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Rating: UFOs are remembered more for having guitarist Michael Schenker from the Scorpions in their lineup than for what they did in the early period of their life, around 1970. The British public took several years, if ever, to notice this extraordinary heavy-rock band.
The material included in this collection encompasses everything the band produced with Beacon/Decca following the contract with record producer Noel Moore, and it was almost completely ignored in their native country. Despite this detached attitude at home, UFOs literally invaded the music market in Japan and Germany, scoring a series of unexpected successes.
The band originated in the late 60s when vocalist Phill Mogg, bassist Pete Way, and guitarist Mick Bolton played in London under the name Hocus Pocus; after recruiting drummer Andy Parker, they changed their name to UFO.
The first fruits were gathered with the single "Melinda," a blend of psychedelic heavy rock with the bass in the forefront, and "Unidentified Flying Object," respectively A-B Sides of the single; it was immediately clear that UFOs were serious.
Despite no one in England noticing the release of the first LP "UFO," the album was a success in Japan, also favored by the cover of the classic "C'mon Everybody" by Eddie Cochran, released as a single exclusively for the Japanese audience.
The heavier formula was slowly abandoned with the second effort "UFO II Flying," towards more progressive horizons tending to dirtier space-rock less hallucinatory than contemporaries Hawkwind.
The best episodes are "Prince Kajuku" and "The Coming Of Prince Kajuku," characterized by a strong progressive vein while always keeping an eye on a heavy timbre, worthy of the early periods.
Still inexplicably snubbed in Great Britain, our extraterrestrials recorded a live album, which under three different names ("Live," "Land In Tokyo," and "UFO Landed In Japan") preceded even the more accredited works of Deep Purple and Cheap Trick.
Shortly after, Bolton left the band to join the Pink Fairies; initially replaced by Larry Wallis first, and Bernie Marsden later, it was Schenker's turn, whose arrival also coincided with the label change to Chrysalis Records.
From then on, and the reason is unclear, UFOs finally achieved well-deserved success in England, but by then everything had already been written and played.
This collection is the testament of what this extraordinary band has left us to enjoy in small doses, from the first, in my opinion, more significant period. Don't prejudge, order right away; for those who have never listened, it might prove interesting, especially if you only know post-Schenker UFO.
MASSIVE.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Boogie (04:19)
Andy Parker; Mick Bolton; Pete Way; Phil Mogg
Goin´ down to George’s
Where you just have been
To see if you’ve been boogie-in’
Ah you know what I mean
My left leg’s draggin my right leg’s limp
My head’s so wavy and I can’t feel it
I gotta see you baby, you’ll be alright
I wanna boogie baby, boogie tonight
Well old George is boogie-in’
He’s been a boogie-in’ with you
,I wanna boogie with you baby
I wanna boogie all night long
I wanna move with ya, I wanna move
I wanna shake, wanna boogie too
I wanna boogie...boogie
02 Prince Kajuku (03:57)
Catch a falling star put it in your pocket
Take hold of the moonbeams, hang them around your neck
Prince kajuku's coming feathers in his hair
Tapping on his juju stick, take you down there
Prince kajuku holds you never lets you go
Feel his power around you when your weakness shows
Take a starry circle hold it in your hand
Never let kajuku take (guide) you to his land
Long space jam
Catch a falling star put it in your pocket
Take hold of the moonbeams hang them round your neck
Kajuku, kajuku, walking down the street
Tapping on his juju stick, take you down there
04 C'mon Everybody (03:13)
C'mon everybody and lets get together tonight
Got some money in my jeans and I m really gone spend it right
No more movies for a week or to no more running round with the usual crew
Ah who cares? C/mon everybody
Well my baby's #1 but I gotta dance with 3 or 4
The place is really shaking form the bare feet slapping on the floor
When you hear the music you can't sit still
Your brother won't rock but your sister will
Whoo! C'mon everybody
My place is really rocking so we gotta put a guard outside
If my folks come home I'm afraid they're gonna have my hide
No more movies for a week or two, no more running round with the usual crew
Who cares? C'mon everybody
C'mon everybody and let's get together tonight
(got) some money in my jeans and I'm rally gone spend it right
no more movies for a week or two, no more running rotund with us crew
Ah who cares? C'mon everybody
(Jam)
05 Follow You Home (02:14)
Pete Way
If you want me to do everything girl just for you
Change your mind telling me lies
Come and see you in the morning come and see u in the morning
Time after time, told me lies these are things girl which I despise
If I go wrong in your eyes, leave you girl in the morning,
Leave you girl in the morning
(instrumental)
As time goes by wish you had never treated me so bad
You know you're only going to want me back
Far away in the morning far away in the morning
If you want me to do everything girl just for you
Change your mind telling me lies
Come and see you in the morning, come and see you in the morning
Follow you home in the morning, Follow you home in the morning
16 Silver Bird (06:54)
Andy Parker; Mick Bolton; Pete Way; Phil Mogg
This morning as I walked, I gazed out across my land
Lying there all still lying there upon the sand
A big silver bird had planted itself into the ground
And being the kind of person who isn't very easily alarmed
Decided to take a walk to see just what I could find
Walked around the walls, tapping to find me a door
Looking for a windows to see if I could find out more
Big silver bird let me inside your plane
Want to fly so high fly me high, away
All of a sudden the door slid back and someone was there
A strange kind of being spoke to me in my tongue
"Step inside, we?ll take you away in our plane
We?ll fly you so high, You?ll never have the chance to complain
To leave this earth, never even (???) ...
Stepping inside I fixed myself into a seat
Holding on, Lord, I heard them engines start to beat
Big silver bird let me inside your plane
Want to fly so high, fly me high away
(Instrumental)
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