Strider — Exposed 1973 (UK, Hard, Blues Rock)

Strider — Exposed 1973 (UK, Hard, Blues Rock)

The debut album by this unfairly forgotten London hard rock band, formed in 1972. The band's sound was influenced by Humble Pie, Status Quo, and Deep Purple. Their debut album was released by Phillips Records in 1973. The recording featured Jennie Haan of Babe Ruth as backing vocals.Strider was a British hard rock band, signed to the tiny GM label (Warner, in the U.S.) owned by one Billy Gaffs, better known as the sometime manager of Rod Stewart and John Cougar, among others.

Their first LP, Exposed, was unveiled in 1973, bearing a striking – and intentional – resemblance to Humble Pie, thanks to keyboardist Ian Kewley’s howling, soulful vocals (not quite Steve Marriott, but pretty ballsy just the same), Gary Grainger’s blustery, rip-roaring guitar, and a rock-solid rhythm section, à la Free, in bassist Lee Hunter and drummer Jimmy Hawkins.

Unfortunately, despite being uniformly well-constructed and expertly played, with gusto and attitude, the rousing, in-concert favorite “Flying,” the bruising (if occasionally glam-sparkled) “Esther’s Place,” and a tough little bastard called “Straddle,” simply lacked that magical immediacy required of would-be-hits.

Ditto attempts to further incorporate the Pie’s R&B flavors (along with Kewley’s more prominent keys) like “Ain’t Got No Love” and “Higher and Higher” (watch out for the falsetto right out of The Darkness), featuring Jennie Haan, of Babe Ruth, on backing vocals.

And while “Woman Blue” revealed a mellower side of the band and the eight-minute “Get Ready” some unexpected versatility, Strider were seemingly doomed to obscurity – even though they toured extensively with Status Quo, Deep Purple and, yes, Humble Pie.

Following a lineup reshuffle, Strider released a second LP in ‘74 (the aptly named Misunderstood) and then went their separate ways, with Grainger later backing up Rod Stewart for several albums and tours.
by Eduardo Rivadavia
Tracks:

01. Flying - 0:00

02. Ain't Got No Love - 6:02

03. Woman Blue - 10:23

04. Higher And Higher - 16:07

05. Esther's Place - 20:04

06. Straddle - 26:36

07. Get Ready - 30:27


Personnel:

Gary Grainger - lead guitar
Ian Kewley – lead vocals, keyboards
Lee Hunter - bass
Jimmy Hawkins - drums, percussion
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Janita "Jennie" Haan - backing vocals
Jimmy Horowitz – producer

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