Also see: Rick Wakeman ~ NEARfest 2004
From: Gary Davis <> Date: Thu Sep 18, 2003 11:20 am
Subject: Re: Strawbs/Dave Cousins
> >Two Weeks Last Summer is available at The Freak Emporium in the UK although
it is on a one to two week backorder. Blue Angel.....is available at Borders.com
in the USA. >I`ll check for other places >Rob >
Dave Cousins has encountered some problems with Universal regarding Two Weeks
Last Summer and has not been able to export the CD to any US vendor. In fact
when the Acoustic Strawbs toured earlier this year, he was not even allowed to
bring any with them!
I got a note from Dave recently that suggests the problem with Universal may
soon be resolved. My fingers are crossed. It can't happen soon enough for me.
Universal has really been dragging their feet on this. GRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!
From: David Eric Shur <> Date: Wed Sep 17, 2003 8:26 am
Subject: Strawbs/Dave Cousins
> I'm a long time Strawbs fan, but have never heard Strawb's self titled album
(the release right before Dragonfly), or Dave Cousin's "Two Weeks Last Summer"
or "Old School Days". > If anyone is familiar with these - can you give me your
opinion on these albums? > Larry
I personally don't care for the self titled Strawbs album. I didn't hear it
until the mid 70's though, so it might be a case of missing a great album sound
when it was released. Much like the discussion regarding VdGG's Pawn Hearts. Two
Weeks is a pretty good album, with the great Blue Angel. BTW- beware of the
recent release of Two Weeks: I've been told by good sources that it's not from
original tapes; it's second generation. -David Eric
From: Grant Penton <>
> Isn't it basically the case that so many people discovered the Strawbs only because
they were Rick Wakeman's *former* band... then when they got an album or two and realized
that it wasn't a RW showcase (like The Nice was for Keith Emerson) they got disillusioned.
Well I was lucky to hear them in the mid 70s when Hero & Heroine, & Ghosts
received a lot of airplay. I only found out about Wakeman's involvement much later, a good
year after buying H&H, TFTO, JTTCOTE etc. The early folky material was a bit too...
weedy for me, but there were some attractive pieces on the live LP and Witchwood. I
thought Wakeman was the wiz behind the textures on Brave New World, and was rather
mortified to find that it was the Bee Gees bopping synth player!! I lost interest in the
Strawbs with the '75 post-prog rock albumn Nomadness and ignored the later stuff- I now
have a compilation tape with equal representation from '70-74 that fits together quite
well- about as much as Ican listen to the Nice, or Mainstream/Refugee...
From: Martin Kornick <>
I'm not sure if there are many STRAWBS fans on e-prog. But I'm about the biggest
Strawbs fan this side of the Equator. Anyways, I read this post on the official
Strawbs website: http://www.strawbpage.ndirect.co.uk/index.htm
STRAWBS NORTH AMERICAN TOUR UNDER DISCUSSION;
Strawbs are in discussions about a possible North American Tour with the line-up
that toured in the UK last month, to take place in October/November this year.
If the tour goes ahead, dates are likely to be between October 28 to November
21. No further information as yet, so please don't e-mail us, we'll post details
as soon as we have them.
This would be totally cool. They have been touring the UK with the classic
70's line-up including: Dave Cousins, John Ford, Richard Hudson, Dave Lambert,
Blue Weaver, and Brian Willoughby. If you are not familiar with The Strawbs,
they were a 60's folk band turned prog-rock, with the help of Rick Wakeman,
before he joined YES. Recommended CDs for newbies: Hero & Heroine, Grave New
World, Ghosts, From The Witchwood. Plenty of Mellotron for all, bring the kids!
From: "Richard Zywotkiewicz" <>
I think I'm one of the biggest Strawbs fans in Canada. They are fantastic. I met
Dave Cousins who was one of the nicest people on their Ghost tour.
From: Don Tillman <>
Man, that's great news! The Strawbs are wonderful.
From:
Thank you for the Strawbs info. If they tour the States I will be there! I would
recommend Grave New World to anyone who has not heard it. I'd put it in my Prog
top ten.