Stray Dog (band)
Encyclopedia
Stray Dog were a blues
-based hard rock
band
of the early 1970s. They recorded two album
s before disbanding around 1975.
under the name of Aphrodite, from there they moved to Denver, Colorado, they became very popular with the audience's in Denver. At this stage they were introduced to Road Manager
a former Road Manager for Emerson, Lake & Palmer
.Neville Chesters
convinced the Band to go to London
where he, with a friend and also a former Tour Manager Lorenzio Mazzio, Introduced Snuffy Walden to Greg Lake
, who, subsequently signed them to the ELP's label
, Manticore Records
. At this stage Drummer was replaced by Drummer. Lake produced
three tracks on the 1973 debut self titled album, Stray Dog, with the band producing the remainder.
In March 1973, the British
music magazine, NME
, reported that Stray Dog were to support ELP on their world tour, which was due to commence in Germany
at the end of that month.
Stray Dog's follow-up, While You're Down There (1974), was co-produced by Austin Godsey and the band, which featured new members Tim Dulaine on second guitar and vocals, and keyboardist Luis Cabaza. The additions of Dulaine and Cabaza radically changed the band's sound from blues-based power trio to a more subdued and commercial AOR rock sound. Much of the material on While You're Down There was written and sung by Dulaine, with founder Walden's contributions being reduced. Only two tracks, "I Would" and the instrumental
"Worldwinds", retained a sound and stylistic approach reminiscent of their debut.
Sampson also played previously in another power trio, ROAD, with Noel Redding
, and American guitarist Rod Richards. They produced one self-titled 1972 album on the Rare Earth label. After the demise of Stray Dog, Walden went on to write and produce the theme songs for several popular American
television program
s.
Guest appearances
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
-based hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
of the early 1970s. They recorded two album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s before disbanding around 1975.
Career
They originally formed in TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
under the name of Aphrodite, from there they moved to Denver, Colorado, they became very popular with the audience's in Denver. At this stage they were introduced to Road Manager
Neville Chesters
Neville Chesters is a former rock music manager and road manager who has worked with The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Who, Cream, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Bee Gees, The Merseybeats, Stray Dog and numerous other bands.-Early Years:...
a former Road Manager for Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer, also known as ELP, are an English progressive rock supergroup. They found success in the 1970s and sold over forty million albums and headlined large stadium concerts. The band consists of Keith Emerson , Greg Lake and Carl Palmer...
.Neville Chesters
Neville Chesters
Neville Chesters is a former rock music manager and road manager who has worked with The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Who, Cream, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Bee Gees, The Merseybeats, Stray Dog and numerous other bands.-Early Years:...
convinced the Band to go to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where he, with a friend and also a former Tour Manager Lorenzio Mazzio, Introduced Snuffy Walden to Greg Lake
Greg Lake
Gregory Stuart "Greg" Lake is an English musician, songwriter and producer, best known as a vocalist and bassist of King Crimson, and the bassist, guitarist, vocalist, and lyricist of Emerson, Lake & Palmer.-1960s: King Crimson:...
, who, subsequently signed them to the ELP's label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Manticore Records
Manticore Records
Manticore Records was the record label launched by Emerson, Lake & Palmer's production company Manticore in 1973. The manticore is featured in the artwork for the album Tarkus by Emerson, Lake & Palmer, . Initially the label was jointly owned with Island Records, but that partnership was dissolved...
. At this stage Drummer was replaced by Drummer. Lake produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
three tracks on the 1973 debut self titled album, Stray Dog, with the band producing the remainder.
In March 1973, the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
music magazine, NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
, reported that Stray Dog were to support ELP on their world tour, which was due to commence in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
at the end of that month.
Stray Dog's follow-up, While You're Down There (1974), was co-produced by Austin Godsey and the band, which featured new members Tim Dulaine on second guitar and vocals, and keyboardist Luis Cabaza. The additions of Dulaine and Cabaza radically changed the band's sound from blues-based power trio to a more subdued and commercial AOR rock sound. Much of the material on While You're Down There was written and sung by Dulaine, with founder Walden's contributions being reduced. Only two tracks, "I Would" and the instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
"Worldwinds", retained a sound and stylistic approach reminiscent of their debut.
Sampson also played previously in another power trio, ROAD, with Noel Redding
Noel Redding
Noel Redding was an English rock and roll guitarist best known as the bassist for The Jimi Hendrix Experience.-Biography:...
, and American guitarist Rod Richards. They produced one self-titled 1972 album on the Rare Earth label. After the demise of Stray Dog, Walden went on to write and produce the theme songs for several popular American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
s.
Personnel
- W. G. Snuffy WaldenW. G. WaldenW. G. Snuffy Walden is a musician and composer for television shows. He has been awarded or nominated for numerous Emmy Awards and BMI Awards.- Early life :...
- guitar, lead vocals - Alan Roberts - bass, keyboards, vocals
- Les Sampson - drums, percussion
- Tim Dulaine - guitars, lead vocals
- Luis Cabaza - keyboards, vocalsd
- Randy Reader - drums, vocals
Guest appearances
- John "Rabbit" BundrickJohn BundrickJohn Douglas "Rabbit" Bundrick is an American rock keyboardist, pianist and organist. He is best known for his work with The Who and associations with others including Eric Burdon, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Roger Waters, Free and Crawler. Bundrick is noted as the principal musician for the cult...
- organ, piano - Mel CollinsMel CollinsMel Collins is a British saxophonist and flautist and session musician.He has worked in a wide variety of contexts ranging from R&B and blues rock to jazz, but is perhaps known for his work in progressive rock, as with King Crimson, Camel and the Alan Parsons Project.-Career:Collins has worked...
- flute
Discography
- Stray Dog (1973) Manticore 66671 - CD (2001) Zoom Club 59
- Fasten Your Seat Belts (1973)
- While You're Down There (1974) Manticore 5011 - CD (2001) Zoom Club 60