(Where is Johnny Concheroovy when you need him?!)
Stray
All In Your Mind
The Transatlantic Years 1970-1974
(4CD Box Set)
A 4 CD CLAMSHELL BOXED SET FEATURING EVERY TRACK RECORDED BY STRAY FOR TRANSATLANTIC RECORDS BETWEEN 1970 & 1974
NEWLY REMASTERED
STRAY REUNION CONCERT AT THE BORDERLINE, LONDON ON OCTOBER 20th 2017
INCLUDES ILLUSTRATED BOOKLET WITH NEW ESSAY BY MALCOLM DOME
Esoteric Recordings label is proud to announce the release of a re-mastered 4CD clamshell boxed set anthologising all the recordings made by the legendary STRAY for Transatlantic Records between 1970 & 1974. Formed in 1966 by West London musicians Del Bromham (lead guitar, vocals), Steve Gadd (vocals), Gary Giles (bass) & Steve Crutchley (drums). Crutchley soon departed the band and was replaced by Richie Cole.
By August 1968 and whilst aged only 15 or 16 years old, they had begun to make a name for themselves on the Underground music scene in London, performing at legendary venues such as The Roundhouse and Middle Earth. The band’s hard-edged progressive rock earned a loyal following, which resulted in the band signing to Transatlantic Records in January 1970. Over the next four years the band would record five remarkable albums and would tour with some legendary names in rock such as Black Sabbath, The Groundhogs, Status Quo and Ten Years After. One of the hardest working bands in Britain, Stray failed to make the commercial impact they deserved, but their influence was felt by a new generation of musicians, perhaps best illustrated by the fact that Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris declared himself to be a fan (leading to Iron Maiden recording a version of the Stray classic ‘All in Your Mind’ as the B-side to their ‘Holy Smoke’ single).
Covering every track from the albums “Stray”, “Suicide”, “Saturday Morning Pictures”, “Mudanzas” and “Move It”, this set also features a thirteen track CD which gathers together studio out-takes, demos and rare singles (including four songs recorded for Pye Records in 1968 at an audition session for producer John Schroeder). Newly re-mastered, “All in Your Mind” includes an illustrated booklet with a new essay by Malcolm Dome.
Here’s Mardl and the boys at Skegness – seaside rock, 2017:
If the ubiquity of these boys on the mid-70s gig circuit was anything to go by, if you fork out for the boxed set they’ll probably turn up in person to play a set in your kitchen. Always good value live, Stray.
Now then Colin. When I was a lad back in May 1971, I went to see Stray playing at, of all places, Royal Belfast Academic Institution, or as Belfast residents would call it, Inst. How that happened, I have no idea. It seems very incongruous considering the conservative-with-a-small-c views of the adult population at the time. What I do know however is that the school asked for volunteer pupils families to provide accommodation for band members, and one of them stayed at my mate’s house. To my friend’s parents, he must have looked like a man from another planet
I remember thinking they were pretty good. But my diary record says I preferred the support who were Truth, definitely Jim Armstrong on guitar and I imagine Kenny McDowell on vocals and flute. This has been a Public Service Announcement
I had the first 3 albums on release and played them to death. Bought the 2cd anthology a few years back but this release is really appealing so shall fork out for it. Thanks for the alert.
What a spectacular package (as it were: still thinking about Tom of Finland). They really were ubiquitous back in the day. Nice there is so much love for them still.
But what I still await is the Supercharge Virgin years; “local lads”, “horizontal refreshment”, plus plenty of live recordings and, is the Goddess approves, live footage from then. Sure the content is out there….