Hero and Heroine [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Hero and Heroine [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Track Listings

1. Autumn: Heroine's Theme/Deep Summer's Sleep/The Winter Long

2. Sad Young Man

3. Just Love

4. Shine On Silver Sun

5. Hero and Heroine

6. Midnight Sun

7. Out in the Cold

8. Round and Round

9. Lay a Little Light On Me

10. Hero's Theme

11. Still Small Voice [*]

12. Lay a Little Light On Me [Early Version][*][Version]

Editorial Reviews
Product 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.

Tracks:

Autumn: Heroine's Theme/Deep Summer's Sleep/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
Still Small Voice
Lay A Little Light On Me

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

Digitally Remastered with Two Bonus Tracks: Still Small Voice and Lay a Little Light on Me (Early 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.

Bleak progressive folk rock with some upbeat moments .......2006-04-09

Released in 1974, a lot of folks regard this as the first prog album for the Strawbs (and their best), although I felt they were proggy as early as 1972 (with Grave New World). The musicians on Hero and Heroine included former Renaissance keyboardist John Hawken (acoustic/electric piano, Hammond organ, mini-moog, mellotron w/voice and string settings, and string synthesizer); Chas. Cronk (bass); Rod Coombes (drums); and Dave Cousins/Dave Lambert (acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and vocals). I should note that the vocals of Dave Cousins may be an acquired taste, but I actually like them quite a lot. The playing on the album is generally very good, with John Hawken creating wonderfully gothic atmospheres with his haunting and sweeping work on the organ, and especially the mellotron. In fact, his wall of minor keys and somber tones sets the melancholic mood for much of the album. On the whole, the pieces comprise a nice blend of prog, folk, and rock styles and range in length from 2 - 5 minutes, with one track at 8'27". The album opens with a brooding swirl of mellotron, string synthesizer, and some very gloomy guitar chords on Autumn, which is the longest track and a personal favorite. The proggy track Round and Round is also great - as an aside, this track was included on the prog rock box set by Rhino and was my first exposure to the Strawbs. Added bonus tracks include the excellent Still Small Voice and an early version of Lay a Little Light on Me. Although I generally liked this album, the upbeat rock piece by Dave Lambert (Just Love) does not fit very well with the gloom and doom of the remaining pieces. Apart from this minor complaint, Hero and Heroine is highly recommended to those folks interested in exploring progressive folk rock. Other albums by the Strawbs that might also be enjoyable include Grave New World (1972) and Ghosts (1975), which features the Hero and Heroine lineup.

Average customer rating:

Solid Prog, Blast from the Past
I Sense Reflection Coming On.......
This was my first Strawbs album that was introduced to me by a really cool Record Store sales clerk in Detroit
Totally great folk/prog rock album, lots of Mellotron
Bleak progressive folk rock with some upbeat moments

Hero and Heroine
The Strawbs
Manufacturer: A&M Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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 | Pop | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

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

ASIN: B000005RXI
Release Date: 1992-05-21

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

Album Description

Album Details

Old Unremastered Version.

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

Bleak progressive folk rock with some upbeat moments .......2006-04-09

Average customer rating:

Fine reissue of a classic set

Purcell: Theatre Music

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Odes | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Cantatas for Solo Countertenor
Purcell: The Fairy Queen
Purcell: Songs & Airs / Argenta, North, Boothby, Nicholson, Toll
Monteverdi - Madrigali guerrieri ed amorosi / Concerto Köln, Jacobs
Lawes: The Consort Setts for 5 & 7 viols and organ

ASIN: B0001Y4JHA
Release Date: 2004-10-12

Customer Reviews:

Fine reissue of a classic set.......2006-05-24

Think about the stupidest, most formulaic Hollywood movies you can think of: cheesy action pictures, fluffy, unfunny comedies, big but stiff epics. Now imagine that one of the greatest living composers was working in Hollywood, turning out astonishing, hauntingly beautiful and stirring musical scores for these throwaway movies. That's what you get with this set: music Henry Purcell composed for some two dozen often utterly forgettable plays (trust me--I've read a number of them!) Occasionally, when he teams up with a playwright worthy of his stature, such as John Dryden, Aphra Behn, or William Congreve, the results are even better, but for the most part you can enjoy the music here without knowing anything about the original plays.

This set originally appeared as separate LPs in the 70s and 80s, and has been long out of print. That's a pity, since Purcell spent a good deal of his short professional life in the theatre, either writing the incidental music contained on these CDs, or the music for his larger works, the semi-operas (King Arthur, The Fairy Queen, and the like). Almost all of these works are enjoyable gems; certainly, they represent a pinnacle of English 17th century music. Purcell had a genius for spinning musical gold out of the most leaden lyrics (check out his Odes and Welcome Songs on Hyperion if you don't believe me), and he does the same with the song texts in these plays.

Hogwood and the AAM offer clean, listenable performances, and the sound on these old analog discs has been cleaned up and brightened--although they were pretty good, even in the late 70s. As with most Hogwood, emotional extremes are kept to a minimum, so the "otherworldly" nature of late 17th century music, so often emphasised in more recent Baroque performances, doesn't come across here. It would be interesting to see what a group like The King's Consort would do with this music, but this set fills the major gap in the Purcell canon quite nicely.

My only beef with the reissue, as with many reissues, is that the liner notes are rather thin for a 6-cd set--the lyrics to the songs, for example, are especially missed. Still, it's a worthwhile set, and a must for fans of Purcell, English Baroque music, or anyone who just wants to experience a taste of the last days of the Restoration stage.

Average customer rating:

Hero and Heroine
The Strawbs
Manufacturer: Japanese Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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 | Pop | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000063KZX
Release Date: 2003-07-22

Tracks:

Autumn: Heroine's Theme/Deep Summer's Sleep/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
Still Small Voice [*]
Lay a Little Light on Me [Early Version][*]

Album Description

Japanese reissue of the British prog-rock band's 1974 album. Limited to 5,000 pieces, it's packaged in a miniature LP sleeve. Includes the bonus tracks 'Still Small Voice' & 'Lay A Little Light On Me' (Early Version).

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Japanese Limited Edition in an LP-STYLE Sleeve. Limited Pressing of 5000 Pcs.

Average customer rating:

Five Star Underrated

Hero & Heroine
Strawbs
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0002XNFLQ
Release Date: 2004-01-06

Album Description

1973 album for A&M. Contains 10 tracks, including the threepart 'Autumn' suite, 'Sad Young Man' and 'Hero And Heroine'.

Customer Reviews:

Five Star Underrated.......2007-05-18

This is one of the albums I listened to when I first heard of The Strawbs. The previous album, Bursting at the Seams, really showed the rock direction they were taking and H&H was the fulfillment of that. This is an amazing album, probably my favorite. The sound quality is, across the board from The Strawbs, excellent. I used to use this album as a way to get a feel for a recording studio. Even this original edition is great, I have it. I'd like to get the remaster, but have never really been moved to do it as the original is still so good. For $8, buy it, you can't lose! Progressive rock at its best. And is wears well, 34 years later. David Cousins and his varous lineups of The Strawbs gave Sandy Denny her fame, which was tragically ended when she died after their first album together. They carried on, giving us Rick Wakeman, before he left to join Yes. They are one of the seminal bands of the 20th century and I believe history will reflect that someday.

Average customer rating:

Hero & Heroine

Manufacturer: The Swingin' Pig
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Product Description

11 tracks recorded live in NY, 12/26/1972.

Average customer rating:

Hero & Heroine
Strawbs
Manufacturer: Msi Music Corp
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000DEOY1
Release Date: 2002-09-03

Music Review: