Strangers in the Night (UFO album)

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Strangers in the Night
Live album by
UFO
ReleasedJanuary 1979 (1979-01)
Recorded13 and 18 October 1978
VenueInternational Amphitheatre, Chicago; Louisville Gardens, Louisville; 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
AllMusic[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[4]

Strangers in the Night (originally issued with a sticker stating 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 at shows in October 1978 at Chicago, Illinois, and Louisville, Kentucky, while UFO was on tour.

Guitarist Michael Schenker left the band during the tour; this led to the band recruiting former bandmate and 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] Some critics, and the fans marked it 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 it is his favorite live album.[11] Founding UFO members Pete Way (bass) and Andy Parker (drums) both say it is their favorite UFO record.[12]

Two live EPs in 1979 also proved successful for the band. In February, "Doctor Doctor" (taken from the album), backed 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", backed 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 at a show on UFO's tour with Blue Öyster Cult.

Reissue[edit]

In 1999, EMI reissued Strangers in the Night in 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 this was not so according to the booklet of the 2008 remaster (the songs are pointed as recorded in Youngstown, Ohio, 15 October 1978 and Cleveland, Ohio, 16 October 1978 accordingly). The audience noise is from Chicago and the introduction for the CD was 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. The track list of the 2008 version is identical to the 1999 version; no additional tracks or track list modifications are present.

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 UFO: The Chrysalis Years (1973-79) in 2011. In addition, two further live songs, "Ain't No Baby" recorded in Kenosha, WI, and "Pack It Up (And Go)" recorded in Columbus, OH, appeared on Hot 'n' Live: The Chrysalis Live Anthology 1974-1983 in 2013. The Japanese version of this release includes a further version of "Pack It Up (And Go)", recorded in Youngstown, OH, as a bonus track.

On Record Store Day 2020, Chrysalis was to release Live in Youngstown 1978, one of the six concerts recorded for Strangers in the Night.[15]

Track listing[edit]

Original LP[edit]

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[edit]

  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[edit]

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[edit]

UFO

Production

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

Charts[edit]

Chart (1979) Peak
position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[16] 48
UK Albums (OCC)[17] 7
US Billboard 200[18] 42
Chart (2020–2021) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[19] 87
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[20] 69
Scottish Albums (OCC)[21] 32
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[22] 98
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[23] 14

Certification[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] Silver 60,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "UFO singles UK cat no".
  2. ^ "UFO singles UK cat no".
  3. ^ a b Prato, Greg. "UFO Strangers in the Night review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  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 19 May 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2011. 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 19 May 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2011. Michael wasn't happy with the results? (...) No, Michael thought his guitar sound was very thin and poorly recorded
  7. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Strangers in the Night Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  9. ^ "Results of Classic Rock Magazine Live Album Poll". BBC News. 1 August 2004. Retrieved 16 July 2008.
  10. ^ Johnson, Howard (21 January 1989). "UFO 'Strangers in the Night'". Kerrang!. Vol. 222. London, UK: Spotlight Publications Ltd.
  11. ^ "Slash's favorite albums". Retrieved 14 July 2008.
  12. ^ "ORIGINAL UFO BASSIST PETE WAY - "I'M READY TO GO OUT AND BE DANGEROUS". BraveWords.com. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  13. ^ "Doctor Doctor The Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  14. ^ "Shoot Shoot The Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  15. ^ "UFO - Live In Youngstown '78". Record Store Day. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  16. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4733a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  17. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  18. ^ "Billboard 200 - March 24, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  19. ^ "Ultratop.be – UFO – Strangers in the Night" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  20. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – UFO – Strangers in the Night" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  21. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  22. ^ "Swisscharts.com – UFO – Strangers in the Night". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  23. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  24. ^ "British album certifications – UFO – Strangers In The Night". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
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