Track Listing

1. Hot 'N' Ready [*]
2. Cherry [*]
3. Let It Roll
4. Love to Love
5. Natural Thing
6. Out in the Street
7. Only You Can Rock Me
8. Mother Mary
9. This Kids
10. Doctor Doctor
11. I'm a Loser
12. Lights Out
13. Rock Bottom
14. Too Hot to Handle
15. Shoot Shoot

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16799 in Music
• Brand: EXP
• Released on: 1999-08-10
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Extra tracks, Live, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Customer Reviews

The beginning of the end. . .
On tour with Blue Oyster Cult at the time, UFO is captured brilliantly in $"Strangers in the Night" arguably one of the best hard rock live albums ever put to disk (compact or otherwise). The band is captured as they lock and jell their way through their set, alternately stomping on the accelerator and slowing thoughfully as the band works their superlative material for everything it is worth.

Now the album has been re-issued and remastered, with two new songs not present on the album's original release. These songs, "Hot 'n Ready" and "Cherry" now open the album, with some changes in the song order that, it is stated in the liner notes, more accurately depicts the set list of that era.

The frightening thing about this album is it's a snapshot of UFO at the height of their powers. Scary because despite the authority with which the band played live, and their apparently effortless ability to write catchy melodic rock tunes, the band lost Schenker just a few months after this was recorded. Neither Schenker, Mogg/Way, or Paul Raymond ever recaptured individually the power they held collectively for this all too short period in time.

Which brings up the next point. It has been said the Michael Schenker, who had fled UFO's camp before the master tapes were even parked in the studio, refused to cooperate with any re dubs for the live album. If this is true, then this album is truly the Rosetta Stone of live hard rock lead guitar. Schenker's playing, at once melodic, fierce, soaring, and explosive in it's intensity, is the best representation of everything artistically correct with hard rock of this period. His soloing during "Rock Bottom" seems at times to be spinning out of control, yet retains an articuable forward momentum that propels the listener to higher ground. Arguably the best lead guitarist of this rock genre, Schenker doesn't miss out when the tempo slows either. Listen to his lead break during "let It Roll" when he applies the brakes and displays great reverence for the slower material as well. Or listen to him stomp the accelerator with Pete Way and Andy Parker on "Lights Out". Fast or slow, there are only a handful of guitarists in Rock and Roll that bear comparison.

Phil Mogg (one of the most underappreciated vocalists in rock) does the band and himself proud. His vocals come across as understated yet heroic, and he definetly possess one of the better sets of pipes in rock. This album also includes more of Phil's banter between songs, and it's a kick trying to figure out what level of drunkeness he's at (or is he just being playful?). Pete Way and Andy Parker form a solid rhythm section and play ably, with the always steady Paul Raymond filling in on rhythm guitar and key boards.

All in all, a smart buy, wether you own the original "Strangers" or just want to check out a great rock band at their peak.

six stars if possible
the original strangers in the night is my all time favorite rock album. it is the sound track for my teenage years. not only does it bring back memories of those days of old but i've never stopped listening to it so it's still as fresh today as it was back then. to me ufo is the greatest live band ever.none of their studio recordings ever quite captured the essence of what they truly are. this recording does. i can't recall ever playing this for anyone that wasn't captivated by it. songs like "love to love", "rock bottom", "i'm a loser" , just have to be heard to be believed. there is not a bad note to be found here. now with the extra tracks and different order of the songs this perfect album just gains another dimension of greatnessi would suggest everyone in the world have a copy of this album...even rap and country fans, just so you know what you're missing!

The culmination of UFO's hard won success...
UFO typified the best elements of hard rock, but often came across as generic and derivative. To some extent that might have been true, but they were a prolific, hard working band, their songs were good, and they played them like they meant it. Strangers in the Night brings the best of it to the stage. A lengthy album, remastered and extended to include two additional songs, this CD reminds UFO fans why they were fans to begin with. It's a relentlessly energetic concert that surrounds the listener with the excitement of both the band and the audience. Clearly UFO played with such singular conviction because they had no other choice. As well as a great live performance, Strangers in the Night also serves as a fine "best of" CD. If you're just getting acquainted with UFO, there's no better album to start with.