HEARTBREAK HILL [AKA: STARTING OVER]

This album sounds purely rock during the opener "Something For Nothing" but I far much prefer this type of music that some country oriented one like they have released earlier in their career. Fine keyboards are an asset (but there will be more later on). There are also some pop-rock oriented songs like "We can Make It Together" but at the end of the day, my feeling is that "Strawbs" released musch poorer tracks than this one.

The question is of course if there is a room for such "Strawbs" album in 1995.given the fact that it was recorded in .1978.

One of the best song from this album is the title track. There is a more complex structure involved, and the extensive use of bombastic keys provides a definite prog feeling (even if it is on the rocking side). IMO, this song is one of the best from the band.

Some fine piano even adding some Renaissance touch! A highlight of this album. Dave Cousin is particularly good in his vocal duties.

"Starting Over" is the longest Strawbs song (for four seconds): it sounds as a collection of pieces put together, but in an intelligent manner. Upbeat and mainstream rock at times, it features a quite nice and proggy intro and there are sections throughout the song (especially during the second part) which convey a spacey and melodic mood which is welcome. The fact that the keyboard player co-wrote the song with Cousin should not be alien to this prog orientation.

IMO, this is another nice moment of music. A mini-rock opera on its own. Cousin is again passionate and convincing. There is even a "Gentle Giant" vocal sounding exercise before the finale which is upbeat again. I consider this song as one of the top ten ones from "Strawbs". It is fully in line with their symphonic period (which was also the one I preferred). An excellent track really.

There are of course blunders as well, like the pitiful "Two Separate People" and the popish "Desert Song". The closing track is of the same vein, unfortunately.

It is true to say that this album is not consistent, but three long songs (which are good for twenty-six minutes or two-third of this album) range between three (the opening track) or four stars ("Heartbreak Hill" and "Starting Over"). Only one third are one star worth.

To my surprise, I come with a rating closer to the three stars than anything else for this album...

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