Customer Reviews

High Stakes & Dangerous Men

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

No, it's not Schenker, but it's very close. Archer's style is slick, tight, and worthy to be a part of the great UFO legacy. He doesn't overplay like Atomic Tommy, and I actually like this album more than most of the Chapman era stuff. Phil and Pete are up to their usual best, and the chemistry seems sound. My favorite tracks are "Borderline", "Running Up The Highway", and "Don't Want To Lose You". There's a good mix of Hard Rock and Blues that will keep your volume knob cranked high. Don't be turned off because it's not Schenker, because it ain't bad. Not bad at all

After a decade of bad reviews, a declining of the fan base, and almost ten years away from the lime light, Phil Mogg recruited long time and once original member Pete Way (bass), Laurence Archer (guitar), and Clive Edwards (drums) to record another album. "HIGH STAKES & DANGEROUS MEN" was released in 1992 but it didn't have the impact Mogg wished for. Several years later, Mr. Mogg says that this album is his favourite one together with "LIGHTS OUT" and "THE WILD, THE WILLING AND THE INNOCENT". I don't think UFO fans in general agree with Mogg that "HIGH STAKES..." is one of the finer but it is not a bad album.

With songs like the melodic "Don't want to lose you", the bluesy "Borderline" (the album's highlight) and the classic sounding "Primed for time" among others, this album is rather enjoyable even if it's far from UFO's best work.

This is the album which most die-hards know was the return on of the Gibson Thunderbird thumping Welshman-Pete Way,which completed the essential UFO element of Mogg/Way the core of UFO,yes I think UFO sounds best w/Schenker ,but Chapman also served them well(this particular album w/ Lawrence Archer).I remember the joy of driving to Boston, this disc being one of my primary goals,getting it & calling a friend of mine,an equally big UFO fan upon returning in the middle of the night waking her up over certain tracks(she wasn't angry) -memorable !

As the title explains this recording is worthy of a space in your UFO collection in order to complete it and an occassional or frequent listen, but otherwise concentrate on other more necessary recordings. LIGHTS OUT IN TOKYO contains the best five tracks and they all both sound better and have more vibrant energy. The two killer tracks that did not make LIGHTS OUT and make this worth buying are PRIMED FOR TIME and LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL. The guitar player for this period is Lawrence Archer is very good and blew me away on the live record. PHIL should have kept him around or at least went back to him after and in between his one night recording stands with Schenker. It would at least have kept the feeling of a band there. This means for MOGG-WAY and SIGN OF FOUR also. If tis review applies to you, then purchase HIGH STAKES AND DANGEROUS MEN.

Okay this is not the best UFO album, but it still has it's moments:) UFO fans are to hard on their band:( I relistened to it after reading the reviews here. I almost gave it 5 stars because it has been dealt to hard of hand here!

I've said it before and I'll say it again. If you have not bought The Wild The Willing And The Innocent, or Lights Out do so now! You also may want to purchase Misdemeanor, or Mechanix prior to purchasing this one. However, this album is superior to both Misdemeanor, and Mechanix in that it is less 80ish sounding.

I was actually less disappointed with this UFO release than Misdemeanor (to 80ish) which I really hated at first (to 80ish). Misdemenor has really grown on me. I think this release also grows on a person after a time. Most UFO fans probably consider this hearasy; but, I actually like this album more than Phenomenon, or Obsession. However, this album lacks standout tracks such as Doctor Doctor off Phenomenon, or Looking Out for Number 1 on Obsession.

this was better than there last one which was an ep basically. This one doesn't have the stand out tracks that even their 83 very good one did. (making contact) It's ufo for sure though with mogg on the lead vocals and it's not bad melodic metal. It's not up to their 73-83 standards perhaps but it's still decent hard rock. However when I first heard it I was not as happy with it as the their next one which is great "walk on water' , this one isn't bogus though as the one star reviewers and particularily the guy who capitalized every letter said it was. Ok, it's not great, it's just average metal that doesn't stand out mostly. But it's sitll better than most thrash metal.

This is a great rock-n-roll album--period. If you can set aside your memories of Michael Schenker and just take the songs at face value, you'll hear a collection of really good guitar-oriented songs with vintage Phil Mogg vocals and songwriting. I've followed UFO since the late 70s and I didn't realize this album existed until a few months ago. Like I said, put your expectations on hold and listen to it enough that the songs become familiar. I think you'll like it, too.

After the truly awful "Misdemeanour" album and the equally below par "Ain't Misbehavin" it appeared that UFO were gone forever. Then when you think it's all over back comes Phil Mogg and his rock `n' roll roots to produce "High Stakes and Dangerous Men". This for me is a refreshing five star return to quality. Having split from the Chrysalis label, out goes the glitter hair and glam rock and back like a bad penny comes Pete Way. With a new line up featuring Laurence Archer (ex Stampede) on guitars and Clive Edwards (ex Wild Horses) this album is a successful if underrated rocker that recaptures their 70's and 80's formula.
Rule number one don't call it UFO unless Phil Mogg and Pete Way are in the line up. These two original members and the driving force and song writing combination that created the trademark identity which is back here in abundance. The opener "Borderline", "Primed for Time", "Running Up the Highway" and "Let the Good Times Roll" are perfect examples and there is not really a bad track on here. There is also that blues feel in "Back Door Man" with most of the tracks punctuated with slick lead guitar work. Edwards is solid on drums and Archer is excellent on guitar if sometimes a little over indulgent. His playing is very much in the Schenker mould and should please fans of the old classic line up.
It's a pity this '92 line up did not stay together for more than this solitary studio offering but the reunion of the classic line up and the "Walk on Water" album a little later more than makes up.

With this album, Pete Way returned to the lineup and UFO put together a solid, fun release. I honestly don't know what some of these reviewers are listening to or thinking. As far as UFO being a "metal" band - they AREN'T - they are a "classic hard rock" band. I can't even begin to understand the thought that the Misdemeanor album is better than this. I'm a huge fan but, in all honesty, that album is possibly the worst thing the band has ever done. Well, enough of the rant - on to the album.
This is a fairly typical UFO album with songs ranging from full out rock to bluesy mid tempo songs to more pop sounding material. Song highlights include: Borderline, She's The One, Burnin' Fire, Running Up The Highway, Revolution and Love Deadly Love. One thing of note is the use of background vocals. UFO has never used alot of background vocals, but they do here and it definitely adds to the songs.
As for the band, this was probably the best group Mogg/Way worked with outside of the original lineup(Schenker or Chapman). Laurence Archer can simply play. Personally I put him right there with Paul Chapman. His style is bluesy, but with enough crunch. I like him slightly better than Vinnie Moore, I think Archer's style is a little better suited to the songs and Atomik Tommy M is absolutely the worst of the guitarists UFO has had. Check out Lights Out - Live In Tokyo to hear Archer handle the classic songs. Drummers are generally an afterthought but Clive Edwards holds things down nicely.
All in all, if you are a UFO fan this deserves a spot in your collection. I, however, would suggest getting "One Of Those Nights - The Anthology" since it contains this album plus the "Live In Texas" recordings and eights songs from the "Live In Tokyo" album.

BEFORE I BEGIN, I NEED TO MENTION THAT I AM A HUGE UFO FAN - OK, WITH THAT SAID, I'LL TRY TO BE NICE ABOUT MY RATING OF THIS CD - SIMPLY PUT, THIS CD STINKS, AND HAVING THE LETTERS U.F.O. ON THE FRONT COVER MAKES ME EVEN SICKER - I HAVE FOLLOWED THIS GROUP FOR YEARS AND HAVE EVERY SINGLE ALBUM THEY EVER PUT OUT - EXCEPT THIS ONE WHICH I SOLD TO A CD TRADE STORE FOR TWO DOLLARS - I WON'T ALLOW A CD LIKE THIS TO BE IN MY COLLECTION - I WAS DISAPPOINTED WITH HOW BORING THIS WAS AND HOW EVERY SONG SOUNDED THE SAME - IT'S NOT UFO, AND DON'T LET ANYONE TRY TO TELL YOU THAT - I LOVE THE SCHENKER ERA UFO AND MUCH OF THE LATER STUFF, BUT THIS CD WAS A MISTAKE - I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE SCORPIONS, UFO AND MSG FANS WHO FEEL THE SAME WAY, SO IT'S NOT MY IMAGINATION RUNNING WILD - I LISTENED TO IT A FEW TIMES THINKING IT WOULD GROW ON ME, AND IT PUT ME TO SLEEP - I HIGHLY RECOMMEND AVOIDING THIS CD UNLESS YOU DON'T LIKE UFO - THEN THIS CD MIGHT BE WORTH MORE TO YOU.