In their 47 year career UFO have carved out a reputation for being one of the most stage-hardened bands, and while their commercial peak was the late ’70s / early ’80s, their last three studio albums have all charted here in the UK, and they remain a substantial live draw with a loyal and dedicated fanbase.
Having slogged their way to commercial acceptance through the 70s, UFO released a series of brilliant hard rock singles including “Lights Out,” “Too Hot To Handle,” “Doctor Doctor,” “Only You Can Rock Me” and many more now ubiquitous radio staples. By the early 80s, the band line-up consisted of vocalist Phil Mogg, bassist Pete Way, and drummer Andy Parker alongside lead guitarist Paul Chapman and continued their hard-won success with albums like No Place To Run, The Wild, The Willing & The Innocent, and Mechanix.
Live Sightings is a 4CD box set featuring vintage live performances from the early ‘80s that finds Mogg & Co. blasting through highlights from that trio of albums, such as “No Place To Run,” “Lonely Heart,” and “We Belong To The Night,” and seamlessly blending them in with the group’s more well-known numbers. Each of the 4 CDs is resplendent in its own mini jacket with printed inner sleeve, with box set also featuring a lavish 12”x12” 16-page booklet packed with color photos and liner notes, as well as two carefully duplicated printings of vintage tour programs. There’s even a special bonus live LP from 1972 of the only known recordings of guitarist Larry Wallis of Pink Fairies and Motörhead fame.
Live Sightings is released on 5 February on Cleopatra Records.
