"The history of The Strawbs musical development is a wonderful and complex one. Founder members Dave Cousins and Tony Hooper started out playing bluegrass and then evolved their songs through folk and pop before embracing quality electric rock music. Through a revolving door of fate and opportunity have come many young and talented musicians which now reads like a hall of fame including Sandy Denny, Rick Wakeman, Hudson & Ford, Blue Weaver, Dave Lambert, Chas Cronk and John Hawken to name but a few! All have played their parts at key stages of that 33-year journey and many have rejoined! In spite of all the pressures of the music business over those years, they ended up still being good friends in the end." - Woundrous Stories Magazine
Witchwood Records exists to release CDs, DVDs, books and music by the Strawbs, Acoustic Strawbs and related bands. The company is partially owned by Dave Cousins lead singer/songwriter with the band. They aim to be as open and available to fans and enthusiasts as is possible.
The Strawbs/NY '75 ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'Autumn')
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Previously available as an expensive import, now available at at domestic price. In the mid-1970s the Strawbs were on a roll in the United States. The band had had five consecutive albums on the Billboard charts between 1972 and 1975, with 'Hero and Heroine' and 'Ghosts' between them selling over half a million copies. In 1975 Strawbs set out on their first US headline tour. 'NY '75' was recorded live in front of a wildly enthusiastic audience at the legendary Calderone Theatre on Long Island, just half an hour from the centre of Manhattan. This is the first release of this concert on CD. Founder Strawbs member David Cousins, lead guitarist Dave Lambert, bass player Chas Cronk, and drummer Rod Coombes, were augmented by Robert Kirby (best known for his arrangements on the Nick Drake albums) and John Mealing (formerly with jazz-rock supergroup If), both on keyboards. The album shows how the Strawbs stage show had evolved from its early folk-inspired tunes into an almost continuous symphonic sequence of hard-hitting songs. The Strawbs came on stage in a blackout to a long-lost taped introduction, 'Still Small Voice.' Among the established classics such as 'Hero and 'Heroine' and 'Ghosts' were new offerings including 'The Promised Land,' 'To Be Free,' and 'Hanging In The Gallery' which have never appeared before on a live Strawbs album. Tracks include Still Small Voice, Ghosts, Autumn, Hanging in the Gallery, The Promised Land, New World, Lemon Pie, Remembering, You and I (When We Were Young), Out in the Cold/Round and Round, The Life Auction, To Be Free, Hero and Heroine.
Dave Cousins/Secret Paths ....import CD $24.99
"Dave Cousins may be the most talented Dylan-influenced songwriter to come out of England. His work fairly resounds of both rebellion and antiquity, as though he were writing protest songs of the 18th or 19th century." (Bruce Eder/All Music Guide 2008) Dave Cousins is performing his first ever solo tour starting in the USA and Canada in the Spring. Dave has been the leader and main songwriter of Strawbs from the release of the band's first album in 1968, on A&M, to the present day. 'Secret Paths' focuses on the songs that he will be singing on future solo shows. They include 'Ringing down the years,' a reflection by Dave on the news of former band member Sandy Denny's tragic death; 'I'll show you where to sleep,' using a tuning shown to Dave by Joni Mitchell; 'Josephine (for better or for worse),' covered by Jack Jones; 'Canada' has the approval of Gordon Lightfoot; while the new 'Plainsong' is as atmospheric as any song he has ever written. The secret weapon of 'Secret Paths' is guitarist Melvin Duffy who plays pedal steel and Weissenborn Hawaiian guitar on the record. Melvin has recently spent three years on the road with Robbie Williams and has recorded with Joe Cocker and Zucchero among many others. The album is produced by Chris Tsangarides whose studio is littered with gold discs for albums by Yngwie Malmsteen, Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy, and The Tragically Hip, and many more.
Four great titles from the Witchwood catalog previously only available as expensive imports now being released in the U.S.!
Dave Cousins/Two Weeks Last Summer ....CD $14.99
Between the recording of 'Grave New World' and 'Bursting at the Seams' Dave Cousins went into Richard Branson's Manor Studio near Oxford to record a solo album. The musicians read like the Who's Who of British rock music at that time - Rick Wakeman of Yes, Roger Glover of Deep Purple, Jon Hiseman of Colosseum, and guitarist Miller Anderson. 'Two Weeks Last Summer' is a unique mix of powerful rock, psychedelia, and sensitive, deeply personal songs, some of which have become the most sought after in the Strawbs catalogue.
Dave Cousins/The Boy in the Sailor Suit ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'Hellfire Blues')
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Dave Cousins has been the leader and main songwriter of Strawbs from the release of the band's first album in 1968 on A&M, to the present day. In the 1970s the band was at its peak with major chart albums 'Grave New World', and 'Bursting at the Seams' in the UK, followed by huge success in the USA and Canada with 'Hero and Heroine' and 'Ghosts'. Strawbs sold over 3 million albums in that period and spent 55 weeks on the Billboard charts with seven successive albums in the period 1972-1977. 'The Boy in the Sailor Suit' features ten brand new Cousins' songs. Guitarist Miller Anderson guests on the album, as he did on David's 1972 album, 'Two Weeks Last Summer,' which continues to sell well to this day. Ian Cutler of Feast of Fiddles adds a highly distinctive flavour to the material - Ian made his debut as the young fiddle player in the cult film 'The Wicker Man.' The rhythm section comprises Chas Cronk of Strawbs on bass, with drummer Chris Hunt who played for many years with Lonnie Donegan. The album is produced by Chris Tsangarides whose studio is littered with gold discs for albums by Yngwie Malmsteen, Judas Priest, Thin Lizzie and many more.
Strawbs/Burning for You ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'Burning for Me')
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'Burning for you' was the last Strawbs album to chart in the Billboard Top 200 in the United States. It ended a remarkable run for the band between 1972-1977 when a different album charted each year, with Strawbs on the album charts for a total of 59 weeks across the period. The line-up of founder Strawbs member David Cousins, lead guitarist Dave Lambert, bass player Chas Cronk, and drummer Rod Coombes, were augmented by John Mealing (formerly with jazz-rock supergroup If) and Robert Kirby (best known for his arrangements on the Nick Drake albums) both on keyboards. The album was produced in Holland by Jeffrey Lesser who had previously worked with Rupert Holmes producing 'Lazy Afternoon' for Barbra Streisand. 'Burning for You' starts with the moody and expansive 'Burning for Me' which David Cousins sings with restraint over a sombre repeating theme on piano and strings. 'Barcarole (For the death of Venice),' with gorgeous harmonies, is a lament for Europe's most evocative city. There is more than a hint of bile in 'Alexander the Great,' which is not a paean to the legendary general, but is more a tongue-in-cheek dig at the critics. Dave Lambert contributes a monster riff with 'Heartbreaker' that is still in the band's stage set, while Chas Cronk makes his solo song-writing debut with the anthemic 'Carry Me Home'. Witchwood's release of this album includes the bonus track 'Joey and Me.'
The Strawbs/Deep Cuts ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'Beside the Rio Grande')
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Between 1972 and 1977, Strawbs had seven albums in the Billboard Top 200 albums, in total spending over 52 weeks on the US charts. The big US albums were 'Hero and Heroine' and 'Ghosts', both selling over 250,000 copies, while making little impression on the UK market. 'Deep Cuts' was the Strawbs album designed to re-establish the band in the UK market. The single 'I only want my love to grow in you' was a radio smash - Noel Edmonds 'Record of the Week', and so on - but an unproven BPI allegation of chart-tampering kept the single "bubbling under" for six weeks, despite it selling 35,000 copies. The songs on 'Deep Cuts' were among the strongest the band ever recorded - "Beside the Rio Grande" revives the epic sound and moral outrage of "Grave New World" in its tale of a frontier minister's grisly religious martyrdom, while the pleasant strumming of "Thinking of you" soft-shoes its way through a music-hall love song. The album has been re-mastered from the original tapes and includes 'You won't see the light', a previously unreleased bonus track written by guitarist Dave Lambert.
Lambert Cronk/Touch the Earth ....import CD $21.99
(excerpt from 'Only Child')
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Dave Lambert, lead guitarist, and Chas Cronk, bass, played with Strawbs throughout most of the 1970s when the band was touring to promote their major albums 'Grave New World', 'Bursting at the Seams', Hero and Heroine' and 'Ghosts.' When Strawbs ceased touring in 1980, they decided to form Lambert Cronk, alongside latter-day Strawbs, Andy Richards and Tony Fernandez. However, as fate would have it, Trevor Horn invited Andy Richards to become the keyboard sound of Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Chas Cronk was invited to join the Steve Hackett Band where he met Nick Magnus, and Tony Fernandez went on a world tour with Rick Wakeman. In the end, an album's worth of Lambert Cronk material was recorded but, as punk had become the raging flavour of the day, it remained on the shelf. With the recent upsurge in interest in Strawbs, the Lambert Cronk material has been digitally remastered as 'Touch the Earth.' The musicianship is impeccable with Dave Lambert's vocals and guitar to the forefront, surrounded by the swirling, masterly keyboards of Andy Richards and Nick Magnus, and with the rhythm section of Chas Cronk, Tony Fernandez and Ian Mosely providing rock solid propulsion.
Various Artists/The Witchwood Project ....import CD $13.99
(excerpt from 'The Happiest Boy in Town')
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This is a very limited edition compilation from Witchwood Records featuring tracks from The Strawbs (both electric and acoustic), Dave Cousins, Dave Lambert, Wakeman & Cousins, Cousins & Conrad, John Ford, Jennifer Cutting's Ocean Orchestra, Dead Like Harry, The Watersons, and Dark Ocean. And to make it more interesting, Witchwood has included two previously unreleased tracks - a live rendition of Simple Visions by the Acoustic Strawbs and a very rare recording of The Happiest Boy in Town by the Strawberry Hill Boys!
The Strawbs/Recollection ....import CD $21.99
(excerpt from 'We'll Meet Again Sometime')
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The Strawbs came to national prominence in 1970, soon after Rick Wakeman joined the band. Following their triumphant first headline concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall the press anointed Rick as "Tomorrow's Supertar!" The album recorded at the show, 'Just a Collection of Antiques and Curios', reached No 27 in the UK album charts, the band's first chart placing. Subsequent albums, 'Grave New World' and 'Bursting at the Seams' each sold in excess of 100,000 copies in the UK in the 1970s. In fact both have subsequently been awarded platinum discs by the BPI recognizing sales in excess of 250,000 each. 'Recollection' is a full concert recording from the same period. The original 8 track tapes have been remixed by David Cousins. Taking advantage of modern digital technology this new release will allow fans to hear the band as though they were at the show. 'Recollection' features classic Strawbs songs that have never been released in a live version. 'The man who called himself Jesus' and 'The battle' became hugely popular through exposure on John Peel's 'Top Gear' show. Furthermore Rick's dazzling organ extravaganza, 'Where is this dream of your youth', sounds heavier than ever before, clearly marking the band's transition from the folk clubs to rock. Believe it or not, the album ends with a quirky take on the Shadows' hit 'Dance on'!
The Strawbs/Heartbreak Hill - The Platinum Edition ....import CD $21.99
(excerpt from 'Heartbreak Hill')
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'Heartbreak Hill' was the last of the 1970s albums recorded by Strawbs. David Cousins remembers: "We felt we had made our best album in years, but, as we finished recording, our management decided to withdraw support of the band and the master tapes disappeared in a legal haze." This classic version of the album has never been previously released. The long-lost master tapes were recently discovered discarded in a skip, and have been digitally re-mastered. 'Heartbreak Hill' features the remarkable keyboard work of Andy Richards who used it as a calling card to become the sound of Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Includes Something for Nothing, Another Day Without You, We Can Make It Together, Heartbreak Hill, Starting Over, Two Separate People, Desert Song, Let It Rain, Bonus track: Something for Nothing - Whiplash Mix.
The Strawbs/Painted Sky ....import CD $21.99
(excerpt from 'Benedictus')
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"The STRAWBS were once three boys on guitars - in 1968 or so. Now on their new album, Painted Sky, the STRAWBS are three grown-up men - men who have had careers and lives away from the band and in the real world. The drums are gone, the electric guitars gather dust somewhere, and these three focus on blending their guitars into a sound that seems old and new at the same time - with a dedication that attracts real music aficionados like sophisticated older lovers attract younger mates. The STRAWBS play with a sense of personal attention to the audience. The masterful hands of Dave Lambert on the nape of the guitar hit chords from top to bottom with precision and gentleness. Chas Cronk, whether he is on bass or guitar, fills in the empty spaces of the music and provides a sweet and steady undercurrent of rhythm. And then Dave Cousins, the poet and the voice, leads you on an intimate ride through the music, until with a flourish of the hand he lets you know you're finished." Mary Beth Barber/Sacramento - Offoffoff.com) Tracks include: Oh How She Changed, Grace Darling, Shine on Silver Sun, The Antique Suite, Benedictus, Midnight Sun, Cold Steel, If, Autumn. Total running time: 58' 47". (Both acoustic and electric versions of the band will be touring the UK at the beginning of 2006!)
The Strawbs/Live at NEARfest ....import CD $21.99
(excerpt from 'Down by the Sea')
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The classic line-up of the veteran English band regrouped in 2004 for a lauded international tour. Spearheaded by singer and songwriter Dave Cousins, along with guitarist Dave Lambert, bass player Chas Cronk, drummer Rod Coombes, and keyboard player John Hawken, the "Hero & Heroine" era line-up amazed audiences worldwide. This disc was recorded at NEARfest, an annual event celebrating the resurgence of progressive and art rock worldwide. The set was recorded in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in June 2004. Tracks include Out In The Cold, Round & Round, Burning For Me, New World, Autumn, Heartbreaker, Barren Land, River, Down By The Sea, Hero & Heroine, Round & Round (Reprise), and Here Today, Gone Tomorrow.
Dave Cousins & Conny Conrad/High Seas ....import CD $21.99
(excerpt from 'The Call to Action')
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'High Seas' is the first major collaboration between Dave Cousins of The Strawbs, internationally the most successful UK folk-rock band of the 1970's, and Conny Conrad, one of Germany's leading guitarists, composers and producers. Dave Cousins is the lead singer and songwriter of The Strawbs. The group continues to have a major success in Europe, the USA and Canada, and has sold in excess of 3 million albums. Former Strawbs member Rick Wakeman makes a guest appearance on High Seas. Conny Conrad worte the title track of 'Pico,' the stage musical about The Beatles early days at The Star Club, that ran for five years at The Delphi Theatre in Hamburg. He wrote the anthem, Hello Stuttgart Go, for the World Athletic Championships in 1993. His mood music albums sell 100,000 copies each. He also produces and tours with his Anglo/German rock band, Dark Ocean.
Rick Wakeman & David Cousins/Wakeman & Cousins "Live" ....import CD $21.99
Dave Cousins and Rick Wakeman, recorded in 1988. "At the time this was recorded I was the Managing Director of DevonAir Radio, the commercial station for Exeter and Torbay, while Rick was out and about promoting his latest album "The Gospels. In early 1988 I had decided to launch the first DevonAir Music Festival with the Stan Getz quartet as the headline attraction. My next target was the Rick Wakeman Band, and I was over the moon when Rick agreed to the idea that the two of us should be the support for his show. As it was to be the first time we had played together in 17 years I popped over to the Isle of Man for a day to run down the numbers with him. It took about an hour!! I think that Rick's playing on the night is among his best performances ever, on or off record..." Quote from Dave Cousins, November 2004.
(Acoustic) Strawbs/Live In Toronto at Hugh's Room ....import DVD-NTSC $25.99
Strawbs acoustic tours in the UK, the USA, and especially Canada have attracted rave reviews. Singer and songwriter David Cousins with guitarists Dave Lambert and Brian Willoughby played four sell-out shows at Hugh's Room in Toronto in 2003, the last of which was filmed for this release. 'Live in Toronto' has a different set of material from the classic 'Baroque & Roll' including a highly emotional version of Sandy Denny's 'Who knows Where the Time Goes.' It also features definitive versions of Autumn, Ghosts, We'll Meet Again Some Time more... The DVD also has a specially filmed documentary feature in which David Cousins revisits the places in West London where the band first played in the 1960s, including Strawberry Hill which gave the band its name. NTSC Region 0.
The Strawbs/Deja Fou ....CD $14.99
All new Strawbs album to be released! This is the legendary US Strawbs band of some thirty years ago - Dave Cousins (vocals, guitar), Dave Lambert (vocals, guitar), John Hawken (keyboards), Rod Coombes (drums) and Chas Cronk (bass) - the first time this band has been together since the classic Strawbs albums Hero and Heroine and Ghosts. It also represents the first totally new album for over 20 years featuring 12 new Strawbs tracks. This line up also headlined the recent NEARfest 2004.
Dave Lambert/Work in Progress ....import CD $21.99
Dave Lambert is the lead guitarist and supporting vocalist with The Strawbs. Dave joined the band for their UK album 'Bursting at the Seams' which reached No. 2 in the UK charts and sold over 100,000 - worldwide the album has been certified platinum by the BPI. He was with the band for 'Hero and Heroine' and Ghosts', both major albums in the US and Canada. 'Work in Progress' is a summary of Dave's career - new songs, live recordings, and rare studio sessions. The album includes two previously unreleased tracks from Fire, one of the most collectable bands from the 1960s. There is a rare studio remix from King Earl Boogie Band, and an alternate take from his 1970s solo album featuring John Entwhistle, Unreleased live recordings are from Strawbs' Chiswick House concert, and there are three new and previously unreleased songs.
The Strawbs/Live in Tokyo '75; Grave New World-The Movie ....DVD-NTSC $14.99
Previously available as an import, but coming soon as a domestic release
at a significantly reduced price!!! Live in Tokyo '75: Dave
Cousins, Dave Lambert, John Hawken, Chas Cronk, Rod Coombes. In 1975 the Strawbs
were at their peak. After more than a dozen high profile tours of the States and
Canada the albums 'Hero and Heroine,' and 'Ghosts' rode high in the Billboard
charts. But now it was time to conquer new territories. Grave New
World: Dave Cousins, Tony Hooper, Blue Weaver, John Ford, Richard Hudson. In 1972
the Strawbs were in the album charts for three months with this epic album. The film
of the album was remarkable for being the first full-lenth video of a music album produced
solely for cinema use. The video made intensive use of the then new technique of
colour separation overlay, or chroma-keying as it is now known. The film was edited by
Barry Turned who later edited the promo for Bohemian Rhapsody. The edited master was then
transferred via an optical printed to 35mm film stock for projection at cinemas, a hugely
expensive operation even today.
Bonus tracks: "Til the sun comes shining through" (from a 1970 Granada TV show -
this is Rick Wakeman's television debut, and the Strawbs first TV appearance in Britain.
It was Lindsay Cooper's last appearance with the group before John Ford and Richard Hudson
joined as the rhythm section. News interview from 1974 with Dave Cousins talking
about the single Grace Darling. The band then set sail on an RNLI lifeboat to visit the
Longstone Lighthouse, home of Grace Darling. "The young pretender" from
the Wakeman and Cousins album filmed in Rick's studio in Wembley in May 2002.
The Strawbs/Blue Angel .... CD $14.99
The project to re-issue The Bridge as Blue Angel has been revived - totally remixed with new tracks and contributions from Dave Lambert, Rod Coombes, Mary Hopkin and CathrynCraig. The main attraction is, at last, a band version of Cousins' epic "Blue Angel". In addition there is a new version of "Lay Down" guest-starring Mary Hopkin, a band version of "There Will Come The Day" with both Mary AND Cathryn Craig, as well as Chas Cronk, Terry Cassidy and Hud on backing vocals, a duo version of "Sealed With A Traitor's Kiss" with Dave on piano, Brian on guitar and a remixed version of "The King" with Maddy Prior. Dave Lambert and Rod Coombes add their talents to "Heat Of The Street" (now retitled "Rhythm Of The Night") - and "Oh So Sleepy" (first recorded for the Deep Cuts album) - these are therefore the first Strawbs studio tracks (a) to feature both Willoughby and Lambert on guitars and (b) to reunite the Hero and Heroine band apart from John Hawken.
Rick Wakeman & Dave Cousins/Hummingbird .... CD $14.99
2002 release featuring 13 tracks, Rick Wakeman plays keyboards with Dave Cousins on vocals, guitar, dulcimer and banjo. Tony Fernandez and Chas Cronk play on the album as does Fairport's Ric Sanders, and the album will feature some wholly new material as well as reworkings of some of Dave Cousins' songs (So Shall Our Love Die", "October To May", "Stone Cold Is The Woman's Heart", "Forever Ocean Blue"). A true masterpiece!
The Strawbs (Acoustic Strawbs)/Baroque & Roll .... CD $14.99
This is the first studio album from the Strawbs in ten years. It features Dave Cousins, Dave Lambert and Brian Willoughby, who joined the group in 1979, with string arrangements by Robert Kirby. The songs are acoustic re-workings of classic Strawbs tracks, including, 'Ghosts', 'Tears and Paven' and 'The Golden Salamander,' plus new material.
Chas Cronk/Mystic Mountain Music ....import CD $16.99
Chas Cronk, bass player with the Strawbs in the highly successful 1970s line-up has produced an instrumental album of timeless, spaceless music to chill out to. Dave Cousins, who knows all about winding down at the moment says, "Open a bottle of well-chilled chardonnay and put the record on. Forget life in the fast lane, relax and float down stream. I did and it's well worth it."
The Strawbs/The Complete Strawbs-Live at Chiswick House
....import DVD-NTSC $22.99
The Strawbs/The Complete Strawbs-Live at Chiswick House ....import
DVD-PAL $22.99
The CD of the same name is now out of print, but it has been reincarnated into a full length video on DVD playable in all regions! Live recording of the legendary British folk/progressive act's 30th anniversary reunion concert at Chiswick House August 29th 1998. Special guests include Cathryn Craig, Ric Sanders & Adam Wakeman. 15 tracks including, 'Further Down The Road', 'Grace Darling' & 'Ringing Down The Year'. This will be a short print run, so don't delay in ordering your copy now or you may be left out!
The Strawbs/Classic Rock Legends: Strawbs 30 Years of Rock ....import CD $18.99
The Classic Rock Society CD featuring the Strawbs is now available from Witchwood Records. Includes a number of unreleased/hard to find tracks, including a Cousins/Wakeman duet on "Shepherd's Song". (Please note that supplies are limited and there will not be another pressing when these run out!)
The Strawbs/Strawberry Music Sampler No. 1 ....import CD $16.99
The Strawbery Music Sampler is a reissue of very rare compilation for The Strawbs. Originally released in 1969, only 99 copies of the record were pressed on 12" vinyl as a publishing demo. There are just two known copies of the LP in existence. In Record Collector Price Guide 2002 the record is valued at £500.00! This record includes the long lost out-takes from the abandonded first Strawbs album. It features songs written by David Cousins, Tony Hooper and Sandy Denny.
STRAWBS-COLLECTION (2CD) $14.95
UK budget-price compilation for the British progressive rock act.
The Strawbs/From the Witchwood RM + 1 ....import CD $19.95
Digitally remastered 1998 reissue on A&M, and the CD debut of their 1971 album for the
label. Features the original cover art & all of the original tracks, plus 'Keep The
DevilOutside' added as a bonus track. 11 tracks total.
The Strawbs/Ghosts RM + 1 ....import CD $19.95
Digitally remastered reissue of the group's 1975 A&M album with 'Changes Arrange Us'
(the B-side of the 'Grace Darling'single) added as a bonus track, for a total of 11 cuts.
'Ghosts' was the band's first album to break the U.S. top 50. 1998 A&M release.
The Strawbs/Grave New World RM + 2 ....import CD $26.95
Digitally remastered reissue of their 1972 album for A&M with the original cover art
intact & two bonus tracks added:'Here It Comes' & 'I'm Going Home'. 14 tracks
total. 1998 A&M release.
The Strawbs/Hero and Heroine RM + 2 ....import CD $19.95
Digitally remastered reissue of the group's 1974 A&M album with two tracks from the
album's sessions added as bonuses: the previously unreleased 'Still Smart Voice' & an
early version of 'Lay A Little Light'. 12 tracks total. 'Hero And Heroine' was their first
album to break the U.S. top 100 & features the line-up of Dave Cousins, Dave Lambert,
John Hawken, Chas. Cronk and Rod Coombes. 1998 A&M release.
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