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SteveG 
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 Topic: Hero and Heroine: Strawbs
Posted: January 17 2015 at 11:43 |
Considered Strawbs' high water mark in progressive rock, what's tour take on Hero and Heroine?
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SteveG
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Posted: January 18 2015 at 13:26 |
No love for the Strawbs? 
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Moogmoods
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Posted: January 18 2015 at 14:49 |
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Absolutely superb album - never tire of it.
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The purpose of life is a life of purpose - Athena Orchard
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SteveG
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Posted: January 18 2015 at 14:56 |
^ 
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tszirmay
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Posted: January 18 2015 at 15:06 |
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It has been my all-time #1 since its appearance in 1974! It has a healing capacity that defies logic. Just a perfect recording!
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I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth.
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SteveG
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Posted: January 18 2015 at 15:08 |
^
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dr wu23
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Posted: January 18 2015 at 17:24 |
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Well, it's my favorite by the Strawbs.....then Grave New World, etc.
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One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
Haquin
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Walton Street
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Posted: January 18 2015 at 17:47 |
an amazing timeless piece of work. Love this album - it's pure magic.
the title track is the only song i know all the words to by heart :)
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"I know one thing: that I know nothing"
- SpongeBob Socrates
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TeleStrat
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Posted: January 18 2015 at 19:09 |
My preference puts this album even with Grave New World. Then Ghosts, Deep Cuts and Burning For You (in that order). Those are the only Strawbs albums I own.
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moshkito
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Posted: January 19 2015 at 08:25 |
Hi,
Have it and like it.
I also like the followup album "Ghosts", and consider these two, Strawbs best work all around. Later on they had a massively nice piece in "Deadlines" but for me, most of the album is quite forgettable, and I can barely mention any tunes in it.
Notice I said "tunes".
Strawbs is a part of what I call the 2nd tier of bands in Brittain, and are always attractive in so many ways. They might not have a master album that shines out bigger and better than the sun, but each album is always with one or two things that stand out.
it's bands like this that have my collection so fat! But they are great to listen to and enjoy!
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Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
www.pedrosena.com
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SteveG
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Posted: January 20 2015 at 14:00 |
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tszirmay
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Posted: January 20 2015 at 14:32 |
Hero and Heroine is also a complete masterpiece, with a brooding intro in Autumn (one of the finest ever!), the subsequent suite is sheer brilliance, a country feel with Sad Young Man, a fun poppy track with Just Love , the brief yet bombastic Shine On Silver Sun, the raging mellotron-infested title track , a gorgeous folk ballad like Midnight Sun, and a final four that all coalesces into one grand finale, featuring the lewd lyrics of Out in the Cold, the hypnotic slash of Round and Round and the soothing Lay a Little Light on Me anthem. Sound is top notch and the playing by all is just stunning. I always listen to this when I feel a bite of the blues and it works every time !
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Dayvenkirq
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Posted: January 20 2015 at 14:37 |
According to my Last.fm profile, I've heard this album about eight times. And there's still not a track for me to really like at the very least, if not love. Way too dated and unoriginal, and I just don't like Cousins' voice and lyrics. His delivery is nice, though.
But the album does have its pluses: "Hero's Theme", "Just Love", some moments here and there like the intro to the medley.
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SteveG
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Posted: January 20 2015 at 14:55 |
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tszirmay
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Posted: January 20 2015 at 14:56 |
Dated? Yup, so are The Beatles, Bach and Miles Davis! As for unoriginal , perhaps by 2015 standards but at the time (1974) this type of mellotron -fronted prog was a very very new thing! Taste is not debatable, so Vive la Difference!  |
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I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth.
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SteveG
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Posted: January 20 2015 at 14:59 |
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Dayvenkirq
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Posted: January 20 2015 at 15:09 |
 tszirmay wrote:
Dated? Yup, so are The Beatles, Bach and ... |
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's not my point. My point is: the sound of the album hasn't aged well.
tszirmay wrote:
As for unoriginal , perhaps by 2015 standards but at the time (1974) this type of mellotron -fronted prog was a very very new thing! |
Not in '74 it wasn't.
If I heard the 'tron for the first time in '67, I'm pretty sure by '74 I'd be much more interested in something else, especially if I heard that specific progression from the medley.
Edited by Dayvenkirq - January 20 2015 at 15:13
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SteveG
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Posted: January 20 2015 at 15:13 |
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^Even if their sound is dated, you have to give Hawkin credit for his subtle and sublime use of the Mellotron on this album which included choral settings. It's a Mellotron clinic that he gets little appreciation for.
Edited by SteveG - January 20 2015 at 15:18
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Dayvenkirq
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Posted: January 20 2015 at 15:32 |
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^ I don't remember the choral sound. Which track features it? (Wasn't it the group's vocal effort?)
Edited by Dayvenkirq - January 20 2015 at 15:32
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SteveG
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Posted: January 20 2015 at 19:41 |
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^Midnight Sun.
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Hero and Heroine: Strawbs