THE STRAND – The Strand [Rock Candy remaster]

Here’s another request; the Rock Candy Records ‘Remastered & Reloaded‘ first time on CD release of “The Strand”, the self-titled album of Los Angeles based five-piece THE STRAND.
Although the name may not be recognisable, some of the band members will be very familiar to fans of sophisticated melodic rock.

The Strand’s origins can be found in a group called Rural Still Life, the very same group that spawned hugely successful multi Grammy winning West Coast AOR stars Toto.
In common with Toto the band were also extremely talented players, some having backed Boz Scaggs both live and in the studio. Just like the session players that birthed Toto, they too hatched plans for their own group, quickly securing a deal with Island Records.

Signed personally by Island founder Chris Blackwell (and named by him), the band’s one and only album was produced, not unsurprisingly, by long time friend and colleague, Toto drummer Jeff Porcaro.

The results, as you might reasonably expect, are spectacular, boasting killer songs, jaw dropping musicianship and superb arrangements, all bathed in a stellar production.
Listen out too for vocalist Rick ‘Moon’ Calhoun, one of the greatest, yet largely overlooked, vocalists of the genre.

Unknown for many fans of the genre, “The Strand” is a really good piece of early ’80s US AOR, plenty of elaborated songs and strong musicianship.
Excellent reissue by Rock Candy for the first time on CD, a superb 24-bit remastering from original source tapes and a complete essay with the history of the band.
Highly Recommended

01 Rock It Tonight
02 Long Hot Summer
03 I Like It Like That
04 Just A Little More Time
05 Prisoners In Paradise
06 Stay Away From My Girl
07 Frustration
08 Children Of The Night
09 Dirty Little Girl
10 Can’t Look Back

Lead Vocals – Rick “Moon” Calhoun
Guitars, Vocals – Scott Shelly
Keyboards, Vocals – Peter Reilich
Bass, Vocals – Dean Cortez
Drums – Kelly Shanahan
with;
Percussion – Lenny Castro
Saxophone – Jim Horn
Synthesizer – Michael Boddicker

BUY IT !
www.amazon.com/Strand/dp/B005DC6HY8
.