STRAWBSWEBNEWS - ARCHIVE

STRAWBSWEBNEWS - DECEMBER 2006

Sent: 28 Nov 2006

Hi folks

A brief update for December - a couple of related releases and a reminder about Cry No More's annual appearance later this month.

Happy Christmas to all Strawbs fans everywhere. In the New Year there'll be a UK acoustic tour in January/February, and, later in February the electric band is back again for a short UK tour, travelling to Canada (and hopefully the US too) in July. I hope there'll also be some great news about releasing some of the hitherto unavailable classic Strawbs albums.

DICK
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Contents
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* Taste
* New Christmas Cd from John Ford
* Dark Ocean release, Dave Cousins special guest
* Cry No More - 23 Dec 2006, Turks Head, Twickenham
* Pinnacle downloads

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TASTE
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Plenty of reactions to and reviews of A Taste Of Strawbs on the site - we'll be looking forward to more when some of you get to hear it for the first time on Christmas Day.

The reactions have been absolutely stupendous:

"this boxed set is far and above the best I have ever owned" - Mick Ward
"what a quality package" - Lindsay Sorrell
"brilliantly packaged set and at least as good as anything I've seen by big budget bands such as The Who and Roxy Music" - Andy Slack
"the booklet is the best I think I've seen in a boxed set" - Mike Barker
"I think the Strawbs have set the standard for box sets" - Ken Stasion
"it has exceeded all expectations... superb collection of fascinating rare and unreleased material, all beautifully packaged and presented" - Steve Powell
"the classiest album package I have ever seen ... it is already taking pride of place in my bookcase" Barry Smith
"the boxed set can only be described as a triumph" - Simon Van Grudgings
"absolute magic ... it's like hearing the music for the very first time all over again" - Lew Fisher
"it's more than I was led to believe ... the clarity of the recordings is brilliant" - Lou Bruno
"stunning...I will treasure this til the end of my days" - Douglas McKenzie
"utterly inspiring hidden gems from every phase of the Strawbs career" - Gadflying
"I have left a directive with my husband: if I should die suddenly, you may donate my organs, but bury me with that Strawbs set" - Cinnie Morgan

Thank you all very much indeed: keep those reactions/comments coming. And send us your Top 5 from Taste.

Email: dgreener@ndirect.co.uk.

And if you've not bought it yet ..... A cat is not just for Christmas, it;s for life!!!!


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NEW CHRISTMAS CD FROM JOHN FORD
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John Ford's new Christmas CD A Christmas Trilogy is finally out! Available for sale on John's site http://www.johnfordmusic.net at $US 6.95 plus shipping.

Oh Holy Night
A Christmas Trilogy -
(Silent Night - The First Noel - Do You Hear What I Hear)
Don't You Know It's Christmas*
The Day A Baby Was Born
I Don't Care If It's Christmas*
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

The starred tracks (track 3 and 5) are two new Christmas songs written and performed by John Ford - "Don't You Know It's Christmas" and "I Don't Care If it's Christmas" - two different takes on the holiday before us. In addition, to some John Ford takes on traditional classic Christmas songs not found on his previous CD Whatever Happened To Christmas More info on John Ford's site.

Also still available, his previous Christmas album Whatever Happened To Christmas; settle down to a Christmas feast and all the trimmings with John Ford !!


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DARK OCEAN RELEASE, CONNY CONRAD WITH DAVE COUSINS
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Dark Ocean, Conny Conrad's band who wowed the audience with a powerful show at the NPL in Teddington, back in January 2005, have released Cosmica which features two tracks on which our very own Dave Cousins guests. My apologies to Conny for overlooking this till now (I seem to have been busy with something to do with white cats ;-).

Available from Conny's webshop: http://www.coco-records.de/webshop/ - you can hear an extract from the single "Message Of God" (not one of the DC tracks as far as I can tell) at http://www.darkocean.de.



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CRY NO MORE - 23 DEC 2006, TURKS HEAD, TWICKENHAM
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Just a reminder that Cry No More (Roy Hill and our own Mr Chas Cronk) return to tread the boards of the Turks Head again on Saturday 23 December.

Those who have just about recovered from the extravaganza Strawbs Christmas Party on 2 December will be there to top up with fine music and bawdy humour.

The Turks Head
Winchester Road
St Margarets
Twickenham TW11LF

Doors: approx 8.30pm; showtime approx 9.00pm
Ticket reservations: tel: reservations phone 020 8408 3192 - or just turn up on the night
Ticket price to be announced

Always great fun - see you there.


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STRAWBS DOWNLOADS
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Strawbs MP3s are now available for sale in download at the Witchwood Media download site hosted by Pinnacle, WM's distributors.

Currently available: Painted Sky, Live At Nearfest, Heartbreak Hill (Platinum).

Available shortly: Hummingbird, Blue Angel, Baroque & Roll, Strawberry Sampler, Two Weeks Last Summer, Deja Fou, Work In Progress.

Go to: http://www.pinnacle-digital.co.uk/witchwood/


DICK GREENER
London, UK
STRAWBSWEB - www.strawbsweb.co.uk
"You'll scarcely believe all the pleasures inside"