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UFO 1
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| UFO 1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 1970 | |||
| Recorded | July 1970 | |||
| Studio | Jackson Studios, Rickmansworth, Herts, England | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 39:06 | |||
| Label |
| |||
| Producer | Guy Fletcher, Doug Flett, Milton Samuel | |||
| UFO chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from UFO1 | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [8] |
UFO 1 is the debut studio album by British rock band UFO. It was first released in the UK by Beacon Records in October 1970. The first US release was on Rare Earth Records in April 1971. Neither of these releases charted, but the album succeeded in Germany and Japan.
The album was reissued under Unidentified Flying Object with four of the five tracks from the band's second album. This reissue shows a photo of the band from the 1980s on the cover.[citation needed]
The album was also reissued on the Flying: The Early Years 1970–1973 compilation album of 2004, along with all the other recordings made by the band with their original guitarist, Mick Bolton. It was also given a straight reissue under the name All The Hits & More - The Early Days (XXX Media, Germany, 2011), with no additional tracks.
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Pete Way, Phil Mogg, Andy Parker and Mick Bolton, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Unidentified Flying Object" (instrumental) | 2:19 | |
| 2. | "Boogie for George" | 4:16 | |
| 3. | "C'mon Everybody" | Eddie Cochran, Jerry Capehart | 3:12 |
| 4. | "Shake It About" | 3:47 | |
| 5. | "(Come Away) Melinda" | Fred Hellerman, Fran Minkoff | 5:04 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Timothy" | 3:29 | |
| 7. | "Follow You Home" | Way | 2:13 |
| 8. | "Treacle People" | Bolton | 3:23 |
| 9. | "Who Do You Love?" | Ellas McDaniel (Bo Diddley) | 7:49 |
| 10. | "Evil" | Way | 3:27 |
- The title "Boogie for George" was shortened to "Boogie" on the CD reissue (1994, Repertoire Records).
Personnel
[edit]- UFO
- Phil Mogg – vocals
- Mick Bolton – guitar
- Pete Way – bass
- Andy Parker – drums
- Production
- Guy Fletcher, Doug Flett – producers
- Milton Samuel – executive producer
References
[edit]- ^ Neil Daniels (18 November 2013). High Stakes & Dangerous Men: The UFO Story. Soundcheck Books. pp. 9–. ISBN 978-0-9571442-6-2.
- ^ "UFO 1". AllMusic.
- ^ Graham Betts (2 June 2014). Motown Encyclopedia. AC Publishing. p. 676. ISBN 978-1-311-44154-6.
UFO 1 ... introduced their brand of hard rock ....
- ^ Hung, Steffen. "UFO - Shake It About". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ Hung, Steffen. "UFO - (Come Away) Melinda". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ Hung, Steffen. "UFO - Boogie". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ Hung, Steffen. "UFO - C'mon Everybody". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ Anderson, Jason. "UFO UFO1 review". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
External links
[edit]
UFO 1
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Background and development
Band formation
The band originated in London in 1968 when guitarist Mick Bolton and bassist Pete Way formed the group initially known as The Boyfriends with drummer Tick Torrazo. Vocalist Phil Mogg joined soon after, and by 1969, with Andy Parker replacing Torrazo on drums, they rebranded as UFO—a name inspired by the iconic London UFO Club, a psychedelic venue linked to the counterculture movement and early performances by acts like Pink Floyd, as well as broader sci-fi themes resonating with the era's fascination with the unknown.[6] The members were young musicians in their late teens and early twenties from working-class backgrounds, drawing from the vibrant energy of London's underground music community during the late 1960s. Their lineup—Mogg's powerful vocals, Bolton's guitar work, Way's driving bass lines, and Parker's steady drumming—set the foundation for a raw, energetic sound.[7][1] The band began performing initial gigs in local clubs across London, honing their craft in small venues that catered to the emerging hard rock audience. While performing at the UFO Club, they caught the attention of Beacon Records executive Noel Moore, securing their recording contract in 1970. This pivotal deal transitioned the group from club performances to professional production opportunities.[7] UFO's nascent style was heavily influenced by The Beatles' melodic innovation, Jimi Hendrix's virtuosic guitar experimentation, and the gritty energy of blues rock pioneers, which collectively forged their hard rock foundation with psychedelic edges. These elements allowed the band to blend accessible rock structures with improvisational flair, distinguishing them in the competitive London scene.[8]Pre-production and songwriting
The songwriting for UFO's debut album was a collaborative effort among the band's founding members, with vocalist Phil Mogg and guitarist Mick Bolton taking leading roles in crafting the material. Several original tracks, including "Unidentified Flying Object", "Boogie", "Shake It About", and "Timothy", were credited collectively to the band—comprising Mogg, Bolton, bassist Pete Way, and drummer Andy Parker—emerging from group jam sessions that highlighted heavy guitar riffs and psychedelic influences. Individual contributions included Way's writing on "Follow You Home" and "Evil", as well as Bolton's composition for "Treacle People", allowing the songs to blend raw hard rock energy with emerging space-themed elements.[9] To complement the originals, the band incorporated covers that underscored their rock heritage and versatility, such as Eddie Cochran and Jerry Capehart's "C'mon Everybody", Ellas McDaniel's "Who Do You Love", and the anti-war folk piece "(Come Away) Melinda" by Fred Hellerman and Fran Minkoff. These selections provided a mix of bluesy swagger and introspective depth, helping to define the album's eclectic tone without overshadowing the band's self-penned work.[9] Following their signing to Beacon Records, UFO honed the material through intensive rehearsals, selecting 10 tracks that captured their nascent sound's potential for both heaviness and atmospheric exploration. This pre-studio phase focused on refining the songs' sci-fi lyrical motifs and riff-driven structures, as seen in the title track "Unidentified Flying Object", to establish a distinctive identity amid London's burgeoning rock scene.[1]Recording and production
Studio sessions
The recording sessions for UFO's debut album took place in July 1970 at Jackson's Music Academy, also known as Jackson Studios, in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, England.[10] The band pursued a raw, live-in-the-room approach with minimal overdubs to capture their youthful energy, employing basic amplification and eschewing synthesizers entirely. The group's inexperience necessitated multiple takes for certain tracks, while budget constraints restricted the overall session time. Basic tracks were completed by late July, with mixing finalized shortly thereafter.Production team and techniques
The production of UFO 1 was led by Guy Fletcher and Doug Flett, a seasoned songwriting duo known for their work with various pop and psychedelic acts, who refined the band's initial raw demos into a more professional sound.[11] Their involvement provided the debut with a polished yet straightforward rock aesthetic suitable for the era.[12] Milton Samuel served as executive producer, focusing on capturing clear guitar tones and Phil Mogg's vocals with minimal processing to preserve the band's energetic live feel.[13] This approach avoided heavy effects, prioritizing raw instrument separation over elaborate studio manipulation.[1] Recording techniques relied on the natural reverb provided by the acoustics at Jackson's studio in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, which enhanced the album's spacious yet unadorned atmosphere. Basic multi-tracking was employed for vocal harmonies, notably on "Timothy," to add depth without complicating the mix.[12] Due to the limited budget from independent label Beacon Records, production remained simple and cost-effective, eschewing orchestral overdubs or extravagant arrangements that were prevalent in many 1970s rock albums.[1] This restraint contributed to the record's direct, no-frills character, aligning with the band's emerging hard rock style.[4]Musical style and composition
Overall style
UFO 1 exemplifies hard rock infused with psychedelic and blues elements, hallmarks of early 1970s British rock. The album features heavy riffs and driving rhythms alongside sci-fi imagery in its titles and conceptual leanings, creating a sound that balances aggression with atmospheric experimentation.[1][2] The band's influences draw from space rock contemporaries such as Pink Floyd and Hawkwind, contributing to the dreamy and experimental aspects, while blues and rock 'n' roll foundations appear in the raw structures and covers of classics like Eddie Cochran's "C'mon Everybody."[5][1] Clocking in at 39:06, the album consists of short, punchy tracks averaging 3-4 minutes, which prioritize raw energy and immediacy over intricate arrangements.[5] By diverging from prevailing pop trends toward heavier, riff-driven compositions, UFO 1 helped establish the band within the nascent heavy metal landscape emerging from British rock's evolution.[14]Key songs and themes
The album opens with the instrumental track "Unidentified Flying Object," a 2:19 dreamy reverie featuring spacey guitar effects that establish a sci-fi tone reflective of the band's name and emerging space-rock influences.[1][4] "C'mon Everybody," a 3:12 heavy cover of Eddie Cochran's 1958 rockabilly hit, amps up the original with distorted guitars and a faster tempo, channeling raw, defiant energy.[1][4] The folk-rock ballad "(Come Away) Melinda," clocking in at 5:04, is a cover co-written by Fred Hellerman and Fran Minkoff, incorporating acoustic elements and mystical lyrics that evoke a child's longing for escape from a war-ravaged world to a pre-conflict innocence.[15][1][4] "Boogie for George," a 4:15 bluesy tribute instrumental, highlights drummer Andy Parker's driving rhythms and bassist Pete Way's prominent lines amid heavy rock feedback.[4][16] Among the originals, "Treacle People" (3:01) and "Evil" (3:25) showcase the band's raw energy and developing songwriting with heavy riffs and psychedelic undertones, while "Timothy" (3:27) adds a melodic hard rock edge. The extended cover "Who Do You Love" (4:55), originally by Bo Diddley, features aggressive guitar work and extended jamming, emphasizing blues-rock influences.[5][1] Recurring themes across these tracks include alienation through otherworldly soundscapes, adventure via sci-fi motifs tied to the band's identity, and youthful rebellion echoing 1970s counterculture, as seen in the escapist narratives, high-energy covers, and original compositions blending heaviness with experimentation.[1][16]Release and promotion
Album release
UFO 1 was first released in the United Kingdom in October 1970 by the independent label Beacon Records as a vinyl LP with catalogue number BEAS 12. The edition featured a gatefold sleeve with interior band photos and thematic UFO artwork. The cover art, created by an unknown designer, illustrated a flying saucer hovering over the London skyline, directly referencing the band's name.[2] The album saw its United States release in 1971 via Rare Earth Records, a subsidiary of Motown, retaining the same track listing and core presentation with only minor adjustments for the market.[17] Due to Beacon's status as a small label, the initial UK pressing was limited, and no compact disc version appeared until reissues in the late 1980s.[4]Singles and marketing
The lead single from UFO 1, "Shake It About" backed with "Evil," was released in 1970 by Beacon Records, with the intent to secure radio airplay, though it received only limited exposure on stations.[18] This was followed in August 1970 by the single "(Come Away) Melinda," which aimed to break into the UK charts but achieved modest results.[19] In October 1970, "Boogie for George" was issued as a promotional single to support album rollout efforts, distributed primarily to industry contacts and select retailers.[20] Later in late 1970, a cover of Eddie Cochran's "C'mon Everybody" was released as a single in Europe and Japan, where it garnered some play in nightclubs but failed to chart significantly; no major singles from the album were promoted in the United States.[21] Beacon Records' marketing strategy emphasized grassroots efforts, including small-scale tours through UK club circuits to build local buzz among rock audiences.[7] Promotional materials featured posters incorporating sci-fi imagery tied to the band's name and album theme, distributed at venues and record shops.[22] Constrained by the independent label's limited budget, these initiatives focused on regional press coverage in music publications rather than national advertising campaigns.[11]Reception and legacy
Contemporary reception
Upon its October 1970 release in the UK, UFO 1 experienced modest commercial performance, reflecting challenges with promotion and distribution by the small Beacon label.[1] The album did not enter the UK Albums Chart or the US Billboard 200.[23][1] In the United States, the album saw a delayed release on Rare Earth Records in 1971, resulting in limited media coverage amid the label's other priorities.[1] It failed to generate significant buzz or chart success. Despite domestic obscurity, UFO 1 built positive word-of-mouth in continental Europe and Asia, particularly Germany and Japan, where its heavy psychedelic sound resonated and drove import demand.[1] The band received enthusiastic responses during their early 1970s performances for the aggressive, heavy elements of their music.[24]Retrospective views and reissues
In later years, UFO 1 has been recognized for capturing the raw energy of 1970s hard rock and psychedelic influences, earning a 3/5 star rating from AllMusic in a review highlighting its roots in the era's heavy blues and space rock experimentation.[5] A 2015 analysis by ZRockR Magazine described it as underrated, emphasizing its uneven but promising mix of 1960s garage influences and early hard rock potential, appealing to dedicated fans exploring UFO's pre-Schenker phase.[25] The album holds a foundational place in UFO's discography, serving as the blueprint for their evolution from space rock to heavy metal and influencing the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) movement, with bands like Iron Maiden drawing inspiration from UFO's aggressive riffs and stage presence.[26] It maintains cult status among rock collectors, valued for its lo-fi production and historical significance in British hard rock history, often sought after in original Beacon or Decca pressings.[27] Key reissues have helped preserve and expand access to the album. A 1978 Decca edition in Germany offered an expanded vinyl pressing with improved mastering for international audiences.[28] In 2004, Castle Music released it as part of the "Flying: The Early Years 1970–1973" box set, a two-CD compilation including bonus tracks from UFO's debut, Flying, and Live albums, aimed at completists.[29] Digital remasters in the 2010s, such as the 2012 version, enhanced audio quality and introduced the material to streaming platforms.[30] While UFO 1 has not seen major chart resurgence in later decades, it experienced a streaming revival post-2010, accumulating approximately 8.9 million streams on Spotify as of November 2025 for the 2012 remastered edition, reflecting renewed interest among younger listeners via digital platforms.[31]Album credits
Track listing
All tracks are divided between Side A and Side B as on the original 1970 UK vinyl release by Beacon Records. The total runtime is 39:06. There were no significant differences in track order between the original UK and US releases.[4][5]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side A | |||
| 1. | "Unidentified Flying Object" | Mick Bolton, Phil Mogg, Pete Way, Andy Parker | 2:19 |
| 2. | "Boogie" (listed as "Boogie for George") | Mick Bolton, Phil Mogg, Pete Way, Andy Parker | 3:25 |
| 3. | "C'mon Everybody" | Eddie Cochran, Jerry Capehart | 3:12 |
| 4. | "Shake It About" | Mick Bolton, Phil Mogg, Pete Way, Andy Parker | 3:45 |
| 5. | "(Come Away) Melinda" | Fran Minkoff, Fred Hellerman | 5:38 |
| Side B | |||
| 6. | "Timothy" | Mick Bolton, Phil Mogg, Pete Way, Andy Parker (co-written with Guy Fletcher, Doug Flett) | 3:32 |
| 7. | "Follow You Home" | Pete Way | 2:10 |
| 8. | "Treacle People" | Mick Bolton | 3:24 |
| 9. | "Who Do You Love" | Ellas McDaniel | 4:45 |
| 10. | "Loving Cup" | Mick Bolton, Phil Mogg | 4:26 |