Continuing fulfilling the many requests of UFO‘s classic era albums in the best remastering / reissue versions, now we have here 1980’s “No Place To Run“, the eighth studio album by the British hard rock institution. It was the band’s first to feature Paul Chapman, who replaced Michael Schenker on lead guitar.
Accepted UFO wisdom says the band were at their peak with Schenker in the line-up. But although the records were very good, on the road the guitarist was notoriously erratic. After going AWOL in 1977 on the eve of a major US tour supporting Rush, and walking out for good in November 1978, the band recruited old buddy Paul Chapman, from very good rockers Lone Star.
Hugely talented and reliable, the Welshman was exactly what UFO needed and with him everything went to another level. After a year of touring, Chapman and the band were revitalized and ready to make ”No Place To Run” – which with Schenker or not, is one of UFO’s best LP’s.
Few know that “No Place To Run” has been remastered by Rock Candy Records : the version we feature here including 4 bonus tracks.
As usual, the cover of “No Place To Run” was photographed by Hipgnosis, showing the band at night beside a set of petrol pumps for no obvious reason, resplendent in turn-of-the-decade rock duds – ‘smart’ jackets, stretch jeans and white high-tops. The cover was available in a variety of sleeves, each with the shot tinted in a different colour.
As Chapman’s broody instrumental opener ‘Alpha Centauri’ gave way to the full-blooded rocker ‘Lettin’ Go’, it was immediately clear this was UFO at the height of their powers. It also marked a huge step up for them in the USA.
As Chapman recalls: “No Place To Run was the tour where everything changed around – we started headlining in America and it was one of the highest-charting albums the band had had over there. There was a real buzz around it. Lots of people today tell me it’s their favourite period of the band.”
“No Place To Run” was given a big budget with erstwhile Beatles producer George Martin hired by the band’s long-time label Chrysalis to produce a hit single – but trying to get UFO into that mindset was like nailing jelly to the ceiling. Far from his comfort zone with a hell- raising rock band, Martin’s best effort, the single ‘Young Blood’, just scraped into the UK Top 40 chart.
But the album rose above all this and today is at least as good as ‘Obsession’ – Schenker’s last studio effort with the band. Indeed, tracks such as ‘This Fire Burns Tonight’, ‘Gone In The Night’ or the title-track are strong enough to have been on ‘Lights Out’.
UFO – No Place To Run – Rock Candy remastered – inside
“At the time, I thought “No Place To Run” sounded a bit flat with George Martin’s mix” – remarked Chapman when this Rock Candy remastered version was released – “And I still do, kind of, but it’s nowhere near as flat as I first thought.”
Well, this RC remastering job is very good, vital and plenty of power clarity. A great album needed for more recognition: one of UFO’s best.
Highly Recommended
01 – Alpha Centauri
02 – Lettin’ Go
03 – Mystery Train
04 – This Fire Burns Tonight
05 – Gone In The Night
06 – Young Blood
07 – No Place To Run
08 – Take It Or Leave It
09 – Money, Money
10 – Anyday
BONUS TRACKS:
11 – Gone In The Night (Alternative studio version)
12 – Lettin’ Go (Live 16/11/80)
13 – Mystery Train (Live 16/11/80)
14 – No Place To Run (Live 15/11/80)
Phil Mogg – lead vocals
Paul Chapman – lead guitar
Paul Raymond – keyboards, guitar, backing vocals
Pete Way – bass guitar
Andy Parker – drums