Strange -

Terry Brooks & Strange were an American blues-psych/jam band from Orlando that released two albums as Strange on self-press Outer Galaxie between 1973 and 1976, followed by two albums apiece under their full name on Star People and Rock City between 1980 and 1984.

Members: Terry R. Brooks (guitar, vocals), Bob Griffin (bass), Don Hastle (drums), Donnie Capetta (bass, vocals), John Kotch (keyboards), Jim Chapman (drums)

Background

Strange formed in Orlando in 1973 after singer–guitarist Terry R. Brooks met percussionist Jim Kentoran through an Orlando job. Brooks completed the first lineup with rhythm guitarist Bob Griffin and bassist Chuck Smith.

Brooks was born Terry Robert Brooks on September 23, 1942, in Newark, Ohio. By the early sixties, Brooks played professionally as the only white musician in an all-Black blues band on the chitlin’ circuit. He also worked with The Phydalions, whose 1961 recording “A Thousand Miles From Nowhere” — recorded at a Mexican radio station with Wolfman Jack — later appeared on Outer Galaxie as “I Dreamt I Love You.” During the same year, Brooks recorded “Rock & Roll” at a Holiday Inn in Ohio. Brooks served in the Army during the mid-sixties and resumed professional guitar work after Vietnam.

By the early seventies, Brooks had pre-Strange material on tape, including “You Said You Loved Me” and “Don’t Ask Me Why.” His manager contacted RCA, but Brooks issued the first Strange album through his own Outer Galaxie label.

Translucent World

Strange released their debut album, Translucent World, in 1973 on Outer Galaxie Publishers.

Translucent World presents the original Strange lineup in a private-press guitar-band format, with Brooks on lead guitar and voice beside rhythm guitarist Bob Griffin, bassist Chuck Smith, and drummer Jim Kentoran. The album gives side-one space to the extended “Ruler of the Universe,” then returns to shorter vocal titles on side two.

“Jimi” hammers raw chords beneath one extended guitar break and a heated lead vocal. “Ruler of the Universe” unspools from an even gait into echo-churned effects and a long midsection solo. “The Kiss of a Butterfly” lingers through slower themes, two-voice phrases, and a late solo surge. “Hey Mr. Lonely Man” settles into soul-toned lament with acid-edged lead eruptions. “Lost” drifts through a meditative opening, organ and piano color, and an unsettled closing vocal.

A1. “Jimi” (4:31)
A2. “Ruler of the Universe” (11:05)

B1. “The Kiss of a Butterfly” (6:04)
B2. “Hey Mr. Lonely Man” (4:42)
B3. “Lost” (5:50)

Translucent World appeared in a blue-and-white sleeve with a speckled field and diagonal title type. The front cover places the Strange name at the lower right.

Raw Power

Strange released their second album, Raw Power, in 1976 on Outer Galaxie.

Raw Power contains six titles, with five Brooks originals and the Brooks–John Linde–Ted Lear co-write “Love Me.” Brooks leads the trio on guitar and voice with rhythm bassist Bob Griffin and guest drummer Don Haste. Donald L. Hall adds string effects. “Life Jam” fills the second side.

“Fields and Fields of People” advances at an easy gait, then releases slow guitar figures into a sharper finale. “Are You My Friend” opens on spaced effects, scrapes into strangled lead phrases, and locks vocals to the lead line. “To the Far Side of Time” spirals through effects and backward speech. “Raw Power” snaps the effects-laden passage into a shorter blast. “Love Me” bounces through group “Who-Na-Na” calls and quick lead runs. “Life Jam” expands from a spare opening into a march-patterned ride with stacked peaks.

A1. “Fields and Fields of People” (4:04)
A2. “Are You My Friend” (4:06)
A3. “To the Far Side of Time” (3:34)
A4. “Raw Power” (2:37)
A5. “Love Me” (3:10) – Brooks, Linde, Lear

B1. “Life Jam” (19:25)

Strange recorded Raw Power at Ultra-Sonic Recording Studios in New York, Baywood Studios in Sanford, and Outer Galaxie Studios in Orlando. Edmond Good, Jeff Kracke, Steve Goetz, and Tim Trott receive recording and remix credits. John Linde and Ted Lear produced “Love Me.”

Raw Power credits Edmond Good with art direction and design. Bruce Stockton Methot created the cover, which places a dark title band inside blue, green, white, and purple concentric fields.

Criteria Demo Album

Terry Brooks & Strange cut the Criteria Demo Album material in 1979 at Criteria Recording Studios in Miami.

The material belongs to the first Star People single period. Brooks leads the lineup on guitar and voice with keyboardist John Kotch, bassist Donnie Capetta, and drummer Jim Chapman. Bob Cara and Brian Leary appear on the Criteria-linked versions of “Bottom Line” and “I Promise You My Love.”

A. “Bottom Line” (4:10)
B. “Do You Believe” (3:02)

A. “Disco Queen” (3:46)
B. “I Promise You My Love” (3:41)

Terry Brooks produced the “Bottom Line” and “Do You Believe” single with engineer Don Gehman. Star People issued “Disco Queen” in 1979 with “I Promise You My Love” on the reverse.

To Earth With Love

Terry Brooks & Strange released To Earth With Love in 1980 on Star People Records.

To Earth With Love contains eight Brooks titles and adds John Kotch’s ARP and Moog parts to the guitar-band format. Brooks leads the core lineup with Kotch, bassist Donnie Capetta, and drummer Jim Chapman. Bob Cara and Brian Leary replace the rhythm section on “Bottom Line” and “I Promise You My Love.”

“Bottom Line” pounds through a thumping beat, space-toned keyboards, stinging guitar, and a rasped lead vocal. “Woman” rolls piano boogie into darker chord churn. “Mister Strange” drives boogie-piano motion through hard solo breaks. “It’s a Beautiful Day” slows around piano-led vocal lines and light orchestration, then lets the lead rise without breaking the pace. “I Promise You My Love” settles into piano-led ballad form. “Midnight Angel” holds the same piano-dominant setting. “You’re All I Need” stays inside the softer piano-vocal lane. “Down and Dirty Blues” rips through blues-based lead runs.

A1. “Bottom Line” (4:10)
A2. “Woman” (3:30)
A3. “Mister Strange” (3:09)
A4. “It’s a Beautiful Day” (7:52)

B1. “I Promise You My Love” (3:41)
B2. “Midnight Angel” (5:39)
B3. “You’re All I Need” (3:14)
B4. “Down and Dirty Blues” (6:48)

Terry Brooks & Strange recorded and mastered To Earth With Love at Criteria Recording Studios in Miami. Don Gehman engineered “Bottom Line” and “I Promise You My Love”; Bruce Hensal engineered the remaining six titles. Jim Sesoody receives the assistant engineer credit on the Gehman tracks. Joe Foglia and Richard Schultz receive assistant engineer credits on the Hensal titles.

To Earth With Love appeared in multiple colored-vinyl variants on Star People Records.

High Flyer

Terry Brooks & Strange released High Flyer in 1981 on Star People Records.

High Flyer keeps the Star People lineup in a shorter song format, with Lisa Glascock now credited on keyboards beside bassist Donnie Capetta and drummer Mark Bishop. The sleeve divides the program into “Earth Side” and “Space Side,” a conceit that frames the longer first-side titles against the tighter second-side sequence.

“You Will Be Loved” races through fast-cut riffing, harsh-voiced lines, and crude lead bursts. “Child of the City” swings under echoplex-smeared guitar effects and gymnastic lead figures. “Rock and Roll Woman” sears through a relentless pace and effects-heavy breaks. “What Kind of Man” pulls back into a softer vocal statement. “My Lady and Me” drifts on synthesizer color and female backing voices. “Love of the Ages” bends from spoken wording into a high-reaching vocal turn. “High Flyer” lopes on a sprung rhythm and sparse lead figures.

Earth Side
A1. “You Will Be Loved” (5:24)
A2. “Child of the City” (5:30)
A3. “Rock and Roll Woman” (4:26)

Space Side
B1. “What Kind of Man” (2:47)
B2. “My Lady and Me” (3:50)
B3. “Love of the Ages” (4:42)
B4. “High Flyer” (3:50)

Terry Brooks & Strange recorded and mastered High Flyer at Criteria Recording Studios in Miami. Bruce Hensal engineered the session. Mike Fuller mastered the album.

High Flyer credits photography to J. G. Gleen Jr. and Rick Pfaender. The front cover shows a sepia portrait of Brooks under the album title.

No Exit

Terry Brooks & Strange released No Exit in 1984 on Rock City Records.

No Exit recasts the Star People material for the Rock City issue, with “Rock the World / Down and Dirty Blues” occupying the second side. The credits place Brooks with keyboardist John Kotch, bassist Donnie Capetta, and drummers Jim Chapman and Mark Bishop.

“Bottom Line” pounds through a thumping beat, space-toned keyboards, and a rasped lead vocal. “Woman” rolls piano boogie into darker chord churn. “Mr. Strange” drives boogie-piano motion through hard solo breaks. “It’s a Beautiful Day” slows around piano-led vocal lines and light orchestration before the lead rises. “Rock the World / Down and Dirty Blues” stretches the side into long-form jam work and blues-based lead runs.

A1. “Bottom Line” (4:10)
A2. “Woman” (3:46)
A3. “Mr. Strange” (3:16)
A4. “It’s a Beautiful Day” (8:10)

B1. “Rock the World / Down and Dirty Blues” (21:15)

Bruce Hensal engineered No Exit. The Rock City sleeve pictures Brooks as a guitarist inside a red-and-black space field. The front cover places three disc-shaped objects at upper right.

Blastin’ Thru’

Terry Brooks & Strange released Blastin’ Thru’ in 1984 on Rock City Records.

Blastin’ Thru’ reduces the album program to four compact titles and a side-long live version of “You Will Be Loved.” Capetta, Bishop, and Glascock remain the credited support players, with Bruce Hensal in the engineering role.

“What Kind of Man” pulls back into a softer vocal statement. “My Lady and Me” drifts on synthesizer color and female backing voices. “Love of the Ages” bends from spoken wording into a high-reaching vocal turn. “High Flyer” lopes on a sprung rhythm and sparse lead figures. “You Will Be Loved” extends the fast riff-and-vocal material into a jam-track form.

A1. “What Kind of Man” (2:47)
A2. “My Lady & Me” (3:50)
A3. “Love of the Ages” (4:42)
A4. “High Flyer” (3:50)

B1. “You Will Be Loved” (17:30)

Bruce Hensal engineered Blastin’ Thru’. The album notes identify the second side as an Orlando live recording. Blastin’ Thru’ credits photography to Merlin W. Frank. The front cover places a grey seascape under blue title type.

Rock the World

Terry R. Brooks & Strange released the archival double album Rock the World in 1998 on Akarma.

Rock the World documents a 1980 Orlando concert from the American tour. Brooks leads on guitar and voice with bassist Mark Bishop and drummer Donnie Cappetta. The set draws on the Star People-era repertory and gives side-long space to “You Will Be Love.”

A1. “Mr. Strange” (7:57)
A2. “Child of the City” (8:11)
B1. “You Will Be Love” (17:35)
C1. “Rock the World” (13:49)
C2. “Down and Dirty Blues” (7:21)
D1. “Rock and Roll Woman” (5:51)
D2. “Bottom Line” (7:02)
D3. “Dream” (4:53)
D4. “New York Connection” (4:39)

Bruce Hensal engineered the recording. J. G. Glenn Jr., Jim Sessody, and Joe Foglia receive assistant engineer credits. Rock the World appeared as a gatefold double LP with a poster and red and lime-green vinyl records.

Rock Force

Terry Brooks & Strange issued the archival compilation Rock Force in 2009.

Rock Force gathers eight Terry Brooks titles from the Strange archive. The collection contains unreleased, alternate, and live material from the 1980–98 period. “Rock the World” supplies the twenty-minute live centerpiece, followed by the extended “Child of the City.”

1. “Rock Force” (5:28)
2. “Rock and Roll Queenie” (4:38)
3. “Night Rockers” (4:15)
4. “Are You My Friend?” (5:50)
5. “Mystic Eyes” (6:58)
6. “Star Flyers” (4:18)
7. “Rock the World” (20:58)
8. “Child of the City” (10:08)

Brooks produced and wrote the material. Strange Records issued Rock Force as a limited collector’s CD.

Discography: