Phenomenon (2008 Expanded Version)

UFO | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 12, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Caroline
• ASIN: B000TNF7OC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,543 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Remastered Reissue. This Classic Album Comes With A Critique From A Key Rock Journalist & Includes Sleevenotes. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Phenomenon...indeed, September 18, 2003

By 

John Patrick Meehan (Kansas City, Missouri United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Phenomenon (Audio CD)

1977. Rainbow Music Hall in Denver.
Maybe 2500 people at the show. I was in the Air Force stationed at Lowery and I dragged a friend of mine to the show.
I had read about the album in Rolling Stone (back when it was actually relevant kids) and they raved about it, so I bought that vinyl.
The band came out at about 9:30pm and played for two hours.
Then came FOUR encores ending with the classic "Rock Bottom"
I can still close my eyes and hear the thundering ending of that song.
My friend talked about it for a week.
They tore it up.
It was the loudest concert I've ever been to, and I've seen them all.
A thousand concerts, and I have yet to see it's equal.
UFO.
What a great name for a band.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars UFO hit the Big Time., November 12, 2003

By 

Mons "Mons" (Norrpan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Phenomenon (Audio CD)

"Seventeen and nature's queen/You know what I mean?". It's not hard to see where Spinal Tap got some of their inspiration from. Especially since this song is actually called Rock Bottom. Although in my opinion, UFO were better than the genre so cruelly parodied by Tap. UFO had a lot of things going for them- a cool name, great-looking album sleeves, one of the finest heavy rock guitarists ever, plenty of street cred and an unbroken suite of 5 classic albums in the 70s. Phenomenon is the first. Doctor Doctor was - and remains - a resounding heavy metal hit, guaranteed to get heads banging and air guitars playing at any party. Other powerhouse numbers include live favourite Oh My, while Crystal Light and Space Child and Too Young To Know showed that UFO were a deft hand at slower numbers and ballads. This, remember, was the band's first record with wunderkind Michael Schenker, fresh out of the Scorpions and heading for the stars. Whichever way you look at it, Phenomenon was a gigantic leap forward for the group in every respect. UFO went from being a tired space-rock combo into a lean, mean metal machine virtually overnight. Spearheaded by Schenker's fiery guitar and Phil Mogg's nimble hard rock phrasing and assured songwriting, UFO were on a roll. The runaway best cut is Rock Bottom which, as well as boasting one of the best rock choruses this side of Tuesday, comes complete with a one of the defining rock guitar solos in rock.
After this album, UFO's career rocketed skyward, culminating in the pair of masterpieces of Lights Out and Obsessions. After that, of course, it was all downhill; the 80s happened and the sound of motions being gone through echoed loudly through the kingdom. But in 1974, they were hot to trot. You can hear it here. UFO beginners should try Lights Out and then this one. You know it makes sense.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Phenomenon is Phenomenal, February 15, 2008

By 

lonesome crow (ca,) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Phenomenon (2008 Expanded Version) (Audio CD)

It's too bad it took them this long to re release these classics with unreleased tracks, but better late than never. Finally the hard to find single of "Give her the Gun", and "sweet little thing" (the first single featuring Michael Schenker, and first release on Chrysalis) along with the song "Sixteen" ( a remake of their 1972 single "Galactic Love"). also including in this set are the demos of Oh My and Sixteen (featuring Bernie Mardsden on guitar) and a BBC recording of Doctor, Doctor (previously released on UFO BBC live , released in 2000, and now out of print. If you can a copy at a reasonable price do get it.) I was also impressed with rare photos which included a band shoot with Bernie , and some photos sessions as a five piece , with both Michael and his later replacment in the years to come Paul Chapman. This release (as well as the reissue of "Force It" and "No Heavy Petting") is a must buy For hardcore UFO fans, and for newcomers looking for something new to discover.