Beginnings

The best-known version of UFO included German guitar master Michael Schenker from the mid- to the late '70s, and issued such all-time rock/metal classics as Lights Out and Strangers in the Night. But there was indeed a UFO before Schenker signed on, and it's this era that the 2009 release Beginnings focuses on. Sporting a cover that looks straight out of the "Planet Hoth" sequence of The Empire Strikes Back, this double-disc set contains UFO's first three albums in their entirety — 1971's self-titled debut and Flying, as well as 1972's Live. If you're a fan of the band looking for high-energy rock à la the two aforementioned Schenker-era releases, you'll be a tad disappointed, as UFO started off as a part bluesy, part spacy rock band (especially such tracks as "Boogie for George," "Star Storm," and "Prince Kajuku"). And original guitarist Mick Bolton was more of a direct disciple of Cream and the Yardbirds with his playing than the shredding Schenker would be on later UFO albums. While most UFO fans would agree that it wasn't until Schenker arrived that the band truly gelled, UFO early on were certainly capable of whipping up some worthy (albeit derivative) rock & roll, as proven throughout Beginnings.