We jaunt two years into the future and across the Atlantic now, to Glasgow. Love and Money's second album, Strange Kind of Love (1988) was another Gary Katz production, and in addition to the three band members, featured Steely Dan's Jeff Porcaro, Rick Derringer and an uncredited performance by Donald Fagen (although he does get an acknowledgement).
A lot of money was spent on this record, and it shows. It's got a really sumptuous production, and the gatefold sleeve gives off that "prestige" artist appeal. Big things were anticipated. The songs are really good, the playing is fabulous and the singer's got a fantastic voice. The title track, "Strange Kind of Love", got a lot of airplay toward the end of 1988 but it wasn't really a hit. "Halleluia Man" was also on the radio a lot but again only troubled the lower depths of the charts. The songs did a bit better elsewhere but there was no breakout hit, which must have been disappointing to Phonogram. The album's done decently enough over time, though, with 250,000 sales (according to Wikipedia). The follow-ups did less well, and I confess I haven't heard them.
The latter part of 1988 was when I moved to Scotland after completing my degree in Newcastle. I can't hear these tracks without thinking of dark nights, bitterly cold mornings, and the terrible events of Lockerbie at the end of that year. I don't think I managed to get hold of the album until early 1989. My copy still sounds great and the sleeve is in pretty good condition with just a bit of scuffing on the corners. Recommended for fans of Deacon Blue, the Blue Nile etc.
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