Search - UFO :: Wild the Willing & The Innocent

My God, that TONE!!!

BMac | 06/03/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"OK, as a big UFO fan I had to spring for this, my 5th copy of WWI (Orig LP, Import LP, orig CD, Japan rem CD). I have to say, if all the latest remasters are this good I'll be about a hundred bucks poorer very soon, as I'll be tracking down the rest of them. From the opening notes of "Chains, Chains", it's obvious that this edition is special. The remastering is very well done- the clarity and separation of instruments is amazing. I could hear harmonies (both guitar and voice) that seemed new, even after hearing these songs literally hundreds of times before. Unlike many modern "remasters", this one isn't a contributor to the "loudness wars". I can actually crank it through headphones without a problem. Tried that with Whitesnake's new one and couldn't last a song before I had to EQ the midrange down more than 10db to make it sound right (and still sounded overdriven).



The songs speak for themselves- I definitely agree with those who think this album is under-rated. Mogg's voice and lyrical ideas were at a peak, and 20/20 hindsight proves Chapman was a more than capable replacement for MS. His tone on this record just KILLS! Carter's keys and horns are a great addition, IMO. Just a really great hard rock record beginning to end.



The 3 live bonus tracks are nice, but those first 8 tracks are a tough act to follow. Mogg's voice is a bit tired, but the recording mix does make for an interesting listen- Carter's guitar is in the left channel, his keyboard in the right and Chapman centered. Having seen this lineup on the Mechanix tour, I was often drawn to Carter as he "juggled" guitars, keyboards and horns all night. It was pretty cool to hear that again on these live tracks.



Bottom line- whether you're a UFO fan or just someone who likes melodic hard rock, this is without a doubt a worthwhile purchase. Oh, and these guys are touring the States this Fall- saw them last summer in Santa Cruz and they still rock!"

AWESOME!!

Richard C. Trocchia Jr. | NJ | 03/13/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"THE WILD,THE WILLING AND THE INNOCENT.

THEY SAY PHIL MOGG WAS IN HIS BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN STAGE AT THIS POINT IN UFO'S CAREER. THAT MIGHT BE RIGHT, BUT THIS SELF PRODUCED MASTERPIECE

WAS UFO'S SGT. PEPPERS & PHYSICAL GRAFFITI ALL IN ONE! THE LIGHT & SHADE, THE POWER & THE GLORY IN SUCH ROCKERS AS MAKIN' MOVES & CHAINS CHAINS PROVE THAT PAUL CHAPMAN IS NO SLOUCH! LONELY HEARTS IS A TASTEFUL ROCKER THAT UFO DELIVERS W/ ALL THE HOOKS YOU EXPECT FROM THIS SOLID ROCKBAND. LONG GONE LINKS W/ THE TITLE TRACK BY THE WAY OF A STRING SECTION WHICH GIVES AWAY TO A HAUNTING PIANO, THEN PAUL'S SOARING GUITAR.

ALL THROUGHOUT THE ALBUM IS THE CONSTANT DRIVING RYTHM SECTION OF

PETE WAY ( BASS) & ANDY PARKER (DRUMS). NEW COMER NEIL CARTER ARRIVES

IN TIME TO ADD COLOR & SAX TO THIS FLAWLESS EPIC. PROFESSION OF IS THE PERFECT CODA THAT SHOWS THIS BAND BELONGS W/ THE BIG BOYS OF ROCK.

THE REMASTERED EDITION BRIGHTENS UP THE SOUND & ADDS LIVE TRACKS FROM

THIS ALBUM'S TOUR. THIS CD WILL BE PLAYING FOR ALONG TIME IN YOUR CAR

OR MEDIA PLAYER."

Michael chapmans best with ufo

Daniel Fouts | fort worth tx usa | 12/30/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this is ufos best with michael chapman on guitar it really captures its time period in the early 80s nice synth touches emotional and moody masterpiece!standout tracks are long gone,its killing me,profession of violence every song tells a story of angst and despair and longing in a desensitized and sterile urban landscape that these individuals live in within the confines of this album very well written and performed by this band at the peak of their powers ! too bad this was overlooked at the time because it really holds up today and from what ive read on the internet and amazon its become a cult classic !highly recommended you must add this to your collection !"