(1st Wave) - The STRAWBS

The STRAWBS - England (1969)
FOLK PROGRESSIVE ROCK
Written by Hugues Chantraine & Ronald Couture

This well-known group’s progressive rock of the early 70s differed from their more successful compatriots, like The MOODY BLUES, KING CRIMSON and PINK FLOYD. Their sound originated from a more traditional British folk style blended with enough rock to form a unique sound. STRAWBS have recorded over 15 albums through the years, with various line-ups around the core of David Cousins, who is the main songwriter and driving force of the band. He has also released a couple of excellent solo albums. STRAWBS’ most interesting period began with “Just A Collection Of Antiques And Curios” and ended with “Ghosts,” their best album probably being “From The Witchwood.”

STRAWBS’ musical path can be described in three successive steps, starting from a completely folk group to a very impressive and credible progressive folk rock duo around the personalities of Dave Cousins and Tony Hooper. The arrival of Rick Wakeman and a rock rhythm section brought the group to an impressive level of recognition, not least due to Wakeman’s very flashy profile and their the three albums (“Antiques And Curios”, “Witchwood”, and “Grave New World”) are classics of the genre. After the transitional “Bursting At The Seam”, that saw the full band being changed after original member Tony Hooper left, the new group including (RENAISSANCE’s John Hawken) changed to sound dramatically but they had two more classic albums but more mainstream (like RENAISSANCE or MOODY BLUES), albums such as “Hero And Heroine” and “Ghosts” are the references. Further albums gradually disperse their former glories. STRAWBS still exists today and is the vehicular name for Dave Cousins’ career. The group’s early albums are a textbook case of folk prog the same way GRYPHON, THE PENTANGLE and STACKRIDGE.

DISCOGRAPHY:
Strawbs (69) / Strawberry Sampler Number 1 (69) / Dragonfly (70) / Just A Collection Of Antiques And Curious (70) / From The Witchwood (71) / Grave New World (72) / Bursting At The Seams (73) / All Our Own Work (73) / Hero And Heroine (74) / Strawbs By Choice (74) / Early Strawbs (74) / Nomadness (75) / Ghosts (75) / Deep Cuts (76) / Burning For You (77) / Classic Strawbs (77) / Deadlines (78) / The Best Of Strawbs (78) / Don't Say Goodbye (87) / Preserved Uncanned (90) / Ringing Down The Years (91) / A Choice Selection Of Strawbs (92) / The Strawbs' Greatest Hits Live (93) / Heartbreak Hill (95) / BBC In Concert (95) / Halcyon Days - UK release (97) / Halcyon Days - USA Release (98) / Concert Classics (99) / The Complete Strawbs - Chiswick '98 Live (00) / Acoustic Strawbs Baroque & Roll (01) / 30 Years In Rock, Classic Rock Legends (01) / The Collection (02) / Tears And Pavan - An Introduction To Strawbs (02) / Blue Angel (03) / 20th Century Masters - Millenium Collection (03) / Strawbs Live In Tokyo '75 - Grave New World The Movie (03) / Deja Fou (04)

BEST ALBUMS:
From The Witchwood (71), Grave New World (72), Bursting At The Seams (73), Hero And Heroine (74), Ghosts (75)