From the Witchwood [Original recording remastered] [Import]

From the Witchwood [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Digitally remastered 1998 reissue on A&M, and the CD debut of their 1971 album for the label. Features the original cover art & all of the original tracks, plus 'Keep The DevilOutside' added as a bonus track. 11 tracks total.

Tracks:

A Glimpse Of Heaven
Witchwood
Thirty Days
Flight
The Hangman And The Paptist
Sheep
Cannondale
The Sheperd's Song
In Amongst The Roses
I'll Carry On Beside You
Keep The Devil Outside

Album Description

Digitally remastered 1998 reissue on A&M, and the CD debut of their 1971 album for the label. Features the original cover art & all of the original tracks, plus 'Keep The DevilOutside' added as a bonus track. 11 tracks total.

Album Details

From the Witchwood Originally Released in the Summer of 1971 Was the Groups Second UK Chart Album and the Groups Last to Feature Keyboard Superstar Rick Wakeman. This Reissue Includes a Bonus Track.

Customer Reviews:

The Strawbs straddle the realms of folk rock and (slightly proggy) rock.......2007-04-28

I really enjoy the music of the Strawbs and especially appreciate their proggier works from the 1972-1975 timeframe, i.e. Grave New World through Ghosts). From the Witchwood (1971) is slightly different from those later works in that the folk rock influences are much stronger and even psychedelic pop influences are present. Specifically, there are vocal harmonies that remind me of Rubber Soul and Revolver-era Beatles and there is even a fleeting reference to the Jefferson Airplane track White Rabbit. Overall, I find this album to be a great example of English folk rock with some touches of prog rock.

The lineup on From the Witchwood includes Rick Wakeman (Hammond organ; mellotron (mostly with string setting); harpsichord; mini moog synthesizer; and clarinet); Dave Cousins (vocals acoustic and electric guitar; banjo; dulcimer; tenor recorder); Richard Hudson (drums; vocals; sitar); John Ford (electric bass; vocals); and Tony Hooper (vocals; autoharp; acoustic guitar; tambourine). This would be the last Strawbs album with Rick Wakeman before he joined prog rock giant Yes for their Fragile album.

From a quick glance at the instruments these guys were using, it becomes clear that an interesting mixture of the exotic; the "very old"; and the cutting edge were used to make this album. The use of the sitar on the album is pretty unusual in that scales typically associated with eastern music are not used - rather, the instrument is used to play more straightforward melodies associated with western rock music. Rick Wakeman does stand out though. In fact, his lightning fast and virtuosic runs on the Hammond organ and mini moog seem to be just a little bit at odds with the generally folky, pastoral and psychedelic feel of this album. Although I have been using descriptive terms like folky and pastoral, this was the first Strawbs album to feature a drum kit and some of the songs are pretty "rocking". Dave does note that they were a little nervous how their predominantly folk oriented audience might react to a drum kit, so the drums are mixed down a bit. However, John's bass work is especially heavy and really contributes to the rock element along with the electric guitars.

Musically, this is a great album of folk rock that took a giant leap into the rock realm. There are some proggy touches here and there courtesy of Rick's phenomenal technique and the equipment he used including the mellotron and the mini-moog. The arrangements themselves are also pretty interesting too and are at times very haunting and gloomy, yet occasionally upbeat. From the Witchwood also features some nice, pastoral moments that were holdovers from the purely folk rock approach of albums including Strawbs (1969) and Dragonfly (1970) and the group even worked psychedelic flourishes into the music here and there. Most importantly though, From the Witchwood is a very even album with all of the tracks more or less "on the same page" - I say this in spite of the fact that some folks do not like the tracks written by members other than Dave Cousins. I also appreciate the vocals - while Dave does have a somewhat unusual voice, the vocal harmonies with the other members are superb and at times sound reminiscent of early English folk music.

This remastered album is excellent and features restored cover art and loads of informative liner notes and excellent sound quality (Tony Visconti was a great producer). The bonus track was written by John Ford and was not included on the original album because of the time limitations imposed by the vinyl LP format. The track is very good.

Well there you have it. This is a great folk rock album with some proggy flourishes here and there that demonstrates the proggier direction that the group was heading in. From the Witchwood is very highly recommended to prog fans that do not mind their prog on the folk rock side along with Grave New World (1972); Hero and Heroine (1974); and Ghosts (1975).

This was one of my first two Strawbs CD's that I bought as Japanese imports back in 1988.......2007-01-01

I don't understand why A&M didn't make an effort to put Strawbs songs on pop radio. American Top 40 radio back in the early 1970's had such wonderful diversity that nothing would seem obscure or out of place on the charts. Practically every song on this CD could have been a Top 40 hit. This album of "From the Witchwood" doesn't have one bad track. I can't point a finger at any track here and say that it is only mediocre, at best. Each and every track deserves a five star rating.

Back when I was just a few years into buying CD's, even in 1988, not too many obscure bands were yet released on CD. Only currently popular stuff. When I browsed a small CD store in the college town of Davis, California, I found this guy working out of nothing more that a "hole in the wall", who was actually selling some expensive, hard to find, German and Japanese import CD's. A&M in Japan was selling CD's through an affiliate known as Canyon Records. If it came from Canyon Records in Japan then they costed almost $35 for each CD. I bought five very expensive import CD's from Canyon Records in Japan. Can you believe that in one day, I bought Rick Wakeman's "Lisztomania", "Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record", and "Rhapsodies", and then also The Strawbs "Just a Collection of Antiques and Curios" and this album "From the Witchwood".

I threw caution to the wind and practically spent my whole paycheck buying these few Japanese imports. Tower Records never had these CD's. I guess they wouldn't dare want to take a chance hoping to sell such obscure titles and such an expensive import price.

Later, this CD store got a Canadian import of "Hero and Heroine", but it seemed like forever before "Ghosts" and "Bursting at the Seams" would ever come out on CD. I think Canyon Records was very short lived and never got around to releasing these such albums.

But, that day in 1988, was my most exciting day in the purchasing of CD's. Price wasn't a concern at the time. I had my hands of the first two known Strawbs albums on compact disc. Sure, it doesn't seem like much of a big deal now (with the ability to get practically anything you want through the Internet), but back before the Internet days, a great song or an album on a CD was like a precious piece of jewelry. It was "that" special.

To this day, I still never tire from playing a Strawbs CD from the A&M days. In fact, Strawbs is great music when you're alone on a rainy day. Strawbs, Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, The Moody Blues, Rick Wakeman, King Crimson, and Yes are all still my favorite Progressive Rock groups. Yes, I'm still an old Prog Rock Fossil. I understand that being a Prog Rock fossil isn't very common in California, but this music still reminds me that I'm still a Detroiter in my heart, and in Detroit, we never forget the legends of Progressive Rock and of the Immortal Rock Gods that they were.

My first try at the Strawbs.......2006-07-27

The Strawbs was one of those bands I knew of forever, but never owned any of their albums, until now. Well, better late than never. From the Witchwood was their last album with Rick Wakeman. The rest of the group at that time consisted of Dave Cousins, Tony Hooper, Richard Hudson, and John Ford. The Strawbs were unlike many of their other British folk-rock contemporaries like Fairport Convention or Steeleye Span. For one thing, they did not touch on centuries old folk songs, jigs and reels, and mainly stuck to compositions written by band members. Mellotron was totally alien on any given Fairport or Steeleye Span album. Plus they wanted to explore prog rock, while at the same time not forsaking their folk roots.

From the Witchwood was their fourth album, and while mainly sticking to a folk-rock sound, started showing some progressive tendencies. This was their first album where the Mellotron was used, although just on one cut, "The Shepherd's Song". Wakeman did not stick around long enough to watch the band get more progressive, we all know what happened: he hopped board to Yes, where his keyboards (Moog, Mellotron, Hammond organ) was put to much greater use in that group. Yes was not happy with Tony Kaye, who was reluctant to play Moog on The Yes Album, and Wakeman's presence in Yes resulted in some of that band's finest albums (Fragile, Close to the Edge). Of course it was with Wakeman's stay with the Strawbs that allowed him to record his solo albums on A&M (which the Strawbs recorded for).

"A Glimpse of Heaven" was one of the band's singalongs they had a habit of including on many of their albums (like "Part of the Union" off Bursting at the Seams or "Shine on Silver Sun" off Hero and Heroine). Dave Cousins vocals sounds to me like a cross between Peter Gabriel and of Cat Stevens. "Witchwood" is a nice, pleasant folk-rock piece with mandolin. Some people would state that the songs not written by Dave Cousins were not the album's finest, but I can't say that they're bad. "Thirty Days" (Ford), "Flight" (Hudson), and "Canon Dale" (Hudson) might not be up to the quality of the songs written by Cousins, they're not bad. "Canon Dale" is a rather odd experimental psychedelic piece complete with sitar. "The Hangman and the Papist" is one of the album's high points, and it's little wonder it was a staple in the band's live repertoire. "The Shepherd's Song" is one of the first serious attempts at the band exploring prog rock. Here Wakeman uses his Mellotron to good use. I can't help but be reminded of the Moody Blues here, but then suddenly there's this Spanish feel to it, and during this part, Wakeman whips out his Moog. "In Amongst the Roses" goes back to folk music, but is a truly stunning acoustic piece.

It might not be their most progressive album (despite the presence of Wakeman), but the music is great, although the production isn't that great. Still, you need this album if you're a Strawbs fan.

the witch is on the stool .......2005-12-22

the strawbs a folk rock band who turned progressive with this masterpiece i cannot fault this body of work one bit..every bit an enjoyable ride..my favorites being witchwood an beautiful song which sends shivers down my spine everytime i hear it..
and "the hangman and the papist"
two truly awesome songs in a MASTERPIECE OF an album
this is my first proper strawbs album i've got the ultimate collection with their hit single "part of the union" after hearing both of them albums i'm gonna invest in more of their studio albums
get the stawbs "from the witchwood" and feel the benefits of a classic folk/progessive album

The Strawbs begin the turn from folk to progressive rock.......2003-11-27

Of course it is difficult not to pick up on Wakeman's organ and synthesizer playing on most of these tracks. It sure stands out on this version of "The Hangman and the Papist," more than I remember from the other version I have of this memorable tale about two brothers on opposite sides of the fence in Tudor England. The album opens with the pastoral "Glimpse of Heaven," originally a poem by Cousins which now features Wakeman's church organ accompaniment, and which defines the merging of the folk past and progressive future of the band. The folk impulse probably comes out strongest in the cautionary drug tale "Witchwood" and the sensitivities inherent in "Sheep." I always liked "The Hangman and the Papist," but "The Shepherd's Song" is the one that stands out this time, both in terms of the vocal harmonies and Wakeman's simulated horns and strings in the background.

The bonus track on this remastered album is John Ford's "Keep the Devil Outside," which has an acoustic opening before turning to hard rock. It was recorded during the "Witchwood" sessions but was only released as the B-side of "Benedictus," a single from the 1972 "Grave New World" album, with which "From the Witchwood" has the most in common. The Strawbs are a largely forgotten progressive rock group on this side of the pond except by those of us who had all of these albums on vinyl and/or cassette. I am just happy to see that more and more of those albums are becoming available here so that I do not have to keep importing them.

From the Witchwood
Average customer rating:

The Strawbs turn from a folk to a progressive rock group

From the Witchwood
The Strawbs
Manufacturer: Universal
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: B0000AFOHJ
Release Date: 2003-08-12

Tracks:

Glimpse of Heaven
Witchwood
Thirty Days
Flight
Hangman and the Papist
Sheep
Cannondale
Shepherd's Song
In Amongst the Roses
I'll Cary on Beside You
Keep the Devil Outside

Album Description

Limited edition Japanese remastered reissue of 1971 album, packaged in a miniature LP gatefold sleeve features 11 tracks including 1 bonus track, 'Keep The Devil Outside'. Universal. 1998.

Album Details

Japanese Limited Edition in an LP-STYLE Slipcase.

Customer Reviews:

The Strawbs turn from a folk to a progressive rock group.......2005-08-16

I actually went to go see the Strawbs in concert without owning any of their albums, but having listened to a few tracks on an FM radio station in Albuquerque, New Mexico where the David Cousins led group was a personal favorite of a couple of disc jockeys. This would have been when the Strawbs were touring off of their 1975 "Ghost Album," which followed "Bursting at the Seams" and "Hero and Heroine" and together constitutes what many would consider their three best albums.

"From the Witchwood" is a 1971 release that represents the transitional period when the Strawbs went from being an acoustic folk group, where Sandy Denny was a singer for a while, to a progressive folk group, with Rick Wakeman playing keyboards, before moving on to being more of a progressive rock group in the middle Seventies. At this point in addition to Cousins and Wakeman the group consisted of Richard Hudson on drums, John Ford on bass, and Tony Hooper as the lead guitarist.

Of course it is difficult not to pick up on Wakeman's organ and synthesizer playing on most of these tracks. It sure stands out on this version of "The Hangman and the Papist," more than I remember from the other version I have of this memorable tale about two brothers on opposite sides of the religious fence in Tudor England. The album opens with the pastoral "Glimpse of Heaven," originally a poem by Cousins which now features Wakeman's church organ accompaniment, and which defines the merging of the folk past and progressive future of the band. The folk impulse probably comes out strongest in the cautionary drug tale "Witchwood" and the sensitivities inherent in "Sheep."

As I have indicated, I always liked "The Hangman and the Papist," but "The Shepherd's Song" is the one that stands out this time, both in terms of the vocal harmonies and Wakeman's simulated horns and strings in the background. This remastered DVD includes on bonus track, Ford's "Keep the Devil Outside," which was never on an album but was the B-Side for the single "Benedictus" from the group's next album, "Grave New World." The Strawbs are a largely forgotten progressive rock group except by those of us who had all of these albums on vinyl and/or cassette, and it is nice to see that just about all of their albums are finally available on CD. If they were a second teir British Prog Rock band, then they were the best on that level.

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