Stray - Move It / Stand Up & Be Counted / Houdini / Hearts Of Fire

Well-packaged foursome from eclectic 70s rockers

Stray‘s eight-album recording career, from 1970-76, concludes with these lavishly-appointed CDs, compiled in conjunction with founder member Del Bromham. Their first three LPs on the Transatlantic label were generally considered superior hard rock. While the concluding quartet venture into folk and even soul, as Stray sought the elusive sales formula, there’s much of interest�in the music and accompanying story recounted by RC contributor David Wells’ sleeve notes.

1974’s Move It is the mustbuy: expanded into a double disc with BBC live and session material. For Stand Up… they promoted guitarist Del Bromham to the lead vocal position, replacing the departed Steve Gadd. He grew into the role, but three LPs in 18 months in the mid-70s found a band swimming against the musical tide and being too diverse to weather it, � la Status Quo. The highlights of the three would make one classic heavy rock album, but fans will want them all.

While Stray remain a hardworking second-division outfit with occasional flashes, they have been done proud by this mid-price reissue series.

Castle | CMQDD 1468 / CMRCD 1469 /

Reviewed by Michael Heatley
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