Phenomenon (UFO album)

Phenomenon is the third studio album by English hard rock band UFO, released in May 1974. It was the band's first album to feature lead guitarist Michael Schenker, who replaced Mick Bolton.

Phenomenon
Studio album by
UFO
ReleasedMay 1974[1]
Recorded1973–1974
StudioMorgan, London
Genre
Length39:28
LabelChrysalis
ProducerLeo Lyons
UFO chronology
Live
(1971)		 Phenomenon
(1974)		 Force It
(1975)
Singles from Phenomenon
  1. "Give Her the Gun"
    Released: 1973 (Ger.) [3]
  2. "Doctor Doctor"
    Released: 22 March 1974 [4]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
Tom HullB[6]

Production

Their third studio album, Phenomenon was UFO's debut with major label Chrysalis Records and their first to be released in the United States. With the arrival of ex-Scorpions lead guitarist Michael Schenker, Phenomenon saw UFO begin to leave their blues-based "space rock" sound behind and transition to a more straightforward hard rock sound.

"With the Scorpions, I had recorded [the title track of] Lonesome Crow, but 'Rock Bottom' was the continuation of that. I needed to have a song in which I could improvise and go on an adventure. The version that we recorded for Phenomenon had begun in rehearsals as a riff, and we kept adding more riffs to it. And then Phil [Mogg, singer] leapt up and said, 'This is how we'll make it into a song'… I still think of 'Rock Bottom' as a work in progress. When I play it live now, I use the most memorable parts of the solo, and keep a space to represent my latest frame of mind." – Michael Schenker[7]

The album was produced by Leo Lyons, bassist of British rock group Ten Years After. All tracks were recorded at Morgan Studios in London. The original cover design and photos were by Hipgnosis.

Influence

British heavy metal band Iron Maiden released a cover version of "Doctor Doctor" as the b-side of the "Lord of the Flies" single in 1995. They also included it in their Eddie's Archive boxed set collection of 2002.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Michael Schenker and Phil Mogg, except where noted

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Too Young to Know"Pete Way, Mogg3:10
2."Crystal Light" 3:47
3."Doctor Doctor" 4:10
4."Space Child" 4:01
5."Rock Bottom" 6:32
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Oh My"Schenker, Mogg, Way, Andy Parker2:28
7."Time on My Hands" 4:10
8."Built for Comfort"Willie Dixon3:01
9."Lipstick Traces" (instrumental) 2:20
10."Queen of the Deep" 5:49
2007 CD reissue bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Sixteen" (demo)Schenker, Mogg, Way, Parker3:48
12."Oh My" (demo)Schenker, Mogg, Way, Parker4:12
13."Give Her the Gun" (single A-side) 3:58
14."Sweet Little Thing" (B-side "Give Her the Gun")Mogg, Way3:51
15."Sixteen" (previously unreleased)Schenker, Mogg, Way, Parker3:55
16."Doctor Doctor" (live 6 June 1974) 4:24
2019 3-CD deluxe reissue bonus disc Disc 2
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Sixteen" (demo)Schenker, Mogg, Way, Parker3:48
2."Oh My" (demo)Schenker, Mogg, Way, Parker4:12
3."Give Her the Gun" (single A-side) 3:58
4."Sweet Little Thing" (B-side "Give Her the Gun")Mogg, Way3:51
5."Sixteen"Schenker, Mogg, Way, Parker3:55
6."Doctor Doctor" (single edit) 2:48
7."Rock Bottom" (single edit) 3:38
8."Doctor Doctor" (Mono single edit) 2:48
9."Oh My" (Instrumental Run-Through) 2:38
10."Sixteen" (Instrumental) 4:00
11."Doctor Doctor" (Take 2 Instrumental) 4:27
12."Rock Bottom" (Double-Tracked Vocal Take) 6:42
13."Time On My Hands" (Work In Progress Version; Alternate Lyrics, No Guitar Solo) 4:20
14."Built For Comfort" (Master W / Full Vocal) 3:12
15."Lipstick Application" (Lipstick Traces Backing Track) 2:19
16."D Minor G Minor" (Queen Of The Deep Master W/ Full Vocal & Full Ending) 6:11
2019 3-CD deluxe reissue Phenomenon Live Recorded Live at The Electric Ballroom Atlanta GA USA 5th November 1974 Disc 3
No.TitleLength
1."Oh My"3:39
2."Doctor Doctor"4:18
3."Built For Comfort"4:17
4."Give Her the Gun"5:19
5."Cold Turkey"8:33
6."Space Child"4:36
7."Rock Bottom"8:00
8."Prince Kujuku"7:08

Personnel

UFO

Additional personnel

Production

Charts
Chart (1974) Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[8] 76
US (Billboard 200)[9] 202
Chart (2019) Peak
position
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[10] 36

References
  1. Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. Canongate Press. p. 853. ISBN 9780862415419.
  2. Neil Daniels (18 November 2013). High Stakes & Dangerous Men: The UFO Story. Soundcheck Books. pp. 9–. ISBN 978-0-9571442-6-2.
  3. Hung, Steffen (1973). "UFO - Give Her The Gun". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  4. "UFO singles".
  5. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "UFO Phenomenon review". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  6. Hull, Tom (April 1975). "The Rekord Report: Second Card". Overdose. Retrieved 26 June 2020 – via tomhull.com.
  7. Ling, Dave (November 2016). "100 Greatest Guitar Solos". Classic Rock. No. 229. p. 39.
  8. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 316. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  9. "Obsession Billboard Albums". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  10. "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
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