A Taste of Strawbs
Encyclopedia
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.
Most of the musicians from the various incarnations of Strawbs over the years play on the various tracks. For a full list see the article on the band.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Strawbs. Instead of being a "best of" album, the compilers (Dave Cousins
Dave Cousins
Dave Cousins has been the leader, singer and most active songwriter of Strawbs since 1967.-Career:...
and Dick Greener) have attempted to present alternative versions of some well known songs plus some previously unreleased material.
CD 1 – Eyes Wide Open
- "The Grey Hawk" (traditionalTraditional musicTraditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
) Strawberry Hill Boys live recording - "The Cruel Wars (Higher Germanie)" (traditional) Dave Cousins unreleased recording
- "You Don't Think About Me" Strawberry Hill Boys demo
- "Not All The Flowers Grow" (Dave Cousins) Dave Cousins demo
- "You Keep Going Your Way" (Cousins) Strawberry Hill Boys demo
- "Sail Away to the Sea" (Cousins) Sandy and the Strawbs
- "Nothing Else Will Do" (Cousins) Sandy and the Strawbs
- "Oh How She ChangedOh How She Changed"Oh How She Changed" is a song by English band Strawbs written by Dave Cousins and Tony Hooper. It was the first single to be released by Strawbs and later appeared on their 1969 album Strawbs...
" (Cousins, Tony HooperTony HooperTony Hooper is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known as a founder-member of Strawbs together with Dave Cousins. He left Strawbs in 1972 after their album Grave New World, when it became obvious that the band was moving further away from its folk roots towards rock and...
) 2005 re-mix - "Or Am I Dreaming" (Cousins) 2005 re-mix
- "All The Little Ladies" (Cousins, Hooper) Alternative mix with spoken word intro and outro
- "Ah Me, Ah MyAh Me, Ah My"Ah Me, Ah My" is a song by English band Strawbs written by Tony Hooper. The track first appeared on the Grave New World album, although it was written and recorded a few years earlier...
" (Hooper) Alternate mix - "The Man Who Called Himself JesusThe Man Who Called Himself Jesus"The Man Who Called Himself Jesus" is a song by English band Strawbs written by Dave Cousins. It appears on their album Strawbs. An alternative mix of the song may be found on the 2006 box set A Taste of Strawbs.-B-Side:...
" (Cousins) Alternative mix - "The Battle" (Cousins) Live
- "It's Just Love" (Dave LambertDave Lambert (British musician)Dave Lambert is an English singer-songwriter and musician, who was a member of The Strawbs in the 1970s.-Career:...
) Unreleased FireFire (band)Fire was a late 60's early 70's band that consisted of Dave Lambert Bob Voice and Dick Duffall . Brett himself joined them for their now classic Magic Shoemaker LP recorded at Pye Studios London, in 1970. This vinyl LP is currently in the UK's top 10 of collectable vinyl, being listed in Millers...
recording - "Another Day" (Cousins) Live
- "ForeverForever (Strawbs song)"Forever" is a song by English band Strawbs written by Dave Cousins and Tony Hooper. It did not feature on any of their studio albums at the time but was included as a bonus track on the CD re-release of the album Just a Collection of Antiques and Curios....
" (Cousins, Hooper) DragonflyDragonfly (Strawbs album)Dragonfly is a studio album by English band Strawbs. It contains the lengthy and rather progressive ballad "The Vision of the Lady of the Lake" describing the hardships of a boatman who encounters and battles all kinds of mystical creatures on a lake, with a sword that was given to him by the lady...
outtake - "Where am I"/"I'll Show You Where to Sleep" (Cousins) 1970 live track
- "Canondale" (Richard HudsonRichard Hudson (musician)Richard Hudson is an English singer-songwriter and musician.-Career:Richard Hudson was a member of Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera, in which he played drums and sitar and sang. In 1970, he and band-mate John Ford joined Strawbs...
) 1971 live instrumental track - "RMW" (Rick WakemanRick WakemanRichard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes...
) 1971 live track - "Sheep" (Cousins) 1971 live version
CD 2 – Changing Places
- "TomorrowTomorrow (Strawbs song)"Tomorrow" is a song by English band Strawbs credited as a band composition with the main idea by Dave Cousins. The track first appeared on the Grave New World album.-Lyrical and musical content:...
" (Cousins,Hooper,Hudson, John Ford, Blue WeaverBlue WeaverBlue Weaver is a British keyboard player, session musician, songwriter and record producer.-Biography:...
) 1972 live version - "New WorldNew World (Strawbs song)"New World" is a song by English band Strawbs written by Dave Cousins. The track first appeared on the Grave New World album.-Lyrical and musical content:...
" (Cousins) 1972 live version - "Here It ComesHere It Comes (song)"Here It Comes" is a song by the English band Strawbs. It did not appear on any of their studio albums, but it was included on two compilation albums: Strawbs by Choice and Halcyon Days...
" (Cousins) 1972 live version - "See How They Run" (Cousins, Lambert) Cousins and Lambert 1972 home demo
- "Going Home" (Cousins) Alternative version with Dave Lambert singing
- "The Actor" (Cousins) Alternative mix
- "Part of the UnionPart of the Union"Part of the Union" is a song by English band Strawbs featured on their 1973 album Bursting at the Seams and was the band's most successful single, peaking at number 2 in the UK Singles Chart. The writing credits are given to Richard Hudson and John Ford, but the song may be an adaptation of the...
" (Hudson, Ford) The original version which was to be released by "The Brothers" - "The Winter and the Summer" (Lambert) Dave Lambert home demo
- "Whichever Way the Wind Blows" (Cousins) Previously unreleased version with Dave Cousins on vocals
- "Shine on Silver SunShine on Silver Sun"Shine on Silver Sun" is a song by English band Strawbs featured on their 1974 album Hero and Heroine. It is written by Dave Cousins and was intended as a "come-back" single after the post-"Part of the Union" band split...
" (Cousins) Extended version with Cousins, Lambert and members of Ten Years AfterTen Years AfterTen Years After is an English blues-rock band, most popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Between 1968 and 1973, Ten Years After scored eight Top 40 albums on the UK Albums Chart... - "Out in the Cold"/"Round and Round" (Cousins) Dave Cousins acoustic demos
- "The Writing on the Wall" (Cousins) Dave Cousins acoustic demo of unreleased song
- "The Four Queens"
- "Ghosts Theme" (Cousins) church bells – field recording
- "Lemon Pie" (Cousins) Dave Cousins acoustic demo
- "Cherie Je T'aime" (Cousins) French version of "Grace DarlingGrace Darling (song)"Grace Darling" is a song by English band Strawbs, featured on their album Ghosts . The track was recorded at in the chapel of the Charterhouse School, Godalming, Surrey, which the members of the band Genesis had attended in the 1960s, and which Strawbs' producer at the time, Tom Allom, had also...
" - "So Shall Our Love Die" (Cousins) Dave Cousins acoustic demo
- "Still Small Voice" (Cousins) Dave Cousins acoustic demo
- "How I Need You Now" (Cousins) Live recording from The Old Grey Whistle Test with John MealingJohn MealingJohn Mealing is a keyboards player, composer and arranger.After leaving the Don Rendell-Ian Carr Quintet in the late-Sixties, he joined the pioneering British jazz-rock band If until they came off the road in 1972...
CD 3 – Inside Out
- "The Merchant Adventurer" (Cousins) Dave Cousins demo of unreleased song
- "Blue Angel" (Cousins) out-take from Deep CutsDeep Cuts (Strawbs album)Deep Cuts is a studio album by English band Strawbs.-Side one:#"I Only Want My Love to Grow in You" – 3:00#"Turn Me Round" – 3:42#"Hard Hard Winter" – 2:54...
sessions - "Goodbye" (Cousins) alternative version from the album Burning for YouBurning for YouBurning for You is a studio album by English band Strawbs.-Side one:#"Burning for Me" – 4:01#"Cut Like a Diamond" – 3:44#"I Feel Your Loving Coming On" – 2:56...
- "Midnight" out-take from first Deadlines sessions
- "Sweet Voices" out-take from first Deadlines sessions
- "Bring Out Your Dead" (Cousins, Wakeman) Dave Cousins acoustic demo (aka "The Young Pretender")
- "Another Day Without You" (Cousins) demo version
- "Touch the Earth" (Lambert, Chas CronkChas Cronk-Strawbs:*Hero and Heroine *Ghosts *Nomadness *Deep Cuts *Burning for You *Deadlines *Heartbreak Hill *Blue Angel *Déjà Fou *Strawbs Live at Nearfest 2004...
) Lambert and Cronk studio recording - "Armada" Juan MartinJuan MartínJuan Cristóbal Martín is a Spanish flamenco guitarist and an author of flamenco guitar method books.-Career:Martín started learning the guitar at the age of six. In his early twenties he moved to Madrid to study under Niño Ricardo and Paco de Lucía. He played in clubs in Málaga, Seville and...
and Strawbs 1981 studio recording - "A Glimpse of Heaven" (Cousins) Cousins and Willoughby live at SidmouthSidmouthSidmouth is a small town on the English Channel coast in Devon, South West England. The town lies at the mouth of the River Sid in the East Devon district, south east of Exeter. It has a population of about 15,000, of whom 40% are over 65....
Folk Festival - "The Hangman and the Papist" (Cousins) a recording made for Rick Wakeman's Gastank programme
- "I'll Carry On Beside You" (Cousins) 1983 Cambridge Folk FestivalCambridge Folk FestivalThe Cambridge Folk Festival is an annual music festival held on the site of Cherry Hinton Hall in Cherry Hinton, one of the villages subsumed by the city of Cambridge, England. The festival is renowned for its eclectic mix of music and a wide definition of what might be considered folk. It occurs...
- "Heavy DisguiseHeavy Disguise"Heavy Disguise" is a song by English band Strawbs written by bassist John Ford. The track first appeared on the Grave New World album and features just John Ford from the band singing and accompanying himself on the acoustic guitar backed by "The Robert Kirby Silver Band" – i.e...
" (Ford) 1984 rehearsal recording - "That's When the Crying Starts" (Cousins) 1984 live recording
- "Evergreen" (Cousins) Dave Cousins home demo
- "Song of a Sad Little Girl" (Cousins) 1988 Wakeman and Cousins live recording
CD 4 – Further Down the Road
- "Ringing Down the Years" (Cousins) 1990 Strawbs live recording
- "Further Down the Road" (Cousins) Dave Cousins acoustic demo
- "Heartbreak Hill" (Cousins, Cronk) 1993 silver jubilee tour with Don Airey
- "Extravaganza on a Theme of Strawbs" (Don AireyDon AireyDonald Airey has been the keyboardist in the rock band Deep Purple since 2002, succeeding Jon Lord...
) Don Airey solo from 1993 silver jubilee tour - "File of Facts" (Cousins, Airey) 1993 Dave Cousins and Don Airey recording
- "Hero and Heroine" (Cousins) Chiswick House concert recording with guest Ric SandersRic SandersRichard 'Ric' Sanders is a British violinist who has played in jazz-rock, folk rock, electric folk and folk groups, including Soft Machine and Fairport Convention.-Biography:...
- "The Ten Commandments" Dave Lambert and Brian Willoughby from 2001 tour
- "The King" (Cousins) Wakeman and Cousins Hummingbird album outtake
- "Alice's Song" (Craig, Willoughby) 2003 live Acoustic Strawbs recording
- "McLean Street"/"Who Knows Where the Time GoesWho Knows Where the Time Goes"Who Knows Where the Time Goes?" is a song written by the English folk-rock singer and songwriter Sandy Denny. Denny originally recorded the song as a demo in 1967, singing and playing guitar on the track...
" (Sandy Denny) 2004 live recording - "We'll Meet Again Sometime" (Cousins) 2004 Acoustic Strawbs recording
- "Sunday Morning" (Cousins, Lambert) single mix
- "On a Night Like This" (Cousins) acoustic version
- "Dragonfly" (Cousins) live 2005 version
- "Canada" (Cousins) new Dave Cousins solo song
- "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" (Cousins) live 2006 recording
CD 5 – Tastebuds (bonus disc)
- "The Happiest Boy in Town" (Cousins) Strawberry Hill Boys demo
- "Draught Raga" (Hudson, Ford) 1970 live sitarSitarThe 'Tablaman' is a plucked stringed instrument predominantly used in Hindustani classical music, where it has been ubiquitous since the Middle Ages...
instrumental - "Ways and Means" (Cousins) Two Weeks Last Summer outtake
- "Rip it Off Blues" (Cousins) Dave Cousins demo
- "Stay Awhile With Me" (Cousins) Dave Cousins version of Strawberry Sampler Number 1Strawberry Sampler Number 1Strawberry Sampler Number 1 is a studio album by English band Strawbs. It was originally released as a publisher's demonstration record, intended to advertise Dave Cousins's and Tony Hooper's songs to other artists...
track - "Oh So Sleepy" (Cousins) outtake from the Deep Cuts album
- "Barcarole" (Cousins, Cronk) instrumental outtake from the album Burning for You
- "Time and Life" (Cousins, Cronk) Dave Cousins home demo
- "Heartbreaker" (Wil Malone) from the Intergalactic Touring BandIntergalactic Touring BandThe Intergalactic Touring Band was not an actual music group but rather a science fiction pop music concept album released in 1977 by the now defunct Passport Records in America and Charisma Records in England. The ensemble album featured many star performers from progressive rock and other...
album - "Andalucian Express" Strawbs with Juan Martin
- "Lay DownLay Down"Lay Down" is a song by English band Strawbs featured on their 1973 album Bursting at the Seams. It peaked at number 12 in the UK Singles Chart....
" (Cousins) 1984 live version - "Over the Hill" (Blue Weaver) Blue Weaver solo track
- "You Never Needed Water" (Cousins) originally on the Cousins & Willoughby album The Bridge
- "If" (Cousins) Acoustic Strawbs
- "Cold Steel" (Lambert) Folk Scene live recording
- "The River" (Cousins)/"Down by the Sea" (Cousins) Strawbs live in Thalgau 2006
Personnel
- Dave Cousins – lead vocals, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
, acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
, dulcimerAppalachian dulcimerThe Appalachian dulcimer is a fretted string instrument of the zither family, typically with three or four strings. It is native to the Appalachian region of the United States...
, banjoBanjoIn the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
Most of the musicians from the various incarnations of Strawbs over the years play on the various tracks. For a full list see the article on the band.