Stray
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1966-68) - Del Bormham (aka Derek Bromham) -- vocals, lead guitar, Mellotron, keyboards - Steve Crutchley -- drums, percussion - Steve Gadd - lead vocals, guitar, harmonica - percussion - Gary Giles -- bass
line up 2 (1968-75) - Del Bromham -- vocals, lead guitar, Mellotron, keyboards NEW - Richie Cole -- drums, percussion (replaced Steve Crutchley) - Steve Gadd - Steve vocals, guitar, harmonica, percussion - Gary Giles -- bass
line up 3 (1975-77) - Del Bromham -- vocals, lead guitar, Mellotron, keyboards - Richie Cole -- drums, percussion NEW - Peter Dyer -- vocals, guitar (replaced Steve Gadd) - Gary Giles -- bass
supporting musicians (1973) - P.P. Arnold -- backing vocals - Keith Bleasby -- congas - Mike Evans -- violin - Kay Gardner-- backing vocals - Barry St. John-- backing vocals - Lisa Strike-- backing vocals
line up 4 (1974-77) - Del Bromham -- vocals, lead guitar, Mellotron, keyboards - Richie Cole -- drums, percussion (replaced Steve Crutchley) - Peter Dyer -- vocals, guitar (replaced Steve Gadd) - Gary Giles -- bass
line up 5 (1977-83)
line- up xx (2010-2019) - Del Bromham -- vocals, lead guitar, Mellotron, keyboards - Peter Dyer -- vocals, guitar - Karl Randall -- drums, percussion - Stuart Uren -- bass
line up x (2019 - ) - Del Bromham -- vocals, lead guitar, Mellotron, keyboards - Peter Dyer -- vocals, guitar NEW - Colin Kemper -- bass (replaced Start Uren) - Karl Randall -- drums, percussion NEW - Simon Rinaldo -- keyboards
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- Basho - Big Stone - The Del Bromham Band - Del Bromham and the Devils - Del Bromham's Oasis - Javelin - The JD All-stars - Killer Bees - The Roadknights - The Soul Band
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Genre: rock Rating: 4 stars **** Title: Saturday Morning Pictures Company: Transatlantic Catalog: TRA
248 Country/State: London, England Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: gatefold sleeve Available: 1 Catalog ID: 1 Price: $75.00
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Stray's an
interesting, it little know UK band. First off you have to
Released in 1971,the band's third studio album "Saturday Morning Pictures" found them co-producing with Martin Birch (who also served as the sound engineer). So let me say this was one of the most enjoyable albums I've heard this year (late February 2021). There's nothing particularly original across these eight songs, but the band had a way of making conventional hard rock enjoyable and pushing it just a little bit out of the norm. Mind you, ignore the reviews that tag these guys as progressive rockers. There's not a single progressive note in these hard rock grooves. Maybe the Hipgnosis cover art looked progressive? Lead singer Steve Gadd was one of their main weapons. The guy had one of those gravelly, raspy voices where you were occasionally left to wonder whether he was going to make it through a song. Certainly the case on the single 'Our Song'. Contrast that with a song like 'Sister Mary' or the unexpected folk-rock closer 'Queen of the Sea' that demonstrated their ability to conjure up sweet and highly commercial melodies and harmony vocals. Against that backdrop the band's secret sauce was lead guitarist Del Bromham. The guy apparently never met a power chord he didn't like and that affection was on display across the whole album. He was simply awesome. I still smile every time 'How Could I Forget You?' makes my speaker cabinets buzz. It's one of those rare album's in my collection where there's not a single song that makes me antsy to get up and skip to the next track. Hard to give higher praise.
Note to any marketing managers reading this; the band launched the album with a Saturday morning concert at London's Rainbow Theatre.
"Saturday
Morning Pictures" track listing: 1.) Our Song (Steve Gadd - Richie Cole - Gary Giles - Del Bromham) - 5:59 rating: **** stars Hearing Steve Gadd's hoarse voice for the first time you were left to wonder if the man was going to make it through what seemed to be a pretty, but pedestrian ballad. Built on an amazing Del Bormham guitar riff, 'Our Song' unexpectedly exploded into a gruff Southern-rocker (yeah I know they were from London). The mix was also interesting given it opened with some right speaker acoustic guitar, Gadd's vocals kicking out of the left speaker before the tune spread across both channels. P.P. Arnold featured on backing vocals. The song was tapped as the lead-off single:
- 1972's 'Our Song' b/w 'Mamma's Coming Home' (Transatlantic catalog number BIG 141) 2.) After the Storm - 6:42 (Del Bromham) rating: **** stars After some standard storm sound effects, 'After the Storm' exploded into a surprisingly good Hendrix-styled rocker. Kudos to the Richie Cole and Gary Giles rhythm section for keeping check on Bromham's extensive soloing. 3.) Sister Mary (Del Bromham) - 4:15 rating: **** stars The combination of Bromham's crunching fuzz guitar and cheesy synthesizers were a great way to start a song. And having gotten ready for another terrific rocker, 'Sister Mary' surprised me by turning into an accomplished pop tune. Switching over to energetic strumming acoustic guitars and the band's unexpectedly sweet harmony vocals gave the song a top-40 pop sound. Another awesome performance. 4.) Move That Wigwam (Del Bromham) - 5:18 rating: **** stars Powered by Bromham's massive guitar sound, 'Move That Wigwam' sounded like an aural collision between Jimi Hendrix and a Southern rock band like 38 Special. As much as I liked the song and admired the band's condemnation of the genocide of native American Indians, there was just something odd about hearing a bunch of skinny white English guys singing a tune from an American Indian perspective.
(side
2) As clearly demonstrated on 'Leave It Out' these guys loved monster riffs. What made this track a little different was Mike Evans (of Badfinger fame) providing fiddle accompaniment. Initially a found it distracting, but the combination starts to really generate some energy and after a couple of spins I grew to like it. I have no idea who sponsored it; when it was recorded (mid '70s judging by the hairstyles and outfits), or what this video has to do with the song, but nevertheless found it fascinating: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9gdF5x0bOs 2.) How Could I Forget You? (Del Bromham) - 6:45 rating: **** stars Built on another crunching Bromham riff (the opening fuzz chords will make your speaker cabinets buzz), 'How Could I Forget You?" was the album's heaviest tune. In addition to treating Gadd's vocals, the band added a touch of lysergic influence into the hard rock mix. Interestingly while a lot of tunes in this vein sound like molten lead, Bromham and company managed to keep it catchy; almost commercial. Transatlantic released it as a promotional single in the US:
- 1971's 'How Could I Forget You?' b/w 'Sister Mary' (Mercury catalog number DJ 341) 3.) Mr. Hobo (Steve Gadd) - 2:37 rating: *** stars The lone Steve Gadd solo contribution, 'Mr. Hobo' was a bouncy blues number. Nice showcase for Gadd's voice as well as Bromham's acoustic slide guitar. 4.) Queen of the Sea (Del Bromham) - 6:00 rating: **** stars The closer 'Queen of the Sea' changed things up again with the band diving into a fantastic slice of folk-rock (echoes of Roger McGuinn and company).
For anyone with some time to spare, there's a nice Stray website at: http://www.straytheband.co.uk/
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admire
them for their longevity. With the exception of The Rolling Stones,
how many bands can you name that have been active since the original line-up
met in 1966 while attending a London secondary school (Christopher
Wren Secondary School). Initially guitarist
Del Bromham, drummer Steve Crutchley, singer Steve Gadd and bassist
Gary Giles, Stray has undergone plenty of
line-up changes over their recording career. The band took a six year
hiatus between 1977 and 1983. Still, with Bromham serving as the
mainstay Stray has consistently toured and recorded over that period.
In 2016 the original Stray line-up reunited for a 50th anniversary
concert. At the start of 2020 Stray hit the road opening for The
Groundhogs. There are bands with far larger catalogs (starting with
1970's "Stray", Discogs shows 16 non-compilation
albums), but certainly few stretched over a five decade recording career.
