Not for want of trying, the British melodic rock scene was - post NWOBHM - eclipsed by the great American AOR sound of the early eighties. With bands such as Boston, Foreigner, Journey and Survivor enjoying serious chart action across the great divide, a new wave of melodic British hard rock band tried to muscle in on the action and prove to our American cousins that we could do the job just as well. Enter Strangeways, a Scottish based quartet with an eagle eye on the big prize. Based in Glasgow, the band's ambition was as far reaching as their music, writing and demoing until they found a home with production / management company Bonaire, the people behind popular Canadian pomp rockers Saga. Paired with renowned producer Kevin Elson (Journey, Europe etc) the band cut this, their debut album, in Zurich, Switzerland and finished it in Pete Townshend's Eel Pie and The Kinks Konk studios, London. The results were impressive, attracting musical comparisons to early Def Leppard and receiving accolades from a variety of respected rock institutions. Sadly, however, all was not well within the band; a situation that erupted in vocalist Tony Liddle leaving at a crucial time. Indeed, the band failed to play any shows, resulting in their very existence balancing on a knife edge. Fortunately their management's belief led to the appointment of a new frontman, whilst 'Strangeways', originally issued in 1986, served as an excellent introduction to the band's abilities as superior AOR contenders.