The Wild The Willing And The Innocent, for me UFO’s finest album, gets a beefy remastering accompanied with a live disc of their performance from the Hammersmith Odeon in 1981 on the tour.
In addition to the double CD version, there’s also a triple vinyl set. The CD version includes three extra tracks – seven inch (single) versions of Couldn’t Get It Right and Lonely Heart and an alternative mix of It’s Killing Me.
A big thanks to Pete Flatt at PPR Publicity for the review copy.
The eight tracks are one hundred percent consistent quality. All very cohesive and flowing together so well with the running order.
Chains Chains such a swaggering opener. Paul Chapman’s muscular riff and deft solo as Phil Mogg delivers his usual smooth yet measured vocal.
Andy Parker and Pete Way were one of rock’s most solid rhythm sections. Parker a precise “no fills” drummer and here on this mix, Pete Way’s melodic basslines seem more to the fore.
And the new chap – Neil Cater – in for the departing Paul Raymond shows his chops and variety well here and over the whole album.
Long Gone has a darkly mean and moody feel to it. The title track is sweeping and majestic with a highly memorable hook and melody – a consistent feature throughout the album.
It’s Killing Me punches away then the magnificent Makin’ Moves with the stuttering, throbbing riff, scorching solo and tight delivery is sublime. Here it is:
Lonely Heart so catchy with Carter’s saxophone break an inspired addition as is the use of the tinkling piano based intro which sets quite an atmosphere before the song breaks out. It gave them a moderate hit as a single even miming along to it on the (then) weekly cringefest of Top of the Pops.
Couldn’t Get It Right is so catchy too then comes the towering closer of the sweeping Profession of Violence. Mean, moody and emotional. Mogg’s heartfelt vocal, the effective use of some orchestration, the gently piano then comes the remarkable solo from Chapman.
The previously unreleased live set from Hammersmith is superb too. Starts with Long Gone, Chains Chains and Lonely Heart then a series of UFO classics – you know which, I don’t have to tell you – and Mystery Train from No Place to Run.
Paul Chapman really shows how great he was throughout. Especially on the brutally powerful Mystery Train and how he handles his predecessor’s work on epic versions of Lights Out and Rock Bottom.
This deluxe edition is essential. A truly timeless classic album of hard, heavy, melodic rock from a band who sometimes couldn’t get it right (see what I did there) though did most certainly get it right with this album.
Over the decades, The Wild The Willing And The Innocent must be easily in my top ten most listened albums. It’s flawless. This deluxe edition remaster sounds sharper showing just how great it is.
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