Hero And Heroine
by Strawbs
Artist:
Strawbs
Label:
A&M Records
Catalog#:
SP-3607
Format:
Vinyl
Country:
United States
Released:
1974
| Tracklist | |||
| A1 | Autumm | 8:26 | |
| i) | Heroine's Theme | ||
| Notes: |
Written-By - John Hawken |
||
| ii) | Deep Summer's Sleep | ||
| iii) | (Hold On To Me) The Winter Long | ||
| A2 | Sad Young Man | 4:07 | |
| Notes: |
Written-By - Rod Coombes |
||
| A3 | Just Love | 3:40 | |
| Notes: |
Written-By - Dave Lambert |
||
| A4 | Shine On Silver Sun | 2:46 | |
| B1 | Hero And Heroine | 3:20 | |
| B2 | Midnight Sun | 3:12 | |
| Notes: |
Written-By - Chas Cronk |
||
| B3 | Out In The Cold | 3:17 | |
| B4 | Round And Round | 4:44 | |
| B5 | Lay A Little Light On Me | 3:27 | |
| B6 | Hero's Theme | 2:27 | |
| Notes: |
Written-By - Dave Lambert |
||
Credits
Art Direction [Art Director] - Mike Doud
Bass, Synthesizer, Vocals - Chas Cronk
Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Rod Coombes
Engineer - Freddy Hansson
Engineer - Tom Allom
Photography - Tony Evans
Piano, Electric Piano, Organ, Mellotron, Synthesizer - John Hawken
Producer - Dave Cousins
Producer - Tom Allom
Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - Dave Lambert
Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Written-By - Dave Cousins
Notes
Recorded at Rosenberg Studios, Copenhagen in November 1973.
Printed inner sleeve with lyrics.
The sleeve carries the following verse :
While storm clouds gathered high above
The Heroine he grew to love
Turned slowly to a snow white dove
And spread her wings to fly
Crushed and broken in the end
Hero watched his soul ascend
Knowing that he was condemned
To sail all alone to die
Strawberry Bricks Entry:
The Strawbs had a significant lineup reshuffle following their previous album: Blue Weaver left in 1973 and later went on to great success as a member of The Bee Gees backing band, while Richard Hudson and John Ford formed their own group, Hudson Ford. The remaining members, Dave Cousins and Dave Lambert, then recruited former Nashville Teen and Renaissance keyboardist John Hawken, bassist Chas Cronk (on the recommendation of Rick Wakeman) and ex-Stealers Wheel drummer Rod Coombes. Produced by Cousins and Tom Allom, Hero And Heroine is one of the Strawbs’ finest albums. With significantly darker subject matter, Hawkin’s various keyboard tones also contrast previous efforts from the band. “Sad Young Man” features a bright melody and a great vocal from Cousins. Lambert’s sharp and rockin’ “Just Love” highlights the difference in songwriting to Cousins’s more introspective “Shine on Silver Sun.” The title track blasts open with Hawken’s keyboards, but still contains the folksiness the Strawbs are known for. “Round and Round” kicks up the rock quotient, while “Lay a Little Light on Me” has another particularly strong vocal from Cousins, before the descent into the spiraling progression of “Hero’s Theme.” The album was successful, reaching No. 35 in the UK and breaking the Top 100 in the US. The Strawbs’ next album, Ghosts, was also recorded with the same lineup, however, it would be the last with Hawken. Finding success primarily in the US, the quartet continued for a few more years, but following the 1978 album Deadlines, The Strawbs would effectively breakup. Cousins would next find a career in radio, but also continue performing, including as a duet with future Strawbs guitarist guitarist Brian Willoughby. [US release date]
