NB Mixed Quality - some tracks demo quality only.

One for the die-hard fans only, who might wonder what kind of music I was doing in the 70s. This album features some reworked tracks and some original recordings from the late 70s.

On Friday 10th December 1976 I went, for the first time, into a recording studio in Leicester to record some demos of songs. The studio was in a suburb of Leicester, Glenfield, and built in the back of someone’s garage. I remember thinking I’d like to have my own studio eventually.

These were the 5 tracks I recorded:

The Interrogation,Brainwashed,Mr Clean,The Key, Burnt Out Life

Anyway its Friday 10th of December again – but it’s 45 years later in 2021. Today I’m in my own studio in my garage and I’m releasing 10 tracks from that period (including the 5 from the 10.12.76 session).

4 of the tracks are totally re-recorded, 6 are original recordings.

One track, 'Mr Clean' is good enough quality from the original recordings to feature on this mini album. Three others had fairly muffled vocals and didn't really do justice to the songs so they've been reworked: 'The Interrogation', 'The Key' and 'Burnt Out Life'.

I had a version of 'Brainwashed' recorded in 1979 - not that much later and I've included that to complete the 5 tracks from the 10.12.76 session.

4 other tracks are also from original recordings: 'Vintage Years', 'The Stakes are High' and 'Dreams' were recorded the following year in 1977. A previously unreleased track from 1979 is also included: 'Put Your Music Where Your Mouth Is'

One further track ;'Freedom' originally demo'd in 1977 is also reworked.

Anyway, I’m wondering what would have happened if I'd pursued the type of song writing I was attempting on the 10.12.76 session. It’d have been pretty unfashionable (for the late 70s) – I must say. I was, at the time influenced by groups like Wishbone Ash (and Be-Bop Deluxe) - and some people say there are some Camel influences.

I simplified my style from then on - mainly to be able to go into a studio and quickly record tracks to a high standard. It was also in keeping with the style that started to prevail i.e. 'pub rock' or 'new wave'. I started off , though, trying to do a more prog sound.

In those days it would have been a dream come true to have (like is widely available now) your own studio with unlimited tracks and different instruments (and drum machines) etc. In the 70s the cost of buying e.g. a TEAC 4 track reel to reel and mixer to set up a home studio would have been almost like a whole year's average salary for someone.

Why ‘Strategy Is’? I took a book and randomly selected the first two words I came across. Some of this material ended up being released under the names of 'Mad Dog' and 'Everyone Else' - but I thought I'd use the original first name for this 70s compilation.