UFO Album: “Phenomenon [Bonus Tracks]”

"Seventeen and nature's queen/You know what I mean?". It's not hard to see where Spinal Tap got some of their inspiration from. Especially since this song is actually called Rock Bottom. Although in my opinion, UFO were better than the genre so cruelly parodied by Tap. UFO had a lot of things going for them- a cool name, great-looking album sleeves, one of the finest heavy rock guitarists ever, plenty of street cred and an unbroken suite of 5 classic albums in the 70s. Phenomenon is the first. Doctor Doctor was - and remains - a resounding heavy metal hit, guaranteed to get heads banging and air guitars playing at any party. Other powerhouse numbers include live favourite Oh My, while Crystal Light and Space Child and Too Young To Know showed that UFO were a deft hand at slower numbers and ballads. This, remember, was the band's first record with wunderkind Michael Schenker, fresh out of the Scorpions and heading for the stars. Whichever way you look at it, Phenomenon was a gigantic leap forward for the group in every respect. UFO went from being a tired space-rock combo into a lean, mean metal machine virtually overnight. Spearheaded by Schenker's fiery guitar and Phil Mogg's nimble hard rock phrasing and assured songwriting, UFO were on a roll. The runaway best cut is Rock Bottom which, as well as boasting one of the best rock choruses this side of Tuesday, comes complete with a one of the defining rock guitar solos in rock.

After this album, UFO's career rocketed skyward, culminating in the pair of masterpieces of Lights Out and Obsessions. After that, of course, it was all downhill; the 80s happened and the sound of motions being gone through echoed loudly through the kingdom. But in 1974, they were hot to trot. You can hear it here. UFO beginners should try Lights Out and then this one. You know it makes sense.

This is the one to get if you are starting to look at UFO's career. Obviously if you were a fan back in the day then you know that this is top shelf stuff so you probably don't need anyone to remind you of how influential this was at the time. People were talking about how killer Michael Schencker was which was true but I was equally as knocked out at how well they sounded as a band as opposed to some showy guitarist fronting a band. The songs worked and they rocked. Obviously the highlight of the record is "Rock Bottom" and for my money this is the only version I want to hear as I've never been thrilled with the endless noodling I've heard in various live versions. I realize other UFO fans might disagree but in any case you cannot go wrong with buying this record. I would suggest this above all other UFO studio albums (not that they are bad) because this is so good and captures the classic lineup so well.

That would stand for 'Identified Rockin' Object.' From the first time I heard 'Lights Out,' I was a UFO fan. I wouldn't say exactly a diehard fan, but they were right up there. After hearing Lights Out, I did a little retro-scouting for the other UFO recordings and Phenomenon was probably the second UFO LP I owned.

They had been a very good band - in my estimation - all along. Since my familiarity started with 'Lights out,' there were two components that WERE UFO. Without one or the other, they were good, but only waving at the greatness they could achieve.

Original vocalist Phil Mogg is one of those components. His voice and just the way he phrases lyrics very quickly become an inextricable and extremely identifiable feature of UFO without which... Well, I can't imagine that part.

The other component wasn't an original member, but I think it was this release where Michael Schenker joined the band and quickly became an immediately recognizable and quite important part of UFO.

(That being said, Vinnie Moore ain't no slouch, either, and the new UFO stuff is picking up where the old UFO stuff left off.)

Anyway, this is all a roundabout way to get to the main point, which is that Phenomenon is a great recording. All songs are solid, and ANY release featuring the two songs 'Doctor Doctor' and 'Rock Bottom' is destined for greatness!

These reissues are a fantastic way for folks who may not have been around during the time of any particular artists' heyday to become quickly innoculated. The 'bonus tracks' generally included are just that - a true bonus. The CD release of Phenomenon is no different in that respect.

The only part that surprised me was that there are two bonus tracks here ('Sixteen' and 'Oh My') that were produced by Dave Edmunds. There's another artist who's been around for a while. And for an idea of whether or not he knows what he's doing, just take a listen to 'I Hear You Knockin' from the mid-sixties (I believe) all the way up to "I Knew The Bride" and a few subsequent quality releases that just don't seem to attract any critical attention despite how deserving they are.

Maybe it shouldn't be such a surprise though. The same 'malady' seems to afflict UFO. This release (Phenomenon) will show you exactly why they deserve an expanded spot in your music library, but they've slipped back into semi-obscurity as far as much of the press is concerned.

Getting this CD reminded me of how much I like the band, so I checked into them a bit further. I had no idea that not only did they release another CD in September of 2007 (Monkey Puzzle), but they're expected to start touring again in April of 2008.

Grab Phenomenon and you'll be checking to see when UFO is coming near enough to you to catch them live. Either of these (buying 'Phenomenon' or catching a live UFO show) will be acts I promise you won't regret.

This album is an absolutely brilliant example of how good high quality rock should be played. UFO were masters, sheer geniuses at producing quality heavy rock which managed to combine power with melody. The combination of Moggs vocals and Schenker axemanship against the manic backdrop of Way and Parker has seldom been surpassed. This album does not have a bad track on it, from the classic dotted rhythm of Doctor Doctor to the subtleties of Crystal Light and Space Child, the compass of this band is incredible. And as for Rock Bottom! Well, the danger with a track like that early in a career is that it is hard to beat later! But when this version of UFO peaked on Strangers in the Night / Lights Out phase, they did just that. This is my favourite album of all time - it has everything. And executed brilliantly.

If you want to produce melodic rock that still has a finely honed cutting edge, this album should be your first port of call

The Phenomenon known as UFO begins here. Though UFO released albums before this, it wasnt until the joining of Michael Schenker, the departure of Mick Bolton and the release of Phenonmenon that UFO found their legendary hard rock sound and style. When Michael Schenker joined the band he was only to be a guest for a few gigs, because he was a member of The Scorpions at the time, well that ended, he left The Scorpions and joined UFO full time. With a large hole in The Scorpions they called on Uli Jon Roth to replace. When Phenomenon was released it was the bands strongest album so far.

The album opens up with the hard rocker 'Oh, My' with killer vocals and an out of this world guitar riff and solo that showed that UFO had finaly chosen the right guitar player for the job. Next is the Rocker/balladier 'Crystal Light' filled with beautiful lyrics and arpegiated guitar that must be heard to hear how well it flows. Truly one of the bands best slower songs. UFO's biggest hit 'Doctor, Doctor' is next with a blisterng solo and fiery leads by Schenker and a catchy chorus to boot it's no wonder this was the bands biggest hit single. 'Space Child' is another ballad/rock song with a really cool melody and beautiful lyrics. Phil Moggs vocals are just flat out amazing on Space Child, maybe this song is why they got called space rock, what is that anyway? My favorite song on the album 'Rock Bottom' is next. It has one of my favorite Michael Schenker guitar solos and a really cool and catchy chorus. This is what hard rock should be, hard, heavy and fun! 'To Young To Know' has some good guitar and is very bluesy, probley the most bluesy song the band has ever recorded. it's one of the better songs the band has ever done as well. 'Time On My Hands' is a slower song that once again features really good vocals by Phil Mogg. Also the acoustic guitar adds a reall nice touch to the song as well as the album of mostly hard rocking electric guitar. Ok, so I take back what I said about To Young To Know being the most bluesy song UFO made, 'Built For Comfor' wins the title hands down, the guitar and vocal delivery easly sound like You shook Me by Led Zeppelin.... But Better. Other then having a cool title 'Lickstick Traces' is a really good song featuring some of Michael Schenkers best guitar playing, ever! Michael Schenker is known for being one of the worlds most melodic guitar players, and it shows on 'Queen Of The Deep' the albums closer is one of the strongest tracks UFO ever recorded. Perfect for closing the album. Its really dark and huanting, a really cool song for ending Phenomenon. Now that I think about it they could have called Queen of the Deep Phenomenon. That would have been perfect!

After this UFO would release four more albums with Michael Schenker on guitar before he would leave to rejoin The Scorpions and then form his own band Michael Schenker Group (MSG). Those next for albums are along with this the best albums UFO ever released, later in the bands carear Schenker would return to do a few more albums, as he did with The Scorpions, the albums these bands did with Schenker wee the best albums they would ever create. Do your self a favor and pick up this classic UFO record as any fan of hard rock should enjoy, and if you are a guitar player and you dont know Michael Schenker, then you dont know guitar!