Mystery Train (Live 1980)

The Zoo Crew is spinning a classic tonight, firing up the airwaves with Mystery Train (Live 1980) by UFO from their electrifying album Lights Out Chicago 1980 (Live). This track, a high-octane cover of the 1953 Junior Parker blues tune, was recorded during UFO’s blistering performance in Chicago, capturing the band at their peak. The Zoo Freaks are in for a treat with this one, as it showcases UFO’s ability to take a rhythm-and-blues standard and infuse it with their signature hard rock edge. According to a 2016 interview with vocalist Phil Mogg on Classic Rock Revisited, the band loved the raw energy of the song and saw it as a perfect fit for their live set, often using it to whip the crowd into a frenzy. Mogg recalled, “We’d hit that opening riff, and the place would just explode. Chicago was wild that night.”

Delving into the trivia, Mystery Train has a storied history before UFO got their hands on it. Originally written by Junior Parker and later popularized by Elvis Presley’s 1955 rockabilly version, the song’s haunting lyrics about a “mean old train” taking a loved one away resonated across genres. UFO’s 1980 rendition, as heard on the Bandcamp release, strips the song to its core and rebuilds it with searing guitars and Mogg’s gritty vocals. A fan post on the UFO Band Fans Facebook group from 2023 noted that the Chicago show was a pivotal moment, with the band playing to a sold-out crowd of 5,000, many of whom were hearing newer tracks from No Place to Run alongside classics like Doctor Doctor. The live recording, initially released in truncated form, was fully restored for the 2023 Lights Out Chicago 1980 album, much to the delight of fans who’d traded bootlegs for decades.

Another tidbit comes from a 2020 thread on the UFO Fan Club website, where a Chicago native shared a story about attending the 1980 concert as a teenager. They described the moment Mystery Train kicked in: “The stage lights went blue, and Pete Way was leaping around like a madman. It felt like the whole venue was shaking.” The song’s inclusion in the setlist was a nod to UFO’s blues-rock roots, a contrast to their heavier hits like Lights Out. On X, a fan posted in 2024, “Still get chills hearing that live Mystery Train. UFO made it their own.” The track’s enduring appeal lies in its raw, unpolished energy, a testament to UFO’s ability to bridge classic rock with the emerging New Wave of British Heavy Metal.

Now, let’s rewind to how UFO got started. Formed in London in 1968, UFO began as a quartet of Phil Mogg (vocals), Mick Bolton (guitar), Pete Way (bass), and Andy Parker (drums). Initially called Hocus Pocus, they renamed themselves UFO after a London club where they honed their craft. According to their bio on UFO’s official website, the band drew inspiration from 1960s rock and psychedelic sounds, earning the “space rock” label for their early albums like UFO 1 (1970). Their gritty performances in small venues built a cult following, and by 1973, the addition of 18-year-old guitarist Michael Schenker from Scorpions shifted their sound toward hard rock. This lineup, with keyboardist Paul Raymond joining in 1976, crafted classics like Lights Out (1977) and the iconic live album Strangers in the Night (1979). Despite lineup changes, including Schenker’s departure in 1978 and Paul Chapman stepping in for the 1980 Chicago show, UFO’s core identity—driven by Mogg’s distinctive voice and Way’s thunderous bass—remained intact.

UFO’s journey wasn’t without turbulence. Tensions, particularly between Mogg and Schenker, led to multiple breakups, with the band disbanding briefly in 1983, 1989, and finally in 2024 after Mogg’s retirement. Yet, their legacy endures, with over 20 million records sold and a ranking of No. 84 on VH1’s “100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.” Fans can stay connected through UFO’s official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. For deeper dives, the UFO Fan Club offers forums and rare photos, while the UFO Band Fans Facebook group buzzes with discussions and memorabilia swaps. Whether you’re a Zoo Freak or a lifelong UFO devotee, Mystery Train (Live 1980) is a ticket to rock history, and the Zoo Crew is proud to keep it spinning.