Melodic Rock in the 80′s

Stranger were a very melodic and entertaining rock band. Most of the songs were written by the youthful and evolving songwriting talent of Graeme Murray and still stand they test of time. Stranger were often referred to (in the content of 80′s music journalism as it existed then) as an ‘American’ sounding band (whatever that meant I never understood! but also apparently with some similarities to Magnum (who I think were total bollocks) and other such British rock acts. A common comparison was a 1980′s band called FM. To this day I have no idea who the hell FM were or what they sounded like.

Stranger (UK) in 1987. Mean and moody - NOT

We never felt that we sounded like any of these bands in particular. Inevitably there was a wide range of influences from all over (the band biog at the time lists artists as diverse as U2, Cutting Crew, Iron Maiden, Madonna, Rush and ELP) but the band had their own unique sound and songs which we believed was timeless.

Listening back to the songs from the mid 80s we were like many young bands: guilty of over playing and being a bit musically naive. But to be fair, you couldn’t stop singing the songs after a few listens.

Catchy Songs

With a lot of catchy hook lines, simple but effective arrangements and ‘young’ lyrics there is no question that Stranger were a very good band. We managed to build a loyal following around rock circuit on the Central Scotland from Dumfries to Glasgow, Edinburgh and the famous Kelty Rock Club in Fife..

The inevtiable dodgy demo

Recording properly’ in the 80′s was expensive and the band, like many others, cobbled together enough cash to go into Cava Studios in Glasgow to record a three track demo. Cava Studios was the big name in Glasgow/Scotland at the time so we went in all excited (if a little unprepared).

Of course with the trend at the time leaning towards mid 80′s pop and post new romantic where big hair and fancy clothes were the rage and Stranger didn’t sound like the average 80s pop band.  So we won few favours in the trendy Studio that Cava thought they were. The complete tosser of an Engineer was too busy belittling us for ‘sounding like Genesis’ (shows you how much that idiot knew) and had no interest in helping us make our songs sound the best we could. He was more interested in getting us out of the studio and getting our cash.

So given our naivete and his complete disinterest in the music the demo sounds a more than a little lame. In hindsight it is also possible that we chose the wrong songs for the demo, which were not really the strongest or most representative of the band sound. Ces’t la Vie as young musicians.

The Demise (or waiting on the next rehearsal date?

One thing is for sure though: these songs DO stand the test of time. Yeah sure some of the arrangements are a little messy and the playing could have been better but virtually all of them could be played with piano/guitar and vocal and still stand up – the test of truly good songwriting. In fact some of them may well be recorded for…….the sake of posterity………fun………indulgence. Whatever.

But Stranger deserved more from it’s short life than the ignominious ending which it got when ……actually what did happen? No one knows for sure but apparently  we are all still waiting on the phone call to arrange the next rehearsal.

Gig Flyer for Shadows Bar, Glasgow

The band line up

Grant Murray – Vocals, Lead Guitar, big hair
Graeme Murray – Guitar, backing vocals
Brian Johnstone – Keyboards
Ian Hotchkiss – Bass Guitar
Stuart Brown – Drums