Song:The Stroke
Album:Absolute Hits
The Stroke was the biggest hit and most memorable song by singer guitarist Billy Squier. He was already well established as a live act when The Stroke hit the top twenty in 1981. Squier bounced around several bands in the 70s before he hit it big as a solo artist. He was born May 12, 1950 in Wellesley, MA. He learned piano as a child but didn't get serious about music until he saw Cream in concert in 1968. Squier is a huge Eric Clapton fan. Squier attended Berklee School Of Music while going to New York to find fame and fortune with a band. His first band was Magic Terry & The Universe and then Kicks. Then he joined Andy Paley's group Sidewinders. They had released an album on MCA and were poised to be a big deal but fizzled. Squier joined Piper who recorded two albums for A & M. They were managed by the same company that managed KISS. Squier got valuable experience when Piper toured with KISS. But the albums didn't sell and Piper split up. But Squier showed enough potential to get a record deal with Capitol. His 1980 debut album Tale Of The Tape did OK but the 1981 album Don't Say No struck gold. Squier asked Brian May of Queen to produce the album. He couldn't due to scheduling conflicts but recommended Reinhold Mack who had produced albums for Queen and Electric Light Orchestra. The album reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 200 and The Stroke reached #17 on the Billboard Hot 100. Squier's success continued until he started fading in the late 80s. He left Capitol in 1993. This budget comp is a good intro to his music. Billy Squier hasn't recorded since 1998. But he continues to perform. In recent years he has toured with Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band. Here's the video for The Stroke by Billy Squier.
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