2009 sees the 40th-ish anniversary of the Strawbs. I say "ish" because it's actually the 40th anniversary of their first record which isn't really the same thing, as they actually began life five years earlier as a bluegrass band called the Strawberry Hill Boys. In fact, to be scrupulously accurate, their first record came out in June 1968, with their first album coming out in 1969. Whatever... this year sees a couple of special live shows lined up which will see five different lineups of the band performing the music of yore. So what better time for the band to put out a brand new studio album?
Their bluegrass period didn't last once main man Dave Cousins started writing, and they quickly became mainstays of the UK folk-rock scene. However, once Rick Wakeman arrived on keyboards, alongside a new rhythm section consisting of Richard Hudson and John Ford, they added a progressive rock edge to their sound on albums like the live Just A Collection Of Antiques And Curios and the studio sets, From The Witchwood and Grave New World. The prog edge largely vanished once Dave Lambert arrived, something that coincided with the pop success of singles "Lay Down" and "Part Of The Union" and album Bursting At The Seams.
After their most successful lineup imploded, Cousins and Lambert put together a new Strawbs, which concentrated its attentions on the USA, and it's the nucleus of this version that is back together in 2009. The band went on hiatus in 1980 when Cousins departed for a career in radio, but there have been a few reunions over the years including headlining the 1983 Cambridge Folk Festival with the Grave New World lineup, a twenty fifth anniversary tour in 1993 and a thirtieth anniversary celebration. Since then, they've popped up fairly regularly leading up to this arithmetically challenged 40th anniversary.
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
Nice review. I always preferred the "Hero And Heroine" lineup with John Hawken on keys. I wonder whatever happened to him?
-Glen
2 - Mr H
Well he toured and recorded with them as recently as 2006 but I think he chose to retire due to poor health last year. He was also in the Nashville Teens and Renaissance, amongst many others.
3 - WS
Nice to see someone giving these guys some attention and love. This one is pretty strong, songwriting-wise. I wish they'd bring the Mellotron back (beasts that they are).