Obsession (UFO album)

Obsession is the seventh studio album by the British rock band UFO, released in 1978. This was the final studio album to feature Michael Schenker on lead guitar until he returned to the band in 1993. A single from the album, "Only You Can Rock Me" / "Cherry", was also released in 1978. So too was the band's first 3-track EP "Only You Can Rock Me", "Cherry" / "Rock Bottom", reaching No. 50 in the UK. The album was recorded at an abandoned post office in Los Angeles.

Obsession
Studio album by UFO
Released	21 June 1978
Recorded	1977–1978
Studio	C.P. McGregors, Western Avenue, Los Angeles and West 3rd Carrier Station, Beverley Hills, California with The Record Plant Mobile
Genre	Rock
Length	35:59
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Ron Nevison
UFO chronology
Lights Out (1977) Obsession (1978) Strangers in the Night (1979)
Singles from Obsession
"Only You Can Rock Me" Released: 1978 "Cherry" / "You Don't Fool Me" Released: 1978 (Canada only) "Born to Lose" Released: 1978

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	C–[2]

EMI's 2008 remastered edition includes 3 bonus live tracks, and also some writing credits are corrected.

Critical reception

Reviewing the LP in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981), Robert Christgau wrote: "I've admired their forward motion and facile riffs, so it's my duty to report that they've degenerated into the usual exhibitionism. Theme song: 'Lookin' Out for No. 1,' a turn of phrase that's becoming as much of a watchword in late '70s rock as 'get together' was in the late '60s."[2]

Track listing

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Only You Can Rock Me"	Pete Way, Michael Schenker, Phil Mogg	4:08
2.	"Pack It Up (And Go)"	Way, Schenker, Mogg	3:14
3.	"Arbory Hill"	Schenker	1:11
4.	"Ain't No Baby"	Mogg, Paul Raymond	3:58
5.	"Lookin' Out for No. 1"	Mogg, Raymond	4:34

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"Hot 'n' Ready"	Schenker, Mogg	3:16
7.	"Cherry"	Way, Mogg	3:34
8.	"You Don't Fool Me"	Raymond, Andy Parker, Mogg	3:23
9.	"Lookin' Out for No. 1" (reprise)	Schenker, Raymond	1:14
10.	"One More for the Rodeo"	Way, Mogg	3:45
11.	"Born to Lose"	Schenker, Mogg, Raymond	3:31

2008 EMI remastered CD reissue bonus tracks

No.	Title	Length
12.	"Hot 'n' Ready" (live In Columbus, Ohio, 17/10/78)	3:34
13.	"Pack It Up (And Go)" (live In Columbus, Ohio, 17/10/78)	3:38
14.	"Ain't No Baby" (live In Kenosha, Wisconsin, 14/10/78)	4:40

Personnel

UFO

• Phil Mogg - vocals
• Michael Schenker - lead guitar, recorder
• Paul Raymond - rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
• Pete Way - bass
• Andy Parker - drums, backing vocals

Production

• Ron Nevison - producer
• Mike Clink - assistant engineer
• Alan McMillan - conductor, string arrangements, string conductor
• Hipgnosis - cover art

Charts

Chart (1978)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[3]	89
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[4]	31
United Kingdom (Official Charts Company)[5]	26
United States (Billboard 200)[6]	41

References

1. Prato, Greg. "Obsession - UFO". Allmusic. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: U". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 17, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
3. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 316. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
4. "Swedishcharts.com – UFO – Obsession". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 31 2021.
5. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/19780716/7502/
6. https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1978-09-23