Most critics and followers agree that the best studio album by British hard-rockers UFO was 1977’s Lights Out.

The group’s sixth studio effort is famend as a cohesive but diverse set highlighted by the full-out strut of the title observe together with catchy mid-tempo rockers like “Too Sizzling to Deal with” and “Gettin’ Prepared” perched alongside the nascent energy ballad “Attempt Me,” which closes with an amazing guitar solo by Michael Schenker.

Introduced by the definitive lineup of vocalist Phil Mogg, Schenker on lead guitar, keyboardist/rhythm guitarist Paul Raymond, bass guitarist Pete Means, and drummer Andy Parker, there aren’t any throw-away tracks. Schenker is particularly revered as a vastly influential guitarist, and his general efficiency on this album, particularly his solos on the furiously explosive title observe, is commonly cited as a profession spotlight.

Nudged by its label, Chrysalis, the band was pushing itself to better heights in ’76/’77. Ten Years After bassist Leo Lyons had produced its earlier three albums, however for Lights Out they employed Ron Nevison, who was extremely regarded for his engineering and mixing with Led Zeppelin, Unhealthy Firm, the Rolling Stones, the Who, Skinny Lizzy, and others. Additionally, Raymond having changed keyboardist Danny Peyronel was necessary as a result of he additionally introduced rhythm-guitar capabilities.

“By the point we received to Lights Out, we had reached a stumbling block, as a result of we thought the fabric on No Heavy Petting was as much as scratch,” mentioned Mogg. “However we wanted a change by way of recording, and most of it happened while we have been banging round within the rehearsal room, writing new materials.

“Paul had joined and he was most-adept at switching between guitar and keyboards – he saved us a fortune from getting one other participant in! He additionally added a special coloring with a few songs, ‘Gettin’ Prepared’ and ‘Simply One other Suicide.’”

Nevison steered fleshing-out their sound by including strings to some songs. Some members have been reluctant, however arranger Alan McMillan dealt with the duty. Whereas a dangerous proposition for a hard-rock band, McMillan’s utility of them as accents labored effectively.

Nevison and Mogg butted heads over the lyrics; the producer was careworn by what he believed was the vocalist’s tendency to write down on the final minute.

“Our Ron. What can we are saying?” Mogg recalled with a chuckle. “It was one of many most-creative, humorous instances I’ll ever have. Oh, the enjoyment of recording beneath the whip! Admittedly, there have been some last-minute lyric adjustments, however that bleeding singer thought he might get it higher, poor boy!”

Private tensions among the many band and Schenker are well-known. He left for a short while through the Lights Out tour however returned.

“There was at all times slightly stress, however nothing out of the odd,” Mogg mentioned. “I assumed Michael’s work was excellent on all of the UFO albums. The fabric was completely proper in his pocket to excel, and he did by jingo.”

In all, Lights Out started what’s extensively thought-about the band’s best period. A number of tracks are highlights, together with the shock cowl of Love’s 1967 launch “Alone Once more Or.”

“I imagine we have been all on the identical web page and really centered… in a hazy kind of manner. ‘Too Sizzling to Deal with’ was Pete and I having a dance and a sing-song after hours, and we truly believed we have been the second coming! (laughs) ‘Lights Out’ was a crunch-up jam session – a jolly jam after visiting the pub. ‘Alone Once more Or’ was an outsider which we modified, and Michael’s guitar solo took over for (Love’s) trumpet solo. Pretty. It was a match for the album.”

The majestic nearer, “Like to Love,” is a masterful efficiency. Cited by Iron Maiden bassist/founder Steve Harris as his all-time favourite music, it features a haunting keyboard line, highly effective electric-guitar chording, flowing acoustic runs, thumping bass, skittering hi-hat amidst rugged drums, and hovering vocals topped off with strings.

“‘Like to Love’ is a little bit of a thriller,” Mogg mentioned. “It began as certainly one of Michael’s solos on a cassette, and had a beautiful melody. So we discovered a vocal for that half, however once we rehearsed, it took a special flip and have become one thing else.”

Lights Out reached #23 on Billboard and was simply remastered and expanded for CD and vinyl that features a remixed 1977 live performance on the Roundhouse, in London – the primary present of that tour.

“It’s a reminder of what we have been about in that specific place in time, and I need to say it was a jolly good interval,” mentioned Mogg. “Aside from the previous Marquee Membership in Wardour Avenue, the Roundhouse was certainly one of our favourite gigs, the place you may see the Faces with younger Steve Marriott, the Who, Pink Floyd, the New Yardbirds, and others. It was nice to play there.”

UFO was an enormous affect on many artists together with Iron Maiden, Metallica, Weapons ’N Roses, Def Leppard, Pearl Jam, and others.

Sadly, any likelihood of the Lights Out lineup reuniting grew to become unimaginable when Raymond died in 2019, adopted by Means in ’20. The band’s farewell tour in ’22 needed to be canceled early resulting from Mogg struggling a coronary heart assault.

The singer, who has a brand new solo album referred to as Mogg’s Motel, doesn’t really feel unhealthy concerning the business success UFO reached or imagine the frequent notion that the band was underrated.

“There’s by no means been any bittersweet emotions as a result of issues pan out how they do, and we don’t suppose we’ve ever been underrated as a result of we by no means doubted ourselves,” he mentioned. “We got here, we noticed, and we had a beautiful time!”

This text initially appeared in VG’s April 2024 challenge. All copyrights are by the creator and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.