Hero and Heroine

Artist: The Strawbs
Label: A&M Int'l
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 075021360723
EAN: 0075021360723
ASIN: B000005RXI

Release Date: 1992-05-21

Hero and Heroine

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General

| Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

British Folk

| Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Folk Rock

| Rock | Styles | Music

General

| Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock

| Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock

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Tracks:

Autumn: (i) Heroine's Theme (ii) Deep Summer's Sleep (iii) The Winter Long
Sad Young Man
Just Love
Shine On Silver Sun
hero And Heroine
Midnight Sun
Out In The Cold
Round And Round
Lay A Little Light On Me
Hero's Theme

Similar Items:

Ghosts
Grave New World
Bursting at the Seams
From the Witchwood
Just a Collection of Antiques and Curios

Album Description

Digitally remastered reissue of the group's 1974 A&M album with two tracks from the album's sessions added as bonuses: the previously unreleased 'Still Smart Voice' & an early version of 'Lay A Little Light'. 12 tracks total. 'Hero And Heroine' was their first album to break the U.S. top 100 & features the line-up of Dave Cousins, Dave Lambert, John Hawken, Chas. Cronk and Rod Coombes. 1998 A&M release.

Album Details

Old Unremastered Version.

Customer Reviews:

Solid Prog, Blast from the Past.......2007-03-24

The product description says 1974 A&M release. I am certain I first heard this in 1973. It might have been a promotional copy or a different UK release date. I was living in Trinidad managing a ganja plantation (kinda) at the time. Fresh music was far and few in between then. It came via a British friends UK visit. It was an authentic hippie pseudo-spiritual existence. So when spinning this LP, besides the nice prog music, we found all sorts of deeper meanings and messages. I hope you are laughing. Maybe you had have been there. I've listened to and purchased other Strawbs releases but none reach the accomplishments of this one IMO. Cousins vocals may be an acquired taste for some but will never be mistaken for anyone else by all.

I Sense Reflection Coming On..............2007-01-01

Hello my dedicated people. I hope this holiday season brings lots of joy to all. Yes. Where was I? Oh yes-explaining my absence for such a long time. I do not want to get into great detail here. (I have been accused of being "too wordy"--Imagine!). In essence it was all legal wrangling over getting my new book "How to Bargain with the Universe and Win!" published. It was a nightmare. And after many lawyers and no progress (but much money I assure you), I had had enough. I escaped and conducted Ghost Tours in the northeast for some quiet and peace of mind. I am now just getting back to reviewing music so forgive me if my reflections are a little rusty at this point.
I started writing reviews roughly a year ago and the very first one was on The Strawbs excellent "Hero and Heroine". Unfortunately, something went wrong and it was cast into the void of that Holy Grail we call the internet. So-someone out there has it. I've been told some Chinese lady got it and, since she couldn't read it, handed it over to the government.
So- I tread lightly now. In this day and age of political prisoners, Metamorpho can't afford to be clumsy.
O.K. enough about my plight-lets get to this review.
I think The Strawbs have created a perfect prog-rock masterpiece with this one. In fact, I have always thought so after first listening to the intro of "Autumn" so many years ago. How can I explain the music here? Some rock-some classical runs-wonderful songwriting-superb musicianship. However-thematically- it is a contrast of opposites- just as the title "Hero and Heroine" suggests. It is light and dark, it is positive and negative-and the sum result is a glorious balanced album.
There is certainly despair, perhaps more than we would want-but Cousins and company somehow always manage to throw that quality of "hope" into alot of the songs here.
As in "Autumn" when things die and cease to be, we can go on and survive if we hold on to each other. It is this "rising above the situation" that gives this piece so much meaning. In "Sad Young Man" we are treated to the idea that we struggle for things that make no sense to us. That your own gloom or mood depends on you. "You are your own creation", one of the very best lines I've heard. After "Just Love" (a much needed bouncy tune and diversion in this epic), we are treated to more bleakness and despair. Cetainly being "Out in the Cold" is no joy ride as Cousins suggests. And drawing the blade "across my wrists to see how it would feel" is not exactly encouraging. However-wisely- we have the Midnight and Silver sun peeping in to give us a way out. Incorporating an "escape hatch" with this music was very genius. Then again, they may not have been aware of this when they wrote the songs. If so, aren't the things in the sub-concious pretty amazing?
Then we get to "Hero and Heroine" and the lines really start to fade with this one. Not only could it mean a destructive love relationship (between human beings) but also as a drug addiction. Extremely clever. And if you then add in the premise that the things we love the most can kill us, you can have a Doctorate's thesis just waiting to be written! But don't look at me. Metamorpho, at the moment, is looking for a gratuitous invite to a New Year's Party. Nothing so far. Must I always be a wallflower? Must reflect more is now my resolution.
In closing, this is definitely one of my all-time favorites. Yes, it can be unsettling, however, the excellence of the songs, the construction, and production far exceeds the realm of the mundane. Need I say- prog-rock is a "listening" experience for thinking minds. So, if that's what you like then by all means experience this recording. Truly great. Truly fine "musicians".
In closing, let me say, that if you are into reflection, then it is a terrible injustice not to hear it. It is a rare and beautiful find.
To my readers (you know who you are!), a heartfelt thanks and appreciation for your votes. Metamorpho is, after all, a servant of the people (without being corrupt! How novel!), and you all know that life would be nothing if we all couldn't have a little fun. Enjoyment is our need, reading Metamorpho is our creed!
To the faithful- a blessed and wonderful New Year! To new-comers-hope you enjoy all of my reviews and have a prosperous new year! And to all those who have seen fit to be against my reviews-I wish a fine New Year as well. You thought I would say something negative, didn't you? Ohno- you cannot trap an old Seer like myself into an unconditional love quagmire. You see-you all are worthy of the best.
Gotta go. HAPPY NEW YEAR- to you all!
In spirit and light--------your dedicated Metamorpho

This was my first Strawbs album that was introduced to me by a really cool Record Store sales clerk in Detroit.......2006-12-30

I think it was in 1978, when I was looking for something unique that was similar to the sounds of Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, King Crimson, and Yes. I don't remember what Maxell was promoting at the time, but they had this really cool Progressive Rock collection on an album. Maxell usually sells tapes (cassettes and Reel to Reel at the time). So I bought this Maxell collection LP and took it home. On the album there was a track called "Deadly Nightshade" by The Strawbs. Although that Maxell album had several already familiar tracks and some duds, it was this Strawbs track that really caught my interest. So I went back to Harmony House and browsed through a few of the many Strawbs albums that were already there. I didn't see any Strawbs album that had "Deadly Nightshade" but I still wanted to go home with a Strawbs album. I asked some guy who worked there which would be the best Strawbs album that I should buy. He took me to see someone who worked in the back who was a serious Strawbs fan. He suggested right away, that I should buy the album "Hero and Heroine". In fact, he had an open album of it available and played some of it for me. Right away, I loved the dark instrumental opening of Heroine's Theme that was the start of the track called "Autumn". I didn't have to hear any more. I was sold! I even bought two Strawbs albums that day. I bought "Hero and Heroine" and "Ghosts". I was a content Strawbs fan from that day, and even to this day. I collected all the Strawbs albums that were available at the time. It was suggested, even then, that I should stick to the A&M releases. Strawbs became just another band where I thought every member was an immortal God to music.

After their next album called "Nomadness", the Strawbs continued to have band member changes and they drifted further away from both of their Folk and their Progressive influences and started to sound more like a typical pop music group that was already the sound that was saturating the pop music charts. It was all so easily dismissible since the Strawbs were so strong during their A&M days. Only true Strawbs loyalists continued to buy the Strawbs albums (I'm guilty of this too, nowadays) even after A&M gave up on them. Their immediate follow-up albums (from the Oyster label) were "Deep Cuts" and "Burning for You". There are a few good tunes, but these albums are easily and regrettably forgettable.

The album afterwards, called "Deadlines" ended strong. Their songs "Deadly Nightshade" and "Words of Wisdom" are two of Dave Cousins best songs ever.

Strawbs continued to perform and release albums in later years. Dave Cousins still likes to find old band members who probably have nothing better to do, and they've done some shows and released some albums. In 1988, their album "Don't Say Goodbye" and 1991's "Ringing Down the Years" are both pretty good. I think these two albums are better than their albums from the late seventies after "Nomadness".

But, alas, they were running out of creative ideas yet again, and started to lose their appeal once again. What's frustrating about the Strawbs is that Dave Cousins likes to keep re-recording earlier songs, like he thinks he's improving on them. I wish he wouldn't do this. In 2002, Dave Cousins got together with Rick Wakeman and recorded another album together. Rick Wakeman left the Strawbs back in 1971 to join Yes and to do solo projects. And even on this Cousins and Wakeman album, Cousins still did some re-recordings that Rick Wakeman had nothing to do with back in their heyday.

Dave Cousins seems to be the only member of the Strawbs that was on every Strawbs album. All the other members just came and went over the years. But, I'm sure that every Strawbs fan will agree that the Strawbs best albums were the albums of the A&M years (1969-1975). If you can find it, look for their double CD called "Halcyon Days" (the US version). It is the very best of the Strawbs put together all in one great double CD package. In fact, it was done so well that it is very obvious that A&M have no intentions of releasing their albums separately. You'd have to buy their expensive imports as I have.

I hope someday they will release the Hudson-Ford albums on CD. These two guys contributed to what made the folk side of the Strawbs so strong back in their earlier days.

Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, the Strawbs, Yes, Pink Floyd, Triumvirat, King Crimson, The Moody Blues, Rick Wakeman, and Monty Python's Flying Circus. These were the strongest influences in my life as a kid. The Strawbs are still performing shows throughout England. They have a following just like the Grateful Dead had here in America. I'd like to see them come do a show here in California. Perhaps they could do a double billing with maybe Blackmore's Night. That would be a great show where they would actually compliment each other being seen together. What do you think? Strawbs fan's should check out Blackmore's Night.

Totally great folk/prog rock album, lots of Mellotron.......2006-07-27

I have some serious catch up work to do with The Strawbs, all I have right now is From the Witchwood and this one, Hero and Heroine. The Strawbs was a band I was aware of forever, but never bothered buying any of their albums, until now. Well, better late than never. I realize the stuff they released from Grave New World (1972) to Ghosts (1975) are regarded as their best albums, so obviously I need to get all those albums too.

Strawbs were never known for a steady lineup, and the lineup that recorded Hero and Heroine consisted of Dave Cousins (of course) (vocals, guitars), Dave Lambert (guitars, vocals), keyboardist John Hakwen, drummer Rod Coombes, and bassist Chas Cronk. John Hawkwen, Rod Coombes, and Chas Cronk were all new members for this album, as the band witnessed one of their periodic lineup changes after the release of Bursting at the Seams (their previous album). Hawken was the original keyboardist for Renaissance, way back during the Keith Relf/Jim McCarty days. The back cover of the album shows all five of the guys dressed in white suits and ties against a white backdrop, as if these guys were in heaven. And you couldn't mistake who Dave Lambert was, he's the guy with the streaked hair, he did that sort of thing way before it became trendy to do so.

This was the album that started breaking the band in the States, although apparently their popularity in England was already declining at this point. Many regard this as one of their finest albums, and after a few listens, I have to agree. Certainly the band reputation in the prog community was now fully established (it was since 1972's Grave New World), they still had not abandoned their folk roots. "Autumn" starts off with some really juicy Moog from Hawken and some amazing Mellotron. The second part has more of a Moody Blues-like feel, while the final part demonstrates how the band still kept their folk roots intact. Rod Coombes gave us "Sad Young Man", which features some nice guitar work, and some nice progressive passages. Dave Lambert gives us "Just Love", starts off as a rather straightahead rocker, but unexpected the music shifts to symphonic gear in the middle part with a mellow part, complete with Mellotron. Dave Cousins gives us "Shine on Silver Sun", which I wouldn't call progressive, but a nice singalong, that the band often had a habit of including on many of their albums (like "Part of the Union" or "A Glimpse of Heaven"). The title track features some truly majestic Mellotron, but you can hear the folk roots still, because it has an almost jig-like feel. The next two songs tend to be mellower and more folk-influenced, "Midnight Sun" and "Out in the Cold", before going back to prog territory with "Round and Round". "Lay a Little Light On Me" is another great prog number courtesy of Cousins, where he sounds more like Peter Gabriel, and there's an almost Genesis-like feel, without exactly copying that band's sound. I have my suspicion that Cousins had heard his share of what Genesis was doing at that time.

I have to admit this isn't exactly the most complex prog rock out there. The Strawbs weren't exactly Gentle Giant here. Instead they focused on the songs themselves which showed to more or less degree their folk roots (depending on song). Regardless this album is truly a must have.

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