The Salentino Cuts

The Salentino Cuts is UFO's first album of cover versions, released by Cleopatra Records in the United States on 29 September 2017 on CD and in two limited vinyl pressings, one splatter and one white. It was played by the two founding members, singer Phil Mogg and drummer Andy Parker, with Paul Raymond on keyboards and guitar, who had joined in 1976, lead guitarist Vinnie Moore, a full member since 2003, and the American bassist Rob De Luca, who had arrived in 2012. Marquee/Avalon released the Japanese edition on 25 October 2017 with a bonus track, a 1972 live recording of "C'mon Everybody". The album is dedicated to the memory of the band's tour manager Tonio Neuhaus. The twelve songs are personal favourites of the band. The label singled out some unexpected choices, Mad Season's "River of Deceit", John Mellencamp's "Paper in Fire" and Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine", next to more traditional ones such as the Yardbirds' "Heartful of Soul" and ZZ Top's "Just Got Paid". Alongside them are the Doors' "Break On Through", Montrose's "Rock Candy", Robin Trower's "Too Rolling Stoned", Tom Petty's "Honey Bee", Hoyt Axton's "The Pusher", "Mississippi Queen" by Leslie West, Corky Laing, Felix Pappalardi and David Rea, and "It's My Life" by Roger Atkins and Carl D'Errico. Moore said he had a great time giving his own twist to songs he grew up with, and that he had played ZZ Top and Robin Trower songs countless times on stage over the years. According to the credits, the instruments were recorded at Big House Studios in Hannover, Germany, with Mirko Hofmann as engineer, Chris Tsangarides recorded the vocals and mixed the album at Ecology Room Studios in Kent, England, and Moore's guitars were cut at The Core in the United States; the band produced it. The album reached 32 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart. Its release fell during a North American tour with Saxon, booked from Newton, New Jersey, on 22 September to Indianapolis on 14 October.