Baseball practice had just wrapped up and I was running late for work.
I threw my gear into the back seat of the car and hopped in to make the trek from Lakewood to Tacoma. That’s when I first heard “Girl of My Dreams” on the radio, a song full of shimmering guitar tones, punchy rhythms, and vastly overdubbed vocals; and that first note, a hard to quantify but identifiable power pop watermark.
Just then, everything changed. It was that blockbuster riff that drove the whole song and sent me down the power pop rabbit hole. I had to hear it again so I immediately changed my route and hit Tower Records on the other side of town.
Yeah, I was late to work, but man—it was worth it.
British musician Peter Bramall, known by his stage name Bram Tchaikovsky, came to prominence as a member of the UK band The Motors.
Not happy being relegated as a sideman, Tchaikovsky started recording music on his own. Due to the success of his song “Sarah Smiles,” he decided to leave The Motors and start his own group.
Bram Tchaikovsky released the debut album Strange Man, Changed Man on Radar Records in 1979. The songs are sincere and delivered with the enthusiasm of a band that simply rolled tape and played.
For me, the appeal of this album was always its sound. With the help of his former Motors bandmate Nick Garvey (who also played some bass and sang backing vocals), Bram’s no-nonsense production and thin mix puts the guitar front-and-center.
Strange Man, Changed Man has stood the test of time and earned its reputation as one of the greatest power pop albums of all time.
Below is my quick break down of the songs.
1. Strange Man, Changed Man
“Ladies and gents let me introduce myself to you…” (sung under the chords D, B, A, Bm, F♯, E) is how the title track is established. Ringing guitars and driving rhythms are the hallmarks of this track. Bram is a fantastic singer and songwriter, proving it right out of the gate.
2. Lonely Dancer
This is a terrific follow up to the title track, using some of the same chord progressions. “Lonely Dancer” quietly builds right back to the signature guitar riffs and vocals that make this song so enjoyable.
3. Robber
The opening strains of this track are reminiscent of The Monkees’ “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” but are soon overtaken by the double kick groove that drives the song. The rhythm section of Micky Broadbent (bass/keyboards) and Keith Boyce (drums) is powerful and steady throughout.
4. Bloodline
Tchaikovsky’s guitar drives this song from start to finish. The hooky, hard-edged track is an invigorating blast of ‘70s power pop.
5. I’m The One That’s Leaving
There are unmistakable traces of Tchaikovsky’s production throughout this entire track. The song is upbeat, full of flashy riffs and high-energy vocals from start to finish. It’s a great way to finish off side one of the LP.
6. Girl Of My Dreams
Few songs encapsulate power pop more than this 4-minute gem. It unites charging guitar riffs with a hummable chorus. And that first chord, man, it really draws me in every time. This is a track that never gets old. The fact they opened the second side with the album’s strongest track still intrigues me 40+ years later.
7. Nobody Knows
This song is propelled by the heavy bass line, perfectly paired with the dark and brooding vocals. Bram’s guitar is top notch as well. This is probably my favorite song on the album.
8. Lady From The U.S.A.
A great choice to follow the hard-driving “Nobody Knows,” and the perfect way to bring the album down to a bit of a jog before building back up to the climax. Besides, every album needs a ballad.
9. I’m A Believer
A solid cover of the Monkees’ hit song. Delivered with fervor and passion, it is an interesting mutation into a solid pub rock tune.
10. Sarah Smiles
High-energy and quick-paced, “Sarah Smiles” highlights both Tchaikovsky’s powerful guitar chops as well as his songwriting skills. It is pretty hard not to tap your feet and want to move around when you hear it. This is the song that helped launch Bram Tchaikovsky and is one of his finest second-tier singles.
11. Turn On The Light
This song is manic and quick-paced, an irresistible mixture of catchy melodic hooks and sing-along melodies. It’s the perfect closer for a great power pop album.
Obsessed with music all is life, Curt Vance established Power Pop Overdose in 2007 in order to share that passion with others. After a brief hiatus, PPO was reformatted as a radio show in 2019. You can hear the PopCast on Saturday’s at 7PM Eastern, 4PM Pacific on Mad Wasp Radio. Archives can be heard wherever you listen to podcasts including Apple and Tune-In.
I knew "Girl of My Dreams," of course, but had never heard the album before. Decided to listen and read your comments in real time. Good time! There will be more listens.