Strawbs: A Taste Of Strawbs (5 CD Compilation 2006)

 

Strawbs (or The Strawbs) are an English rock band founded in 1964, led by Dave Cousins. Although the band started out as a bluegrass group they eventually moved on to other styles such as

folk, folk rock, (briefly) glam rock and progressive rock. Members included Sandy Denny (who later went on to join Fairport Convention), Rick Wakeman (who was discovered whilst in the Strawbs, joined Yes and has had a lengthy solo career), Richard Hudson and John Ford (who wrote "Part Of The Union" and then spun off as Hudson-Ford). They are best known for their hit, "Part Of The Union", which reached number two in the UK charts in February 1973, as well as for "Lay Down" a number 12 UK hit from the same LP. Their album Hero And Heroine (1974) was voted one of the Top 50 prog records of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.
                      

A Taste of Strawbs is a box-set album by Strawbs. Instead of being a "best of" album, the compilers (Dave Cousins and Dick Greener) have attempted to present alternative versions of some well-known songs plus

some previously unreleased material. Included are some very old songs by The Strawberry Hill Boys, with Dave Cousins, Tony Hooper and Ron Chesterman, also are some very interesting songs by Sandy Denny and The Strawbs, and outtakes from different periods of the band's career. This five-CD set constitutes as full an account of the first 40 years of the Strawbs' history as you're ever likely to see, and also manages to close some essential gaps in the group's early history that Universal Music has otherwise left wide open for decades on CD, as well as some gaps left at the time, in the late '60s, '70s, and beyond, owing to the exigencies of the recording industry. 
                     

That said, however, this set -- despite its five-hour-plus running time -- also very strategically avoids

including much that is familiar or, at least, anything in its familiar version; between the vault discoveries of unused takes of released tracks, and songs that were never issued, plus remixes and early takes of songs that were subsequently heavily redone, this is the largest body of "new" Strawbs material that anyone except for Dave Cousins and some bandmembers will ever have encountered. The sound here ranges from very good to excellent throughout, and there's not a single note of apology or explanation needed for the presence of any of the 89 songs featured in this set. 
                              

It may be pricey, and it isn't complete in terms of musical history, but it is one of the most comprehensive

collections of rarities and triumphant musical moments one is ever likely to see of this band's work. With so many of the bands finest tracks here, almost always in a different form to that which we originally came to know, this is both a gathering of their greatest works, and a collectors paradise of rare and unheard material. "A taste of Strawbs" is an essential purchase for anyone who enjoys the music of this wonderful band. The good news is that is off set by an excellent booklet and a fifth disc available only with the first 1000 copies. Essential for Strawbs fans BUT I would suggest the individual albums first. 

                                 

LINE - UP

                                          

Artists appearing on at least one track include:

David Cousins, Tony Hooper, John Berry, Ron Chesterman, Sandy Denny, Claire Deniz, Rick Wakeman, Blue Weaver, Richard Hudson, John Ford, Dave Lambert, John Hawken, Chas Cronk, Rod Coomes, Robert Kirby, John Mealing, Tony Fernandez, Andy Richards, Brian Willoughby, Rod Demick, Chris Paren, Don Airey, Adam Wakeman.
                         

Strawbs – A Taste Of Strawbs
Label: Witchwood Media – WMBS 2036
Format: 5 x CD, Album, Compilation, Box Set
Country: UK
Released: Nov 13, 2006
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: Folk Rock, Art Rock, Pop Rock, Prog Rock, Folk

CD1. EYES WIDE OPEN        

                               

    
01. The Strawberry HiIl Boys – The Grey Hawk
Arranged By – Cousins, Hooper
Double Bass – John Berry 
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins, Tony Hooper
Written By – Trad.
02. Dave Cousins – The Cruel Wars (Higher Germanie)
Arranged By – Dave Cousins
Vocals, Banjo – Dave Cousins
Written By – Trad.
03. The Strawberry HiIl Boys – You Don't Think About Me
Arranged By – Cousins, Hooper
Bass – Ron Chesterman
Vocals, Banjo – Dave Cousins
Vocals, Guitar – Tony Hooper
Written By – Trad.
04. Dave Cousins – Not Alt The Flowers Grow
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
05. The Strawberry HiIl Boys – You Keep Going Your Way
Bass – Ron Chesterman
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins, Tony Hooper
Written-By – Cousins
06. Sandy And The Strawbs – Sail Away To The Sea
Bass – Ron Chesterman
Producer – Gustav Winckler
Vocals – Sandy Denny
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins, Tony Hooper
Written-By – Cousins
07. Sandy And The Strawbs – Nothing Else Will Do
Bass – Ron Chesterman
Producer – Gustav Winckler
Vocals – Sandy Denny
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins, Tony Hooper
Written-By – Cousins
08. The Strawbs – Oh How She Changed
Arranged By [Orchestral] – Tony Visconti
Bass – Ron Chesterman
Producer – Gus Dudgeon
Remix [Digitally] – Roger Wake
Vocals – Tony Hooper
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins
Written-By – Cousins, Hooper
09. The Strawbs – Or Am I Dreaming
Arranged By [Orchestral] – Tony Visconti
Bass – Ron Chesterman
Producer – Gus Dudgeon
Remix [Digitally] – Roger Wake
Vocals – Tony Hooper
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
10. The Strawbs – All The Littte Ladies
Bass – Ron Chesterman
Producer – Gus Dudgeon
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins, Tony Hooper
Written-By – Cousins, Hooper
11. The Strawbs – Ah Me, Ah My
Arranged By [Orchestral] – Tony Visconti
Bass – Ron Chesterman
Producer – Gus Dudgeon
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins, Tony Hooper
Written-By – Hooper
12. The Strawbs – The Man Who Called Himself Jesus
Bass – Ron Chesterman
Drums – Ronnie Verrell
Lead Guitar – Alan Parker
Performer [Interviewer] – Tom Browne
Performer [Shopkeeper] – Richard Wilson
Piano – Nicky Hopkins
Producer – Gus Dudgeon
Remix – Dave Cousins
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins, Tony Hooper
Written-By – Cousins
13. The Strawbs – The Battle
Bass – Ron Chesterman
Cello – Clare Deniz
Organ – Rick Wakeman
Snare – Ronnie Verrell
Vocals – Tony Hooper
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
14. Fire – It's Just Love
Bass – Dick Dufall
Drums – Bob Voice
Producer – Ray Hammond
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Lambert 
Written-By – Lambert
15. Strawbs – Another Day
Bass – Ron Chesterman
Cello – Clare Deniz
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins, Tony Hooper
Written-By – Cousins
16. Strawbs – Forever
Bass – Ron Chesterman
Cello – Clare Deniz
Drums – Bjarne Rostvold
Organ – Rick Wakeman
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins, Tony Hooper
Written-By – Cousins, Hooper
17. Strawbs – Where Am I? / I'll Show You Where To Sleep
Bass – John Ford 
Keyboards – Rick Wakeman
Percussion – Richard Hudson
Remix [Digitally] – Roger Wake
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins, Tony Hooper
Written-By – Cousins
18. Strawbs – Canon Dale
Bass – John Ford 
Keyboards – Rick Wakeman
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins, Tony Hooper
Vocals, Sitar – Richard Hudson
Written-By – Hudson
19. Strawbs – RMW
Bass – John Ford
Drums – Richard Hudson
Keyboards – Rick Wakeman
Producer – Phil Stannard
Written-By – Wakeman
20. Strawbs – Sheep
Bass – John Ford 
Drums – Richard Hudson
Keyboards – Rick Wakeman
Producer – Phil Stannard
Tambourine – Tony Hooper
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins
Written-By – Cousins

Flac Size: 408 MB

CD2. CHANGING PLACES            

                   

01. Strawbs – Tomorrow
Bass – John Ford 
Drums – Richard Hudson
Guitar – Tony Hooper
Keyboards – Blue Weaver
Producer – Jeff Griffin
Vocals, Lead Guitar – Dave Cousins
Written-By – Weaver, Cousins, Ford, Hudson, Hooper
02. Strawbs – New World
Bass – John Ford 
Drums – Richard Hudson
Guitar – Tony Hooper
Keyboards – Blue Weaver
Producer – Jeff Griffin
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
03. Strawbs – Here It Comes
Bass – John Ford 
Drums – Richard Hudson
Guitar, Percussion – Tony Hooper
Keyboards – Blue Weaver
Producer – Jeff Griffin
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
04. Dave Cousins & Dave Lambert – See How They Run
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Lambert 
Vocals, Piano – Dave Cousins
Written-By – Cousins, Lambert
05. Dave Lambert – Going Home
Bass – John Ford
Drums – Richard Hudson
Keyboards – Blue Weaver
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Lambert 
Written-By – Cousins
06. Dave Cousins – The Actor
Bass – Roger Glover
Drums, Percussion – Jon Hiseman
Lead Guitar – Miller Anderson
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
07. The Brothers – Part Of The Union
Piano – Blue Weaver
Vocals, Drums – Richard Hudson
Vocals, Guitar, Bass – John Ford 
Written-By – Ford, Hudson
08. Dave Lambert – The Winter & The Summer
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Lambert 
Written-By – Lambert
09. Dave Cousins – Whichever Way The Wind Blows
Arranged By [Orchestral] – Tony Visconti
Bass – Ron Chesterman
Guitar – Tony Hooper
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
10. Strawbs –Betrayed / Shine On Silver Sun / Words Of Wisdom
Bass – Leo Lyons
Drums – Ric Lee
Keyboards – John Hawken
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins, Dave Lambert 
Written-By – Cousins
11. Dave Cousins – Out In The Cold / Round & Round
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
12. Dave Cousins - The Writing On The Wall
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
13. Strawbs –The Four Queens
Bass – Chas Cronk
Drums – Rod Coombes
Harmonica, Guitar – Dave Lambert 
Piano – John Hawken
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins
Written-By – Cronk, Cousins, Lambert, Hawken, Coombes
14. Strawbs – Ghosts: Theme
Written-By – Cousins
15. Dave Cousins – Lemon Pie
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
16. David Cousins Et Strawbs – Cherie Je T'aime
Arranged By [Choir] – Robert Kirby
Bass – Chas Cronk
Drums – Rod Coombes
Guitar – Dave Lambert 
Organ – John Hawken
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
17. Dave Cousins – So Shall Our Love Die
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
18. Dave Cousins – Still Small Voice
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
19. Strawbs – Absent Friend (How I Need You Now)
Bass – Chas Cronk
Drums – Rod Coombes
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Robert Kirby
Guitar – Dave Lambert 
Piano – John Mealing
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins
Written-By – Cousins

Flac Size: 468 MB

CD3. INSIDE OUT        

                 

   
01. David Cousins – The Merchant Adventurer
Vocals, Guitar – David Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
02. Strawbs – Blue Angel
Bass, Vocals – Chas Cronk
Drums – Rod Coombes
Keyboards – John Mealing, Robert Kirby
Producer – Tom Allom
Vocals, Guitar – David Cousins, Dave Lambert 
Written-By – Cousins
03. Strawbs – Goodbye
Bass – Chas Cronk
Drums – Rod Coombes
Guitar – Dave Lambert 
Keyboards – Robert Kirby
Piano – John Mealing
Vocals – David Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
04. David Cousins – Deadly Nightshade
Vocals, Guitar – David Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
05. Strawbs – Midnight
Bass – Chas Cronk
Drums – Tony Fernandez
Keyboards – John Mealing, Robert Kirby
Producer – Jeffrey Lesser
Vocals, Guitar – David Cousins, Dave Lambert 
Written-By – Cousins
06. Strawbs – Sweet Voices
Bass – Chas Cronk
Drums – Tony Fernandez 
Keyboards – John Mealing, Robert Kirby
Vocals, Guitar – David Cousins, Dave Lambert
Written-By – Cousins, Lambert
07. David Cousins – Bring Out Your Dead
Vocals, Piano – David Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
08. David Cousins – Another Day Without You
Vocals, Piano – David Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
09. Lambert - Cronk – Touch The Earth
Bass, Vocals – Chas Cronk
Drums – Tony Fernandez
Keyboards – Andy Richards
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Lambert 
Written-By – Richards, Cronk, Lambert
10. Juan Martin & Strawbs – Armada
Bass, Vocals – Chas Cronk
Drums – Tony Fernandez 
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Humphrey Walwyn
Guitar – Juan Martin
Keyboards – Andy Richards
Producer – Humphrey Walwyn
Written-By – Martin
11. David Cousins & Brian Willoughby – A Glimpse Of Heaven
Guitar – Brian Willoughby
Vocals, Guitar – David Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
12. Strawbs – The Hangman & The Papist
Bass – John Ford
Drums – Richard Hudson
Guitar – Tony Hooper
Keyboards – Rick Wakeman
Vocals, Guitar – David Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
13. Strawbs – I'll Carry On Beside You
Bass, Vocals – John Ford 
Drums – Richard Hudson
Keyboards – Blue Weaver
Lead Guitar – Brian Willoughby
Vocals, Guitar – David Cousins, Tony Hooper
Written-By – Cousins
14. John Ford & Richard Hudson – Heavy Disguise
Vocals – Richard Hudson
Vocals, Guitar – John Ford 
Written-By – Ford
15. Strawbs – That's When The Crying Starts
Bass, Vocals – John Ford 
Drums – Richard Hudson
Keyboards – Blue Weaver
Lead Guitar – Brian Willoughby
Vocals, Guitar – David Cousins, Tony Hooper
Written-By – Cousins
16. David Cousins – Evergreen
Vocals, Piano – David Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
17. David Cousíns & Rick Wakeman – Song Of A Sad Little Girl
Synthesizer – Rick Wakeman
Vocals, Guitar – David Cousíns
Written-By – Cousins

Flac Size: 452 MB

CD4. FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD            

                               

01. Strawbs – Ringing Down The Years
Bass – Rod Demick
Drums – Richard Hudson
Lead Guitar – Brian Willoughby
Piano – Chris Parren
Vocals, Guitar – David Cousíns, Tony Hooper
Written-By – Cousíns
02. David Cousíns – Further Down The Road
Vocals, Piano – David Cousíns
Written-By – Cousíns
03. Strawbs – Heartbreak Hill
Bass – Rod Demick
Drums – Richard Hudson
Guitar – Tony Hooper
Keyboards – Don Airey
Lead Guitar – Brian Willoughby
Vocals, Guitar – David Cousins
Written-By – Richards, Cronk, Cousins
04. Don Airey – Extravaganza On A Theme Of Strawbs
Keyboards – Don Airey
Written-By – Don Airey
05. David Cousins & Don Airey – Files Of Facts
Keyboards – Don Airey
Written-By – Cousins, Don Airey
06. Strawbs - Hero & Heroine
Bass – Chas Cronk
Drums – Rod Coombes
Guitar – Dave Lambert 
Keyboards – Adam Wakeman, Blue Weaver
Violin – Ric Sanders
Vocals, Guitar – David Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
07. Dave Lambert & Brian Willoughby – The Ten Commandments
Guitar – Brian Willoughby
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Lambert 
Written-By – Lambert
08. Wakeman & Cousins – The King
Keyboards – Rick Wakeman
Vocals, Guitar – David Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
09. Wakeman & Cousins – Hummingbird (Instrumental)
Dulcimer – David Cousins
Keyboards – Rick Wakeman
Written-By – Cousins, Wakeman
10. Acoustic Strawbs – Alice's Song
Guitar – Brian Willoughby, Dave Lambert
Vocals, Banjo – David Cousins
Written-By – Willoughby, Craig
11a. Acoustic Strawbs – Maclean Street
Guitar, E-Bow – Brian Willoughby, Dave Lambert 
Vocals, Guitar – David Cousins
Written-By – Cousins, Lambert
11b. Acoustic Strawbs – Who Knows Where The Time Goes
Guitar, E-Bow – Brian Willoughby, Dave Lambert 
Vocals, Guitar – David Cousins
Written-By – Denny
12. Acoustic Strawbs – We'll Meet Again Sometime
Guitar – Brian Willoughby
Vocals, Guitar – David Cousins
Vocals, Guitar, E-Bow – Dave Lambert 
Written-By – Cousins
13. Strawbs – Sunday Morning
Bass – Chas Cronk
Guitar – Dave Lambert 
Harmony Vocals – Chris While, Julie Matthews
Orchestrated By – Robert Kirby
Vocals, Guitar – David Cousins
Written-By – Cousins, Lambert
14. Strawbs – A Night Like This
Bass, Guitar [High-strung] – Chas Cronk
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Lambert
Vocals, Mandolin – David Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
15. Acoustic Strawbs – Dragonfly
Guitar [12-string], Performer [Pedals] – Chas Cronk
Guitar, E-Bow – Dave Lambert
Vocals, Guitar – David Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
16. David Cousins – Canada
Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards – David Cousins
Written-By – Cousins
17. Strawbs – Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
Bass – Chas Cronk
Drums – Rod Coombes
Guitar – Dave Lambert 
Piano – John Hawken
Vocals – David Cousins
Written-By – Cousins

Flac Size: 456 MB

CD5. BONUS DISC: TASTEBUDS            

                           

01. The Strawberry HiIl Boys – The Happiest Boy In Town
Bass – Ron Chesterman
Vocals, Banjo – Dave Cousins
Vocals, Guitar – Tony Hooper
02. Strawbs – Draught Raga
Bass – John Ford 
Sitar – Richard Hudson
03. David Cousins – Ways And Means
Bass – Roger Glover
Drums, Percussion – Jon Hiseman
Lead Guitar – Miller Anderson
Piano – Rick Wakeman
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins
04. David Cousins – The Rip It Off Blues
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins
05. David Cousins – Stay Awhile With Me
Arranged By [Orchestral] – Tony Visconti
Bass – Ron Chesterman
Guitar – Tony Hooper
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Cousins
06. Strawbs – Oh So Sleepy
Bass, Vocals – Chas Cronk
Drums – Rod Coombes
Keyboards – John Mealing, Robert Kirby
Vocals, Guitar – David Cousins, Dave Lambert 
07. Strawbs – Barcarole (Instrumental)
Guitar – David Cousins
Keyboards – Robert Kirby
08. David Cousins and Chas Cronk – Time And Life
Guitar [12-string] – Chas Cronk
Vocals, Guitar – David Cousins
09. Intergalactic Touring Band – Hearbreaker
Arranged By [Orchestral] – David Bedford, Stephan Galfas
Bass – Peter Sobel
Drums, Percussion – Paul Marchetti
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – David Scance
Flute – John Zangrando
Keyboards – Brian Cuomo
Synthesizer – Larry Fast
Vocals – Dave Cousins
Vocals [Group Vocals] – Frank D'Agostino, Joel Krantz, Shelley Thompson
10. Juan Martin & Strawbs – Andalucian Express
Bass, Vocals – Chas Cronk
Drums – Tony Fernandez 
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Humphrey Walwyn
Guitar – Juan Martin
Keyboards – Andy Richards
Producer – Humphrey Walwyn
11. Strawbs – Lay Down
Bass, Vocals – John Ford
Drums – Richard Hudson
Keyboards – Blue Weaver
Lead Guitar – Brian Willoughby
Vocals, Guitar – David Cousins, Tony Hooper
12. Blue Weaver – Over The Hill
Keyboards – Blue Weaver
13. David Cousins & Brian Willoughby – You Never Needed Water
Drums – Tony Fernandez 
Guitar – Brian Willoughby
Vocals, Guitar – David Cousins
14. Acoustic Strawbs – If
Bass – Chas Cronk
Guitar – Dave Lambert 
Vocals, Guitar – David Cousins
15. Acoustic Strawbs – Cold Steel
Banjo – David Cousins
Guitar [12-string] – Chas Cronk
Vocals, Guitar – Dave Lambert
16. Strawbs – The River / Down By The Sea
Bass – Chas Cronk
Drums – Rod Coombes
Keyboards – John Hawken
Vocals, Guitar – David Cousins, Dave Lambert 

Flac Size: 419 MB

You can find many Strawbs albums on Urban Aspirines