Strangers in the Night (UFO album)

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Strangers in the Night
File:UFOStrangersInTheNightAlbumCover.jpg
Live album by UFO
Released January 1979, re-released August 1999
Recorded US tour 1978
Genre Hard rock, heavy metal
Length 69:13 (original album)
76:54 (1999 edition)
Label Chrysalis (original album)
EMI (1999 edition)
Producer Ron Nevison
UFO chronology
Obsession
(1978)Obsession1978		 Strangers in the Night
(1979)		 No Place to Run
(1980)No Place to Run1980
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 4.5/5 stars[1]
RateYourMusic 4.5/5 stars
Ultimate Guitar 5/5 stars

Strangers in the Night (with original subtitle A Double Live Album) is a live album by the British rock band UFO, first released in 1979 on the Chrysalis label.

The original double LP album was recorded in autumn 1978 at shows in Chicago, Illinois and Louisville, Kentucky. This was UFO's last concert recording with guitarist Michael Schenker before the band's reunion in 1993. Schenker left the band during this tour; this led to the band having to recruit former band mate & ex Lone Star guitarist Paul Chapman. It has been rumoured that Schenker refused to record any overdubs for the album,[2] which would make this an accurate account of his live guitar work. When he has discussed the album, Schenker has spoken of disappointment with the chosen tracks, saying "there were better takes they could've used".[3]

Strangers in the Night peaked at No. 7 on the UK charts[4] and No. 42 on the US charts.[5] Strangers in the Night is often listed by critics and fans as one of the greatest live rock albums of all time.[1][6] Kerrang! magazine listed the album at No. 47 among the "100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time".[7] Slash, former guitarist for Guns N' Roses, has stated that this is his favorite live album.[8] Original UFO bassist Pete Way considers the album to be his favorite release by the band.[9]

Two live EPs in 1979 also proved successful for the band. In February, "Doctor Doctor" (taken from the album), coupled with "On with the Action" (recorded on the same 1978 US tour) and the studio cut "Try Me", reached No. 35 in the UK Singles Chart;[10] this was the first time the band had made the UK Top 40. "Shoot Shoot", coupled with "Only You Can Rock Me" and "I'm a Loser", would make No. 48 in the UK in April.[11]

Some of the songs were recorded from a show from UFO's tour with Blue Öyster Cult.

Original LP track listing

Side One

  1. "Natural Thing" (Schenker/Mogg/Way) – 3:57
  2. "Out in the Street" (Way/Mogg) – 5:07
  3. "Only You Can Rock Me" (Way/Schenker/Mogg) – 4:08
  4. "Doctor Doctor" (Schenker/Mogg) – 4:42

Side Two

  1. "Mother Mary" (Schenker/Mogg/Way/Parker) – 3:25
  2. "This Kid's" (Schenker/Mogg) – 5:11
  3. "Love to Love" (Schenker/Mogg) – 7:58

Side Three

  1. "Lights Out" (Schenker/Mogg/Parker/Way) – 5:23
  2. "Rock Bottom" (Schenker/Mogg) – 11:08

Side Four

  1. "Too Hot to Handle" (Way/Mogg) – 4:26
  2. "I'm a Loser" (Schenker/Mogg) – 4:13
  3. "Let It Roll" (Schenker/Mogg) – 4:48
  4. "Shoot Shoot" (Schenker/Mogg/Way/Parker) – 4:07

In 1999, EMI reissued Strangers in the Night with an expanded edition featuring two bonus songs, "Hot 'n' Ready" and "Cherry". The announcement at the beginning of the expanded CD version indicates the first track was recorded in Chicago but was not so according to the booklet of the 2008 remaster (the songs are pointed as recorded in Youngstown, Ohio 15.10.1978 and Cleveland, Ohio 16.10.1978 accordingly). The audience noise is from Chicago and the intro for the CD was used from the Chicago show. At 2:40 into the track "Lights Out", Phil Mogg sings "Lights out, lights out Chicago" which is followed by audience roar. Two tracks, "Mother Mary" and "This Kid's" are actually studio tracks with crowd noise added as outlined in the 2008 remaster booklet. The track listing was also reordered to more accurately reflect UFO's setlist at the time. Note that the tracklist of the 2008 version is identical to the 1999 version, no additional tracks or tracklist modifications are present.

CD Reissue track listing

  1. "Hot 'n' Ready" (Schenker/Mogg) – 3:26
  2. "Cherry" (Way/Mogg) – 3:44
  3. "Let It Roll" (Schenker/Mogg) – 4:48
  4. "Love to Love" (Schenker/Mogg) – 7:58
  5. "Natural Thing" (Schenker/Mogg/Way) – 3:57
  6. "Out in the Street" (Way/Mogg) – 5:07
  7. "Only You Can Rock Me" (Way/Schenker/Mogg) – 4:08
  8. "Mother Mary" (Schenker/Mogg/Way/Parker) – 3:25
  9. "This Kid's" (Schenker/Mogg) – 5:11
  10. "Doctor Doctor" (Schenker/Mogg) – 4:42
  11. "I'm a Loser" (Schenker/Mogg) – 4:13
  12. "Lights Out" (Schenker/Mogg/Parker/Way) – 5:09
  13. "Rock Bottom" (Schenker/Mogg) – 11:22
  14. "Too Hot to Handle" (Way/Mogg) – 4:26
  15. "Shoot Shoot" (Schenker/Mogg/Way/Parker) – 4:07

Tracks 1 and 2 are bonus tracks

Personnel

  • Alan McMillan – horn arrangements, string arrangements
  • Ron Nevison – producer
  • Hipgnosis – artwork

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America).[5]

Year Chart Position
1979 Pop Albums 42

Album - United Kingdom[4]

Year Chart Position
1979 United Chart 7

References

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