OK guys last week I was challenged in my tastes about the Strawbs which I found highly over-rated, so I am back

I admitted that my reviews were poor , so I spent the WE relistening to these albums (I had to borrow them from a friend) and I rewrote most so now I can actually feel ready for arguments. Let's stop at H&H album because I think everyone agrees they are not good after that album (anybody with a bit of lucidity can hear that in a second) no matter how much of a fanboy one can be.

Let's consider that a good album is three stars , an outstanding album is four star and a masterpiece is five stars. That masterpieces are few and rare and there should only be one per group unless we speak of the Big 7  prog giants.

I left Dragonfly review untouched and FTWW is a new review

Three phases I'd like to talk about:

the pure folk era (pre Antiques And Curios) and including Sandy Denny stuf, which I have not heard - I'd like some pointers and advice

the folk prog era ( from Antiques to GNW - the essential Strawbs) some real superb moments but never a masterpiece

the commercial phase ( after GNW - so called progressive but majorly flawed) where I score all the points I need to win this match and please do not get me started on Ghosts and Deep Cuts, - why not Deadlines while we are at it?

STRAWBS Dragonfly
Review ( http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=19690 - Permanent link ) by http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=20 - Hugues Chantraine @ 2:43:48 AM EST, 4/16/2004
SPECIAL COLLABORATION

 —  This is the real strawbs that everyone of us should know - the folkgroup . Full of delicate harmonies, simple acoustic melodies, but unfortunately not well recorded but nothing shameful either. Dragonfly is mainly two acoustic guitars and a stand-up bass and sometimes a cello (although the bassist could have used a bow on his bass) so it sounds very pastoral. Side 1 has just song format numbers that manages not to bore you but keep your attention. On the other side , the highlight is the almost 11 min Lady Of The Lake that starts as a usual number like the rest of the album but soon evolves slowly into an epic on which all of the guests appear not the least the arrival of a drummer and Wakeman in his first appearance (he will be very present in Antiques and Witchwood) to finish this number of epic manner

STRAWBS Just a collection of Antiques and Curios
Review ( http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=19695 - Permanent link ) by http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=20 - Hugues Chantraine @ 11:11:34 AM EST, 3/1/2004
SPECIAL COLLABORATION

 —  3,5 stars really!!!

Bringing in a whole new line-up after the uneven Dragonfly, and most notably young academy student Wakeman , but also ex- Velvet Opera rhythm section Ford and Hudson, The Strawbs took a dramatic turn towards rock but retained all of their previous folk heritage.

This album is rather a mixed-up affair and could be called schizophrenics as it seems it cannot make up its mind between shorter tracks (folk-cultured) and more adventurous jam-band-style rock with much longer tracks. Clearly the rhythm sections hints at the second option and it just looks/sounds like Wakeman (whom had participated to one or two other tracks in the preceding Dragonfly album and especially on the lenghty closer) seems much more comfortable with them two, than with original members Hooper and leader Cousins. Constantly oscillating between such two different styles ruins the continuity of an album, but in this case (a live album and is transitory one too), it must be forgiven. To my tastes it is clearly the rock influences that win this set (and although the rock bit will take another two albums before winning the match and game), as is clearly shown in the 12 min+ Where Is This Dream Of Your Youth where Wakeman takes the spotlight and pulls in one of his best solos of his career (Yes will not give him that long a spotlight until GFTO) even if it is live and improvised.

Although this album’s schizophrenic nature is a bit awkward and may be uneasy to the progheads, it is IMHO, the most representative of the full Strawbs palette. Certainly one of their classic album and one of those that typifies the boundaries between folk and rock always on the fringe of both styles.

STRAWBS From the Witchwood
Review ( http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=70112 - Permanent link ) by http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=20 - Hugues Chantraine @ 2:32:30 AM EST, 2/21/2006
SPECIAL COLLABORATION

 —  3,5 stars really!!!

Rare enough to actually mention, this album has an unchanged line-up compared to its predecessor Antiques And Curios. One of the things this album achieves clearly is to confirm/consolidates the transit stage of the group from a folk unit to a rock group and the good thing about it is that they are very progressive about it, not just in the speed of the change.

With this album, the three recruits that came in become even better established even if Wakeman will leave after this one, the other two will provide the rhythm section for all of the classic Strawbs album.

Certainly the most endearing track is the folky title track with its absolutely marvellous and magic ambiances, while the follow-up 30 days uses a lot of sitar but unfortunately this makes the track rather aimed at 60’s psych/folkheads rather than us progheads. Flight seems to be coming from a Jefferson Airplane or Spirit album. And guys, this is a bloody compliment!!! Hangman and The Papist is one of the cornerstone of The Strawbs and maybe the best example on how Wakeman was able to transform this group into something really special - while they left him a chance to because you can feel him being restrained with his organs just mixed a tad too low to stop him from stealing the show. Wakeman just explodes in the following Sheep and clearly what we had seen in Antiques was now all too clearly evident, raw talent just waiting to be exposed. Again in Canon Dale his KB are being purposely under-mixed and by the tile the sitar comes in the track is unfortunately lost even if Rick does attempt to bring it back and almost succeeds a tour-de-force. Shepherd’s Song is yet another excellent moment (again greatly aided by Wakeman’s gorgeous piano and hints of mellotrons in the ending crescendo too) of folk meeting rock. Roses is rather musically unspectacular but shines in its own folk harmonics way. Just too bad the album ends with such a down such as the country- ish (this is relative but it is striking with the rest of the album) Beside You. Not that bad, but clearly out of context on this album.

Curios, this album and the following Grave New World being the three key albums from the Strawbs, I would suggest starting out with this one if you are new to them.

Rightly so Wakeman being at the top of his game with his inspirations clearly being kept down by the rather too tight-walled sound of The Strawbs, he will leave for Yes and its CTTE masterpiece and will reach the apex with his first stupendous and superlative solo album (only the fourth or fifth of his young career), where he shines brighter than the sun. Soon however, the man will find a stardust-sprinkled cape, buy himself an over-inflated ego and acquire one of the tackiest tastes around that brought shame on prog for decades to come with his stupid symphonic journeys/epics and his ridiculous prog-on-ice shows. A superfast shooting star shining like the sun and exploding into a supernova all into two years time; Whoever said that time stood still?

STRAWBS Grave New World
Review ( http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=19658 - Permanent link ) by http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=20 - Hugues Chantraine @ 11:14:29 AM EST, 3/1/2004
SPECIAL COLLABORATION

 —  3,5 stars really!!!

A concept album (if memory serves me well: the hope for a better world ensuing the conquest of America), from the previously mainly folk-influenced Strawbs, this is also widely regarded as one of their best, and from their middle period, I must say I quite agree with it being their best – at least their most ambitious and paradoxically I find also their less pretentious, mostly due to the inspired songwriting. With Wakeman having left (his role in the band was never that capital especially in the writing dept but he was clearly being restrained also), ex-Amen Corner keyman Blue Weaver comes in and one of his most noteworthy additions is the plastering of mellotrons and he uses them by the truck-full on certain tracks.

Opening mellotrons-laden track, is a sure pleaser with most progheads, but I tend to find it a bit too repetitive and even slightly over-staying its welcome but this is a relatively minor flaw. A short acoustic solo acoustic track ensues and comes in one of the most noteworthy and experimental track, Queen Of Dreams with its reverse recorded beats and sitar playing and even hinting at early Popol Vuh or Tangerine Dream in its middle part. Unfortunately a bit too disjointed, this ambitious track is clearly the highlight of the first vinyl side. Another short acoustic guitar solo track (Ford-written) accompanied by baroque-sounding horn section leads into the mellotrons over-loaded New World (still fairly close to orgasmic-sounding, thougjh ;-) before exiting with a reprise of the earlier acoustic theme.

A capela and harmonium staring Flower is a rather charming start (even reminding you of their earlier period) and the scorching Tomorrow shows these guys can also be a powerhouse while remaining melodious. This is The Strawbs at their best outside their debut. However after the short acoustic theme linking tune comes a rather out-of-place cabaret sing along track that ruins the album’s continuity. The returning sitar of is It Today Lord? is unfortunately less welcome than on the first side, it is also a bit too out of context. And the Journey’s End closes the album is an out-of-breath fashion.

Clearly an album that exemplifies The Strawbs perfectly, with great tracks and ideas but simply too few of them per albums to have them qualify as one of the higher league groups. Starting out from the gates at 100 MPH, they simply had run out of steam by the fourth quarter of the album. Still, this album is not far from one of the best examples of what they could do best, but the album stands as one of their last one to be really folk-influenced. And certainly their last good one.

STRAWBS Bursting At The Seams
Review ( http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=19634 - Permanent link ) by http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=20 - Hugues Chantraine @ 11:15:28 AM EST, 3/1/2004
SPECIAL COLLABORATION

 —  With this album, deception can only be around the bend, as The Strawbs have taken yet another turn, this time heading to commercial radio-friendly tracks: Lay Down (on this album) then Part Of The Union. This album has a definitely country-ish sound (hinted with the closing track of Witchwood) and this fact never sits well with this writer.

Right from the opener, you know that you will not find the delicate folk harmonies that made us fly in the previous three albums, and we are stuck with obtrusive (and obstructive;-) country rock feels, needless hard rock tracks and unjustified string arrangements. Even though Weaver over-floods the opening track middle section with mellotrons, he cannot save it with its Gabriel-Moody Blues verse-chorus bit. The tracks of the first side of the vinyl are all of the same mould I just described except for the rather short The River, which is slightly folkier. The harder-edged Down By The Sea (also with Trons) is again not far from ultra early Genesis and Moody Blues, but it hardly saves the day and over-done string arrangements, but it might just be a rare highlight.

The second side starts with the two-part Tears and it is the other highlight on this album, with its lush mellotrons (tons of Trons ;-), but again Genesis-inspired and it does feel a bit forced, especially with its Greek folk dance second movement before Gabriel and Banks (Eeehhmmm!!!…. I mean Cousins and Weaver;-) re-enter the track. The follow-up is rather insignificant but remains charming especially of the awful country hit single to come: Lay Down. It should just that, but if you want to hear mellotrons-laden country rock, this is worth a good laugh: it almost works too. Closing track Backside (slightly Spanish-sounding backtrack) is actually better than the average of the album it stands in: this is a change, for The Strawbs had gotten us used to closing-up poorly their albums.

But trouble lay ahead as both Ford and Hudson will leave, with Weaver following and forcing Cousins to rebuild the group from scratch with Hawken (Renaissance), Coombes and Cronk coming in as well as Lambert. The end of an era with this album, but the apple had been rotten for a while (my guess was when Wakeman left). The Further The Strawbs keep going, the more they lose their soul and the more they sound passe-partout and like others: sad.

STRAWBS Hero and Heroine
Review ( http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=19643 - Permanent link ) by http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=20 - Hugues Chantraine @ 11:17:54 AM EST, 3/1/2004
SPECIAL COLLABORATION

 —  Let’s face it, can we still call this a Strawbs album. Only Cousins remains from the disastrous (artistically because commercially it was their best but their fortunes had crossed the Atlantic and were veering towards country rock) BATS album and even ex-Renaissance Hawken with its Trons orgies will not save the day. With the abandon of their folk days and with every album passing, The Strawbs are sounding more and more like second league BJH, Camel, Rare Bird and also-ran Fruup etc… Worse, they sound like Genesis and Moody Blues wannabes. But at least for this album, they will drop a bit their country rock sound they had acquired - Hawken is classically trained and probably did not care for those influences.

The mini-suite’ has some moments but progheads will like it mostly because it is a mellotrons orgy, but if you take those away the track is just average and the honey-dripping lyrics are sickening. This lyric problem is actually ruining the whole album because of a weak excuse of a concept about love and the passing of the seasons. Sad Young Man (written by newcomer and drummer Coombes) is one of the better tracks and this alone should give you an idea on the quality of Cousins composing abilities by now. Two tracks sound like they were recorded by a lumber-jacking Status Quo if it was not for one or two tricky time sigs. The Strawbs keep on the Gabriel-Moody Blues verse-chorus, and by the fourth track they piano-organ duo (lifted from Procol Harum) is like flogging a dead horse. The title track is rather above average compared to the rest of the album, but again I suspect the Trons to be the culprit. Short, pastoral and folky Midnight Sun is breath of fresh air and brings you back to their early days, but this is unfortunately offset by the country-ish follow-up (mostly due to the harmonica) and the closer is also noteworthy. The rest of the tracks are best left un-mentioned.

If I am a bit harsh with this period of The Straws, it is to prove a point, that most of the mid-70’s Strawbs albums are NOT classics and rather deceiving for the demanding proghead. If you are of the other persuasion, then these will likely appeal to you. For me, by now, they were long history by this album as they had completely lost their soul. In the 90’s The Strawbs have become little more than a country rock band as their DVD shows. How the mighty have fallen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You stopped one album too soon Hugues.

If you look at the reviews pages, you'll see that "Ghosts" is one of the highest regarded albums by the Strawbs. I'd certainly recommend that you try it!

I enjoyed your review of "From the Witchwood", I think from what you say you could have erred on the upper side with the star rating there. 

Clearly the early folk influences of the band are important to you, and you resent the band's move away from that type of music (as did Tony Hooper). I think your reviews of BATS and H&H reflect (labour?) that resentment. For me they are fine albums though.

Easy Livin wrote: You stopped one album too soon Hugues. If you look at the reviews pages, you'll see that "Ghosts" is one of the highest regarded albums by the Strawbs. I'd certainly recommend that you try it! I enjoyed your review of "From the Witchwood", I think from what you say you could have erred on the upper side with the star rating there.  Clearly the early folk influences of the band are important to you, and you resent the band's move away from that type of music (as did Tony Hooper). I think your reviews of BATS and H&H reflect (labour?) that resentment. For me they are fine albums though.

I knew you'd be the first one to take the bait Bob( I saw yopu were on line when I was ready with that opening thread), but I owe it up to you to have thought about re-writing those reviews.

Is Ghosts anymore different than H&H? Not in my opinion

I almost gave FTWW four stars but then I felt I should've given Antiques And Curios the same, So I chose 3,5 stars

I do resent their move away from Folk prog a bit mostly because they started to to sound like someone else. Had they managed to sound like Strawbs during BATS, H&H and Ghosts, I probably would've liked those albums!  I have no problems with groups changing styles as long as they remain themselves and here was not the case.

^^^^

As long as it does not have that insufferable country sound present on BATS ( I do state that H&H does not have it) but we know that "country thang" comes back in later records

Tony Fisher wrote: You have clearly listened and you don't like what you hear that much. Your reviews are (as ever) well constructed and lucid. I totally disagree with your conclusions, but it's just a question of personal taste. I love the Strawbs and consider every album from From The Witchwood to Ghosts to be 4 or 5*. Even on Bursting at the Seams (when they briefly went consciously for commercial success) tracks like Tears and Pavan, Flying, Down By The Sea and Lady Fuschia are superb prog. And as to your final statement about second class, Camel, BJH and Strawbs are far, far better bands (IN MY OPINION!!!) than King Crimson, VDGG and ELP. I suspect a certain Andrea Cortese might just have something to say on this, since he and I appear to be the biggest Strawbs fans on the site!

Again you seem to get me wrong (I thought I was careful in writing it out, though but this can always be tricky as all judgment of values) >> I was talking of second league and not second class bands. We have another thread about the big 5 or 7 and Jethro Tull being included or not as being clearly in your premier football league (Man UTD, Liverpool ,  Arsenal etc...) and Camel and BJH being somewhere like QPR or Wolverhampton>> not the same financial or "artistic" powers. This was not a judgment of class. And in between those two "categories" are groups like Caravan, Gong, Soft Machine etc... which would come up like Leeds, Tottenham, Newcastle or Everton

Radiohead being Chelsea, the new rich kid on the block

BTW, I am not that big a football fan, so some of these smaller teams might be ahead of bigger ones, and I would not know it

I think Andrea will be quite pleased with a few of my reviews (Curios, Witchwood and GNW), but he will most likely disagree with the later two

...uh....what the...., aah, it's you, Hughes!

I was wondering when we whould have had our next CASUS BELLI!!!

By the way, I admit I have to re-write the most part of my Strawbs' reviews, the first in my career here on PA. My first reviews have lots of gaps, sorry

I think I have have rounded up too much the rating on Bursting at the Seams (it would be only a 4) but, this thought apart, I will not change my whole opinion on this underrated and wonderful band.

Your reviews are all well done, Hughes, (as always), but make me feel that you don't like too much other melodic bands as Barclay James Harvest... I think this is due to the italian different taste for music, I don't know, but I truly found Strawbs very captivating and mind-blowing.

Just listen to "Tears and Pavan" or "Down by the Sea" or to "The Life Auction", for example. Pure pleasure (for me, at least).

P.S. the greatest Strawbs' fan on this site is Paco Fox. Even greater than me!!!

^^^^^

Hi Andrea

you should've read the gibberish I wrote in my early reviews. Some of them were a single sentence and were meant to be read successively from album to album. It was funny when I wrotethem , but as long as that comment was theonly one on the page. It quickly became obsolete, as soon as other reviews came in

BATS should simply not be above four stars. No way can this be called a masterpiece even if there is three good track on it

The two "hits" are country rockers and there is almost as many other weak tracks.

I do agree that H&H is better than BATS, but no more than one half star

But you are right this melodic prog like BJH is simply boring me the shreads. It sorts of predates some of the neo-prog of the mid-80's

I might just give Ghosts another shot, but It will be a vinyl from the Library and I fear for my stylus (and for my musical integrity)

The Life Auction, the self titled mini-suite, Lemon Pie and Grace Darling are the best track on Ghosts. Darker atmosphere than the previous H&H. I do not own vinyl, but only remastered cd so I'm not able to compare the sound between the two media.

Let us know what you think about this album.

I personally think you'll rate higher than H&H.

P.S. Have you ever listened to Riccardo Zappa? and to Alan Sorrenti?

They're not on the archives, but they should, in my opinion.

This is a really stupid topic.  The reviews at the beginning are only written from a standpoint of slamming the band.  If the originator (Sean Trane or whatever his real name is) doesn't like Strawbs, then he should keep it to himself.  Rattling off a bunch of nonsense and bad-mouthing a band simply to start arguments is something you'd expect from a little kid.

Strawbs were a great band.  If you can't handle their greatness, then find a nice corner somewhere and mumble to yourself as if you lost your mind...

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 I do not like Strawbs uh?

I probably like them better than you do, but I am a discerning fan. I do not appreciate everything a band throws at me and in the case of Strawbs it is certainly so.

by the time BATS came out, the band simply had nothing to do with the original band. original member Hooper had left one album after Wakeman

And from H&H, the whole group has even nothing to do with BATS either: Only Dave Cousins is present on both

From H&H onwards , I wish that Cousins called the group something different

Edit coming after Bob's post below:

My opening post has a devilish smile plastered all over it, but clearly a smile and the daring/arguing  part was clearly wink plastered too.

Has for the thread title which appear to be warrior-like there is this ;-) behind it.

If Tony and Andrea (which are often on the opposing side of our discussions) have understood thgis, there is no reason to fear I was bashing the band

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Flip_Stone, if we all liked the same things, and always agreed with each other, things would be very dull around here. The topic was not started in order to slam the band, it was intended to allow those who enjoy the music of the Strawbs to talk about it, and for those who do not to explain why they don't. That is essentially what this foruum is all about.

Hugues has stimulated some interesting disucssion in this thread, and in many others.

(This is not an "Admin" post)

For me, the real problem with Strawbs is that they never made a completly great record. There are always one or two weak tracks in every LP. You have 'A me Ah My' in Grave New World, Part of the Union in BATS, Just Love in H&H, and so on.

I really don't agree with some of these reciews. I don't see the relation between BATS and Genesis anywhere at all, and, incidentally, 'Pavan' is not a greek dance nor greek sounding. It's pure medieval folk rock, and this is what Strawbs are about.

As for the pre-Dragonfly stuff, I usually have some problems remembering which one has what track. Some of them appear in various forms in various albums, including Two Weeks Last Summer (Cousins solo pre BATS which mixes folk and rock tracks which I love, even if it gets spoiled again by a really weak song at the end). So I mix in my memory Preserved Uncanned (a 2 CD compilation of demos), All our own work (thje real first album with Sandy Denny), Strawberry Music Sample (outtakes from the first A&M album) and Tie Salad (as it's usully called by fans). Anyway, I more or less remember that Tie Salad had some annoying pop influences, specially in tracks like All I Need is You. Dragonfly was much more interesting, thanks to the inclussion of the cello, which gave that album an Autumnal and bleack feel that continued in some songs in A&C and later reappeared in H&H. Anyway, anyone interested in this group really shoudn't miss from the first album 'The Battle', a suberb story song of real prog-folk.

And, and some others have stated, the classic Strawbs era ends in Ghosts, not H&H. And I dare say it's one of the albums with less filler material and better flow. Although I can do without 'Where do you Go?', it's not as mood spoiler as 'Just Love'.

These are my favourite Strawbs songs up to 'Ghosts' to see which are my tastes :

- The Battle

- I Turned My face into the Wind

- The Antique Suite

- Witchwood

- Benedictus

- The River/Down by the Sea

- Tears and Pavan

- Autumn

- Ghosts

- Blue Angel

^^^^^^

Thanks for the early Strawbs tip That stuff is not that easy to find either in stores, but I am a bit wary of ordering it on the Web before hearing it

I will re-listen to Tears and pavan again just to make sure but the Pavan part sounds suspisciously like Syrtaki dancing folk to my ears. Let you know on this and bring corrections if necessary

And As I said, I will rent the Ghosts vinyl

I will also post my fave tracks too!

^Here goes my faves so far (since I have not heard the debut and yje Denny days)

From Dragonfly: Lady Of The Lake

From JACOAAC: Dream Of Youth  and Antique suite

From FTWW: Witchwood, Sheep, Shephard's Song and Hangman and the Papist

from GNW: Queen Of Dreams and Tomorrow

from H&H: Midnight sun

I will give some mentions to other tracks from weaker albums (IMHO of course)

Tears and Pavan, Down By The sea >> from BATS

Autumn suite and Hero And Heroine >> frpm H&H

This is about right but I should leave space for Ghosts - I am sure this will give a good track or two

Tony Fisher wrote: Sean Trane wrote: And from H&H, the whole group has even nothing to do with BATS either: Only Dave Cousins is present on both I think you'll find Dave Lambert was present on BATS, H&H and everything thereafter.

Oooooooooooopppppppppsssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!...........

Sorry , you are entirely right, since Lambert replaced Hooper after GNW.

replaced maybe but never filled his shoes

For me, the real problem with Strawbs is that they never made a completly great record. There are always one or two weak tracks in every LP.

I found Pavan similar to a Syrtaki dancing too!

Always liked the surprising "Ah Me, Ah My"......and it's natural for me since I like very much another great underrated gem in a similar vein as the JT's Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles...

bet: Hughes will like Ghosts more than the previous ones, due, in particular to the superb The Life Auction , the title track istelf, Lemon Pie and Grace Darling! Also Starshine/Angel Wine is another great favourite of mine...

By the way, you all know that the greatest Strawbs' album is, in my opinion, Grave New World. Bursting at the Seams is great too, but it's a sort of transitional work. Excellent and wonderful songs, though!

P.S. Bursting is the favourite Strawbs' album of my girlfriend  due to Part of the Union, Lady Fuschia and Lay Down...

¨^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Not musically speaking of course but botanically speaking i find Raspberries much nicer

http://rateyourmusic.com/misc/link_image?album_id=35938">

Side 3 Raspberries Release Type Standard Album Released http://rateyourmusic.com/top_albums/year_is_1973 - 1973 Average (Weighted) Rating http://rateyourmusic.com/plots/avgrating_by_age?album_id=35938"> Number of Reviews 1 Number of Ratings 11

Velvetclown wrote: Well.....Raspberries kind of sort of .......smell

you mean they smell like raspberries???

Mostly I have to agree with Sean in the essense of his posts, because it's also obious he is trying to provoke some reaction (You bully!!! ).

The Strawbs were a very good band. but there's a tiny limit between good and great, Strawbs only crossed that line during a few songs, they are somehow repetitive to the point that as easily as they reach the highest standarts they also reach the point when they become boring.

Wakeman gave them a new air, a new sound, when he was begining to make them great, Yes grabbed him and Strawbs missed the chance to reach the musical pantheon of the heroes (Don't misunderstand me, Cousin's and Ford talent was enough to make them succedd, but Rick gave them something extra).

The only rating I find contradictory is the one about From the Witchwood, he talks about this album almost as a masterpiece (and he is short in this only case) but he rates it as an ASIA album with three stars, the excuse: "I almost gave FTWW four stars but then I felt I should've given Antiques And Curios the same, So I chose 3,5 stars"

Sorry Hugues, but it's lame, every album is a universe by it's own, if I rate one album with 5 stars I'm not forced to rate another one with same number of stars even if it has the same level, may sound absurd, but I don't see it this way, your first instinct was to rate it with 4, then follow your first instinct (Usually it's correct) probably there's something special in that album that makes it deserve a higher rating that your subconcious finds before you realize it.

If it was only for the ultra emotional The Hangman and the Papiist, the album deserves 4 solid stars (I won't feel bad if someone rated it with 5) but if you add the Psychedelic Sheep and the pastoral The Shepard, you're very close to the status of masterpiece.

Just to sumarize, Strawbs were an excellent and correct band, but they never dared to cross the line that divides good bands from legends.

Iván

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Thank you Ivan for your excellent analysis (including my lame excuses for not giving 4* to FTWW) but I will express it differently: I love Curios as much as Witchwood, but I am quite sure that Curios is not 4* (hence 3.5*) , and Witchwood is only very partially IMHO superior to Curios. The ideal thing would be 3.75*,so maybe you are right that I should give it its fourth star

OK, you and Bob win!!!!!!!

I'll change it to a fourth star, because re-reading my review, everything does point that way

   Consider it done before the end of the day

BTW, Tony Fisher

I saw your review of this album and it is not highlighted or linked to your collab status, which means that should you one day consider re-writing it (never know) , you will have a tough time doing so. You might want to talk to an admin about adding it in your profile.

Often it is a problem of the address given

I can do that for you Tony, just let me know the details. (i.e.correct e-mail address).

Well done with the 4th star Hugues......you big softee!

Easy Livin wrote: I can do that for you Tony, just let me know the details. (i.e.correct e-mail address). Well done with the 4th star Hugues......you big softee!

Grrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..............

I know, I am much too nice!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tony Fisher wrote: [QUOTE=Paco Fox] For me, the real problem with Strawbs is that they never made a completly great record. There are always one or two weak tracks in every LP. [QUOTE] I agree in general but can't find anything weak on From the Witchwood. As for Hugues, a lot of my favourite albums are in the 1* and 2* section of his reviews. Enough said!

Mmm... you may be right. I'm not that fond of the Hudson Ford contributions, but they are not that bad and doesn't spoil the feel of the album.

Tony Fisher wrote: Paco Fox wrote: For me, the real problem with Strawbs is that they never made a completly great record. There are always one or two weak tracks in every LP. I agree in general but can't find anything weak on From the Witchwood. As for Hugues, a lot of my favourite albums are in the 1* and 2* section of his reviews. Enough said!

Just a second, here!!

 I gave 2* to BATS and H&H (which should get an extra halfstar) , but outside of those two, I have just one more rating/review that is below par and that is Deep Cuts (or is it Deadlines)

Since there's a lot of "sharing of opinion" about Strawbs albums and their ratings, I'll go ahead and rate them myself.  Not that it is going to do any good in this atmosphere of "Strawbs slamming"

Dragonfly & Just a Bunch... (haven't heard)

From the Witchwood - 4 stars

Bursting at the Seams - 4 stars

Hero and Heroine - 4 stars

Ghosts - 3.5 stars

Nomadness - 3 stars

Deep Cuts - 4 stars

Burning For You - 3.5 stars

Deadlines - 4 stars

Albums after Deadlines (haven't heard)

There.  Now in the spirit of this thead, go ahead and slam what I've said.  I'm sure you'll get lots of joy and thrills out of it (cheap ba$tards).

Flip_Stone wrote: Since there's a lot of "sharing of opinion" about Strawbs albums and their ratings, I'll go ahead and rate them myself.  Not that it is going to do any good in this atmosphere of "Strawbs slamming" Dragonfly & Just a Bunch... (haven't heard) From the Witchwood - 4 stars Bursting at the Seams - 4 stars Hero and Heroine - 4 stars Ghosts - 3.5 stars Nomadness - 3 stars Deep Cuts - 4 stars Burning For You - 3.5 stars Deadlines - 4 stars Albums after Deadlines (haven't heard) There.  Now in the spirit of this thead, go ahead and slam what I've said.  I'm sure you'll get lots of joy and thrills out of it (cheap ba$tards).thanks for that unwarranted insult

Just don't get it do you?

This is not about slamming you or Strawbs (your stubbornness about this issue would be more about slapping you)

You are obviously an undiscerning fan since you rate everything between 3.5 and 4 * - but at least you have the objectivity of not going above 4*.

What I am saying is the Strawbs had three or four eras: the folk, the Folk Prog, the prog era (let's call it that if you wish from BATS to Ghosts) and the later 70's album where they dish out a soup (and this strarts at Nomadness) that I really have a hard time to swallow - but I avoid that very period to avoid slamming Strawbs

If the first two eras are clearly linked and Hooper is the common link is the most endearing to me, BATS is clearly the transition album between

a) the Ford/Hudson (leaving after this album and being obviously at odds with Cousins on musical directions) and Wakeman/Hooper (having both left before this album) as well as Blue Weaver also leaving after this one and

b) the Lambert (already present in BATS and outside Cousins , the only one having played on both BATS and H&H), Cronk and  Coombes and Hawken).  these are clearly different groups

Also up for discussion:

c) I might even draw a paralell of this situation by a double entendre of the BATS album titles (situation about to explode)

d) that the albums coming after Hooper has left are very different (suggesting maybe that Hooper took a lot of Strawbs's spirit with him), so Lambert being a different individual and having his own personality was not able to fill in (this was probably not asked of him either) Hooper's influences.

e) the the Strawbs that recorded GNW and H&H have nothing in common except for Cousins, and as I stated elsewhere, maybe this group should've been named something else from H&H

I hope I have cleared up in your mind that I am about thrashing Strawbs

More than this explanation is hard to do

^^^^^^

Sorry Tony ,

I thought you were a collab and reading your reviews , you would have a strong case for it

Enough shoulder rubbing!!

As for your rating of Strawbs albums, we do not differ than much: for all albums you rated higher than I would, but for the immense majority of them there is at most one star of difference in your favor 

we follow a fairly similar path except that I am notoriously, a rater that tends to do so by the middle and not the top (as i believe is the only fair way to rate and avoid to induce newcomers in over-expectations in albums to be discovered: there is nothing crueller than being disappointed at an album , because it is overdone/over-rated). This is because I use a scale and compare all albums of every group together as a whole , (not rate albums individually or even stopping comparisons inside a group's discography) , of course these criterias do come in considerations, but an album's historical importance and its potential influence as well as my personal taste are also part of my rating.

We actually roughly agree until BATS , although you are more enthusiastic than I am about FTWW and GNW (the albums ends badly therefore making it an impossible 5*, IMHO).

And we would likely agree with albums past Ghosts , of which none higher than 3* for you. For those same late 70's albums, my idea (although I have not heard those albums over 25 years now - and those were my introduction to Strawbs back then, I discovered the early albums in the mid-80's) would be maximum 2* ( I have not rated any except one) - so again we coincide but you are again more "generous" (or leniant) by this 1* margin

So really what we disagree about is two albums: BATS and H&H (Ghosts by my own admission I do not know and might have dismissed a bit quickly in a previous post) where all of sudden we have a 2* gap (1.75 for BATS and 2 for H&H which I should really rate 2.5 * instead of 2*).

So we are fighting for pleasure, debating of a band that we both appreciate, simply you do more unconditionally (and leniantly) than I!

You are a bit severe with Grave New World and Bursting at the Seams which are good average half symphonic-half folk prog albums. I agree with you on Hero and Heroine. Lots of mellotron but poorer composition. My interest for the band also stops after Ghosts. They managed to becoming even worse than Invisible Touch's Genesis. Only the Moody Blues did even more worse (encore pire) in the eighties. 

As a humble conclusion, I would give 4 stars to at least Grave New world and 3.5 to all others from Curios to Ghosts. (But like another honorable participant stated in another thread, what I like is by far better than what others like)

I relistened again to From The Witchwood last night and that Hangman And The Papist track is simply one of the most poignant prog folk tracks I have ever heard - love the war marching beat mixed with the bolero feeling and a slightly spanish ambiance.

AWESOME !!!

Worthy of Traffic's John Barleycorn and Jan Dukes's De Grey Sun Symphonia

Say, there are some remasters of From The Witchwood, but is the sound so much better? Are Wakeman's KB better heard in those later versions

I own only the remastered version of From the Witchwod, so I cannot say...

The album sounds fresh, BTW.

Sean Trane wrote: I relistened again to From The Witchwood last night and that Hangman And The Papist track is simply one of the most poignant prog folk tracks I have ever heard - love the war marching beat mixed with the bolero feeling and a slightly spanish ambiance. AWESOME !!! Worthy of Traffic's John Barleycorn and Jan Dukes's De Grey Sun Symphonia   Say, there are some remasters of From The Witchwood, but is the sound so much better? Are Wakeman's KB better heard in those later versions

Been reading this thread with interest I have only heard ' From the Witchwood ' which is very good.Is the Traffic album called John Barleycorn Sean? I have heard the track John Barleycorn and it is very fine piece of music.

Easy Livin wrote: The album is "John Barleycorn must die" Fragile, great album with the classic song "Every Mother's son". It was apparently originally to be a Winwood solo album, as part of his contractual obligations to Island records.

Bob, Cheers for that, your Prog knowledge Knows no bounds How's about some info on a Stevie Winwood album with Stomu Yamashta again not sure of the album name but the traclk 'Crossin the Line' is superb.

Fragile wrote: Easy Livin wrote: The album is "John Barleycorn must die" Fragile, great album with the classic song "Every Mother's son". It was apparently originally to be a Winwood solo album, as part of his contractual obligations to Island records. Bob, Cheers for that, your Prog knowledge Knows no bounds How's about some info on a Stevie Winwood album with Stomu Yamashta again not sure of the album name but the traclk 'Crossin the Line' is superb.

On top of that track, there is the undissociable duo of Freedom Rider/Glad which really astounds me as well , but this is not really folkish

I listened to Ghosts all WE and I picked up a 2003 Strawbs album also!

Although I usually do not write reviews after so few hearrings, I will do it so the thread can live longer.

Ghosts is IMHO, better than H&H

I have raised my rating on the H&H album by one halfstar, making it 2.5 mostly because it does make more sense after listening to Ghosts

I was always curious about that Cousins solo album, Two Weeks Last Summer, but so far fail to get a hold of it

However there exist a reworked version of it in 2003 Strawbs album Blue Angel, which I have reviewed. Here goes:

Strawbs  - Blue Angel

Having never heard Dave Cousin’s solo album “Two Weeks Last Summer”, I was a bit curious about this re-working of an old oeuvre, fearing the worst. I was expecting also some real surprises knowing that this solo album was recorded at the same time when Strawbs were disintegrating around the mediocre BATS album (which curiously enough became their best-selling album).

I still have not heard the original work of the album, but I gather from listening to Blue Angel, that it stuck relatively close the Strawbs sound. Actually , from looking at the credits on this album, it looks more like a collaboration between Cousins and Willoughby accompanied by Strawbs members of two different generations, with Hudson and Weaver from the GNW album and Cronk, Coombes and Lambert from the H&H album. Anyway, the Blue Angel album is very confusing refelecting well the mayhem around Cousins around the time of recording. But clearly there is a strong aural link from this album (or most likely its original form) and Strawbs album such BATS and later H&H: some countryish ambiance of BATS (the awful Strange Day Over The Hill), a long mini-suite reminding H&H or Ghosts albums and an over-all typical third era Strawbs, but also its share of  “average tracks like Do You remember, Rhythm Of The Night, Morning Glory or so-called bonus track The King. So if you are into such albums from them, this is likely to please you, but be warned that there are some very profound sound changes (in the drumming most notably which sound a bit too early 90’s, which is always better than the 80’s drums sounds), but the late 70’s Strawbs spirit is there. Even up to a re-make of their hit Lay Down – just as awful as the original but twice the length - this album is rather average de chez Average.

Blue Angel mini-suite is a typical treat for fans (you’d swear this was Renaissance man Hawken on piano), while the almost 6-min The Plain holds some superb drama and Come The Day cannot save enough to be the day of grace.

Tooooooo bad there are so many shadows on what has been changed from the original oeuvre (and the ugly and stupid artwork with the ugly mutt), but if you are a later 70’s fan, this might just be worth your investigation since to me this might just be a long-lost Strawbs album. For my part, I will look for the original work, before really judging this album, so tentatively and temporarily: 2,5 stars really!!! Just not enough good tracks to warrant a higher rating.

This thread sure is useless.  And to see Hero and Heroine still being rated at 2.5 stars.  This is nothing more than a perpetual Strawbs slam-a-thon being kept alive by Sean Trane (aka Hugues Chantraine).  Dude: give it a rest.  You have some kind of grudge or vendetta against Strawbs.  What's the deal, did they haunt you in a dream or something?!?  Did they break into your little one-room apartment and move things around?

If you don't like them, then listen to somebody else.  It's clear you don't like them, so why do you keep rattling your jaws off when other people aren't interested and don't agree with your opinion?

No useful discussion is occurring here.  Just a bunch of endless talk from Sean/Hughes that more or less says "Strawbs suck, and I'm only going to give them 2.5 stars".

Sean Trane wrote: I was always curious about that Cousins solo album, Two Weeks Last Summer, but so far fail to get a hold of it However there exist a reworked version of it in 2003 Strawbs album Blue Angel, which I have reviewed. Here goes:

In fact, the Blue Angel album is a reworking of a Cousins&Willoughby record called The Bridge from the early 90s plus the Blue Angel and Lay Down covers and a couple of new tracks. It served as a revamp of the group after forming their own record company (Witchwood Media).

The Blue Angel cover seems to please some fans, but I really miss Wakmena's piano. And I really don't like the new drums arrangements.

Two Weeks Last Summer is a transitional record, but it's one of my favourites. It features some songs that were written in Cousins' pure folk era. There are also some veeery nice strings arrangements by Robert Kirby, of Nick Drake fame, who also collaborated with Audience. At the same time, there are some rocker tracks, like The Actor, which some really can't stand but I quite like. The real dud in the album is the closing track, a straight rocker that has nothing to do with the feel of the rest of the album.

Paco Fox wrote: Sean Trane wrote: I was always curious about that Cousins solo album, Two Weeks Last Summer, but so far fail to get a hold of it However there exist a reworked version of it in 2003 Strawbs album Blue Angel, which I have reviewed.     In fact, the Blue Angel album is a reworking of a Cousins&Willoughby record called The Bridge from the early 90s plus the Blue Angel and Lay Down covers and a couple of new tracks. It served as a revamp of the group after forming their own record company (Witchwood Media). The Blue Angel cover seems to please some fans, but I really miss Wakeman's piano. And I really don't like the new drums arrangements. Two Weeks Last Summer is a transitional record, but it's one of my favourites. It features some songs that were written in Cousins' pure folk era. There are also some veeery nice strings arrangements by Robert Kirby, of Nick Drake fame, who also collaborated with Audience. At the same time, there are some rocker tracks, like The Actor, which some really can't stand but I quite like. The real dud in the album is the closing track, a straight rocker that has nothing to do with the feel of the rest of the album.

Thanks for the pointer, I will surely now look for that TWLS album!!!

Flip_Stone wrote: This thread sure is useless.  And to see Hero and Heroine still being rated at 2.5 stars.  This is nothing more than a perpetual Strawbs slam-a-thon being kept alive by Sean Trane (aka Hugues Chantraine).  Dude: give it a rest.  You have some kind of grudge or vendetta against Strawbs.  What's the deal, did they haunt you in a dream or something?!?  Did they break into your little one-room apartment and move things around? If you don't like them, then listen to somebody else.  It's clear you don't like them, so why do you keep rattling your jaws off when other people aren't interested and don't agree with your opinion? No useful discussion is occurring here.  Just a bunch of endless talk from Sean/Hughes that more or less says "Strawbs suck, and I'm only going to give them 2.5 stars".

Obviously you are the one having a problem, not being able to appreciate some people might have a different opinion than yours. I certainly prefer the Wakeman/Hooper period

Here my first review of Ghosts for the thread's sake. I usually never review albums so quickly after having heard them for the first time, and this review will most likely change in the coming weeks

Strawbs – Ghosts

 - this means a good album but non-essential , Mr. Flip_stone

With this album, the Strawbs only confirm the success of the formula of preceding H&H album, but better it slightly. Clearly this Strawbs line-up is better in place than on H&H, and the songwriting is rather more inspired. But we are still far away from the genius of the previous Wakeman/Hooper/Hudson/Ford line-up that made those classic folk-prog albums such Curios and Witchwood.

But this is a different era, and even if I fail to get over it completely, this new line-up is is gelling together and reaching top form with a more melodic prog rock approach with their small mini suites, something they had started with Tears And Pavan on the bad BATS album (this was the only good track in it) and then Autumn from the better H&H and now title track Ghosts (with its dark feelings) and Life Auction on this album. These mini-suites are unfortunately greatly erasing the folk prog roots of the roots but there are still some moments that brings you back to their heyday, but maybe this is like throwing salt on an open wound for me. Another irritating thing is the relatively more country twist (they were obviously trying to break the market in America) greatly contrasting with the proggier tracks, are creating a schizophrenic feel. But outside of those two major tracks are many more average tracks out of which only Grace Darling and the short Remembering are noteworthy.

Alas, their second peak is to end with this album (but clearly they had not reached the almost dizzying perfection of the Witchwood album) as the next few records will strongly regress gradually but steadily ending in some awful Deep Cuts or Deadline albums.  The better album from the Lambert/Coombes/Cronk/Hawken line-up, clearly not an essential record: Just From The Witchwood can decently claim that pretension.

I think the thread began a bit tongue in cheek on Hughe's part and why not

I do though have to disagree in the main on certain reviews. " Ghosts" is their finest 45 minutes and I have to agree with AC with that, but who can deny the sheer power of GNW. Benedictus in itself an epic piece. Or the incredible " From The Witchwood".

Strawbs always had a couple of songs on each album ( the non concept ones) where they frigged about Paco Fox. If you enjoy the band Caravan you will know that most albums had at least one song referencing smutty inuendos!Strawbs needed a bit of fun too, and what humour

Strawbs were great right up to Deadlines. " Deep Cuts" for me my personal favourite. Listen to Simple Visions if you can on a loud sound system. Also their most underrated album of all is " Nomadness". Many people miss this album for some reason. Hard act to follow Ghosts and H&H.

After Deadlines they lost their way and many of the recent studio work from 87' are weak and sadly Dave Cousin's voice is " Cracking at the Seams", I have been fortunete to see them live in 97 and 2000 and their passion is wonderful on stage.

BTW songs like Part Of The Union may sound like banter but in fact they were serious political statements as was Back in the Old Routine from " Burning For You"

Peace brothers and sisters! Tis good to see this great band receive some weighty debate however

Chris Stacey wrote: I think the thread began a bit tongue in cheek on Hughe's part and why not I do though have to disagree in the main on certain reviews. " Ghosts" is their finest 45 minutes and I have to agree with AC with that, but who can deny the sheer power of GNW. Benedictus in itself an epic piece. Or the incredible " From The Witchwood". Strawbs always had a couple of songs on each album ( the non concept ones) where they frigged about Paco Fox. If you enjoy the band Caravan you will know that most albums had at least one song referencing smutty inuendos!Strawbs needed a bit of fun too, and what humour Strawbs were great right up to Deadlines. " Deep Cuts" for me my personal favourite. Listen to Simple Visions if you can on a loud sound system. Also their most underrated album of all is " Nomadness". Many people miss this album for some reason. Hard act to follow Ghosts and H&H. After Deadlines they lost their way and many of the recent studio work from 87' are weak and sadly Dave Cousin's voice is " Cracking at the Seams", I have been fortunete to see them live in 97 and 2000 and their passion is wonderful on stage. BTW songs like Part Of The Union may sound like banter but in fact they were serious political statements as was Back in the Old Routine from " Burning For You" Peace brothers and sisters! Tis good to see this great band receive some weighty debate however

Your words sound mellow to my ears, Chris!!

BTW, I hoped, at least, a four star rating from Hughes on Ghosts!

I knew that he would has rated Ghosts higher than Hero and Heroine, though!

Andrea Cortese wrote: Chris Stacey wrote: I think the thread began a bit tongue in cheek on Hugues's part and why not I do though have to disagree in the main on certain reviews. " Ghosts" is their finest 45 minutes and I have to agree with AC with that, but who can deny the sheer power of GNW. Benedictus in itself an epic piece. Or the incredible " From The Witchwood". Strawbs always had a couple of songs on each album ( the non concept ones) where they frigged about Paco Fox. If you enjoy the band Caravan you will know that most albums had at least one song referencing smutty inuendos!Strawbs needed a bit of fun too, and what humour Strawbs were great right up to Deadlines. " Deep Cuts" for me my personal favourite. Listen to Simple Visions if you can on a loud sound system. Also their most underrated album of all is " Nomadness". Many people miss this album for some reason. Hard act to follow Ghosts and H&H. After Deadlines they lost their way and many of the recent studio work from 87' are weak and sadly Dave Cousin's voice is " Cracking at the Seams", I have been fortunete to see them live in 97 and 2000 and their passion is wonderful on stage. BTW songs like Part Of The Union may sound like banter but in fact they were serious political statements as was Back in the Old Routine from " Burning For You" Peace brothers and sisters! Tis good to see this great band receive some weighty debate however Your words sound mellow to my ears, Chris!! BTW, I hoped, at least, a four star rating from Hugues on Ghosts! I knew that he would have rated Ghosts higher than Hero and Heroine, though!

Chris and Andrea,

Thanks for both your comments

I have read your reviews on Strawbs album this morning.  Andrea's reviews are impressive and you can tell he is an absolute fan>> I believe onlyhim could've told me about the context of such a songf as Grace Darling.

I never read other reviews before making mine to avoid outside interference/influences . But I do so after having posted mine. I love seeing how close (or how far in later Strawbs album) I come to progheads

And if I am far away, I tend to re-listen to check in case I have missed out on something. Tony F and Andrea have intrigued enough to keep persevering in H&H and Ghosts respectively.  and I will!!!

But I am dead-set against BATS. two tracks: Pavan and River are worthy, the rest....

PS: that is Hugues, BTW!! Hughes can only be a last name. My English name would transfer as Hugh

Sean Trane wrote: Andrea Cortese wrote: Chris Stacey wrote: I think the thread began a bit tongue in cheek on Hugues's part and why not I do though have to disagree in the main on certain reviews. " Ghosts" is their finest 45 minutes and I have to agree with AC with that, but who can deny the sheer power of GNW. Benedictus in itself an epic piece. Or the incredible " From The Witchwood". Strawbs always had a couple of songs on each album ( the non concept ones) where they frigged about Paco Fox. If you enjoy the band Caravan you will know that most albums had at least one song referencing smutty inuendos!Strawbs needed a bit of fun too, and what humour Strawbs were great right up to Deadlines. " Deep Cuts" for me my personal favourite. Listen to Simple Visions if you can on a loud sound system. Also their most underrated album of all is " Nomadness". Many people miss this album for some reason. Hard act to follow Ghosts and H&H. After Deadlines they lost their way and many of the recent studio work from 87' are weak and sadly Dave Cousin's voice is " Cracking at the Seams", I have been fortunete to see them live in 97 and 2000 and their passion is wonderful on stage. BTW songs like Part Of The Union may sound like banter but in fact they were serious political statements as was Back in the Old Routine from " Burning For You" Peace brothers and sisters! Tis good to see this great band receive some weighty debate however Your words sound mellow to my ears, Chris!! BTW, I hoped, at least, a four star rating from Hugues on Ghosts! I knew that he would have rated Ghosts higher than Hero and Heroine, though! Chris and Andrea, Thanks for both your comments I have read your reviews on Strawbs album this morning.  Andrea's reviews are impressive and you can tell he is an absolute fan>> I believe onlyhim could've told me about the context of such a songf as Grace Darling. I never read other reviews before making mine to avoid outside interference/influences . But I do so after having posted mine. I love seeing how close (or how far in later Strawbs album) I come to progheads And if I am far away, I tend to re-listen to check in case I have missed out on something. Tony F and Andrea have intrigued enough to keep persevering in H&H and Ghosts respectively.  and I will!!! But I am dead-set against BATS. two tracks: Pavan and River are worthy, the rest....       PS: that is Hugues, BTW!! Hughes can only be a last name. My English name would transfer as Hugh

Thanks, HUGHUES!

My girlfriend is the greatest fan of the Strawbs' album: Bursting at the Seams!!!

That's for songs as Part of the Union, Lady Fuschia and Flying.

Making people listening to this album, I have made them love Strawbs' other works!!!

Keep listening to "Ghosts" Hugues, I'm sure the fourth star will be granted by you if you do!

By the way, in Scotland Hugh = Shuggie.

...

...Shuggie?

what is the meaning of shuggie?

Andrea Cortese wrote: ... ...Shuggie? what is the meaning of shuggie?

Yeah, what the hell is a shuggie?????????

I have no idea why I should be angry before the answer!!!!

BTW: In italian Hugues is Ugo

Ghosts is now at 4.47/5 in average

It should be at 4.50

Sean Trane wrote: Andrea Cortese wrote: ... ...Shuggie? what is the meaning of shuggie? Yeah, what the hell is a shuggie?????????   I have no idea why I should be angry before the answer!!!!   BTW: In italian Hugues is Ugo

It doesn't mean anything, it's just what guys called Hugh are often known as here, sometimes shortened to Shug.

^^^^^^

does this mean that they shag women easily????

1) As big a Strawbs fan as I am, Ghosts is not a 5* album; it's a solid 4. I prefer Hero & Heroine.

2)I usually disagree with Hugues on most things, but that doesn't mean I don't respect him and his views, since his knowledge is encyclopaedic. It's a matter of taste. I don't think that abuse directed towards him is in order.

3) Having spent 4 years at university in Scotland, I know that Shuggie or Shug is a (mainly Glaswegian) abbreviation for Hugh.

4)Anyone heard Strawbs Live at Nearfest 2004? This is the Ghosts/Hero & Heroine lineup. Great musicianship and songs, but Cousans' voice has not survived the test of time well.

I remeber seeing a few years back (3 maybe) the Classic Rock series DVD of the Strawbs LIVE and to say the least, it was lacklustre, but what do I know

This one is not in the database

Tony Fisher wrote: 4)Anyone heard Strawbs Live at Nearfest 2004? This is the Ghosts/Hero & Heroine lineup. Great musicianship and songs, but Cousans' voice has not survived the test of time well.

I haven't listened to that one, but it's true that his voice is really weak now. The find rocker songs in 'Deja Fou' almost unlisteneable because of it (and the really dreadful production).

Curiously, his voice seems to be a bit better in his latest album, labeled as 'Cousins & Conrad'.

Sean Trane wrote: I remeber seeing a few years back (3 maybe) the Classic Rock series DVD of the Strawbs LIVE and to say the least, it was lacklustre, but what do I know This one is not in the database

It's a concert from the line up featured in the 'Don't say goodbye' and 'Ringing Down the Years' albums. It is not the best at all: Chris Parren keyboards are not what we are used to in this group, and I never liked Willoughby electric guitar playing.

Paco Fox wrote: Sean Trane wrote: I remeber seeing a few years back (3 maybe) the Classic Rock series DVD of the Strawbs LIVE and to say the least, it was lacklustre, but what do I know This one is not in the database It's a concert from the line up featured in the 'Don't say goodbye' and 'Ringing Down the Years' albums. It is not the best at all: Chris Parren keyboards are not what we are used to in this group, and I never liked Willoughby electric guitar playing.

From memory, they sounded like a country rock group on that DVD

I am allergic to C&W music

I' d rather listen to rap or techno music

I have finally gooten the remastered version of Antiques and Curios with the bonus tracks some two weeks ago and the whole album has been on a regular rotation in my deck sice.

It made me rewrite my review of the album and I upgraded my rating to 4 on the strenght of the three excellent bonus tracks