Search - UFO - Strangers in the Night: Worlds Greatest Albums DVD on DVD

The DVD you want is "The Story of UFO: Too Hot To Handle."

Mike | San Jose, CA | 12/29/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The draw on the "Strangers In The Night" DVD is the Don Kirshner's Rock Concert footage. Other than that, it's a bunch of guys you've never heard of and UFO bassist Pete Way sitting around going "Yep, Strangers In The Night was a GREAT album." It WAS, and it still IS, but you don't need this DVD to tell you that. You also won't find the comparison between Mogg-Schenker and Van Halen-Roth to be "news"...all of this stuff is irrelevant to the music. Get "Too Hot To Handle" and enjoy its MUCH hotter live footage and participation from Schenker and Mogg."

*****UFO fans: BUY THIS DVD, NOW!!!!!*****

Mike | 08/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't think that it's overstating the case in the slightest to suggest that the BONUS footage in this release is AWESOME! What makes this release a MUST OWN are the four vintage tracks of UFO recorded in their prime for a segment which I presume was originally broadcast on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert in the mid-70's.

- [Digression: Imagine SEEING footage of Eric Clapton performing his seminal version of Robert Johnson's Crossroads that was released on Cream's Wheels of Fire album and you'll have some idea of the stature of this UFO concert footage.] -

At long last we have a complete on DVD live concert performance of the undisputed UFO classic ROCK BOTTOM, not to mention DOCTOR DOCTOR & SPACE CHILD from their first album and the rare GIVE HER THE GUN which was only released as a single from the Phenomenon sessions.

Ignoring the first track, Boogie for George, except perhaps for a comparison with what the pre-Schenker UFO was like, tracks 2 through 5 are the meat & potatos. This is classic UFO material, when the group was comprised of Michael Schenker, Phil Mogg, Pete Way & Andy Parker in that brief period before the group's management started recommending additional sidemen in what turned out to be a succession of synthesizer/keyboard players in a move to shift UFO's harder blues rock sound, that emphasized Michael's guitar, into something more slickly commercial. [Note: Watch the apparently sync'd 6th track, Only You Can Rock Me, for an example of the expanded, keyboard saturated UFO.]

The DKRC segment is from a performance on a large brightly lit stage recorded in front of a packed auditorium in 1974 or early '75. The videotaped footage may appear slightly faded because of the bright lighting and perhaps a bit soft, but it's not bad at all considering the age of the source material and the lighting provides an excellent impression of the size of the hall and audience reaction to UFO's high-octane live performance.

Thankfully Kirshner's professional camera crew REALLY knew what they were doing: lots of footage of Schenker solos and amusing stage competitiveness between Schenker and bassist Pete Way, and Mogg's voice is dead-on throughout. I can't recall ever having seen a better shot stage performance!

Sound wise it's quite good, but don't expect the last word in digital high-fidelity recording from a video tape broadcast over 30 years ago. OTOH, I've only checked out the 2 channel Dolby; I'm not currently set up for surround, so no comparisons have been made with 5.1 Dolby or DTS settings.

Classic Rock Direct Critical Review DVDs have been hit & miss, but that doesn't mean that CRD releases should be dismissed out of hand; this is one of those rare exceptions where the supplemental material is FAR more worthwhile than the featured material. In fact, the documentary is pretty much a waste, but the BONUS footage is another animal entirely, well worth adding to every collection of great rock performances. Treat your ears and eyes to UFO in their prime!"

Leave out the interviews

Michael Bonagura | 10/13/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Its only worth buying for the DKRC clips.The interviews were just boring rambling."

Buy Showtime

Carl Linzner | Los Angeles | 02/28/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is a poor release for UFO. I don't think they knew this was even out. Pete Way is the only band member interviewed on the video and he was probably stoned! I get tired of these no name idiots on these vidoes giving their viewpoints! Who the hell are they? The short footage they have playing is not that good. Make sure you have "Too Hot to Handle" and "Showtime." Don't waste your money on this one."