COTM - Album/Artist Feature #5 - The Strawbs

[OverHillandDale(Admin)]

I'm not sure why, but I've had my mind on British bands all last week. Can't figure it out. So, this week I will be putting the spotlight on The Strawbs.

With David Cousins as the front man, The Strawbs are a Prog Folk group that made a somewhat unique transformation into full blown 70's Prog Rock group. Currently the group switches back and forth with different lineups - one playing mostly acoustic versions, the other the rock versions.

This is the group that perhaps would have made a larger and earlier leap into Prog Rock had they won the Rick Wakeman lottery. Alas, he was to move on quickly from his brief appearance on their 1970 album Dragonfly and his full support on the 1971 From The Witchwood. Witchwood was their first 'baby step' toward prog rock and was followed up by the 1972 Grave New World. They had to, however, move forward without Wakeman as he was scouted and recruited by Yes.

Two years later and other giant leap forward into Prog Rock brought us Hero and Heroine. This is my personal favorite of their albums, but I know many like the songs from earlier albums. This just happened to be the one I heard first when in High School and it was in my regular rotation.

I hope you will enjoy these two albums from The Strawbs. I bring you to Grave New World (1972) and Hero and Heroine (1974).

I have included the Bonus tracks from the re-release on CD at the end of the program. Just cause I like you.

This show goes out to my dear friend GORT and KEITHIEW, our resident Strawbs worshipers. Enjoy and God Save The Queen.

Dale