THE COLLECTION

A good anthology, but nothing more. Not because of the songs in it that are all beautiful (I thinh in primis of Benedictus and Witchwood), but for the decision to not put in it the more proggish material which is simply fantastic!! When I heard, for example, Hero and heroine or New World (only to name a few) I change immidiately my opinion on this band. A great anthology should indicate with more precision to the newcomers the spirit of the group on which is about!

This album is a good introduction to The Strawbs.

Below i list my personal favourite tracks, rate them and comment on them:

Part of the Union 8/10: A good little song, always heard on any documentaries abuot the trade union movement, it si well sung by David Cousins.

The Man who Called Himself Jesus 10/10: From the Strawbs debut album comes this cracking little number, both written and performed by David Cousins it chronicles a mans meeting with a mysterious stranger who may or may not be Jesus, thwe words have real meaning and the whole number is a beauty.

Oh How She Changed: again from the first album, this is a shiort, beautifully sung ballad, not sung by Cousins but by Tony Hooper, it is a tragic song about lost love.

Witchwood: 9/10 from the album From The Witchwood comes the title track, a melodious, track, complete with Mandolin and earteral backing form the band, David Cousins sings about witches and mythology in sych a way you actually believe him.

Benedictus: 10/10: From Grave New World, comnes Benedictus, a wonderful song all about faith and belief in the spirit. David Cousins writes this type of song brilliantly well and this is no exceeption. It is sung to perfection. And the words are beautiful.

Shine on Silver Sun: 7/10: The hot that never was, from Hero And Heroine comes this lovely little song, the images of mirrored salmon, flowers on the riverbank, and comedians with laughs in short supply anre vividly bought to life.

Lay Down: 10/10- From Bursting at the Seams comes Lay Down- in this version more folk driven than the singkle release, but whichever version you here you are certain to like it. It is a song about finding your soul and Cousins invokes this really well, the line "In Pastures green i found strength for my soul" is a gem as is the rest of this 5 minute masterpiece.

The rest of the collection is taken forom the bands first 6 albums and is well worth hearing especially Martin Luther Kings Dream from the live album Antiques anfd Curios.

As an introduction to one of the best folk/rock bands of the late 60's to late 70's this is hard to beat.

This is Strawbs........ Really ?

I am trying to understand why this band is so reverred here at PA. What comes out of my speakers is not the type of music which leads to my highly regarded fellow progsters at PA falling over each others in praise for STRAWBS. Is this the band which Sandy Denny and Rick Wakeman once called their home ? I understand why I paid a paltry three pounds in my local HMV shop for this album. I bought it together with a lot of stuff and almost as an afterthought. I have not been listening to it before now.

This is STRAWBS ? No ? It seems like the pop and the half-baked folk stuff has been included here and most of the real great prog and folk stuff has been omitted. Thankfully, I also have another STRAWBS album here. One from the prog era. If that is as good as the Witchwood track from this compilation album, there is hope for a romance between me and STRAWBS. Sandy Denny is also sorely missed here. This compilation album is no good and probably only meant for those who are into inoffensive pop-rock spiced up with some folk rock. Although the spice is thin on the ground here. Not good !

2.5 stars.