UFO’s 1980 album No Place to Run gets a welcome remaster including three bonus tracks and their live show from the legendary London Marquee club later than year. Proper stuff is this.
We know the history won’t we? UFO’s stock had been on the rise with that classic run of albums with a young Michael Schenker on guitar culminating with the tour that gave us the classic Strangers in the Night live album.
Schenker then had a power strop before SITN was released. The circumstances disputed and as the staying goes “recollections may vary.”
UFO bring in Paul “Tonka” Chapman as their new guitarist. A man more than capable and known to the band after filling in a couple of times prior following some of Schenker’s earlier mini-strops.
And given the Tonka tag as he was considered to have an indestructible constitution like the robust toys of the time were said to be. Remember Tonka Toys?
The new UFO went to record the album which would become No Place to Run in Montserrat at George Martin’s legendary Air studios. The anticipation was high – how would Chapman’s addition sound?
No need to be concerned at all. After the short, atmospheric instrumental of Alpha Centauri, Chapman announces his arrival with the blistering riff on Lettin’ Go. One of the heaviest songs in the UFO catalogue and a stunning solo too. Michael who? Tonka’s here now.
His dexterous acoustic intro to Mystery Train is stunning before another brutal, steamroller riff and astonishing fretwork.
This Fire Burns Tonight, Gone in the Night and Young Blood throb chug and along nicely and a more melodic feel to them – perhaps the Caribbean island life influences?
The title track is brooding and full of menace – and more six string heroics from Chapman.
Take it or Leave It goes all power ballad(ish) with Paul Raymond’s keys and piano to the fore. Think something akin to Try Me from Obsession. A well written song.
Money Money a bit of a throw away but catchy – then the glorious Anyday as the closer.
This is probably the most un-UFO like song. Yet one of their best.
Starts off with Pete Way’s slightly weird bass and Phil Mogg’s gentle vocal for a bit – then the power comes in punching hard. Alternates wit the quieter bass/vocal passages before the thumping lead-out with Chapman yet again showing his considerable ability. Superb. Here it is:
This new remaster is much better than the original production. It is clearer and more punchy. A big improvement. The three bonus tracks are a single version of Money Money and alternative versions of Gone in the Night and No Place to Run.
Now then – the live stuff. This is blistering. UFO at the Marquee in November 1980. Fourteen songs over seventy-five minutes or so. By this time of course, another line-up change.
Paul Raymond had gone to reunite with Schenker in MSG and in came Neil Carter.
The set list interesting as they include a Chains Chains and Long Gone from the upcoming The Wild, The Willing and the Innocent album. In my opinion it’s UFO’s best.
Don’t miss this No Place to Run deluxe job. Especially for the Marquee live stuff.
It’s available in various formats – double CD, triple vinyl, digital.
>> UFO NO PLACE TO RUN DELUXE ON AMAZON <<
Very soon UFO’s Misdemeanour album is being reissued together with a live disc of them at the Oxford Apollo in 1985 whilst touring the album. Have that on pre-order. Review to follow.
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