Track Listing

1. Halleluiah Man
2. Shape Of Things To Come
3. Strange Kind Of Love
4. Axis Of Love
5. Jocelyn Square
6. Walk The Last Mile
7. Razorsedge
8. Inflammable
9. Up Escalator
10. Avalanche
11. Scapegoat

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #192973 in Music
• Released on: 2005-05-16
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Shimmering!
Strange Kind Of Love was one of my absolute favourite CDs of the late 80's and I still have the original CD release on Fontana. It's nice to see it get a well-deserved re-release, but it's a shame that some of the tracks from the album's singles were included too. More on that later.

Onto the album itself. There are just so many great tracks that's it's difficult to know where to start. The album is certainly helped by the discipline instilled by Gary Katz, who was also Steely Dan's producer. James Grant's voice has never sound sweeter than on this album and I think that has a lot to do with Katz's style.

"Halleluiah Man" kicks the whole thing off and is a superb, swaggering thing of beauty - this was the first single from the album way back in 1988 and it really deserved to be an almighty hit. As with the rest of the album, the lyrics are superb and would stand up on their own without music, which you can't say about too many songs: "I'm the back sheep while the shepherd sleeps, I'll do anything to bring the government down".

There were quite a few singles culled from this album, the aforementioned "Halleuiah Man", the title track, "Jocelyn Square" and "Up Escalator", which I think was one single too far.

These singles featured songs which were absolute corkers and for some reason were left of the album. Tracks such as "She Carved Her Name", "Set The Night On Fire" and "Saint Henry" would have set quite nicely along with "Inflammable" and "Avalanche", which are the two best tracks on the album for me. Both are sparkling tracks with Grant's usual clever lyrics.

I can't recommend this album enough. One of the best "lost classics" ever.

A Forgotten classic!
It pains me to say that this gem of an album housed some of the best peices of music from the late eighties that was barely heard by the masses.

True music fans heard the single 'Halleluiah Man' and then set about finding this album. Released in 1988 it was the follow up to 1986's 'All You Need Is..Love and Money' which spawned the much played singles 'River Of People' and 'The Candybar Express'.

This set was obviously more sophisticated, a top producer in Gary Katz was drafted in to bring a more produced sound rather than the raw edge of the debut.

The songs were more melodic and the lyrics more attuned to everyday people's experiences.
'The Shape Of Things To Come' is a beautiful ballad of the highest quality, heartfelt lyrics which depict the absolute helplessness of the heart when without the object of its desire.
'A Strange Kind Of Love', another single is a cracking dance track, not that my local DJ ever played it, he was far too scared that he'd clear the dancefloor, better to stick with the boring manufactured drivvle that was around!
'Axis Of Love' is a clever use of words to describe the turbulence surrounding the struggles of keeping a relationship. On to another single
'Jocelyn Square' where we get the best lyrics " I still think about you, but only really when it rains" In Scotland it rains a lot!
'Walk The Last Mile' is another slow, moody ballad where we find songwriter James Grant in absolute awe of someone, " In your light I crumble" "Your at the centre of everything I do, wherever I go, I'll walk the last mile with you" A modern day poet indeed!

I agree with the previous reviewer, this reissue should have included the rather great b-sides that are not so available now, especially 'Love Is A Million Miles Away' 'Wanderlust' and 'Set The Night On Fire'.

There was a 4th single released 'Up Escalator' which was aimed at the Christmas market, showcasing three brand new songs, the best of which was 'Soon'

This was the band's most successful album, selling over 250,000 copies if I remember correctly gaining it a silver disc. It deserves to be triple platinum, more people should be aware of this album, Buy it now in your thousands!!

Class
Over the last few years James Grant has proven himself as one of Scotland's leading singer/songwriters. Admittedly his best work can be found on the album's after this, most notably L&Ms 'Dogs In The Traffic' and his two solo records to date, however this record contains most of L&Ms best knows songs, minor hits like 'Jocelyn Square', 'Halleluiah Man' and the title track. Recommended.