Search - UFO :: Lights Out

Too Hot to Handle

Michael Courtney | San Antonio, Texas United States | 08/07/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"UFO had played with success since adding Michael Schenker [guitar] to the line up on the Phenomenom album, but with their 4th release with him they hit full stride. I would say the band went over the top here, but airplay was still hard to come by even with a product that beyond a doubt was one of the best of the decade. This particular line up produced what I feel is the best music UFO put out. Pete Way's thundering bass, Andy Parker's precision drumming, Paul Raymond's keyboards and rhythm guitar and Phil Mogg's tremendous vocals. I wish I could explain why this wasn't a multi-platinum album, but fame is a fickle thing for even bands with more talent than dozens of popular metal bands put together.



There are four truly great songs on this release and include Too Hot to Handle, Lights Out, Electric Phase and the incredible ballad Love to Love. There is no end to the brilliance of these 4 masterpieces and producer Ron Nevison brought it all together. I would say he had the band play beyond their abilities, but all he did was arrange them well and coax out their best for each track.



If you are new to UFO, this is a great place to start and you may consider Obsession [1978] or Phenomenom [1974]. If you would rather start with a collection then the Essential UFO could be the best deal for you. UFO had many other good to great albums, but they featured different line ups with the nucleus usually being Mogg and Parker. If you want better than ordinary UFO is the eclectric rocker's choice. Highly recommended."

Lights Out

Morton | Colorado | 10/27/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"UFO-Lights Out ****



The thing about Lights Out is it is among the greatest hard rock albums ever released but has never truly been given the credit it is rightfully owed. Lights Out is on the same playing fields as albums like Back in Black, Rocks, Appetite for Destruction, and Metallica. But the thing about those last two albums is that both Slash, Izzy, Kirk Hammet, and James Hetfield were all influenced by Michael Schenker and especially this album in particular. The guitar tone which Schenker uses here is identical to the tone Slash would use through most of his career and one that Hammet would copy time and time again.



As previously mentioned Schenker's guitar playing through out is more than stellar, it is among the best he would play in his entire career. the title track 'Lights Out' features one of, if not his all time greatest guitar solo. Mind Blowing. But it isn't just Schenker here. Phil Mogs lovely ballad 'Try Me' is the bands strongest attempt at one. 'Too Hot To Handle' opens the album and became one of the groups all time biggest hit singles. 'Love To Love' which closes the album is also especially nice with it's shrieking guitar intro.



Lights Out isn't the best UFO album, no for that check out Force It. But this is totally worth having if only for the killer title track."

A worthy participant in UFO's 'Golden Run'

Paul Lawrence | Australia | 04/14/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"At just eight tracks UFO's Lights Out disc from 1977 is short by modern standards where bands feel compelled to pile up to 13 or 14 tracks onto a CD. But the point is your better off pumping out only 8 tunes if they are good ones rather than outstaying your welcome by releasing mediocrity. And many of the tunes here are anything but mediocre.



This Ron Nevison produced album stars off with the rollicking good time rockin' roller of Too Hot To Handle and this song is very much in the hip shakin' style of the bands more lively moments. Backed up by Just Another Suicide this is a great pairing of opening tunes. Continuing the rock band tradition of making the third track a ballad - and showing just how far ago this convention came into being - is the painfully mellow Try Me where Phil Moggs' voice bleeds all over the tune like a man several beers into a drinking session. And given this is UFO there is every chance that's how this was recorded.



Things perk up again with the apocalyptic prophecy of the title track, one of the greater hard rock statements of the 70's. Riding a spirited rhythm the song fairly clips along interspersed with a blazing Schenker solo that'll bring a tear to the eye of everyone who remembers when a rock song was supposed to have a least a modicum of an axe solo.



As the album rolls along the band continues to operate within the confines of the first four tracks, further exploring the possibilities of the rock song in the form of Getting Ready (a mid paced roller), almost twee rock 'n' roll in the form of Alone Again Or and the ballad Love to Love where once again the band shows themselves masters of the maudlin tear jerker.



A very solid four stars for this pleasant workout of rock 'n' roll which is a perfect foil to a quiet afternoon. Or when you have your mates around for a few beers. Either way, the listener wins."