Master Strokes 1978-1985 is a 'best of' retrospective featuring the music of monster fusion drummer Bill Bruford from the late '70s to early '80s period. Of particular interest to guitar fans is the superb legato stylings of Allan Holdsworth on eight of the CD's fourteen tracks. Guitarist John Clark adds his work to two more tracks, while bass fans will thrill to the low end of Jeff Berlin (listen to the clip of "Five G"). The compilation features tracks from the Bill Bruford solo albums "Feels Good To Me" (1978), "One Of A Kind" (1979) and "Gradually Going Tornado" (1980), plus three tracks pulled from the Patrick Moraz/Bill Bruford collaborative releases "Music For Piano And Drums" (1984) and "Flags" (1985). Essential for Holdsworth fans, especially considering the lack of Holdsworth solo releases available at any point in time.
| 1 | Hell's Bells Instrumental Guitar | 3:33 |
| 2 | One Of A Kind - Parts One and Two Instrumental Guitar | 6:26 |
| 3 | Travels With Myself - And Someone Else Instrumental Guitar | 6:15 |
| 4 | Gothic 17 | 5:09 |
| 5 | Palewell Park Instrumental Guitar | 4:01 |
| 6 | If You Can't Stand The Heat... Instrumental Guitar | 3:27 |
| 7 | Five G Instrumental Guitar | 4:47 |
| 8 | Joe Frazier Instrumental Guitar | 4:46 |
| 9 | Living Space Instrumental Guitar | 3:54 |
| 10 | The Drum Also Waltzes Instrumental Guitar | 2:56 |
| 11 | Split Seconds Instrumental Guitar | 4:42 |
| 12 | Fainting In Coils | 6:37 |
| 13 | Beelzebub Instrumental Guitar | 3:22 |
| 14 | The Sahara Of Snow - Part Two Instrumental Guitar | 3:27 |