With Dave Lambert replacing Tony Hooper and bringing a new rock-based dynamic to the band, the Strawbs scored an instant chart hit with "Lay Down", followed by their number 2 UK hit single, "Part Of The Union". The album, which carried on the musical journey towards rock, including some all-time Strawbs classics such as "Down By The Sea", "The River" and "Tears And Pavan", also reached number 2, and a 52 date tour of the UK saw them reaching a newer, younger audience. However, after a gruelling second US tour, the album title proved prophetic and the group split asunder.
Dave Cousins (vcls, gtrs, bnjo)
Richard Hudson (drms, vcls)
John Ford (bs, vcls)
Blue Weaver (kybds)
Dave Lambert (gtrs, vcls)
Vinyl album: AMLH 68144 (A&M, UK, 1973) - DELETED. Single black sleeve, with silver inner sleeve with lyrics. Issued with brown A&M label, query whether re-issued at later date with silver label (probably).
Vinyl album: SP 4383 (A&M, US, 1973) - DELETED. Single black sleeve.
Vinyl album: A&M 86 658 (A&M Italy / Germany) - DELETED .
Vinyl album: SLPS 1544 (Sonet/Dansk Grammofon) - DELETED . Same sleeve as UK.
Cassette: ZCAM 68144(A&M, UK, 1973) - DELETED. Chris Parkins notes that the running order on the 'musicassette' differs from the album on vinyl. On cassette it goes: Part Of The Union - Stormy Down - Tears And Pavan - Flying - Lay Down - (Side Two) Here It Comes (bonus track not on vinyl, but later appeared on 'Strawbs By Choice') - The Winter And The Summer - Lady Fuschia - The River - Down By The Sea - Thank You
CD: 394383-2 (A&M US ? stated to be made in West Germany) - DELETED ??. Minimal reproduction of original - front and back cover, no lyrics.
CD: 540 936-2 (A&M, 1998, REMASTERED WITH 3 BONUS TRACKS) Front and back covers reproduced. No lyrics, but six pages of new sleeve notes by Dave Cousins and John Tobler.
CD: UICY-9215 (Japan only, A&M, 2002, REMASTERED WITH 3 BONUS TRACKS). Card sleeve is mini replica of the original album release, nicely printed. Lyrics in English and Japanese and sleeve notes (probably by John Tobler from UK re-issue).
Produced by The Strawbs
Engineer Tom Allom
Sleeve design
Art Directed by Michael Dowd
Designed by John McConnell
Sleeve printed and made by MacNeill Press Ltd. London SE1
Photographs Tony Evans
Group Photo Fin Costello
Other information
A & M records address quoted as 1/2 St George Street, London W1R 9DG
A & M Records Limited Distributed by Pye Records (Sales) Ltd
The inner sleeve contains the following text :
"Bursting at the Seams sort of came together between October and December 1972 in Sound Techniques, The Manor and the lounge bar at Morgan Studios. Tom Allom engine driver fiddled with even more knobs than Blue on a good day. Hud loved John, and John loved Hud , but a third party seems to have come between them lately. Lampoon savagely assassinated the Fuehrer's guitar strings, who got on everyones' nerves from time to time as usual.
The chaps much appreciated The General, Major Roadworks, and Rob Roy who appeared from time to time bearing gifts of equipment from afar. Fagin and the Artful Dodger would like to make it known that their boys are always available for work.
Happy New Year January 1973
P.S.
In the New Year revels we nearly forgot Bob Kirby, conductor of the number 30 at Air Studios, Martin and Uncle Sam and Sue who types this sort of thing.
UK Chart: 2
US Chart: #####
|
|
|
|
|