UFO - No Place to Run (14 tracks) +Album Reviews

How much more can a poor boy take...

Mark H. | Hanson, MA USA | 06/07/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Most of the reviews for this record, whether on Amazon or in other print, tend to point out the supposed mediocrity of the post- Michael Schenker years for UFO. I feel this is both inaccurate and irresponsible. Schenker is a legend no doubt, but he was one fifth (or fourth, before 1976)of the band when he left after 1978. The most important part of the band, the Mogg/Way song writing partnership, was still intact. Paul Chapman proved to be more than capable of continuing the honored UFO traditon of potent lead guitar. "No Place to Run" took up where "Obsession" and "Strangers in the Night" left off. Consistency was a UFO trademark from "Phenomenon" through "Making Contact" and "NPTR" was just one in a string of these classic lps. "Letting Go" kicks off the album just fine, a showcase for Chapman as well as Phil Mogg's melodic singing. Other key tracks include the title song (moody street anthem with its "Jungleland, jungleland" chorus), "Young Blood", "The Fire Burns Tonight" and "Anyday". Two of my alltime favorites include "Mystery Train" (along with Montrose's "Good Rockin' Tonight" the greatest Elvis cover ever) and "Money, Money" (why the heck wasn't this song played on the radio in the '80s.??) UFO plunged into their second decade moving from strength to strengh, Schenker's loss not withstanding. Next to Thin Lizzy, UFO were the greatest hard rock band ever not to get significant radio airplay or US album sales. Ripe for discovery in the 21st century!!!!!"

UFO Finding their way Post-Schenker............

Cameron Traviss | vancouver, BC Canada | 12/18/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this album with trepidation because of the landmark personnel change which had befallen UFO the year before.
I was wondering how ANYONE could replace Michael, the architect of so many of my musical memories. And, while a good album, I can't rate it in my UFO top five, even though there are 4 or 5 very good to great songs. Lettin' Go is one such great song, as is the title cut with its canny springsteen references.
Produced by the legendary George Martin, it just doesn't jump out and bludgeon you like the Nevison efforts do.
So, I was slightly concerned that UFO had peaked. My fears were put to rest when, in 1981, UFO released the awe-inspiring The Wild, the Willing and the Innocent. Chapman sounds much more comfortable on that album, and it's the guitar tour-de-force we were waiting for from him. No Place to Run is still worth buying, because a middling UFO album is still light years ahead of the competition."

Peakin' post-Schenker!

D. Scott Utz | Alta Loma, CA | 03/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Like many fans who had followed UFO prior to this release, I was curious and kind of skeptical of what was to come once Mr Schenker departed. Unfortunately, upon first listen, I think I was too sketical, as I was initially disappointed. However, once I gave this one a real listen I realized how good it actually was. I originally owned this on LP, and it has HONESTLY been one of my personal fave's ever since. In fact, like Mr. Der Kommissar before me, I too think that this and Obsession are two of UFO's best, although unlike my predecessor, I actually prefer this one to Obsession. I think UFO was peaking right at the point Schenker left, but they didn't skip a beat with this one. Sadly though, their quality would start to deteriorate over the next few releases, and although I like the next couple of albums that followed, especially selected tracks, I don't think any of them can stand up to this one as a whole. The tracks on this album range in style throughout and the pace changes throughout as well, just like the last track (Anyday). I can't really point out any standout or favorite tracks, because I truly like every track on this album, something that I can't say about too many albums, although "Take It Or Leave It" is one of my all time favorite UFO tracks. Just like with any album by any band, it's always a matter of preference for each listener, but if you like UFO (and not just because of Schenker) I don't think you can't like this one at least a little."

Early 80's UFO - Ripe for Rediscovery

Doug P. Carson | San Francisco, CA, USA | 02/14/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The album "No Place to Run", as well as UFO's two follow-up albums "The Wild, The Willing, and the Innocent" and "Mechanix", have at the time of this writing been repeatedly selling to the point of "out-of-stock" for a least a couple of reasons.

First of all, they are finally affordable at $16.98/each, whereas before they were mainly available as expensive Japanese imports costing well over $30/each. A significant number of UFO fans still paid these kinds of prices anyway (including myself), both on Amazon and online auction sites, and I'm guessing someone at EMI France wisely took notice of this before they decided to reissue these albums. Secondly, the music is simply really great. UFO was somewhat written off in the press (and by many fans) when these albums first came out in the early '80's, largely because star guitarist Michael Schenker was gone and probably because UFO was not pursuing the "harder, faster" approach that many of their hard rock/metal peers were at the time. They took a more diverse approach, and in retrospect the quality of these songs is very good, and sometimes even excellent.

This diversity is particularly apparent on "No Place to Run". Opener "Alpha Centauri" has a spacey, ethereal feel to it, similar to what Tangerine Dream were doing at the time. It segue-ways nicely into the next track "Lettin' Go", an explosive number that was a minor hit at the time of release. "Mystery Train" is an incredible cover version of an older tune, opening with some really tasty acoustic guitar work by Schenker's replacement Paul Chapman before the song rips into high gear with Chapman now playing scorching electric leads while Phil Mogg sings his heart out. The next two tracks lay back somewhat with mid-tempo rock, yet are still creatively arranged. "Young Blood" is another cover, generally well interpreted, but it is the following title track where the album really hits its stride. Containing elements of powerful dynamics, creative arrangements, and great lyrics, this track shows what the new line-up of UFO was really capable of. "Take It or Leave It" is a nice ballad, while "Money, Money" sports a propulsive riff and displays some interesting flange effects. The album ends on a particularly strong note with "Anyday", a track which powerfully alternates between mysterious, quite sections featuring Pete Way's bass guitar and explosive heavy sections.

Ripe for rediscovery almost 30 years later, this is a highly recommended purchase for those who appreciate melodic hard rock which creatively employs hard/soft dynamics to great effect. Vocalist Phil Mogg is also one of the best in the genre.

"

Unbeleivable!

R. blair | Chicago | 02/12/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"No, not the music. It's pretty darn good, though.

It's unbeleivable that:

1. This CD is out of stock(at the time of writing)

(same thing happenned to "Force It", a vinyl

release from 1975, when demand outstripped production)

2. These guys are hardly played on radio'cept for "Lights Out"

3. The media constantly ignores them.

4. One of the best hard rock/metal bands of all-time is

number 84?, or somewhere like that,on VH1's list of

best hard rock bands.

5. Some reviewer on another website, where the "critics" review

the music we listen to, bashed this album completely,

comparing them to Bad Company. PLLLEASE!!! No disrespect

to Paul Rodgers who is one of rock's most treasured voices,

but UFO blows those guys away. (Rodgers is phenomenal with

Queen. Check them out).

So what's going on?!

HMMMMMM!

Is it an evil plot? An oversight? Bad management, perhaps?

Maybe the band themselves don't care if they are famous or not?

Don't really know.

I mean, even if the band themselves don't care, somebody in the

media must know a good thing when they see it. Try to push it

a little bit. Get the word out. WE HAVE UFO CDS. This is great

music that, ITSELF, merits listening, too. Why don't DJ's and

others get it?! Do they need MTV and VH1 to tell them who WE want

to listen to.

If you like 70's hard rock, please pick this up (some of the songs are

so hot they will melt your cd player) and any other seventies

recordings made by these guys. You will not be disappointed.

"

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