Strangeways: Complete Recordings Volume 1 (1985-1994)

We’ve all heard countless tales of what shoulda, coulda, woulda as far as musical acts go and Glasgow’s Strangeways were no different. In fact, with the music press of the time - this four disc set covers the years from 1985 to 1994 - proclaiming the band’s second album, Native Sons, from 1987, ‘the best AOR from the last 6 years’, surely worldwide acclaim was assured? Instead, this melodic rock monster couldn’t even muster real success in their homeland, never mind on the much coveted US stages and instead, Strangeways ended up as an almost ran that should have won the race outright.

The band were founded in 1985 by the Stewart brothers, Ian on guitar and Dave on bass, with Jim Drummond joining them on drums and singer Tony Liddell rounding the early line-up out. And what a line-up it was, Ian capable of tearing out emotive solos and killer riffs, while Drummond provided the sort of rock solid drum-base that bands a hundred times more renown than Strangeways would have been glancing enviously towards. With Liddell proving a more than capable vocal foil, the quartet took little time in releasing their self-titled debut, with the keyboard heavy but guitar driven album still standing up now as an incredible introduction to a band that should have been stealing fans right from under the noses of Foreigner. Instead, the supreme efforts of “The Kid Needs Love�, atmospheric “Cry Out� and uptempo Journey-like “Breakin’ Down The Barriers� went largely unnoticed outside of an enthusiastic press and hardcore following.

By the time the much lauded Native Sons appeared two years later, Strangeways had a new voice behind the mic, American Terry Brock having replaced Tony Liddell. Now, while Liddell was an undoubted talent, for my money Terry Brock is one of the prime-voices that AOR ever produced and undoubtedly the most underrated. Right from the opening “Dance With Somebody� it was clear that this now cross-Atlantic act, who had also added Dave Munch Moore on keyboards to their ranks, had unearthed a vocalist of power, precision and no little character. To say that Brock’s efforts here are sensational would be to underplay how impressive his vocals sound as he raises an already impressive set of songs into the stratosphere. How this didn’t catch on through the thoroughly tremendous “Where Do We Go From Here�, instant “Empty Streets� or the super-memorable “Stand Up And Shout�, is anyone’s guess, especially with Moore’s keyboards stirring this potent concoction yet further.

Walk Into The Fire followed in 1989, Brock once more proving what an astute appointment he’d been, but this slightly more mature set of songs also do a superb job of highlighting not just how accomplished the Stewart brothers were as a unit, but also the songwriting strength this band had at their disposal. Maybe slightly overshadowed by the album it followed, Walk… still produced the goods from start to finish, with the grown up surge of “Where Are They Now� being a superb introduction, while “Living In The Dangerzone� combines a classy mid-paced groove to yet another mind-residing chorus. Add in the more commercial slide of “Into The Night� and this album’s atmospheric title track, and finding fault is a challenge indeed. That not many people seemed willing to sit up and take notice was pretty unfathomable, with the style Strangeways were mastering being the absolute sound of the day. That they had a guitarist and a singer able to match if not best anyone you care mention who was operating in this arena, it really does leave you scratching your head as to why they did not become household names.

Five years would pass before Strangeways returned, the oddly named, And The Horse, finding Brock conspicuous by his absence, with the misguided decision taken to not replace the frontman proving a real sticking point for this album. Instead Dave Stewart decided to double up his guitar duties with also handling vocals, and it has to be said that as a singer he makes a fine guitarist. Straight away his weak voice sounds listless and out of place, and up against a backdrop of songs that never quite seem to know whether to play to the band’s strengths or head in a more sophisticated pop direction, in truth, if you didn’t know this was Strangeways, you’d never have guessed it. For me, it’s not until track five, “The Great Awakening�, which comes across as a hybrid of David Gilmour era Pink Floyd, Dire Straits and maybe a restrained INXS, that Dave sounds more relaxed and natural. A talking style sitting comfortably against this languid but focussed sound in a way that isn’t even loosely hinted at elsewhere. “Head On� coming across like lounge-lizard blues, “Over You� as aimless pop and “Mans Water� so stuck in the middle of the road that it brought out men at work signs so it could start digging up the tarmac.

It’s an odd end to a boxset that offers up 17 interesting live, edit and demo bonus tracks across its first three discs, but maybe not surprisingly, none on its fourth. That said, the first three albums here range from excellent to utterly outstanding, and as a completist, bringing And The Horse onboard with them is a welcome opportunity to marvel at how the mighty stumbled. The sweet spot here is the Terry Brock inspired Native Sons, but neither the self-titled debut or Walk On Fire fall all that far behind. If AOR, and especially the variety that emanated from UK shores, holds any sort of place in your heart and you don’t know who Strangeways are, then Complete Recordings Volume 1 (1985-1994) isn’t just recommended, it’s downright essential!

Track Listing
Disc One Strangeways (1985)

1. The Kid Needs Love 2. Hold Back Your Love 3. Close To The Edge 4. Heartbreak Zone 5. Cry Out
6. Power Play
7. Breakin’ Down The Barriers 8. Now It’s Gone 
9. More Than Promises 
10. Hold Tight 
Bonus Tracks 
11. All The Wrong Reasons (Demo) 
12. Hold On (Demo)
 13. Close To The Edge (Demo) 14. Breakin’ Down The Barriers (Demo) 
15. Streets On Fire (Demo)

Disc Two - Native Sons (1987)

1. Dance With Somebody 2. Only A Fool 3. So Far Away 4. Where Do We Go From Here 5. Goodnight LA 6. Empty Streets 7. Stand Up And Shout 8. Shake The Seven 9. Never Gonna Lose It 10. Face To Face Bonus Tracks 11. Stand Up And Shout / Breaking Down The Barriers (Live) 12. Dance With Somebody (Live) 13. Never Gonna Lose It (Live) 14. Only A Fool (Single Edit) 15. Goodnight LA (Single Edit) 16. Dance With Somebody (AOR Mix)

Disc Three: Walk Into The Fire (1989)

1. Where Are They Now 2. Danger In Your Eyes 3. Love Lies Dying 4. Every Time You Cry 5. Talk To Me 6. Living In The Danger Zone 7. Modern World 8. Into The Night 9. Walk In The Fire 10. After The Hurt Is Gone Bonus Tracks 11. Jackie’s Gone (Demo) 12. Big Tom (Demo) 13. Liberty (Demo) 14. The Last Chance (Demo) 15. So Far Away (Live) 16. Where Do We Go From Here (Live)

Disc Four: And The Horse (1994)

1. Precious Time 2. Mans Maker 3. Out Of The Blue 4. Through The Fire 5. The Great Awakening 6. Wonder How 7. Head On 8. Some Of Us Lie 9. Over You 10. On

Added: June 10th 2022
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Strangeways @Cherry Red
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Language: english

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