Released November 24, 2017. Esoteric Recordings is proud to announce the release of a new 2 CD set anthologising all the recordings made by the legendary STRAY for Pye Records and its imprint Dawn Records between 1975 & 1976.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION • A 2 CD SET FEATURING EVERY TRACK RECORDED BY STRAY FOR PYE RECORDS BETWEEN 1975 & 1976 • STRAY REUNION CONCERT AT THE BORDERLINE, LONDON ON OCTOBER 20th 2017 • INCLUDES ILLUSTRATED BOOKLET WITH NEW ESSAY BY MALCOLM DOME • COVERAGE ON ALL SPECIALIST RADIO • REVIEWS IN “CLASSIC ROCK”, “UNCUT”, “MOJO”, “RECORD COLLECTOR” & “PROG” MAGAZINES & ALL ESPECIALIST PRESS • COVERAGE ON RELEVANT WEBSITES & FANZINES Esoteric Recordings is proud to announce the release of a new 2 CD set anthologising all the recordings made by the legendary STRAY for Pye Records and its imprint Dawn Records between 1975 & 1976. 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 Ritchie Cole. By August 1968 and whilst aged only 15 or 16 years old, Stray 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, and so in 1975 they signed to the Pye Records label. During sessions for their first album for the label, “Stand Up and Be Counted”, Steve Gadd departed the band. Second guitarist Pete Dyer joined Stray and Del Bromham, the band’s main song writer, now handled lead vocal duties. Over the next eighteen months Stray recorded two further excellent albums for Pye, “Houdini” and “Hearts of Fire”, toured the USA and supported the likes of Kiss and Rush on British tours. Apathy from their record label and the emergence of Punk led to Stray disbanding in 1977 but their influence would be felt by a new generation of musicians such as Iron Maiden. Covering every track from the albums “Stand Up and Be Counted”, “Houdini” and “Hearts of Fire”, this set also includes single tracks and two studio out-takes. “Fire & Glass” includes an illustrated booklet with a new essay by Malcolm Dome featuring an exclusive interview with Del Bromham.
Track List: DISC ONE: 1. STAND UP AND BE COUNTED 2. FOR THE PEOPLE 3. AS LONG AS YOU FEEL GOOD 4. WAITING FOR THE BIG BREAK 5. PRECIOUS LOVE 6. SMILE 7. MAYBE YOU DO 8. DOWN DOWN DOWN 9. WOOLIE 10. EVERYDAY (OF MY LIFE) 11. THE END TAKEN FROM THE ALBUM “STAND UP AND BE COUNTED 12. RECOVER B-SIDE OF SINGLE 13. FEEL LIKE I’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE 14. HOUDINI 15. WAIT ANOTHER DAY 16. FIRE AND GLASS 17. EVERYBODY’S SONG TAKEN FROM THE ALBUM “HOUDINI”
DISC TWO: 1. TAKE IT EASY 2. GIVE A LITTLE BIT 3. DIDN’T WE LOVE 4. GONNA HAVE A PARTY 5. PERCY THE PIMP TAKEN FROM THE ALBUM “HOUDINI” 6. TAKE IT EASY (SINGLE VERSION) A-SIDE OF SINGLE 7. PARAMOUNT RECORDED AT PYE STUDIOS, LONDON – DECEMBER 1975 8. BUYING TIME 9. KNOCKING AT YOUR DOOR 10. YOU WENT AWAY 11. I WANNA BE FREE 12. MISTER WIND 13. LIVE WIRE 14. TAKE A LIFE 15. LONELY ROAD 16. LADY 17. ONE NIGHT IN TEXAS TAKEN FROM THE ALBUM “HEARTS OF FIRE” 18. JOHNNY RECORDED AT PYE STUDIOS, LONDON DURING THE “HEARTS OF FIRE” SESSIONS