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General Information
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Artist...............: UFO
Album................: Phenomenon
Release Date.........: Aug 1974
Genre................: Hard Rock
Source...............: CD
Number of Songs......: 10
Duration.............: 00:39:33 min
Audio Format.........: MP3
Bitrate..............: CBR 192 HQ
Channels.............: Stereo / 44,100 hz
Tags.................: ID3 v1.1, ID3 v2.3
Included.............: M3U, Covers
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Release Notes
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Track Listing:
01. Oh My 2:27
02. Crystal Light 3:48
03. Doctor Doctor 4:12
04. Space Child 4:01
05. Rock Bottom 6:32
06. Too Young to Know 3:10
07. Time on My Hand 4:12
08. Built for Comfort 3:08
09. Lipstick Traces 2:20
10 Queen of the Deep 5:43
Album Review:
UFO is a legendary English band whose reputation has been leaking across the Atlantic
for what seems like an eternity. Renowned heavy-metal critics have always spoken glowingly
of them ("the ultimate killers" was a characterization once used by Mike Saunders)
but up until now American audiences have had no opportunity to judge the band that's
been the scourge of the English club scene for years.
Now that UFO finally has an American album it seems safe to predict that this band will
become a very big act in an extremely short time. To be blunt about it, Phenomenon is one
of the most exciting debut albums of the year - an artfully controlled disc lit with furious
bits of creative energy. Though this quarter plays loud, hard and frequently very fast,
their work is most notable for its diversity and instrumental tension, marking UFO as a group
to be dealt with in almost any musical genre they might choose.
Comparisons with Led Zeppelin will be unavoidable, if only because UFO guitarist
Michael Schenker closely parallels Jimmy Page in both style and overall sound.
Like Page, Schenker is his band's focal point, with incisive and exciting playing that's
guaranteed to make people sit up and take notice. Using a small amp cranked up to full
volume he makes his guitar notes almost sing, driving the rest of the band forward in
a way most reminiscent of Jeff Beck's Yardbirds.
The album's most impressive cuts are "Rock Bottom" and "Oh My," both furious exercises in
frenzied freneticism. On each, Schenker uses bristling power chords to lay down hard-chargin'
rhythm tracks; singer Phil Mogg then croons a bit, followed by wailing Schenker's lead workouts.
On the former cut Schenker elaborates at great length, pacing his solo so as to reach full
overdrive only at its conclusion; on the latter his machinegun fills almost literally explode
off the fretboard.
"Space Child" spotlights the creative instrumental tension that's so much of a weapon in this
band's arsenal. Achieving a sound not unlike that of the now-defunct Wild Turkey, UFO alternates
acoustic and electric guitars to great effect, with Schenker's incendiary lead building
the number to a gripping climax. UFO also finds time to do blues, Willie Dixon's "Built For Comfort"
in this case, which they render lowdown and funky, ZZ Top-style.
History has shown that bands like this are usually five times better onstage than they are
in the recording studio, so UFO is certainly a band to watch for when they come over on their
initial American tour. Their album is great, the cover one of the year's best, and if their American
vinyl debut is a truthful indication of their skills, UFO seems destined to become a phenomenon
of major proportions.
- Gordon Fletcher, Rolling Stone.
Bonus Review!
Excellent rock effort, featuring the vocals of Phil Mogg who may well be one of the best
straight rock singers to come out of Britain since the initial musical invasion a decade
ago and a solid backup that is basic but full of quality. Band has put together what amounts
to 10 potential singles, with all but one self-penned. Little if any overdubbing here,
as the band sticks to a live style sound. First English band to come along in some time
that seems to be able to handle rock without succumbing to the most outrageous commercialism.
Best cuts: "Too Young To Know," "Doctor Doctor," "Time On My Hands," "Oh My."
- Billboard, 1974.
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