U F O No Place To Run CD

The first studio recording after the departure of guitarist Michael Schenker, No Place to Run, with its midtempo guitar rock, bore much more of a resemblance to '70s rockers like Bad Company than the coming NWOBHM. Fellow Brits like Def Leppard were cultivating a similar but much more exciting brand of simple, angular hard rock built for the millions of AC/DC-loving Americans, while UFO seemed to be chasing their stylistic tail. Tracks like "This Fire Burns Tonight" call to mind Jackson Brown-styled adult rock. [The 2009 edition included bonus tracks.] ~ Vincent Jeffries

The first studio recording after the departure of guitarist Michael Schenker, No Place to Run set into motion UFO's critical and commercial decline. While only a slight adjustment to the band's successful hard rock formula, the midtempo guitar rock bore much more of a resemblance to fading '70s rockers like Bad Company than the coming NWOBHM. Fellow Brits like Def Leppard were cultivating a similar but much more exciting brand of simple, angular hard rock built for the millions of AC/DC-loving Americans, while UFO seemed to be chasing their stylistic tail. Louder and way more energetic, Def Leppard were poised to overtake the rock universe while UFO languished on No Place to Run. Tracks like "This Fire Burns Tonight" call to mind Jackson Brown-styled adult rock; meanwhile, any audience UFO might have built up over the harder-edged Schenker years was fleeing to acts like the Scorpions and Judas Priest, who were only getting heavier. To call No Place to Run a middle-of-the-road miscalculation would be generous. The disc had already aged badly when it was released and that hasn't changed in the decades since. ~ Vincent Jeffries

Digitally remastered and expanded edition of the UK hard rockers' 1980 album including four bonus tracks: 'Gone In The Night' (Alternative Studio Version) plus live versions of 'Lettn' Go', 'Mystery Train' and 'No Place To Run'. This was UFO's eighth studio album and the first featuring Paul Chapman on guitar as Michael Schenker's replacement. These changes signaled a fresh new sound (aided by none other than super-star producer George Martin) and consequently the album reached #11 in January of 1980. EMI. 2009.

Audio Remasterer: Peter Mew.

Liner Note Author: Malcolm Dome.

Personnel: Paul Chapman (guitar); Andy Parker (drums); Ludwig (percussion).

Audio Mixers: Geoff Emerick; UFO.

Record Collector (magazine) (p.105) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Joining mainstays Phil Mogg and Pete Way were guitarist Paul Chapman, pianist Paul Raymond and drummer Andy Parker. It was a very good album with some fiery guitar, bolstered by production from George Martin."