Strange Men, Changed Men: The Complete Recordings 1978-1981

I am so pleased and quite surprised that this has been released thirty seven years after the group folded, not least because `Dreamland` has not been available on CD before. I adored Bram Tchaikovsky when I was in my mid teens and here, in one neat package, is everything you could want from them, nicely presented with some interesting notes in a booklet by Alan Robinson.So, what's the music like? I can't agree with the other reviewer who labels BT as `punk`: this is breezy, freewheeling power pop and the group's selection to support The Cars on two American tours reflects that style of edgy, slightly spiky tuneful knockabout pop that flourished here and in the States from about 1978-1981. Remember `My Sharona` by The Knack? Could have been a Bram song (and I bet he wishes that it was..)The first album, `Strange Man, Changed Man` is undoubtedly the group's highpoint. Eleven songs, here compiled with seven extra variants and B-sides, is the perfect presentation of a group who were good and who knew it. The songs have a tuneful, exuberant swagger and the faster tracks (I'm a Believer, Turn on the Light) are complemented very well by the slower songs (Bloodline, Lonely Dancer) to make a unified, complete and thoroughly enjoyable debut LP. One of the seven extra songs, tucked in like a slim paperback in order to fill up a long shelf, is BT's take on `Lullaby of Broadway`, a 1930's song that won an Oscar in 1936. It's a joy: Bram's reedy vocals are backed by powerful guitars that go up a key on each repeat of the chorus to create a deluge of energy that ends with a whirring of howl round and feedback. Under three and half minutes but a thousand teenage delights recaptured, finally on CD. The highpoint for me!`The Russians are Coming`, diplomatically called `Pressure` in the US as the Cold War was at its height so the record company might have anticipated a problem if promotional posters on billboards had shouted out the British title, was so named because Peter IlyichTchaikovsky was a Russian. That subtly inflected nuance has passed me by for 38 years and I'm glad to be enlightened now. On this CD, Bram and the boys are not quite so sure of their footing. Some songs, the best on the album, have a slower tempo and Beatley harmonies (Missfortune, Heartache, Can't Give You Reasons, Letter from the USA). Then `Mr President`, `New York Paranoia` and `Game with no Rules` try to be slightly too `rock` and stumble a little and feel overwrought. `Amelia`, a terrific b-side that deserved better, is included here and it's great to hear it again. It's one of Bram's best songs and it's a reflective, slightly mournful slow song that makes me feel like a lovelorn teenager again. Seven extra tracks on this CD too, the most curious of which is `Whiskey and Wine`: apparently recorded live, there seems to be no crowd noise whatsoever (were their audiences really once so small?). I never played this CD anything like as much as the first one. It's good to revisit it but it has dated rather unevenly.The group's final outing - perhaps it all ended too soon - was Dreamland in 1981. Here it is at last on CD, and I pounced on it first as it's the only one I haven't heard since the 1980's. It has its highlights: I like the cover of `Breaking Down the Walls of Heartache` and I still have a cassette somewhere, recorded off Radio 1, when Peter Powell featured the group and they played this single (on national radio! Good heavens!). I like the terrific fun of `Miracle Cure` which sounds like a Ray Davies lyric added to a Carl Perkins tune. I like the fresh, summery hedonism of `Shall we Dance?` and, from two bonus tracks, `Solid Ball of Rock` is the better one. There are some OK tunes elsewhere on this album but they are not very good tunes: `proper songs` without a doubt, but lacking a killer punch or a really strong and memorable hook. Did anyone ever need to write a songs called `Soul Surrender`? Pur-lease.. I am sorry to say that I remember feeling disappointed when I bought this in 1981 but I shall try and `get into it` now, for nostalgia if nothing else.When the band began, their first album said `We know exactly where we want to go`. The second album said `We think this might be the way to go` and the third album said `We think we're lost`. If the best of these 49 tracks were condensed onto a single 15-track `Best of..`, it would be very good indeed (if you need help, Bram, I'll do it for free). For now, enjoy this walk down memory lane. There are lots of nice views to enjoy and plenty of pleasant beauty spots but watch out for the few potholes in the shady bits.

excellent package - 3 cd's for 22 plus rare as rocking horse poo!my personnal favourite is the first CD. Timeless!

Now able to get all The Motors and Bram's back catalogue on CD. Saw their last concert at Reading.

bought this just on the strength of Girl of my Dreams, have played it once so far, most of the tracks are what you would expect from a late 70' pub rock/punk band, one notable track is I'm a Believer the old Monkees number.

All the Bram Tchaikovsky you could ever want on 3 cds. Loud and raucus and brilliant. Loved every track. The

Seems good value and only way to get some tracks on CD

Well worth it, for the Strange Man, Changed Man album alone.

Worthy of more stars than we're allowed to give. Brilliant! Will appeal to fans of The Motors (of course) and The Radio Stars. The former were precursors to punk, and if you like QUALITY punk, could not be dismissed by true punk crowds, not if they/we liked the latter, The Radio Stars,truly quality punk. Buy this well presented, very well produced box set. It's long overdue, and very gratefully received! Ps. I'm a punk from the olden days, and haven't changed! If I like Bram Tchaikovsky, so should you!