Stray (album)
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

''Stray'' is the fourth album by Scottish group
Aztec Camera Aztec Camera were a Scottish pop/ new wave band founded by Roddy Frame, the group's singer, songwriter and only consistent member. Established in 1980, Aztec Camera released a total of six studio albums: '' High Land, Hard Rain'' (1983), ''Kn ...
, released in June 1990 on WEA in the UK and on
Sire Records Sire Records (formerly Sire Records Company) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group and distributed by Warner Records. History Beginnings The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gotteh ...
in the US. ''Stray'' was praised for its diversity of songs and styles, and for the assured nature of Roddy Frame's lyrics (which had been considered the weak-point of some of his earlier material). Its understated production was also received positively, particularly coming after the group's previous album ''
Love Love is a feeling of strong attraction and emotional attachment (psychology), attachment to a person, animal, or thing. It is expressed in many forms, encompassing a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most su ...
'', which sold well in the United Kingdom but had been criticised by some for being too sanitised and glossy. ''Stray'' peaked at No. 22 in the
UK Albums Chart The Official Albums Chart is the United Kingdom's industry-recognised national record chart for album, albums. Entries are ranked by sales and audio streaming. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the O ...
. The single "Good Morning Britain", a collaboration with Mick Jones, reached No. 19 in the UK Singles Chart. The album peaked at number 107 on the Australian
ARIA Charts The ARIA Charts are the main Australian record chart, music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA beca ...
. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.


Background

Aztec Camera released their third studio album ''
Love Love is a feeling of strong attraction and emotional attachment (psychology), attachment to a person, animal, or thing. It is expressed in many forms, encompassing a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most su ...
'' in 1987. It initially peaked at number 49 on the
UK Albums Chart The Official Albums Chart is the United Kingdom's industry-recognised national record chart for album, albums. Entries are ranked by sales and audio streaming. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the O ...
, but rose to number 10 after the success of its singles. "How Men Are", "
Somewhere in My Heart "Somewhere in My Heart" is a song by Scottish band Aztec Camera. It was released as the third single from their third studio album, ''Love'' (1987). The song was produced by Michael Jonzun and written by Roddy Frame. Released as a single in ...
" and "Working in a Goldmine" all reached the top 40 in the UK Singles Chart, with "Somewhere in My Heart" reaching the highest at number three. By 1990, the band's line-up consisted of frontman Roddy Frame, bassist Paul Powell, drummer Frank Tontoh and keyboardist Gary Sanctuary.Thompson 2000, p. 165


Release

To promote ''Stray'', the band embarked on a brief tour of the United States in late 1990, followed by an acoustic tour of the UK in mid-1991.


Reception

In a 2013 review of Aztec Camera reissues, '' Uncut'' called ''Stray'' "the most inventive and durable Aztec Camera LP. Diverse, yes, but it’s exhilarating to hear Frame switching-up from plaintive balladry ('Over My Head') to the BAD-influenced 'Good Morning Britain.'" ''
The Rolling Stone Album Guide ''The Rolling Stone Album Guide'', previously known as ''The Rolling Stone Record Guide'', is a book that contains professional music reviews written and edited by staff members from ''Rolling Stone'' magazine. Its first edition was published in 1 ...
'' called the album "leaner and more melodic" and praised the "fine jazz-inflected numbers." Author Dave Thompson wrote in his book ''Alternative Rock'' (2000) that "The Crying Scene" and "Notting Hill Blues" "alone repair the damage of ''Love'' big sheen over-production," going on to highlight "Good Morning Britain" for its charm.


Track listing

All tracks written by Roddy Frame. # "Stray" 5:34 # "The Crying Scene" 3:34 # "Get Outta London" 3:41 # "Over My Head" 5:53 # " Good Morning Britain" 4:02 # "How It Is" 4:00 # "The Gentle Kind" 5:32 # "Notting Hill Blues" 6:41 # "Song for a Friend" 2:27


Singles

*"The Crying Scene" (UK No. 70) *"Good Morning Britain" (UK No. 19)


Personnel

*Roddy Frame – guitars, vocals * Gary Sanctuary – keyboards *Paul Powell – bass guitar * Frank Tontoh – drums


References

Citations Sources * {{DEFAULTSORT:Stray (Album) Aztec Camera albums 1990 albums Sire Records albums