Strength the 2nd Studio album from The Alarm released on 21st October 1985 as a vinyl and cassette release. Originally the album plan was for an album that would be called Absolute Reality to follow on from Declaration in early 1985. Another working title for the album was Steeltown but when the band found out that the forthcoming Big Country was to be named this, the idea was dropped
Strength 1985
UK original track listing vinyl and cassette release
Side One
1. Knife Edge
2. Strength
3. Dawn Chorus
4. Spirit of 76
Side Two
5. Deeside
6. Father To Son
7. Only The Thunder
8. The Day The Ravens Left The Tower
9. Walk Forever by My Side
USA original track listing vinyl and cassette release
Side One
1. Knife Edge
2. Strength
3. Dawn Chorus
4. Spirit of 76
Side Two
5. Deeside
6. Father To Son
7. Only The Thunder
8. The Day The Ravens Left The Tower
9. Absolute Reality
10. Walk Forever by My Side
The album produced three singles
Strength
Spirit of 76
Knife Edge
Strength 2000 – Remaster
In 2000 Declaration was remastered by Mike Peters with remastering engineering by Gary Butler at RTS Liverpool. This was released by Twenty First Century Recording Company on CD as catalogue number 21C012. Originally only available as part of the collection box set (catalogue number 21C018) it was later made available for sale at gigs as a single disc
Track Listing
1. Strength
2. Knife Edge
3. Spirit of 76
4. Walk Forever by My Side
5. Father To Son
6. Deeside
7. Majority
8. One Step Closer To Home (Electric Version)
9. Caroline Isenberg
10. Dawn Chorus
11. Only The Thunder
12. The Day The Ravens Left The Tower
13. Absolute Reality
14. Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke (Live)
15. Deeside (Live)
16. Sixty Eight Guns (Live)
17. Knocking On Heaven’s Door (Live)
Strength 2015 – Re-imagined
In 2015 Mike Peters went into the studio to revisit Strength to celebrate 30 years since it’s original release. Rather than remaster earlier recording these were brand new interpretations of the songs that features with new musical arrangements
Strength 2015 – CD track listing
1. Spirit of 76
2. Deeside
3. Knife Edge
4. The Day The Ravens Left The Tower
5. Walk Forever by My Side
6. Strength
7. Dawn Chorus
9. Father To Son
9. Only The Thunder
10. Last Train
11. Absolute Reality
Strength 2018 – Remaster
In 2018 Strength was remastered using the latest technology available with some additional tracks added. This was released by Twenty First Century Recording Company on Double Vinyl Album – Strength 1985-1986 remastered, 2018 catalogue Number tbc and Double CD Album – Strength 1985-1986 remastered, 2018 Catalogue Number 21C105CD
CD One Strength – Track listing
1. Knife Edge
2. Strength
3. Dawn Chorus
4. Spirit of ’76
5. Deeside
6. Father To Son
7. Only The Thunder
8. The Day The Ravens Left The Tower
9. Absolute Reality
10. Walk Forever by My Side
11. Strength (7″ Single version)
12. Majority (B-Side)
13. Absolute Reality (Impromptu Acoustic version)
14. Spirit of ’76 (7″ Single version)
15. Caroline Isenberg (B-Side)
CD Two Studio Sessions & Outtakes– Track listing
1. Intro
2. Get It On
3. Dawn Chorus
4. Summertime Blues
5. Knife Edge
6. Alarm Alarm / Radar LOve
7. Only The Thunder
8. Burn
9. Spirit of ’76
10. Walk On The Wild Side
11. Father To Son
12. Vicious
13. Deeside
14. All Right Now
15. Absolute Reality
16. Unknown
17. The Day The Ravens Left The Tower
18. Communication Breakdown
19. One Step Closer To Home
20. Maggie May / Maggie’s Farm / Stand Down Margaret
21. Walk Forever by My Side
22. Untitled Jam Session
23. Strength
24. Outro
(Page updated 08/11/2022)
9 song records are not advised. Absolute should have been on al of them