Cherry Red Records [Release date: 19.09.25]

Strapps were a late 70s band with a wonderful straight ahead rock sound, and a raunchy (some said misogynistic) image. They formed in 1975 when former Episode 6 and Quatermass drummer Mick Underwood teamed up with Australian guitarist/vocalist Ross Stagg. With bassist Joe Reed and keyboard player Noel Scott on board, they recorded four albums before splitting.

This set collects all four studio albums together, the first two long since deleted on CD and the other two were originally released in Japan only. And an extra disc recorded Live At The Rainbow 1977, originally released a few years back by Angel Air.

The first two albums come squeezed onto one disc. From the outset there’s some fantastic music. The opening track to the eponymous debut, School Girl Funk, a good riff, but it’s the funk rhythm that stands out while remaining solid and heavy. A lovely bass line, some good keyboard/guitar interplay, so if you can see past the lyrics we’re off to a winner. There’s a hint of fusion to Dreaming, Rock Critic has a rock opera feel, with the guitar and keyboards taking a dual lead.

The second album Secret Damage kicks off with the superb Down To You, a building keyboard into and a catchy solid rocker too boot. Overall this album is an improvement, a little more polished and more intelligently constructed.

Onto the second disc and the 1978 3rd album Prisoner Of Your Love, by which time the band had pretty much decamped to Japan. The keyboards and guitar on opener Bound For Glory nod towards a beefed up Deep Purple. There’s a hint of country within the hard rock of the title track, and a horn section to boot. All Through The Night is a polished and more commercial sounding rock song, a track that should have made the band big in America.

1979’s Ball Of Fire, their 4th and last album, added rhythm guitar Ray McRiner to the ranks and another wonderful album. Solid uptempo hard rock, professional, but equally tracks like Evil nodded to the polished NWoBHM sounds of Dark Star or Chevy.

The previously released (but long out of print) Live At The Rainbow is the final disc, with a couple of studio bonuses to boot. Ever so slightly ropey in quality but shows how good the band were live. Beefed up versions of School Girl Funk and Down To You make it well worth the money. Blistering, chunky and solid – sorted.

The albums come in card sleeves inside a clamshell box, a booklet with some decent photos and full album details, but no sleevenotes to speak of. A minor quibble.

Strapps definitely got better with age, but sadly got relegated to the second vision largely on account of their image. Some great music, and a perfect opportunity to add the catalogue to your collection.

If only my good friend Mick Underwood had been around to see this release. ****

Review by Joe Geesin

Gig review: BENEFIT FOR MICK UNDERWOOD

Rest In Peace – MICK UNDERWOOD

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