You won't do nothin' about it
Break a good boy's resistance down
You know she's got a pistol
Laid it down for real
She said shoot, shoot, shoot it boy
You gotta shoot it for me
Convinced me that she was worth it
Never knew I was her kill
And two 45's would do the trick and pay the bills
You know she's got a pistol
Laid it down on me
And she said shoot, shoot, shoot it boy
You gotta shoot it for me
I've really got to get a fast ride out of here
Gotta get a fast ride out of here
Gotta get a fast ride out of here
Gotta get a fast ride out of here now
Holing out in my hotel room police they finally come
And there's the prosecution, and my friends have palmed the gun
You know she's got a pistol
Laid it down on me
And she said shoot, shoot, shoot it boy
You gotta shoot it for me
I've really got to get a fast ride out of here
Gotta get a fast ride out of here
Gotta get a fast ride out of here
Gotta get a fast ride out of here now
03 High Flyer (04:09)
Michael Schenker; Phil Mogg
High flyers, wheelin' birds
I'm so far out to sea
Ships are passing every night
Oh, all my boyish dreams
(1) And your every melody
With the sea tides tossin' free
Never, never holdin' back
Rock and rollers drift by
Turn to summer, goes so fast
Seems I'll never see you
One weekend and a photograph
Oh, all my boyish dreams
(1) Repeat
05 Out in the Street (05:16)
Pete Way; Phil Mogg
Lady love to hang on
Lady like a real intel-lectual
Sweet sister you’re still shaking
And your tragedy is never ending
Silver shoes you're wearing
Every window that you've ever stared in
Over my head, over my head
Sidewalks of the city
Every theater there you've ever played
Your comic book impersonations
Wish for cinder embers to keep
Over my head, so it's all…
Out in the streets for just one more matinee
Yes, your vaudeville carries on
So put a smile in front your man can see
Yes your vaudeville carries on
[Instrumental]
Out in the street for just one more matinee
Yes, your vaudeville carries on
So put a smile in front your man can see
Yes your vaudeville carries on
Lady love to hang on
Lady like a real intel-lectual
Sweet sister you’re still shaking
And your tragedy is never ending
Over my head, over my head
06 Mother Mary (03:50)
Try to make some changes really on the line
Given your religion, never ever time
All the jokers laughing, queens upon the floor
Don't misunderstand it, baby needs some more
Lovin' up some ransom, weapon and a gun
Just your education, hard to understand
Will the teenage lesion make a mark on you
Make a big tome status, then we run them through
Mother Mary could you ever really feel the same
And would you try to understand a wild colonial boy
Try to make some changes really on the line
Given your religion, never ever time
All the jokers laughing, queens upon the floor
Don't misunderstand it, baby needs some more
Mother Mary could you ever really feel the same
And would you try to understand a wild colonial boy
07 Too Much of Nothing (04:03)
I really tried my hardest just to make you understand
(what) it feels like to a boy, when he don't feel like a man
But you gave me so much money
And you would not understand
I realize i hurt you, so i stay just as i am
*
But the whole world keeps on turnin'
Yes, the whole world keeps on turnin'
But the whole world keeps on turnin'
I just roll along
There's been one too many mornings
And one too many years
One of life's delinquents
Who just can't take the pace
We found out the hard way
I hope you understand
That my life is just my habit
And i had an overdose
*
Repeat
I used to try, i used to try
Used to cry, oh i used to cry
--- solo ---
*
Repeat
08 Dance Your Life Away (03:35)
Michael Schenker; Phil Mogg; Schenkar
Give a dance band competition fox-trotting with my girl
Dance, dance, dance all night
Dance your life away
I hear razzle dazzle, the session is the trouble
Dance, dance, dance all night
Dance your life away
There I was on the floor and twenty partners left
Dance, dance, dance all night
Dance your life away
Feel so tired it must be a week
Nearly on my knees
Dance, dance, dance all night
Dance your life away
California, you always seem to have the sun
But I never really got near to it
And to turn hand to anything you know
Just to try it
Give a dance band competition fox-trotting with my girl
Dance, dance, dance all night
Dance your life away
I hear razzle dazzle, the session is the trouble
Dance, dance, dance all night
Dance your life away
California, you always seem to have the sun
But I never really got near to it
And to turn hand to anything you know
Just to try it
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