From the Witchwood - Released 1971 - 5

This was something of a transitional period for the Strawbs and represented their first studio album. The feel is of a band not really together and struggling with its identity, unsure whether to tread the boards of pure folk music or to turn into a folk-rock band, which they thankfully went on to do very successfully.

Grave New World - Released 1972 - 9

The Strawbs entered a golden period with one of my favourite all time albums that showed they could mix stark realism and powerful melodic music with whimsy. In parts this is one of the bleakest albums I have ever heard. Then there are some deliciously lighter moments.

Vocally Dave Cousins had found his niche. Songs like Benedictus and New World are stark and desolate and Queen of Dreams played havoc on my ears when I first listened to it on headphones and was the track I always played to testt out new stereos or speakers. Amongst all the angst and even bitterness Tony Hooper manages to conjure up a piece of vaudeville with Ah Me, Ah My. 

This was a band capable of writing stunning material that held the listener enthralled whilst at the same time showing that they were still developing. On the previous album this mix didn't quite work, here it did totally. For me it conjures up memories of a time and place, just where I wanted to be.

NY 75 - Released 2007 - 6.5

I have loved the Strawbs since Grave New World was first released way back in the 1970s. They are still touring and I've seen them three times in the past few years. They are as good as ever and testimony that if you love and believe in your music you can still make it sound fresh.

Strawbs fans have been very lucky in the past few years with the release of numerous live and compilation albums and it's interesting to see this release of a 1975 concert some 32 years later.

You could say that nothing has changed. They are still doing this material in concert either in their electric re-incarnation or as the acoustic band. Dave Cousins voice has scarcely changed over the three decades. Sometimes I feel it gets rather twisted and over-dramatic but that's the nature of the beast.

As a record of the band this is a decent one - all the best material is here and the atmosphere is reasonable. A decent addition to the Strawbs collectors catalogue although I doubt that it will add any new devotees to the Strawbs' fan base.