“When It’s Time to Rock” was a natural concert opener, being the hardest rocking number on Making Contact and at least partially recalling UFO’s glory days. But the track also reflected the tattered state of the band alongside their ability to rally at the clutch, at least in the studio (their tour for Making Contact was so disastrous that even the few remaining diehards were relieved when UFO announced their breakup shortly after). Both Paul Chapman and Phil Mogg were even more ripped out of their skulls than usual- the substances between the two varied, but the outcome did not- but both blazed away with startling clarity and purpose: Chapman brought a swaggering riff and kickass solo (not coincidentally, this was one of the only tracks on Making Contact he had a hand in writing), and Mogg’s singing had a specific rough-hewn charisma and wild spirit. Meanwhile, the long-suffering and ever-steady Andy Parker and Neil Carter held down the fort with charging drums and keyboards that, while admittedly a bit cheesy, felt natural to the closing minutes. “When It’s Time to Rock” was something of a last hurrah for UFO, as they would never sound quite like this ever again, even with all the different lineups and reunions.
