The UFO Discography And Listening Party Thread

[TAC]

@ devieira, wasn't it you that compared Shane Gaalaas to Simon Phillips earlier in the thread? I've been thinking about it since you mentioned it, and I really think you're onto something. Gaalaas, like Phillips, has really tight drum strokes.

I also thought the album cover looked really low budget.  Checking it out, Leif is a pretty good singer but not as good as Robin. What happened between Michael and Robin?

I don't think anything happened. Michael basically rejoined UFO.

[TAC]

There's a few videos from the Chicago '96 show. David Van Landing joins the band for the tour.
Here is Lost Horizons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYKiHlpHIAw

I won't swear to it, but I think this might have been the lineup that I seen a few years later in Columbus, Ohio at the Alrosa Villa. I want to say that they were calling it "The Michael Schenker Life" tour, or something along those lines. Oddly enough, Vinnie Moore was the opener and he used the same band as MS. His set was completely instrumental.

Yes, and I'm planning on covering that....

[PowerSlave]

There's a few videos from the Chicago '96 show. David Van Landing joins the band for the tour.
Here is Lost Horizons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYKiHlpHIAw

I won't swear to it, but I think this might have been the lineup that I seen a few years later in Columbus, Ohio at the Alrosa Villa. I want to say that they were calling it "The Michael Schenker Life" tour, or something along those lines. Oddly enough, Vinnie Moore was the opener and he used the same band as MS. His set was completely instrumental.

Yes, and I'm planning on covering that....

My ex-wife always told me that I was a little too quick to get to/finish things. I'll chill out and wait... 

[devieira73]

@ devieira, wasn't it you that compared Shane Gaalaas to Simon Phillips earlier in the thread? I've been thinking about it since you mentioned it, and I really think you're onto something. Gaalaas, like Phillips, has really tight drum strokes.

Yes, TAC, that was me. I mentioned that the only drummer, besides Simon, on MSG that played perfectly the songs from the 1st album was Shane Gaalaas. I do  think these two were the most technical MSG drummers, with all due respect for the drummers who played in the band, specially Cozy Powell, which I think was also great.
I still don't know what to think about this phase from Written in the Sand to Arachnophobiac... at least, I think it's better than McAuley Shenker abums. I love the rhythm section of Gaalaas/Sparks. The Michael Schenker Story Live (I think it's this tour Powerslave was talking about)  has a super-tight performance of Schenker/Gaalaas/Sparks in the entire album. Great, great live album, amazing selection of songs and that version of Into the Arena...
By the way, Gaalaas, Sparks and... Jeff Kolman (we'll hear about him soon) have an amazing instrumental band called Cosmosquad. Well, I only know their latest album, The Morbid Tango, and it's totally amazing. Instrumental album, with much more composed songs than improvised jams:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLVkz2vsbj4

[TAC]

Your balls are as blue as Powerslave's!


Yes, things get busy in the next few years.



...but you guys are fucking good!




I regret not featuring Wild Horses earlier in the thread. I had considered it. Featuring future UFO members Neil Carter and Clive Edwards, but apparently Robin McAuley recorded demos with Brian Robertson after the McAuley Schenker Group finished off.

[TAC]

I still don't know what to think about this phase from Written in the Sand to Arachnophobiac...

It's my opinion that while the singers were certainly talented, they all lacked character and personality. Certainly Written In The Sand and The Unforgiven are a lot better than Beware Of Scorpions and Arachnophobiac. It's the reason to me that the partnership with Doogie White works so well. He's stronger vocally and personality wise. He's not some unknown happy to be there. Rev Jones speaks of how Chris Logan was never really a frontman and drank quite a bit to compensate..


As we see with Phil Mogg, the stronger the vocalist's personality the better Schenker is.


I was initially cool on Written In the Sand but it has aged really well for me.

[Lowdz]

@ devieira, wasn't it you that compared Shane Gaalaas to Simon Phillips earlier in the thread? I've been thinking about it since you mentioned it, and I really think you're onto something. Gaalaas, like Phillips, has really tight drum strokes.

Yes, TAC, that was me. I mentioned that the only drummer, besides Simon, on MSG that played perfectly the songs from the 1st album was Shane Gaalaas. I do  think these two were the most technical MSG drummers, with all due respect for the drummers who played in the band, specially Cozy Powell, which I think was also great.
I still don't know what to think about this phase from Written in the Sand to Arachnophobiac... at least, I think it's better than McAuley Shenker abums. I love the rhythm section of Gaalaas/Sparks. The Michael Schenker Story Live (I think it's this tour Powerslave was talking about)  has a super-tight performance of Schenker/Gaalaas/Sparks in the entire album. Great, great live album, amazing selection of songs and that version of Into the Arena...
By the way, Gaalaas, Sparks and... Jeff Kolman (we'll hear about him soon) have an amazing instrumental band called Cosmosquad. Well, I only know their latest album, The Morbid Tango, and it's totally amazing. Instrumental album, with much more composed songs than improvised jams:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLVkz2vsbj4

Just had a listen to the Cosmosquad album from 1997. Enjoyed it.

[devieira73]

I listened a bit some songs of the older albums on Spotify, but my first impression was that Morbid Tango is their best album.

[devieira73]

Your balls are as blue as Powerslave's!

Yes, things get busy in the next few years.

...but you guys are fucking good!

I regret not featuring Wild Horses earlier in the thread. I had considered it. Featuring future UFO members Neil Carter and Clive Edwards, but apparently Robin McAuley recorded demos with Brian Robertson after the McAuley Schenker Group finished off.

Thank's, Sir!
I think it would be really difficult to talk about all the UFO related projects without totally loose the focus on their main discography. So I think you are already covering a lot here, it's been really nice.

[wolfking]

Got my 10cd collection in the mail yesterday! 

[TAC]

Got my 10cd collection in the mail yesterday! 

 

[wolfking]

I love those two remakes at the end of Walk on Water, especially Doctor Doctor.  I like that more than the original.  Shenkers licks at the very beginning are just incredible.

[TAC]

1997



Cosmosquad



https://open.spotify.com/album/4r2CNZVSXjdEMIjtDoFh8J?si=FXrColFMQ8a3d9JHl7JI-w

Just a quick blip here on Cosmosquad.

An instrumental band consisting of guitarist Jeff Kollman, bassist Barry Sparks, and drummer Shane Gaalaas. Relevant because you will be seeing/hearing a lot of them here in the next half dozen years, including the aforementioned Written In The Sand.

[TAC]

Edge Of The World





Edge Of The World-1997

Released 1997





1. Change Brings A Change
2. All Out Of Luck
3. Gravy Train
4. Fortune Town
5. Highwire
6. Saving Me From Myself
7. Mother Mary
8. House Of Pain
9. It's A Game
10. History Of Flames
11. Spell On You
12. Totaled


Phil Mogg-Vocals
Pete Way-Bass
Aynsley Dunbar-Drums
George Bellas-Guitar


Matt Guillory-Keyboards

After signing away 50% of the UFO name to Michael Schenker, Phil and Pete are unable to record as UFO. But apparently um..Mogg/Way was still available..

Anyway, Phil goes back to the Mike Varney stable and enlists George Bellas on guitar. The lineup is rounded out by drummer Aynsley Dunbar, who BTW has a ridiculous discography.

I also never noticed but apparently James Labrie's partner Matt Guillory plays keyboards on this album. Interesting.


Even though it's released under the Mogg Way name, it, and it's successor are UFO albums.

[wolfking]

This was a great album.  Bellas smokes although he is too low in the mix.  I'll listen to this one again now I have more of an appreciation of the UFO sound from day 1.

And yeah, surely they could have come up with a better band name.

[ProfessorPeart]

I will give this a full listen tonight, hopefully. I am excited about these Mogg/Way albums.

By the way, am I the only one that always thinks Mogwai when I see that name? Which then makes me think of Gremlins.

[TAC]

By the way, am I the only one that always thinks Mogwai when I see that name? Which then makes me think of Gremlins.

You might be.

I have never watched the Gremlins. They were a little after my time.

This was a great album.  Bellas smokes although he is too low in the mix.  I'll listen to this one again now I have more of an appreciation of the UFO sound from day 1.

And yeah, surely they could have come up with a better band name.

Yeah, you got a sneak peak on this one.

[wolfking]

I will give this a full listen tonight, hopefully. I am excited about these Mogg/Way albums.

By the way, am I the only one that always thinks Mogwai when I see that name? Which then makes me think of Gremlins.

I think you might be mate. 

[wolfking]

If you other guys haven't listened to this album I strongly recommend you do.  Lots of UFO vibes and some high quality tunes.

[wolfking]

Chucked on the Making Contact CD in the car from my new set and it sounds excellent.  Much better than the mp3 copy I had.  Really impressed.

[TAC]

That's awesome!!

[wolfking]

That's awesome!!

Yeah, stoked.

I wish Ain't Misbehavin was part of the set however.

[jjrock88]

That's awesome!!

Yeah, stoked.

I wish Ain't Misbehavin was part of the set however.

Darn, more amazon packages for Kade lol

Never knew about the Mogg/Way album. Going by Wikipedia the next UFO album after walk on water is in 2000. So this is cool that an unofficial UFO album was made in between those. Will check it out

[wolfking]

That's awesome!!

Yeah, stoked.

I wish Ain't Misbehavin was part of the set however.

Darn, more amazon packages for Kade lol

Never knew about the Mogg/Way album. Going by Wikipedia the next UFO album after walk on water is in 2000. So this is cool that an unofficial UFO album was made in between those. Will check it out

 

Just, don't expect Bellas to be a Shenker clone.  He's a totally different player.

[TAC]

Never knew about the Mogg/Way album. Going by Wikipedia the next UFO album after walk on water is in 2000. So this is cool that an unofficial UFO album was made in between those. Will check it out

Well, there's two Mogg Way albums, but only because they couldn't use the UFO name. Both are really good.

[TAC]

@ devieira..

Found this really cool interview with Shane Gaalaas.
https://www.everyonelovesguitar.com/2020/02/19/shane-gaalaas-interview-2/

Talks about Michael Schenker around the 44:00 mark.

[TAC]

If you other guys haven't listened to this album I strongly recommend you do.  Lots of UFO vibes and some high quality tunes.

Yeah Kade, I highly recommend it. This is a great album. It's like High Stakes on steroids. George Bellas is awesome on this, and while he can get pretty shreddy on this, there's lots of UFO feel on this. Phil Mogg is amazing on this album.


House Of Pain sounds ripped right off of High Stakes, and It's A Game has a total Waysted feel.

Spell On You is a great deep back end track on this album. Great playing from Bellas on this track. He basically rips through the entire album. But he totally vibes with such an old school rhythm section.

[wolfking]

If you other guys haven't listened to this album I strongly recommend you do.  Lots of UFO vibes and some high quality tunes.

Yeah Kade, I highly recommend it. This is a great album. It's like High Stakes on steroids. George Bellas is awesome on this, and while he can get pretty shreddy on this, there's lots of UFO feel on this. Phil Mogg is amazing on this album.


House Of Pain sounds ripped right off of High Stakes, and It's A Game has a total Waysted feel.

Spell On You is a great deep back end track on this album. Great playing from Bellas on this track. He basically rips through the entire album. But he totally vibes with such an old school rhythm section.

He's a quality guitarist.  I'll revisit it again and post some more thoughts.

[TAC]

I've never followed up on anything else he's done. Not sure if anyone can recommend something.

[wolfking]

I've never followed up on anything else he's done. Not sure if anyone can recommend something.

Nothing really that would interest you I don't think mate.  The Ring of Fire album he did with Boals and Donati I really rate though, The Oracle it's called.  I don't think any of his instrumental stuff would interest you.  I really wish he did more band stuff like The Oracle and this Mogg album.

[TAC]

Nothing really that would interest you I don't think mate.  The Ring of Fire album he did with Boals and Donati I really rate though, The Oracle it's called.

Is that George Bellas on that? Huh.

I'll dig into it.

[wolfking]

Nothing really that would interest you I don't think mate.  The Ring of Fire album he did with Boals and Donati I really rate though, The Oracle it's called.

Is that George Bellas on that? Huh.

I'll dig into it.

Yeah.  Not sure why TMac didn't record with them on that one truthfully.  it's some nice neoclassical power metal.

[TAC]

From this in1997:




To this:




Looks like he's on the JP Program!

[wolfking]

  I've never seen that pic before. 

No wonder he hasn't been releasing many albums! lol.  I thought it was George Lynch on first glance.

[ProfessorPeart]

Man, what a difference Dunbar makes! Listening to Gravy Train made me have to post about him. I'm familiar with him as he is prolific and I do have the first 3 Journey records from the pre-Perry days and, of course, Schenker's Adventures album.

Oh, I just saw he plays on Covenant and Sharks. Okay, looking forward to those as well.

EDIT: Finished the album. Yeah, this is a keeper. Some nice riffage from Bellas and Dunbar kills it. Bellas certainly fits that Shrapnel mold.