Strange Animal is the second studio album by Canadian musician Lawrence Gowan, released in 1985. Despite not having an American release, Strange Animal is considered to be Gowan's breakthrough release;[2] the album would go on to reach #5 on the Canadian album charts and spawned the singles "(You're a) Strange Animal", "A Criminal Mind", "Cosmetics" and "Guerilla Soldier".[3]
After his 1982 debut album Gowan did not fare well, Gowan "found himself naturally gravitating" to the Queen Street West music scene that was developing in Toronto in the mid 1980s.[4][5] Gowan spent a year writing songs, and also travelled to Scotland and Ireland to trace his heritage.[4][6]
The opening track, "Cosmetics", was inspired by Gowan's interest in the attractive and artistically sensitive, and the thin line between the deep and the superficial in the fickle world on modeling. Gowan's inspiration for the title track, "(You're A) Strange Animal", came from the writings of Hermann Hesse and an interest pull that various individuals can have on life. "A Criminal Mind", which Gowan has often been asked to explain his inspiration for, was inspired by a character that Gowan imagined in his psyche. According to Gowan, the words in the song are that character's declaration. The title originated from a conversation Gowan had with a retired prison guard. In a 2015 interview with Huffington Post Canada, Gowan stated that "Cosmetics" was selected as the first track on the album because Ringo Starr told him he danced to it in his kitchen during Gowan's recording sessions at Starr's home studio.[7]
In September 1985, the album Strange Animal achieved double platinum status and established Gowan as a "hit domestic artist".[8] Despite his domestic success and a secondary United States release in May 1985, the song received little airplay in the United States.[9]
Legacyedit
In 1999, Lawrence Gowan became a permanent member of the American rock band Styx, replacing original frontman and keyboardist Dennis DeYoung. Gowan being uncomfortable with performing Styx's song "Babe", which DeYoung had originally written for his wife, "A Criminal Mind" was subsequently added to Styx's setlist and has since become a staple piece at concerts. The song would go on to be included in the live albums Styx World: Live 2001, 21st Century Live and One with Everything: Styx and the Contemporary Youth Orchestra.[10]
In 2018, "A Criminal Mind" was certified as a Platinum Single in Canada, surpassing a combined 80,000 physical 7", 12" single and digital downloaded units sold.[11] Gowan was presented with the plaque on stage at his Caesar's Palace show in Windsor, Ontario.
In 2008, Lawrence Gowan's Columbia recordings reverted to him and were subsequently assigned to Linus Entertainment. In 2010, Gowan and Linus repackaged the album as Return of the Strange Animal featuring a remastered version of the album's songs combined with a DVD documentary feature and three music videos. In May 2010, Gowan performed two solo shows in support of the 25th anniversary of the Strange Animal album.
^"CRR Interview - Lawrence Gowan Of Styx: Fitting In". www.classicrockrevisited.com.
^"Gowan's 'Criminal Mind' Now Certified Platinum". FYIMusicNews.ca. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
Works citededit
Griffin, John (2 May 1985). "Hit album makes a believer of Gowan". The Gazette. p. B4.
Gowan, Lawrence (4 February 2015). "The strange stories behind 'Strange Animal,' Gowan's 30-year-old classic album" (Interview). Interviewed by Aaron Brophy. Huffington Post Canada. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
LaPointe, Kirk (1 February 1986). "The MuchMusic Network: From linchpin to kingpin of Canadian music – in one year". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 5. Nielsen Business Media. pp. C-6, C-12 and C-13. ISSN 0006-2510.
LeBlanc, Larry (23 July 1994). "Sony Camilleri counters criticism". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 30. Nielsen Business Media. ISSN 0006-2510.
strange, animal, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, november, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Strange Animal news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message Strange Animal is the second studio album by Canadian musician Lawrence Gowan released in 1985 Despite not having an American release Strange Animal is considered to be Gowan s breakthrough release 2 the album would go on to reach 5 on the Canadian album charts and spawned the singles You re a Strange Animal A Criminal Mind Cosmetics and Guerilla Soldier 3 Strange AnimalStudio album by GowanReleasedFebruary 1985Recorded1984StudioStartling Studios Ascot Berkshire EnglandGenreProgressive pop Synth popLength41 59LabelColumbia 1984 2008 Linus Entertainment 2008 Present ProducerDavid TickleGowan chronologyGowan 1982 Strange Animal 1985 Great Dirty World 1987 Singles from Strange Animal A Criminal Mind Released 15 January 1985 You re A Strange Animal Released May 1985 Cosmetics Guerilla Soldier Return Of The Strange Animal CoverReleased 2010 Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllmusic 1 Contents 1 Production and background 2 Legacy 3 Track listing 3 1 Return of the Strange Animal re release 4 Personnel 5 Singles 6 Awards and nominations 7 References 7 1 Works citedProduction and background editAfter his 1982 debut album Gowan did not fare well Gowan found himself naturally gravitating to the Queen Street West music scene that was developing in Toronto in the mid 1980s 4 5 Gowan spent a year writing songs and also travelled to Scotland and Ireland to trace his heritage 4 6 While there he received a telephone call from English record producer David Tickle who said he would produce the album 6 and arranged a recording session Tickle secured the services of several session musicians from the backing band of Peter Gabriel for the recording session including bassist Tony Levin drummer Jerry Marotta and guitarist David Rhodes 4 The album Strange Animal was recorded at Startling Studios owned by Ringo Starr 6 The opening track Cosmetics was inspired by Gowan s interest in the attractive and artistically sensitive and the thin line between the deep and the superficial in the fickle world on modeling Gowan s inspiration for the title track You re A Strange Animal came from the writings of Hermann Hesse and an interest pull that various individuals can have on life A Criminal Mind which Gowan has often been asked to explain his inspiration for was inspired by a character that Gowan imagined in his psyche According to Gowan the words in the song are that character s declaration The title originated from a conversation Gowan had with a retired prison guard In a 2015 interview with Huffington Post Canada Gowan stated that Cosmetics was selected as the first track on the album because Ringo Starr told him he danced to it in his kitchen during Gowan s recording sessions at Starr s home studio 7 In September 1985 the album Strange Animal achieved double platinum status and established Gowan as a hit domestic artist 8 Despite his domestic success and a secondary United States release in May 1985 the song received little airplay in the United States 9 Legacy editIn 1999 Lawrence Gowan became a permanent member of the American rock band Styx replacing original frontman and keyboardist Dennis DeYoung Gowan being uncomfortable with performing Styx s song Babe which DeYoung had originally written for his wife A Criminal Mind was subsequently added to Styx s setlist and has since become a staple piece at concerts The song would go on to be included in the live albums Styx World Live 2001 21st Century Live and One with Everything Styx and the Contemporary Youth Orchestra 10 In 2018 A Criminal Mind was certified as a Platinum Single in Canada surpassing a combined 80 000 physical 7 12 single and digital downloaded units sold 11 Gowan was presented with the plaque on stage at his Caesar s Palace show in Windsor Ontario Track listing editAll songs written and composed by Lawrence Gowan Cosmetics 4 37 Desperate 4 20 City Of The Angels 4 02 Walking On Air 4 47 Burning Torches Of Hope 3 59 Keep The Tension On 3 43 Guerilla Soldier 4 32 You re A Strange Animal 4 37 A Criminal Mind 7 22 Return of the Strange Animal re release edit In 2008 Lawrence Gowan s Columbia recordings reverted to him and were subsequently assigned to Linus Entertainment In 2010 Gowan and Linus repackaged the album as Return of the Strange Animal featuring a remastered version of the album s songs combined with a DVD documentary feature and three music videos In May 2010 Gowan performed two solo shows in support of the 25th anniversary of the Strange Animal album Personnel editLawrence Gowan lead vocals and backing vocals piano and synthesizers Chris Jarrett guitars David Rhodes guitars Tony Levin basses and Chapman Stick Jerry Marotta drums and backing vocalsSingles editName Chart 1985 Peak position A Criminal Mind Canada 5 You re a Strange Animal 15 Cosmetics 41 Guerilla Soldier 40Awards and nominations editJuno Awards Year Winner Category 1985 A Criminal Mind Best Video 1985 Strange Animal Best Album Graphics Year Nominated Category 1985 Strange Animal Male Vocalist of the Year 1985 Strange Animal Album of the Year 1985 A Criminal Mind Best Selling Single 1985 You re a Strange Animal Animation by Greg Duffell Lightbox Studios Inc Best Video 1986 Cosmetics director Rob Quartly Best VideoReferences edit Strange Animal Gowan Songs Reviews Credits AllMusic Gowan 2 June 2011 Gowan www gowan org a b c Griffin 1985 LeBlanc 1994 a b c Sharp 2014 p 146 Gowan 2015 LaPointe 1986 p C 13 Sharp 2014 p 173 CRR Interview Lawrence Gowan Of Styx Fitting In www classicrockrevisited com Gowan s Criminal Mind Now Certified Platinum FYIMusicNews ca 11 September 2018 Retrieved 9 November 2018 Works cited edit Griffin John 2 May 1985 Hit album makes a believer of Gowan The Gazette p B4 Gowan Lawrence 4 February 2015 The strange stories behind Strange Animal Gowan s 30 year old classic album Interview Interviewed by Aaron Brophy Huffington Post Canada Retrieved 23 November 2018 LaPointe Kirk 1 February 1986 The MuchMusic Network From linchpin to kingpin of Canadian music in one year Billboard Vol 98 no 5 Nielsen Business Media pp C 6 C 12 and C 13 ISSN 0006 2510 LeBlanc Larry 23 July 1994 Sony Camilleri counters criticism Billboard Vol 106 no 30 Nielsen Business Media ISSN 0006 2510 Sharp Keith 2014 Music Express The rise fall and resurrection of Canada s music magazine Alan Frew Dundurn Press ISBN 9781459721944 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Strange Animal amp oldid 1190807389, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
