DEEP CUTS

Even though most people don't care much for this phase of the Strawbs output, "too poppy", "mainstream rock", " not prog", are thoughts that come to mind, I have always had a soft spot for this album. When I was seeking out new music in my youth, I came across this for $1.99 in a cut-out bin, took it home and listened to it with wonder. This was totally different from any rock I had heard. And what a cool voice! I sought out more Strawbs, and found their great masterpiece GRAVE NEW WORLD, but this 1st album stayed in my heart. Is it perfect? No. Is it prog-folk? Maybe. But it does contain some essential Strawbs tunes such as "Turn Me Round", "THe Soldier's Tale", "Charmer", and "Beside the Rio Grande". There are a few throw-away pop numbers like "I Only Want My Love To Grow in You" and "So Close and Yet so Far Away", but they do not take the album down too much.

The Strawbs do venture highly into AOR territory with this album, BURNING FOR YOU, and DEADLINES, but every album can't be GRAVE NEW WORLD or GHOSTS... still all in all, I can recommend this as a solid, if imperfect effort. 3 stars.