Strength (The Alarm album)
This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2011) |
Strength | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1985 | |||
Recorded | Marcus Studios, London, June and July 1985 | |||
Genre | Rock, new wave | |||
Length | 48:08 | |||
Label | IRS Records | |||
Producer | Mike Howlett | |||
The Alarm chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
Kerrang! | [2] |
Strength is the second studio album by The Alarm, released in 1985 on IRS Records. The single "Strength" was released before the album, reaching #40 on the UK singles chart.[citation needed] This was followed after the album release by "Spirit of '76", which reached #22 and saw the band on Top of the Pops and in various other TV appearances.[citation needed] "Knife Edge" was the final single from the album to be released, just failing to reach the top 40.[citation needed]
The album was initially released on vinyl LP, vinyl picture disc and cassette. As technology improved, a CD version was released.
An extended remastered version was released in 2000, with a revised track listing, B-sides and previously unreleased recordings, plus new and original artwork, photos, lyrics, sleeve notes by Mike Peters and interactive programming information to play the album in its original form.
Alt-Strength is a full set of demos that was released as a double-CD set on 12 November 2001.
Strength 1985-1986 is a remastered double-CD set featuring the original album, unreleased studio sessions, and 12" mixes issued in 2019.
Track listing[edit]
All songs written by Eddie Macdonald and Mike Peters, except "Strength", which was written by The Alarm.
- "Knife Edge" - 5:06
- "Strength" - 5:34
- "Dawn Chorus" - 5:24
- "Spirit of '76" - 7:05
- "Deeside" - 3:08
- "Father to Son" - 4:04
- "Only the Thunder" - 4:06
- "The Day the Ravens Left the Tower" - 4:45
- "Absolute Reality" - 3:24 (Not included on UK version of the album)
- "Walk Forever by My Side" - 3:32
Remastered release track listing[edit]
- "Strength" - 5:34
- "Knife Edge" - 5:09
- "Spirit of '76" - 7:04
- "Walk Forever by My Side" - 3:34
- "Father to Son" - 4:05
- "Deeside" - 3:10
- "Majority" - 3:22
- "One Step Closer to Home" (Electric Version) - 4:28
- "Caroline Isenberg" - 2:41
- "Dawn Chorus" - 5:25
- "Only the Thunder" - 4:42
- "The Day the Ravens Left the Tower" - 4:46
- "Absolute Reality" - 3:31
- "Where Were You When the Storm Broke?" (Live) - 3:30
- "Deeside" (Live) - 3:11
- "Sixty Eight Guns" (Live) - 6:59
- "Knocking on Heaven's Door" (Live) - 4:26
Credits[edit]
Recorded at Marcus Studios, London, June–July 1985.
Band members[edit]
- Mike Peters - vocals
- David Sharp - guitars
- Eddie MacDonald - bass
- Nigel Twist - drums
Additional musician[edit]
- Rupert Black - keyboards
Production[edit]
- Mike Howlett - producer, mixing
- Nigel Luby - engineer, mixing
Alt-Strength[edit]
Alt-Strength is a double CD that includes demos and warm-up covers from the Strength recording sessions.
Track listing[edit]
Disc 1[edit]
Nov. 29th-30th 1984 E-Zee Hire Demos
- "Knife Edge"
- "Absolute Reality"
- "Sons of Divorce"
- "One Step Closer to Home"
- "Rose Beyond the Wall"
- "Steeltown (Deeside)"
- "We Are Majority"
- "Black Side of Fortune"
- "The Day the Ravens Left the Tower"
April 4, 1985 Roundhouse, London Jam Session
- "Get It On" (T. Rex cover)
- "Summertime Blues" (Eddie Cochran cover)
- "Gimme All Your Lovin'" (ZZ Top cover)
- "Alarm Alarm" (Toilets/17 cover)
- "Radar Love" (Golden Earring cover)
- "Burn" (Deep Purple cover)
- "Black Night" (Deep Purple cover)
- "You Can't Always Get What You Want" (Rolling Stones cover)
- "Walk on the Wild Side" (Lou Reed cover)
- "Vicious" (Lou Reed cover)
- "All Right Now" (Free cover)
- "Communication Breakdown" (Led Zeppelin cover)
- "It's in the Charts"
- "Maggie May/Maggie's Farm/Stand Down Margaret" (Rod Stewart/Bob Dylan/The Beat cover)
April 4–10, 1985 Roundhouse Demos/Mixes
- "Dawn Chorus"
- "Knife Edge"
Disc 2[edit]
May 10, 1985: Birmingham Odeon Sound Check
- "Give Me Love (Strength)"
May 17, 1985 Pluto Studios Recording Sessions
- "In the Cold Light of Day"
June/July 1985: Main Recording Sessions, Marcus Studios
- "River Still to Cross"
June 27, 1985 Rough Mixes
- "Strength"
- "Spirit of '76"
- "Deeside"
- "For Tomorrow (Father to Son)"
- "Majority"
- "Absolute Reality"
- "One Step Closer to Home"
- "Only the Thunder"
- "Day the Ravens Left the Tower"
- "Walk Forever by My Side"
July 15, 1985 Marcus Studios Rough Mixes
- "Strength"
- "Spirit of '76"
References[edit]
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Alarm Strength review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
- ^ Johnson, Howard (1 November 1985). "The Alarm 'Strength'". Kerrang!. Vol. 106. London, UK: Morgan Grampian. p. 22.