UFO – MECHANIX 12" Vinyl LP Album

- French Release - Heavy Metal, Hard Rock

Album Front Cover Photo of UFO – Mechanix Visit: https://vinyl-records.nl/

UFO – Mechanix (1982, France) marks a bold evolution for the British hard rock veterans. With Paul Chapman on guitar and Neil Carter adding rich keyboards and harmonies, the band fused melodic hooks with driving metal riffs. Produced by Gary Lyons, the album features anthems like “We Belong to the Night” and a roaring cover of Eddie Cochran’s “Somethin’ Else.” Recorded across elite studios in the UK, Switzerland, and New York, Mechanix captures UFO’s mature, polished sound as they steered confidently into the 1980s rock era.

Table of Contents

UFO – Mechanix (1982): Rewiring British Hard Rock for a New Decade

When UFO released Mechanix in 1982, the British hard rock scene stood at a crossroads. The New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) was roaring through the clubs, redefining the sound that UFO themselves had helped inspire a decade earlier. Bands like Iron Maiden, Saxon, and Def Leppard were surging with youthful aggression, while the veterans of the 1970s were forced to adapt or fade into memory. For UFO, who had already lived through a dozen transformations, Mechanix was both a survival instinct and a statement of identity — a reaffirmation of their place in hard rock’s evolving machinery.

The Early 1980s: Hard Rock in Flux

The early 1980s were years of transformation. The rise of MTV and the digitization of sound recording were changing how rock bands presented themselves. While the punks of the late ’70s had shaken the establishment, by 1982, heavy rock had returned to the forefront — more technical, more polished, but still carrying the same raw energy. In the UK, Motörhead blurred the line between punk and metal; in the US, Van Halen had ignited a revolution in guitar showmanship. Amid these movements, UFO’s challenge was to remain relevant without losing the soulful grit that defined their earlier classics like Lights Out and Obsession.

Formation and Evolution of UFO

UFO’s story begins in 1968 London, when vocalist Phil Mogg, bassist Pete Way, guitarist Mick Bolton, and drummer Andy Parker formed a blues-influenced space-rock outfit. Their first two albums leaned toward psychedelic experimentation, but it was with the arrival of German guitar prodigy Michael Schenker in 1973 that UFO truly found their sound. The Schenker years yielded a series of now-iconic albums — Phenomenon (1974), Force It (1975), and Lights Out (1977) — blending melodic finesse with guitar-driven ferocity.

However, the constant touring, internal tensions, and Schenker’s mercurial temperament led to repeated departures. By the dawn of the 1980s, guitarist Paul Chapman had become the new lead guitarist, having filled in for Schenker before. This new lineup — Mogg, Way, Chapman, Neil Carter on keyboards and guitar, and Parker on drums — would steer UFO into the polished yet punchy territory that defined Mechanix.

Creating “Mechanix”: The Studio Process

Recorded across several studios — Mountain Studios in Switzerland, The Manor in Oxfordshire, and Maison Rouge and Scorpio Sound in London — Mechanix was produced by Gary Lyons, whose previous work with bands like Foreigner had honed his ability to capture both clarity and power. The album’s mix was completed at Media Sound Studios in New York and mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, ensuring a transatlantic finish worthy of its ambitions.

Lyons encouraged the band to experiment with tighter arrangements and melodic layering. The result was a record that balanced the grit of traditional hard rock with the slicker production values of the early ’80s. Songs like “The Writer” and “We Belong to the Night” showcased UFO’s ability to merge muscular riffs with radio-ready hooks, while “Let It Rain” hinted at the atmospheric depth that Carter’s keyboards brought to the table.

Sound and Musical Exploration

Mechanix isn’t a concept album, but it carries a thematic cohesion — a metallic pulse running through its songs, much like the era’s fascination with machines, progress, and cold efficiency. UFO translated that imagery into sound: tight, metallic guitar tones, rhythmic precision, and an almost mechanical groove. Yet, beneath the chrome surface lay the heart of a blues band still wrestling with emotion and human vulnerability.

The cover design by John Pasche (famed for designing The Rolling Stones’ “Tongue and Lips” logo) and illustration by David Juniper (of Led Zeppelin fame) added a visual language that tied the album to rock’s evolving aesthetic — sleek, industrial, and cinematic. Photographer Ross Halfin captured the band’s modernized image, trading the scruffy ‘70s look for something sharper, fitting the MTV generation.

Band Dynamics and Internal Friction

The sessions for Mechanix were productive but not without strain. Bassist Pete Way, whose thunderous playing had always been central to the UFO sound, was increasingly frustrated by management issues and creative disagreements. The recording process magnified these tensions, and not long after the album’s release, Way would depart the band to form Waysted. His departure marked the end of UFO’s classic era, leaving Mogg as the sole original member to carry the torch.

Reception and Controversies

Upon release, Mechanix received a mixed reception. Critics praised its craftsmanship but questioned its emotional authenticity. Some longtime fans missed the raw unpredictability of the Schenker years, while others welcomed the band’s modernized sound. The inclusion of the Eddie Cochran cover “Somethin’ Else” drew mild controversy — a rockabilly standard nestled among hard-rock anthems — but it also reflected UFO’s roots in classic rock ‘n’ roll energy.

Commercially, the album performed well enough to sustain the band’s international touring, particularly in France and Germany, where UFO retained a loyal following. However, the hard-rock world was shifting rapidly toward heavier, faster sounds — leaving bands like UFO straddling the line between heritage and adaptation.

Legacy and Artistic Value

In retrospect, Mechanix stands as one of UFO’s most transitional works — a bridge between the raw intensity of the 1970s and the polished professionalism of 1980s rock. It’s an album that captures both evolution and exhaustion, a group of veterans proving that even in an era obsessed with reinvention, they could still make the engines of hard rock roar.

Production & Recording Information:

Music Genre:

Heavy Metal / Hard Rock

UFO’s Mechanix blends the muscle of traditional hard rock with early-80s melodic metal precision. The band’s sound combined the heavy riffing and rhythm-drive of the late 1970s with the polished studio production and arena-ready anthems that defined the coming decade.

Label & Catalognr:

RCA Chrysalis – Cat#: CHR 1360

Media Format:

12" LP Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Weight: 230 g (Cover + Record)

Year & Country:

1982 – Made in France

Producers:
  • Gary Lyons – Producer
    British producer and engineer known for his refined mixing techniques and crisp sound design, Lyons guided UFO toward a sleeker production style that reflected the 1980s’ emerging studio aesthetic.
Sound & Recording Engineers:
  • Gary Lyons – Recording Engineer
  • Pete Thea – Recording Engineer
Recording Location:

Mountain Studios – Montreux, Switzerland
The Manor Studio – Oxfordshire, England
Scorpio Sound & Maison Rouge – London, England

Mixing Studio & Location:

Media Sound Studios – New York, USA

Mastering Engineer & Location:
  • George Marino – Mastering Engineer at Sterling Sound, New York
    George Marino was a legendary mastering engineer whose expertise shaped the sound of countless iconic albums. Born in 1947, he honed his craft at Capitol Records before joining Sterling Sound in 1973. His mastering work on albums by AC/DC, Metallica, and Guns N' Roses defined rock and metal's sonic power. His legacy endures through his meticulous audio craftsmanship. Learn more
Album Cover Design & Artwork:
  • John Pasche – Album Cover Design
    Pasche, best known for The Rolling Stones’ tongue-and-lips logo, delivered a design that mirrored the mechanical precision and metallic tone of the record.
  • David Juniper – Illustration
    Juniper, who had previously created artwork for Led Zeppelin, brought a surreal, industrial edge to the album’s visual theme.
Photography:
  • Ross Halfin – Back Cover Photography
    Ross Halfin is a British rock photographer renowned for capturing legendary bands like Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Led Zeppelin. Since the 1970s, his dynamic images have defined rock photography, appearing in album covers, magazines, and books. Halfin’s work offers an intimate glimpse into the raw energy of live performances and backstage moments. Discover more about his legacy on this page .

Band Members / Musicians:

Band Line-up:
  • Phil Mogg – Lead Vocals
    Founding member and the consistent voice of UFO since their inception in **1969** (co-founded in 1968 as The Boyfriends).Mogg’s distinctive, soulful vocal delivery defined the band’s sound across decades, from early space rock to arena-filling hard rock anthems.His lyrical style often blends realism with a sense of yearning, contributing to UFO classics like “Lights Out” and “Love to Love.”
  • Paul Chapman – Guitars
    Welsh guitarist who rejoined UFO full-time in 1978, replacing Michael Schenker (he had a brief earlier stint in 1974).Nicknamed “Tonka” for his durability, Chapman brought a heavier, more structured sound to albums such as No Place to Run and Mechanix.His fluid playing and songwriting helped sustain the band through their early 1980s resurgence.
  • Neil Carter – Keyboards, Guitar, Backing Vocals, Saxophone, Orchestral Arrangements
    Multi-instrumentalist and classically trained musician, Carter joined UFO in **1980 after performing with Wild Horses**.His contributions on The Wild, the Willing and the Innocent and Mechanix expanded UFO’s sound with layered keyboards, harmonized vocals, and strong melodic structures.After UFO, he became a longtime collaborator with Gary Moore, co-writing several of Moore’s hits, including the worldwide hit "**Empty Rooms**."
  • Pete Way – Bass

    Pete Way was a founding member and bassist of UFO, known for his thunderous tone and rock ‘n’ roll attitude that shaped the band’s identity.

    His driving basslines anchored classic albums like Phenomenon and Lights Out, influencing generations of hard rock and metal musicians.Beyond UFO, he formed Waysted and collaborated with Ozzy Osbourne and Fastway.Way’s rebellious energy and distinctive stage presence made him one of the most iconic bassists of British hard rock.

  • Andy Parker – Drums
    Co-founder and longtime drummer of UFO, Parker’s solid and powerful drumming has been a backbone of the band since their early days (joining the precursor band Hocus Pocus in 1969).His straightforward yet dynamic playing drove both their studio recordings and legendary live shows, particularly on Strangers in the Night, one of rock’s most celebrated live albums. Like Pete, Andy Parker has also played in the Waysted band

Complete Track-listing:

Tracklisting Side One:
  1. "The Writer" (4:12)
    Written by Paul Chapman, Phil Mogg, and Neil Carter. Opens the album with a sharp guitar riff and lyrical nods to creative struggle.
  2. "Somethin' Else" (3:21) Cover
    Cover of Eddie Cochran’s rock ’n’ roll classic, co-written by Sharon Sheeley. UFO injects it with their signature hard rock energy and attitude.
  3. "Back into My Life" (4:59)
    Written by Gary Lyons, Pete Way, and Phil Mogg. A melodic yet heavy track built around emotional tension and reflective lyrics.
  4. "You'll Get Love" (3:10)
    Written by Neil Carter, Paul Chapman, and Phil Mogg. A concise, up-tempo rocker showcasing Carter’s keyboard textures.
  5. "Doing It All for You" (5:02)
    Written by Pete Way, Paul Chapman, Neil Carter, and Phil Mogg. A longer, more layered track balancing hard-driving rhythm with melodic solos.
Video: UFO - The Writer
Tracklisting Side Two:
  1. "We Belong to the Night" (3:57) Single
    Written by Pete Way, Neil Carter, and Phil Mogg. Released as a single; one of UFO’s most enduring 1980s anthems blending melodic hooks with driving guitars.
  2. "Let It Rain" (4:01)
    Written by Pete Way, Neil Carter, and Phil Mogg. A dynamic mid-tempo number that contrasts introspective lyrics with a soaring chorus.
  3. "Terri" (3:53)
    Written by Paul Chapman and Phil Mogg. A melodic rocker with emotional undertones, balancing tenderness and grit.
  4. "Feel It" (4:07)
    Written by Pete Way and Phil Mogg. A groove-driven song that leans on Way’s bassline and Mogg’s distinctive vocal phrasing.
  5. "Dreaming" (3:57)
    Written by Neil Carter and Phil Mogg. A melodic closer with reflective tone, blending layered keyboards and clean guitar harmonies.
Video: UFO - We belong to the night
Album Front Cover Photo
Front cover of the 1982 UFO album Mechanix, showing a striking illustration of a metallic-blue hand gripping a guitar neck like a wrench. The bold mechanical imagery fuses human and machine, representing the album’s industrial hard rock aesthetic. Above the artwork, the red UFO logo cuts across the white background, while the silver word MECHANIX projects diagonally in block letters—symbolizing precision, power, and transformation.

The front cover of UFO – Mechanix features a stylized, high-contrast illustration dominated by a robotic blue hand grasping the neck of a guitar, which also doubles as a wrench. This surreal fusion of tool and instrument visually conveys the album’s title — the intersection of mechanical precision and rock craftsmanship.

The background is stark white, allowing the vivid cobalt blue and metallic silver to command attention. At the top, the band’s logo UFO appears in bold red letters, bisected by electric wave lines that suggest sound or energy. Diagonally across the center, the album title MECHANIX appears in gray, block-style letters with a subtle drop shadow, reinforcing the industrial motif.

The composition evokes strength and motion, mirroring the band’s transition into a more streamlined, powerful sound in the early 1980s. Every element — from the minimalist color palette to the graphic geometry — reflects UFO’s embrace of modern design and sonic evolution.

Album Back Cover Photo
Back cover of the 1982 UFO album Mechanix. The entire design is rendered in deep electric blue with a geometric grid pattern, overlaying a faint technical outline of a hand gripping a wrench-shaped guitar neck. Diagonal white text lists the tracks for Side One and Side Two, while the right side features detailed production credits and a monochrome concert photo of the band performing under bright stage lights. RCA and Chrysalis logos appear at the corners, giving the back a sleek, engineered aesthetic consistent with the album’s mechanical theme.

The back cover of UFO – Mechanix continues the mechanical and precision-engineering theme from the front. A vivid cobalt-blue background is covered in a fine geometric grid, echoing the look of a technical blueprint.

A ghostly line drawing of the same hand-and-wrench motif dominates the layout, subtly embedded into the grid design. Across the center, the song titles are printed diagonally in thin, white lettering, dividing the two LP sides with minimalist clarity.

On the right side, a black-and-white stage photograph captures UFO in full live performance energy — Phil Mogg at the mic, Paul Chapman and Neil Carter on guitars, and Andy Parker behind the drums. Beneath this image are the detailed production credits, studio listings, and RCA/Chrysalis identifiers, presented in neat block text that reinforces the album’s industrial yet elegant aesthetic.

Close up of Side One record’s label
Close-up of the Side One record label from UFO’s 1982 album Mechanix, pressed in France by RCA and Chrysalis. The label features a light-to-mid blue gradient background, with the white Chrysalis butterfly logo at the bottom, the RCA Distribution mark on the left, and track listings printed in crisp black text. The text includes titles such as 'The Writer,' 'Somethin’ Else,' and 'Back Into My Life,' along with catalog number CHR 1360, copyright © 1982 Chrysalis, and French SACEM rights identifiers, all encircled by a fine-print border typical of early 1980s Chrysalis pressings.

This close-up photograph captures the Side One record label of UFO – Mechanix, a French pressing distributed by RCA for Chrysalis Records in 1982. The label’s design features a clean blue-to-silver gradient with black sans-serif typography arranged in symmetrical order around the spindle hole.

At the top appears the album title “Mechanix” with detailed track information for Side One, including the opening song “The Writer” and a cover of Eddie Cochran’s “Somethin’ Else.” Beneath the list, production credit is given to Gary Lyons.

On the left, bold UFO DISTRIBUTION RCA text and the white Chrysalis butterfly logo reinforce brand identity. Around the outer rim, fine French copyright text reads “TOUS DROITS DU PRODUCTEUR DE L'ŒUVRE PHONOGRAPHIQUE DU PROPRIÉTAIRE DE L’ŒUVRE RÉSERVÉS.” The catalog number CHR 1360 and the SACEM logo authenticate this pressing as a genuine French issue.

Index of UFO Vinyl Album Discography and Album Cover Gallery

UFO - C'mon Everybody
UFO - C'mon Everybody  album front cover vinyl record

Telefunken Teldec 6.24 836 , 1981 , Germany

C'mon Everybody is a compilation album with early recordings by the British Hard Rock band: UFO. The title of this UFO album comes from a song , which was released on their 1979 album

C'mon Everybody 12" Vinyl LP
Updated UFO – Mechanix album front cover vinyl LP album https://vinyl-records.nl
UFO – Mechanix

Released in 1982, Mechanix marks UFO’s shift toward a more refined 1980s hard rock sound. Combining tight guitar work, strong melodies, and Phil Mogg’s powerful vocals, the album bridges classic heavy rock with a modern, high-energy edge. Tracks like “We Belong to the Night” highlight its confident, anthemic drive.

UFO - No Place To Run (USA and West-Germany Release)
UFO - No Place To Run (USA and West-Germany Release)  album front cover vinyl record

The album was generally well-received by critics, who praised the band's songwriting and musicianship. "No Place to Run" is considered one of UFO's most successful and critically acclaimed albums

No Place To Run (USA) No Place To Run (West-Germany)
UFO - Obsession
UFO - Obession album front cover vinyl record

- , - , -

This was the final UFO studio album to feature Michael Schenker on lead guitar until he returned to the band in 1993.

Obession 12" Vinyl LP
UFO with Michael Schenker - Phenomenon
UFO with Michael Schenker - Phenomenon .  album front cover vinyl record

Chrysalis CHR 1059 , 1974 , England

Phenomenon is the album by the British rock band UFO, released in May, 1974. Guitarist Michael Schenker joined UFO in June, 1973 arriving in the UK directly from his German band, Scorpions, and without speaking a word of English.

Phenomenon . 12" Vinyl LP
UFO - Space Metal
UFO - Space Metal album front cover vinyl record

Nova 6.28 363 , 1976 , Germany

"Space Metal" is double LP set combining tracks taken from UFO's first three albums UFO, Flying and their Japanese only release UFO Lands in Tokyo--Live. The titles of these are given on the sleeve as being UFO1, Flying and UFO Live.

Space Metal 12" Vinyl LP
UFO - Strangers in the Night
UFO - Strangers in the Night  album front cover vinyl record

  Chrysalis 300.268 , 1979 , Holland

"Strangers in the Night" is a live double album by UFO, which was released in 1979. It was recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, England and the Budokan in Tokyo, Japan during the band's 1977 and 1978 tours.

Strangers in the Night 12" Vinyl LP
UFO - The Wild The Willing and the Innocent
UFO - The Wild The Willing and the Innocent  album front cover vinyl record

Chrysalis CHE 1307 , 1981 , Canada

UFO's 1981 release, "The Wild, the Willing and the Innocent," stands as a rock classic, blending hard rock and melodic finesse. Led by Phil Mogg's vocals and Michael Schenker's guitar,

The Wild The Willing and the Innocent 12" Vinyl LP