Stray Dog - While You’re Down There (Reissue) (1974/2001)

This blues-based US heavy metal group started life as a power-trio in 1973. Formed by Snuffy Walden (vocals, guitar), Alan Roberts (bass, vocals) and Leslie Sampson (b. 1950; drums), their style incorporated elements of Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. Timmy Dulaine (guitar, vocals) and Luis Cabaza (keyboards) were added in 1974, with rather negative results. The aggression and power of the three-piece had been dissipated by needlessly intricate arrangements. While You're Down There was another disappointment and following management and contractual problems, the band went their separate ways in 1975. Walden later reappeared as theme composer to popular US television soap opera 30 Something.

Stray Dog was a heavy blues-based hard rock band of the early seventies. Their early sound could be described as crunching blues rock typical of the time and place, but was very original and distinct through Snuffy Walden's unique guitar playing. They recorded three albums throughout their career before disbanding around 1975 due to a "combination of drugs, alcohol, and immaturity."
They originally formed in Texas but relocated to London in hopes of making it, since there were many blues rock groups coming out of England at that time. While there, they met Emerson, Lake and Palmer bassist/singer/guitar player Greg Lake, who subsequently signed them to the ELP label Manticore Records and produced their first two albums. Their first album, Fasten Your Seat Belts includes contributions by John "Rabbit" Bundrick and Mel Collins.