Additional information
MAKING CONTACT/MISDEMEANOUR was originally released as two seperate LPs in 1983 and 1985. Personnel: Neil Carter (vocals, keyboards, bass guitar); Phil Mogg (vocals); Paul Raymond (guitar, keyboards); Paul Chapman (guitar, bass guitar); Jim Simpson , Andy Parker (drums). Audio Mixer: Jon Jacobs. Liner Note Author: Malcolm Dome. Recording information: Madison Rouge, London, England (08/1982-12/1982); Manor (08/1982-12/1982); Oxfordshire (08/1982-12/1982); Town House (08/1982-12/1982); White House (08/1982-12/1982); Wisseloord Studio, The Netherlands (08/1982-12/1982). Photographer: Mike Owen. This two-disc set includes 1983's Making Contact and 1985's Misdemeanor in one package. Neither title strayed too much from the proven UFO formula, incorporating both chunky hard rock and keyboard-driven ballads, even though the songwriting was fairly average when compared to past UFO albums. These releases also continued their dubious competition with Scorpions as the source for the world's worst album covers. Despite that, Making Contact is competent, with the underrated Paul Chapman adding guitar textures to pretty predictable stuff. By the time Misdemeanor was released, the band was completely overhauled, with only Phil Mogg remaining as the lone member from UFO's original lineup. However, the replacements weren't inspiring, evoking the look and sound of bad hair metal instead of the credible street rock image the band had specialized in up until that time. Nonetheless, these albums were the group's last releases with any merit until the classic lineup reformed in 1995 for Walk on Water. The best songs from both these albums can be found on The Best of the Rest, making this set pretty redundant for all but fanatics. ~ Brian Downing
