Strangers in the Night (UFO album)

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Strangers in the Night
UFOStrangersInTheNightAlbumCover.jpg
Live album by
UFO
Released2 January 1979
Recorded13–18 October 1978
VenueInternational Amphitheatre, Chicago,
Louisville Gardens, Louisville and Record Plant Mobile Studio
Genre
Length69:13
LabelChrysalis
ProducerRon Nevison
UFO chronology
Obsession
(1978) 		Strangers in the Night
(1979) 		No Place to Run
(1980)
Singles from Strangers in the Night
  1. "Doctor Doctor"
    Released: January 1979 (UK) [1]
  2. "Shoot Shoot"
    Released: March 1979 (UK) [2]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic4.5/5 stars[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide2/5 stars[4]

Strangers in the Night (originally subtitled A Double Live Album) is a live album by British hard 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 bandmate & ex-Lone Star guitarist Paul Chapman. It has been rumoured that Schenker refused to record any overdubs for the album,[5] 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".[6]

Strangers in the Night peaked at No. 7 on the UK charts[7] and No. 42 on the US charts.[8] Strangers in the Night is often listed by critics and fans as one of the greatest live rock albums of all time.[3][9] Kerrang! magazine listed the album at No. 47 among the "100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time".[10] Slash, guitarist for Guns N' Roses, has stated that this is his favorite live album.[11] Founding UFO members Pete Way (bass) and Andy Parker (drums) both say it's their favorite UFO record.[12]

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;[13] 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.[14]

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

Reissue[]

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 track list of the 2008 version is identical to the 1999 version, no additional tracks or track list modifications are present.

Other outtake songs from the 1978 tour have also been released. A live version of "On With The Action" from the "Doctor Doctor" single was reissued on the "UFO: The Chrysalis Years (1973-79) cd compilation in 2011. In addition, 2 further live songs "Ain't No Baby" recorded in Kenosha, WI and "Pack It Up (And Go)" recorded in Columbus, OH appeared on the "Hot 'N' Live: The Chrysalis Live Anthology 1974-1983" in 2013. The Japanese version of "Hot 'N' Live: The Chrysalis Live Anthology 1974-1983" includes a further version of "Pack It Up (And Go)", recorded in Youngstown, OH, as a bonus track.

On Record Store Day 2020, Chrysalis will release "Live In Youngstown 1978", one of the six concerts recorded for Strangers In The Night.[15]

Track listing[]

Original LP[]

Side one

  1. "Natural Thing" (Michael Schenker, Phil Mogg, Pete 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

  2. "Mother Mary" (Schenker, Mogg, Way, Andy Parker) – 3:25
  3. "This Kid's" (Schenker, Mogg) – 5:11
  4. "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

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

1999 Reissue[]

  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

2020 Deluxe Edition[]

Disc 1 (Original LP 1)

  1. "Natural Thing" (Schenker, Mogg, Way) - 3:51
  2. "Out in the Street" (Way, Mogg) - 5:16
  3. "Only You Can Rock Me" (Way, Schenker, Mogg) - 4:09
  4. "Doctor Doctor" (Schenker, Mogg) - 4:39
  5. "Mother Mary" (Schenker, Mogg, Way, Parker) - 3:25
  6. "This Kid's" (Schenker, Mogg) - 5:12
  7. "Love to Love" (Schenker, Mogg) - 8:02

Disc 2 (Original LP 2)

  1. "Lights Out" (Schenker, Mogg, Parker, Way) - 5:32
  2. "Rock Bottom" (Schenker, Mogg) - 11:07
  3. "Too Hot to Handle" (Way, Mogg) - 4:28
  4. "I'm a Loser" (Schenker, Mogg) - 4:14
  5. "Let It Roll" (Schenker, Mogg) - 4:49
  6. "Shoot Shoot" (Schenker, Mogg, Way, Parker) - 4:10

Disc 3 (Live at the International Amphitheater, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 13 October 1978)

  1. "Hot 'n' Ready" (Schenker, Mogg) - 3:54
  2. "Pack It Up (And Go)" (Way, Schenker, Mogg) - 3:15
  3. "Cherry" (Way, Mogg) - 3:32
  4. "Let It Roll" (Schenker, Mogg) - 4:29
  5. "Love to Love" (Schenker, Mogg) - 8:01
  6. "Only You Can Rock Me" (Way, Schenker, Mogg) - 4:15
  7. "Ain't No Baby" (Mogg, Paul Raymond) - 4:07
  8. "Out in the Street" (Way, Mogg) - 5:04
  9. "Doctor Doctor" (Schenker, Mogg) - 4:52
  10. "Lights Out" (Schenker, Mogg, Parker, Way) - 5:12
  11. "Rock Bottom" (Schenker, Mogg) - 10:13
  12. "Too Hot to Handle" (Way, Mogg) - 4:24
  13. "Shoot Shoot" (Schenker, Mogg, Way, Parker) - 3:59

Disc 4 (Live at the Kenosha Ice Arena, Wisconsin, USA, 14 October 1978)

  1. "Hot 'n' Ready" (Schenker, Mogg) - 3:35
  2. "Pack It Up (And Go)" (Way, Schenker, Mogg) - 3:15
  3. "Cherry" (Way, Mogg) - 3:47
  4. "Let It Roll" (Schenker, Mogg) - 4:40
  5. "Love to Love" (Schenker, Mogg) - 7:46
  6. "Only You Can Rock Me" (Way, Schenker, Mogg) - 4:03
  7. "Ain't No Baby" (Mogg, Raymond) - 4:13
  8. "Out in the Street" (Way, Mogg) - 5:00
  9. "Doctor Doctor" (Schenker, Mogg) - 4:52
  10. "Lights Out" (Schenker, Mogg, Parker, Way) - 5:03
  11. "Rock Bottom" (Schenker, Mogg) - 10:58
  12. "Too Hot to Handle" (Way, Mogg) - 4:30

Disc 5 (Live at the Tomorrow Club, Youngstown, Ohio, USA, 15 October 1978)

  1. "Intro / Hot 'n' Ready" (Schenker, Mogg) - 3:49
  2. "Pack It Up (And Go)" (Way, Schenker, Mogg) - 3:38
  3. "Cherry" (Way, Mogg) - 3:41
  4. "Let It Roll" (Schenker, Mogg) - 4:41
  5. "Love to Love" (Schenker, Mogg) - 7:55
  6. "Natural Thing" (Schenker, Mogg, Way) - 3:27
  7. "Out in the Street" (Way, Mogg) - 5:08
  8. "Only You Can Rock Me" (Way, Schenker, Mogg) - 4:06
  9. "On with the Action" (Schenker, Mogg) - 4:47
  10. "Doctor Doctor" (Schenker, Mogg) - 4:51
  11. "Lights Out" (Schenker, Mogg, Parker, Way) - 5:08
  12. "Rock Bottom" (Schenker, Mogg) - 10:24
  13. "Too Hot to Handle" (Way, Mogg) - 4:35
  14. "Shoot Shoot" (Schenker, Mogg, Way, Parker) - 3:46

Disc 6 (Live at the Agora Theater, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, 16 October 1978)

  1. "Hot 'n' Ready" (Schenker, Mogg) - 3:57
  2. "Pack It Up (And Go)" (Way, Schenker, Mogg) - 3:22
  3. "Cherry" (Way, Mogg) - 4:00
  4. "Let It Roll" (Schenker, Mogg) - 4:47
  5. "Love to Love" (Schenker, Mogg) - 8:24
  6. "Natural Thing" (Schenker, Mogg, Way) - 3:32
  7. "Out in the Street" (Way, Mogg) - 5:16
  8. "Only You Can Rock Me" (Way, Schenker, Mogg) - 4:16
  9. "On with the Action" (Schenker, Mogg) - 4:56
  10. "Doctor Doctor" (Schenker, Mogg) - 4:51
  11. "I'm a Loser" (Schenker, Mogg) - 4:12
  12. "Lights Out" (Schenker, Mogg, Parker, Way) - 5:25
  13. "Rock Bottom" (Schenker, Mogg) - 11:25
  14. "Too Hot to Handle" (Way, Mogg) - 5:41
  15. "Shoot Shoot" (Schenker, Mogg, Way, Parker) - 4:07

Disc 7 (Live at the Agora Ballroom, Columbus, Ohio, USA, 17 October 1978)

  1. "Hot 'n' Ready" (Schenker, Mogg) - 3:50
  2. "Pack It Up (And Go)" (Way, Schenker, Mogg) - 3:36
  3. "Cherry" (Way, Mogg) - 3:59
  4. "Let It Roll" (Schenker, Mogg) - 5:07
  5. "Love to Love" (Schenker, Mogg) - 8:42
  6. "Natural Thing" (Schenker, Mogg, Way) - 3:56
  7. "Out in the Street" (Way, Mogg) - 5:44
  8. "Too Hot to Handle" (Way, Mogg) - 5:38
  9. "I'm a Loser" (Schenker, Mogg) - 4:44
  10. "On with the Action" (Schenker, Mogg) - 5:04
  11. "Doctor Doctor" (Schenker, Mogg) - 5:30
  12. "Lights Out" (Schenker, Mogg, Parker, Way) - 5:48
  13. "Rock Bottom" (Schenker, Mogg) - 13:58
  14. "Shoot Shoot" (Schenker, Mogg, Way, Parker) - 4:11

Disc 8 (Live at the Louisville Gardens, Louisville, Kentucky, USA, 18 October 1978)

  1. "Hot 'n' Ready" (Schenker, Mogg) - 3:46
  2. "Pack It Up (And Go)" (Way, Schenker, Mogg) - 3:29
  3. "Cherry" (Way, Mogg) - 4:07
  4. "Let It Roll" (Schenker, Mogg) - 4:46
  5. "Love to Love" (Schenker, Mogg) - 8:08
  6. "Natural Thing" (Schenker, Mogg, Way) - 3:39
  7. "Out in the Street" (Way, Mogg) - 5:32
  8. "Only You Can Rock Me" (Way, Schenker, Mogg) - 4:32
  9. "On with the Action" (Schenker, Mogg) - 5:19
  10. "Doctor Doctor" (Schenker, Mogg) - 5:05
  11. "I'm a Loser" (Schenker, Mogg) - 4:26
  12. "Lights Out" (Schenker, Mogg, Parker, Way) - 5:50
  13. "Rock Bottom" (Schenker, Mogg) - 11:18
  14. "Too Hot to Handle" (Way, Mogg) - 4:32
  15. "Shoot Shoot" (Schenker, Mogg, Way, Parker) - 4:09

Note: the first 5 tracks of each of these consecutive shows was consistent, after which the band played somewhere between seven and ten more additional songs. A mapping of each of the show differences:

Chicago Kenosha Youngstown Cleveland Columbus Louisville
Only You Can Rock Me Only You Can Rock Me Natural Thing Natural Thing Natural Thing Natural Thing
Ain’t No Baby Ain’t No Baby Out In the Street Out In the Street Out In the Street Out In the Street
Out In the Street Out In the Street Only You Can Rock Me Only You Can Rock Me Too Hot To Handle Only You Can Rock Me
Doctor Doctor Doctor Doctor On With The Action On With The Action I’m A Loser On With The Action
Lights Out Lights Out Doctor Doctor Doctor Doctor On With The Action Doctor Doctor
Rock Bottom Rock Bottom Lights Out I’m A Loser Doctor Doctor I’m A Loser
Too Hot To Handle Too Hot To Handle Rock Bottom Lights Out Lights Out Lights Out
Shoot Shoot Too Hot To Handle Rock Bottom Rock Bottom Rock Bottom
Shoot Shoot Too Hot To Handle Shoot Shoot Too Hot To Handle
Shoot Shoot Shoot Shoot

Personnel[]

UFO

Production

  • Ron Nevison – producer, engineer
  • Mike Clink - assistant engineer
  • Brian Chubb - live sound engineer
  • Alan McMillan – horn arrangements, string arrangements
  • Hipgnosis – artwork

Charts[]

Chart (1979-2020) Peak
Position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[17] 48
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[18] 69
UK Albums (OCC)[7] 7
US Billboard 200[19] 42

Certification[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] Silver 60,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[]

  1. ^ "UFO singles UK cat no".
  2. ^ "UFO singles UK cat no".
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Prato, Greg. "UFO Strangers in the Night review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
  4. ^ AA.VV. (1983). Marsh, Dave; Swenson, John (eds.). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. ISBN 978-0394721071.
  5. ^ Herzberg, Helen (June 2005). "Paul Raymond Biography". Paul Raymond Official Website. Archived from the original on 2013-04-28. Retrieved 2011-07-19. re-recording after the event (...) No, there really wasn't a lot done
  6. ^ Herzberg, Helen (June 2005). "Paul Raymond Biography". Paul Raymond Official Website. Archived from the original on 2013-04-28. Retrieved 2011-07-19. Michael wasn't happy with the results? (...) No, Michael thought his guitar sound was very thin and poorly recorded
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  8. ^ "Strangers in the Night Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
  9. ^ "Results of Classic Rock Magazine Live Album Poll". BBC News. 2004-08-01. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
  10. ^ Johnson, Howard (21 January 1989). "UFO 'Strangers in the Night'". Kerrang!. 222. London, UK: Spotlight Publications Ltd.
  11. ^ "Slash's favorite albums". Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  12. ^ "ORIGINAL UFO BASSIST PETE WAY - "I'M READY TO GO OUT AND BE DANGEROUS". BraveWords.com. Retrieved 2014-12-22.
  13. ^ "Doctor Doctor The Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
  14. ^ "Shoot Shoot The Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
  15. ^ "UFO - Live In Youngstown '78". Record Store Day. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  16. ^ Saulnier, Jason (23 January 2009). "Michael Schenker Interview". Music Legends. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  17. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4733". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  18. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – UFO – Strangers in the Night" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  19. ^ "Billboard 200 - March 24, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  20. ^ "British album certifications – UFO – Strangers In The Night". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
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