PRESERVES UNCANNED, 1990
Released at first as a 2-cassette set in 1990, under the auspices of US folk mag, Dirty Linen, Road Goes On Forever picked up the CD rights to this incredibly rich selection of mid to late 60s recordings which continued to sell strongly thereafter. It was also released again on cassette by RGF.
The songs include a range of demos of Strawbs classics from the Sandy Denny period and the first two A&M albums (pretty much the whole of Strawbs is represented, including a few which were rejected from the initial version, such as "Just The Same In Every Way" and are only otherwise released on the ultra-rare Strawberry Sampler). There are also some pickings from the Strawberry Hill Boys' bluegrass/traditional folk antecedents and a few unreleased Cousins originals from the "story-song" model exemplified by "Poor Jimmy Wilson".
A few surprises lurk: an accompanied version of "October To May" from Two Weeks Last Summer; an early treatment of "Absent Friends" from Nomadness hiding under the title "How I Need You", and "Why" which was the b-side to the "Hero And Heroine" single and was folded into a lengthy 3-part epic "Why And Wherefore" recorded during those sessions. The ultimate hidden surprise is a track unlisted on either cassette or CD - "Bitter Sunshine".
Cousins' extensive sleeve notes are a mine of useful and amusing information. The collection - deservedly - was nominated for an award.
Track listing
The track listing on the double cassette includes a few errors - the CD track listing is set out here:
- Coal Creek March (Cousins)
- Sail Away To The Sea (Cousins)
- That Which Once Was Mine (Cousins)
- How Everyone But Sam Was A Hypocrite (Cousins)
- October To May (Cousins)
- On My Way (Cousins)
- All I Need Is You (Cousins)
- Josephine, For Better Or For Worse (Cousins)
- We'll Meet Again Sometime (Cousins)
- Spanish Is The Loving Tongue (Trad. arr. Cousins)
- Handsome Molly (Trad. arr. Cousins)
- Hard Times (Cousins)
- How I Need You (Cousins)
- The Man Who Called Himself Jesus (Cousins)
- Pieces Of 79 And 15 (Cousins/Hooper)
- Following The Rainbow (Cousins)
- Always On My Mind (Hooper)
- Martin Luther King's Dream (Cousins)
- Bitter Sunshine (not mentioned on sleeve - Cousins ?)
- All The Little Ladies (Cousins/Hooper)
- Just The Same In Every Way (Cousins)
- Strawberry Picking (Cousins)
- A Good Woman's Love (Trad. arr. Cousins)
- The Battle (Cousins)
- Jenny O'Brien (Cousins)
- Sweetling (Hooper)
- Flinthill Special (Trad. arr. Cousins)
- The Blantyre Explosion (Trad. arr. Cousins)
- Tell Me What You See In Me (Cousins)
- Or Am I Dreaming (Cousins)
- I'll Show You Where To Sleep (Cousins)
- And You Need Me (Cousins)
- You Keep Going Your Way (Cousins)
- Where Is This Dream Of Your Youth (Cousins)
- Why (Cousins)
- Lawrence Brown (Cousins)
- Wild Strawberries (Cousins)
- Song To Alex (Cousins/Hooper)
Sleeve Notes
From the 2CD release
Originally released by Dirty Linen U S A
Produced by Bill Martin & Paul Hartman
Sleeve design
Cover Photo Steve O'Connell
Other photos from Dave Cousins collection
Other information
Includes the statement:
You are holding in your hands a little bit of History – Recordings made in 1968 by the Strawberry Hill Boys not so long before becoming the Strawbs, a band that is still making great music into the 1990's.
Special thanks to Simon Hart, John Tobler, Dave Hatfield, Steve Hoooker, Julian Phillips, John Garrad
The Road goes on forever address is given as Unit B, 9D Park Road, Crouch End London N8 8TD
The sleeve also contains information stating that news of Strawbs & Related matters read "Jamming" which is highly recommended, SAE to 18, Orchard Grove, Upper Stratton, Swindon , Wilts. SN2 6QR. England [ Please note this should no longer be used and for all information please now refer to Strawbsweb ]
From the original Dirty Linen 2 cassette release
& copy 1990 Strawberry Hill Productions
& copy 1990 Dirty Linen, Ltd
Dirty Linen, PO Box 66600, Baltimore, MD 21239
Cover art by Floyd Runkle
