Strange Persuasions

Strange Persuasions came out in England in 1985, but it wasn't released in North America until 1995. After leaving his group, Any Trouble, Gregson made a name for himself in the States as a member of Richard Thompson's band and later as half of the Gregson and Collister duo. Strange Persuasions provides a missing link between his pub/pop days with Any Trouble and the more subtle, folkier tendencies of his later work. Some tracks sound like big L.A. pop productions with a dash of Squeeze thrown in, while others, "Jewel in Your Crown," for example, offer his sophisticated ballad writing. Perhaps this is what Ralph McTell would have sounded like had he chosen a more produced musical road; the melodies are often rooted firmly in the late-'60s and '70s folk singer/songwriter genre with enough pop sense to things interesting. While there is nothing revelatory here — Gregson would perfect the formula later — Strange Persuasions is a good album.