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Rating: "Lights Out" had crowned UFO as one of the greats. Yet, the much-anticipated big success can have disastrous effects on a band’s fate.
Add "a sprinkling of cocaine, to keep us on edge," as singer Phil Mogg recently admitted, unauthorized car races down the slopes of Laurel Canyon, and finally a band somewhat full of themselves, perhaps rightly so, given that at that moment they were at the peak of their success and artistic abilities, and the stage was set. The omnipotence complex cannot be attributed to the entire band lineup: while UFO had moved to California, after the triumphant "Lights Out" tour, guitarist Michael Schenker had disappeared.
This only worsened matters: Schenker was found after a few months on the beaches of Spain, swimming with his girlfriend. Only the persuasive work of bassist Pete Way managed to bring him back to his bandmates. Schenker felt oppressed by the exhausting live shows which, coupled with a certain alcohol dependency at the time, resulted in a veritable phobia for the stage and a general insecurity for the blonde Teutonic guitarist. Considering the language barrier (Schenker spoke terrible English), more pronounced at the time of "Phenomenon" but still present as an obstacle, especially since his large personality clashed with the equally large personality of singer Phil Mogg, the picture was almost complete: Schenker clarified that he would return, but only to record an album and play live on the final tour with UFO, at least until 1993.
There was also tension in the studio, exacerbated by producer Roy Nevison, who imposed a strict conduct during recording sessions, which on one hand resulted in the excellent outcome of a record the caliber of "Obsession," but on the other hand highlighted the band's personal problems. Nevison particularly targeted Paul Raymond, the keyboardist/rhythm guitarist, who was criticized by the producer as he considered Raymond a great keyboardist but a poor guitarist, perhaps an overly harsh judgment.
Despite these premises, the album was the best UFO managed to produce, as "Obsession" is still considered one of the best studio works by the band by both fans and critics. Perhaps, musically, what strikes the most is the great energy that emanates from the 11 tracks of this album, in songs like Only You Can Rock Me, Pack It Up (And Go), You Don't Fool Me, One More For The Rodeo, and Hot'n'Ready. But perhaps the most significant element, which adds a subtle brilliance to the album, is the presence of orchestral parts in fantastic slow tracks like Born To Lose and Lookin' Out For No.1, which also has a beautiful instrumental reprise, as instrumental is Arbory Hill, where Schenker plays both acoustic and electric guitar, a glimpse of what would become Tales Of Mystery with his MSG. The song Cherry, where the bass of Pete Way takes the lead in the riff, is also magnificent. Finally, a true protest song where UFO lament the fact that their record company, Chrysalis, had just removed UFO posters from their premises in favor of their new discovery, the Babys by John Waite: indeed, the track is titled Ain't No Baby.
"Obsession" belongs to that category of albums that represent a last bastion, a sort of swan song of an era (in this case Schenker's) of the band, perhaps the most glorious, marked by exquisite execution and a high level of song composition, despite all of the band's personal troubles.
A final word dedicated to the cover, yet another extravagance from Hipgnosis: the band members were taken to an actual operating room, dressed in suits and ties, and asked to tie their long hair into ponytails. Special glue was used to attach metal spheres to their eyes, nose, and mouth, although this version provided by the band has been long doubted and was thought to be more of a photo montage. The sole black sheep of the band is Schenker, who on the cover is depicted without this attire in the middle of Phil Mogg and Pete Way, perhaps symbolizing his imminent departure. On the back are Andy Parker and Paul Raymond. A cover perhaps not aesthetically pleasing at first glance, but certainly impactful, much like the grand "Obsession."
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Only You Can Rock Me (04:08)
Michael Schenker; Pete Way; Phil Mogg
Who’s taking time out, we’ll take a shine out
We’re the boys we got nothing to lose
I’ve had enough now of school and stuff now
If you ain’t with us then it’s just bad news
Only you can rock me rock me
Come on back now d o it again
Only you can rock me, rock me
Kicking out just like a hurrican3
We can’t wait from day to day
Cuz we’ve got something to say
We can’t wait from day to day
Cuz we’ve got something to say
Come on the street now on every corner
Breaking out and we’re doing what we want to
Just like a jewel shines in the night
She burns so hot out under the street light
Chorus
We are here and there’s no end
We keep on coming again
We are here and there’s no end
We just keep coming again
Instrumental
Who’s taking time out, we take a shine out
We’re the boys we got nothing to lose
I’ve had enough now of school
And stuff now
If you ain’t with us then it’s just bad news
Only you can rock me, rock me
Come on back now, do it again
Only you can rock me, rock me
Kickin’ out just like a hurricane
We can’t wait from day to day
Cuz we’ve got something to say
We are here and there’s no end
We’ll keep on coming again
We can’t wait from day to day
Cuz we’ve got something to say
We are here and there’s no end
We’ll keep on coming again
Only You Can Rock Me
02 Pack It Up (And Go) (03:14)
I've got to sympathize
You run with all the rest
You've kept on moving but never got the best
And all our yesterdays go sailing out of view
I know there's something left hope you can make it through
Pack It up and go, pack it up and go,
Leftover from the show, just pack it up and go
You made the impact back in 1969
But now move over friend I think you've had your time
And all our yesterdays go sailing out of view
I know there' something left, hope you can make it through
Pack it up and go, pack it up and go, left over from the show just pack it up and go
--instrumental ---
And all our yesterdays go sailing know there's something left
Hope you can make it through
(1) instrumental ending ---
04 Ain't No Baby (03:58)
Hey there now big shot well just listen to me
I know the score and it's no great mystery
I hear you talking and it's all been said
But what I'm thinking I keep inside my head
* I ain't no baby, so get out of my way
Keep in with your own kind
Ain't none of your business, you got nothing to say
Stay away, forever
You play the cool star it's a dangerous game
Don't forget the street and who gave you your name
Romancin' with the company as they pour in the pounds
If the next thing is you and then who are the clowns?
* chorus
--instrumental--
* chorus
Stay away, forever
05 Lookin' Out for No. 1 (04:34)
Just a kid with a crazy dream wants it all before he's seventeen
Don't know where to begin
With a wild thought he knows the fact, no no there's no looking back
Just gotta stand up and make it real
How does it feel to be right out on your own
Just gotta keep looking out for #1
Some people make it and others don't try, they seem happy to live out a lie
I'm right here on my own
Me I'm a gambler and I pay for my sins,
I've been right there and I'm back again
Just gotta stand up and make it real
How does it feel to be right out on your own
Just gotta keep looking out for #1
Let's get away right out of here, it's not soon enough for me
Breaks of a lifetime it's there like a lifeline, reach out and grab it it's free
(short instrumental)
How does it feel right out on your own
Just gotta keep looking out for #1
(another short instrumental)
How does it feel right out on your own
Just gotta keep looking out for #1
How does it feel...to be out on your own... just gotta
how does it feel to be out on your own, just gotta keep lookin' out for #1
How does it feel to be out etc.
How does it feel
07 Cherry (03:34)
Gotta give you love oh cherry
dance for me there's only you
play the barrooms just for pennies
Wish I wasn't just passing through
Tell me your secrets, tell me no one way lyin' now
We are golden, We are golden
And I'm out here on the road, I feel just like a rolling stone
Into the highways of the night I roll alone
On the tabletops she's dancing, sit and smile into your beer
Turn around no cherry for me, let me know you know I'm here
We are golden, We are golden
And I'm out here on the road, I feel just like a rolling stone
Into the highways of the night, making it feel all right
Come on cherry let's make it together
Out of the neon and into my life
We can't play this game forever, now.....
(1) (instrmental)
Gotta give my love oh Cherry, dance for me there' s only you
play the barrooms just for pennies, wish I wasn't just passing through
Tell me your secrets, tell me no one way lyin' now
We are golden, we are golden
And I'm out here on the road, I feel just like a rolling stone
into the highways of the night I roll alone
08 You Don't Fool Me (03:23)
If I could see you would you still give me
Just hold me tighter and love me maybe
You'll be my thunder, I don't want saving
You don't fool me, oh no you don't fool me
One look at you it's easy to see
Oh no you don't fool me, oh babe you don't fool me
I'll play along, just give it to me
You build me up now, you pull me down
You make me come on yeah, keep me around
I'll want to move you, I surely could
You don't fool me, oh no you don't fool me,
One look at you, it's easy to see oh no
You don't fool me, oh babe you don't fool me,
I'll play along, just give it to me
---instrumental---
Just gotta have you, you drive me crazy, tell me you feel it, your honey give me ...
Here burns the fire, I feel your heat
You don't fool me, oh babe you don't fool me
One look at you, it's easy to see
Oh no you don't fool me, oh babe you don't fool me
I'll play along, just give it to me
Oh no you don't fool me, oh babe you don't fool me
One look at you girl, it's easy to see
Oh no you don't fool me, oh babe you don't fool me
I'll play along, just give it to me
10 One More for the Rodeo (03:45)
One more for the rodeo, an old-school '60s team A great new wide awakening spews out at the seams Laid out cold on the table, a sheet pulled over his head I turned around to the janitor, asked him just how long you'd been dead And it's one more for the rodeo, one more for the show One more pretender who just had to go All the gods and gurus blowing from the east So caught up in your principles it eats your mind like a disease I wish I was invisible, hidden from the crowd And this cold wind blows down the sidewalk and leaves me wondering how And it's one more for the rodeo, one more for the show One more pretender who just had to go ---instrumental--- One more for the rodeo, one more for the show, one more pretender, who just had to go
11 Born to Lose (03:31)
Wonder if you belong, think you've got it down
Does it still feel the same, now that he's not around
Born to lose, Born to lose, make your mind up no fooling round
Now that I know, I could never be, I would never be the only one.
Wonder how it all began, as if that mattered anyway
There's someone else you're always wanting, every single day
Born to lose, born to lose, make your mind up no fooling round,
Now that I know, I could never be, I would never be the only one.
* instrumental -
Born to lose, Born to lose, make your mind up no fooling 'round
Now that I know, I could never be, I would never be the only one.
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