UFO - Galactic Love (1976)

Lead singer Phil Mogg, guitarist Mick Bolton, bassist Pete Way, and drummer Andy Parker formed Hocus Pocus in 1968, before changing their name in October 1969 to UFO in honour of the London club of the same name. They actually played there, and were spotted by Noel Moore, who signed them to Beacon Records, and they released their debut eponymous album in 1970. It was a typical example of early hard rock, including a heavy version of the Eddie Cochran classic 'C'mon Everybody', but although it was very successful in Japan and Germany, it didn't generate much interest in Britain and America. Their early work could be very strongly influenced by space rock, and their second album included a 26-minute title track and a 19-minute-long opus 'Star Storm'. The band soon realised that this style was somewhat limited, and after Mick Bolton left the group in 1972 they began the search for a new guitarist who could provide the band with a more standard rock sound. After brief trial runs with Larry Wallis and Bernie Marsden the band recruited Michael Schenker from the Scorpions. Schenker was only 18 at the time but was already a well-respected guitarist, and with a new label, Chrysalis Records, the revamped UFO recorded a non-LP single in 1973, 'Give Her The Gun'/'Sweet Little Thing'. In 1974, the band recorded 'Phenomenon', produced by Ten Years After's Leo Lyons, and from that point on they became one of the UK's best and most popular hard rock bands. This post collects together a few one-off singles, including that 1973 offering, plus some previously unreleased gems, proving just what a great hard rock band UFO were.

Track listing

01 Galactic Love (single 1972)
02 Give Her The Gun (single 1973)
03 Sweet Little Thing (b-side of 'Give Her The Gun')
04 Sixteen (previously unreleased 1974)
05 Oh My (previously unreleased demo 1974)
06 A Million Miles (previously unreleased 1975)
07 All Or Nothing (previously unreleased 1975)
08 French Kisses (previously unreleased 1976)
09 Have You Seen Me Lately Joan (previously unreleased 1976)
10 All The Strings (previously unreleased 1976)
11 Do It If You Can (previously unreleased 1976)