Walk On Water (nearly) 30 Years On

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Is it really nearly 30 years since this long-awaited “classic reunion” album was released? In hindsight it was already the beginning of the end (again), but what a glorious return to form from the “classic” line-up of Mogg, Schenker, Way, Raymond and Parker, two of whom have now sadly left us (Pete Way and Paul Raymond in 2020 and 2019 respectively). With the band as we know it as good as gone it seems appropriate to revisit it (the Last Orders Tour was supposed to be the swansong with Phil Mogg’s imminent retirement from the band, but this was postponed first by Covid, and then Phil had a heart attack). 

Where to start? The previous UFO Album was 1992’s High Stakes and Dangerous Men, a short-lived return featuring Laurence Archer (guitar) and Clive Edwards (drums) alongside Mogg and Way which spawned the album, couple of tours and a live CD. There was then silence, punctuated by rumours, and finally this album recorded in California and originally released exclusively in Japan on Zero records before a worldwide release in 1997. The release coincided with the early days of the Internet, and through the “UFO and Michael Schenker Website” I’d set up in January 1995 I was sent a Japanese copy soon after release by a Japanese fan, a wonderful act of kindness back in the days when getting CD exports was far from trivial.

The album saw the return of Michael Schenker, Paul Raymond and Andy Parker to join Mogg and Way, replicating the line-up of the classic Lights Out and Obsession albums from the late 70’s, as well, of course, as the seminal live album Strangers in The Night (one of my top 12 albums). Parker and Schenker going back even further in the bands back catalogue to include all the classic UFO albums of the 70’s, including the excellent Phenomenon.

From the opening chords of Self Made Man to the fading guitar solo at the end of Dreaming of Summer the whole album is a masterpiece which captures the glory days of the band in perfection, almost as if there hadn’t been the hiatus since the release of “Strangers” back in 1979. The old song-writing chemistry between Mogg and Schenker is front and centre, although it’s clear that this is not just the collaboration of that duo, but backed up by contributions from Parker, Way and Raymond to make the complete package. Paul Raymond in particular comes to the fore a lot more on these tracks than you feel he did on the 70s albums, and really stamps his authority on several of the songs.

There were two more albums with this line-up to follow several years later, Covenant and Sharks (with Aynsley Dunbar taking over from Andy Parker on drums, and Paul Raymond not involved on the latter) but these never lived up to the euphoric standard set by Walk on Water. To be fair the cracks in the band were already starting to show during the Walk on Water tours, and after wrangles over ownership of the band name, two Mogg/Way albums, and the infamous Manchester Apollo gig in November of 2000 there was no going back.

Honourable mention to the bonus tracks, modern reworkings of Doctor, Doctor and Lights Out. At the time many people didn’t see the point in re-doing these classics, but I’ve always thought that they were an excellent revisit to the 70’s hey-days.

The initial Japanese release came with a “message for the Japanese fans” as the final, each band member reading out a message they had written. Nice idea, but execution was a little cringeworthy!

Post Sharks, of course, Mogg brought Vinnie Moore on board as guitarist and 2004’s You are Here saw a phoenix rise of UFO to last until for the next couple of decades. It is a testament to the quality of Walk on Water though that Venus stayed a staple of the setlist right up until the final tour.

Line up:

Phil Μogg – Vocals
Michael Schenker – Guitar
Pete Way – Bass
Paul Raymond – Guitar, Keyboard
Andy Parker – Drums

Track Listing:

1. A Self Made Man
2. Venus
3. Pushed to the Limit
4. Stopped by a Bullet (of Love)
5. Darker Days
6. Running on Empty
7. Knock, Knock
8. Dreaming of Summer

Bonus Tracks:

Doctor, Doctor ’95
Lights Out ’95

Dave

Mathematician at the University of Warwick in the UK with research interests in equivariant bifurcation theory and applications, especially in modelling of insect locomotion. Teaching interests include online learning and innovative teaching methods. Also in a past life has been involved in summer school courses, and online material, for Gifted and Talented. He has been active on the Internet since 1995, initially though his UFO and Michael Schenker website, but now through a multitude of projects.

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