With a full-time keyboard player - Andy Richards - back in the band, Strawbs found a new lease of life in mid '78, heading back into the studio to record the first track for their new album, "Something For Nothing". Sadly, the scheduling for the rest of the album conflicted with Dave Lambert's plans for a solo album, and Dave departed, leaving the rest of the album to be cut with sessions axemen Jo Partridge and Miller Anderson.
The title track and the complex "Starting Over" are particularly noteworthy, and the Strawbs rediscovered their sense of humour with the toungue-in-cheek "Desert Song". An excellent return to form, with Tom Allom back at the controls, it sadly remained unreleased when both the Strawbs' management and record deals fell apart. A deal with Elton John's Rocket label was almost in the bag, when Cousins himself left to work in local radio, precipitating the demise of the band.
Plundered for material for 1987's Don't Say Goodbye, prized copies of cassette tapes under the title Starting Over, see below circulated amongst fans until released officially on CD via John Tobler's good offices at Road Goes On Forever.
The cassette and initial CD versions of the album were taken from the best source then available to the band. However, 2006's re-issue benefits from being taken from the original master tapes which were retrieved. There's also a bonus track, "Something Or Nothing (The Whiplash Mix").
Dave Cousins (vcls, ac gtrs)
Chas Cronk (bs, vcls)
Andy Richards (kybds)
Tony Fernandez (drms, perc)
Jo Partridge (gtrs, mandolin, vcls)
*Dave Lambert (gtr)
**Miller Anderson (gtr, vcls)
***Miller Anderson (vcls)
Track listing**** Platinum Edition only.
Not released on vinyl.
Cassette version (known as "Starting Over") Tapes of the unreleased Heartbreak Hill album circulated after the record deal fell through.
CD: RGF/WC CD024 (Road Goes On Forever, 1995). Grainy portrait of Cousins on front cover of insert, remainder includes track details and lyrics.
CD: WMCD 2033 (Witchwood Media, 2006). Platinum effect rehash of original cover, booklet includes track details and lyrics.
Produced by Tom Allom
Published by Road Goes On Forever/Witchwood Collection
Sleeve design
Design and illustration by Rod Green
Other information
All songs published by Old School Songs/SGO Music
For Strawbs information write to Denise Harper, 341 Uxbridge Rd. London W3 9RH England [no longer operating]
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