UFO Album: “Obsession”

UFO at the top of their game. I have recently been listening to my collection of UFO classics. The entire collection is excellent,however, I feel this and "lights Out" are the most consistent. Every song is notable. If you like powerful, catchy, hard driving rock with the perfect mix of melody and power, then this CD is for you. This CD rewards multiple listens. Indeed, I appreciate it more now than I did twenty-eight years ago, when I first purchased it and the sound of this remastered version is a vast improvement over the earlier CD reissue.

The greatest release ever by UFO! That, of course, is my opinion, but let me get a little more into why. This release featured the same line-up as LIGHTS OUT, the next greatest album by UFO, Schenker, Mogg, Way, Parker, and Paul Raymond. This had to be the best line-up the band ever sported. It's not just the band that makes this a superior release, but the music and the lyrics.

What clinched UFO as a great band to me was watching them open for Rush two nights in a row at the Municipal Auditorium in San Antonio. Talk about two nights in heaven. My vocabulary isn't good enough to describe Schenker's artistry on guitar and the precision of the rest of the band. Both of these shows are 2 of the best concerts I ever attended!

The album they were promoting was OBSESSION. They were convincing enough to go buy it and FORCE IT, the only two with Schenker I didn't have at the time. The number of good songs here is, let me see, how many on the disc, 11, yes, 11 great songs! My favorites are "Pack it Up & Go", "Cherry", "Only You Can Rock Me", "One More for the Rodeo", "You Don't Fool Me", and "Born to Lose". Not unlike the Scorpions UFO have the ability to rock, to play ballads, and to churn out great instrumentals like "Arbory Hill".

This CD is something that you will regret not having bought sooner. It is that good! Quit wasting time and order it now! Help complete that serious Rock collection of yours with a gem of a release. Get obsessed, buy OBSESSION!

This album is good from start to finish. Not one bad apple in the bunch. Schenker's guitar tone is fantastic! My favorites are Only You Can Rock Me, Arbory Hill, Looking Out For No.1, Hot N Ready, You Don't Fool Me, and One More For The Rodeo. I like the lyric to I Ain't No Baby ("Stay Away, FOREVER"). Cool cover prompting Schenker to ask his bandmates "Why am I the only one without balls?". This would be Schenker's final studio album w/ UFO until the rocking Walk On Water in 1995. Lights Out is another classic UFO album you should get if you don't have it!

sadly, like the great Thin Lizzy, UFO was and remains underrated. Oh yeah, both bands have their share of hardcore fans but both bands should have been bigger. This is easily one of UFO's best studio albums. Good songwriting and good musicianship are hard to beat. Too bad there aren't more bands like this around today. I've had it UP TO HERE with the likes of the Foo Fighters and bands like that. Sorry Dave, what you do doesn't work for me.

the rest of you...get this CD!

In terms of studio output this album signified the end of the "classic line up" to the dismay of myself and many young rock fans back in the late seventies. But what a masterpiece they recorded to bow out with! The general consensus amongst reviewers seem to agree that these heights were not reached again until this line up reformed for "Walk on Water". The guitar work really soars especially on "Ain't No Baby" and "Lookin' Out for No. 1" without being over indulgent. "Hot 'n' Ready" really rocks and "Cherry" is yet another showpiece for Moggy's lyrics and vocals. Although not one of my personal favourites "Only You Can Rock Me" finally gave UFO credible chart success and a commercial rock anthem to rival "Doctor Doctor". All round fabulous must have UFO album.