Grave New World [Extra tracks, Import, Original recording remastered]

Strawbs | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 13, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Universal I.S.
• ASIN: B00000B9BD
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #110,776 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. benedictus

2. Hey, Little Man ....Thursday's Child

3. Queen Of Dreams

4. Heavy Disguise

5. New World

6. Hey Little Man......Wednesday's Child

7. The Flower And The Young Man

8. Tomorrow

9. On Growing Older

10. Ah Me, Ah My

11. Is IT Today, Lord?

12. The Journey's End

13. Here It Comes

14. I'm Going Home

Editorial Reviews

Digitally remastered reissue of their 1972 album for A&M with the original cover art intact & two bonus tracks added:'Here It Comes' & 'I'm Going Home'. 14 tracks total. 1998 A&M release.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heavy prog folk-rock gloom, April 20, 2006

By 

Jeffrey J.Park (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grave New World (Audio CD)

This excellent 1972 release by the Strawbs is much proggier/rockier sounding than From the Witchwood (1971), with electric instruments outweighing acoustic instruments. The lineup at this point no longer included Rick Wakeman, who had (rather abruptly) joined Yes. Apparently Dave Cousins was very upset by the way Rick left the band, which was expressed in the angry-sounding track Tomorrow. In addition to Dave Cousins (vocals acoustic/electric guitars, dulcimer) the other players on the album include the superb keyboardist Blue Weaver (mellotron, Hammond organ, harmonium, clavioline); John Ford (bass, vocals); Tony Hooper (guitars, vocals); and Richard Hudson (drums). The overall sound of the album is dark and features plenty of brooding mellotron parts and a few delicate, folk-flavored acoustic pieces (Hey Little Man...Wednesday's Child). The track Grave New World is the best example of gloom and doom on the album and is simply loaded with mellotron (w/string setting) - it is my favorite piece on the album in fact. On the other side of the equation is some brisk Hammond organ work - Blue Weaver certainly gives Wakeman a run for his money on the track Tomorrow; aggressive bass parts played on a very trebly Rickenbacker bass; rocking electric guitar work; and some heavy drumming. In general though, the heaviness is not overbearing in any way. Although Dave Cousins certainly has an unusual voice, I actually find it very listenable. The three and four part vocal harmonies are also very nice - the folk inflected vocal harmonies on The Flower and the Young Man are especially good. Although prog, folk and rock styles predominate, there are Indian influences as well (Is It Today, Lord?), along with a bit of silliness. Specifically, the track Ah Me, Ah My is silly in a Monty Python, barbershop quartet way and really does not fit with the heavy gloom that characterizes most of the material. This is a minor complaint however, and does not affect the quality of the listening experience. The remastering of the album is generally pretty good and features improved sound quality (although the bass is screaming), along with detailed liner notes and restored cover art. The bonus tracks Here it Comes and I'm Going Home are not especially good. Overall, this is a wonderful Strawbs album and is recommended along with From the Witchwood (1971); Hero and Heroine (1974); and Ghosts (1975).

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Prog Rocks Most Complete Efforts, December 31, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Grave New World (Audio CD)

Early in the 1970's, I went to see Fleetwood Mac at the then Tower Theatre in Philly and remember Stawbs ( originally known as the Strawberry Hill Boys) opening for them. They played about an hour and blew everyone away. Poor Fleetwood minus Jeremy Spencer and Peter Green ( no Lindsay and Stevie yet) were virtually bood off the stage, people screaming for Strawbs to come back, even as the band entered the podium. Strawbs began the set with Benedictus...and then went into Down by the Sea, Hero and Heroine, and then In Amongst the Roses...it was one of the best 4 set I ever heared in a concert, anywhere! Heck, my yoga teacher back then use to chant the chorus to Benedictus in her yoga mundles every Friday night...and she was in her 40's at the time.

The popularity of this album at that time amongst serious listeners of prog rock can not be underscored. It is a concept album that really hits at the root of the spirituality that was availiable and happening at that time, steeped in tarot, medieval mysticism, and alchemy...the entire album is a journey into some form of Blakian enlightenment, as Cousins seemed to be taking his studies in these areas very seriously. Though Strawbs was to produce fine singular pieces in the future, they would never attain the complete package ( I have an original LP and the artwork is just gorgeous ), nor the complete concept, like this one again. Metaphors and symbolism abound on this record...the little man, the hermit/traveler, the Queen of Dreams, the flower and the fool ( on the cover too), the transformed Old Sage, they are all there...the ancient journey of turning inward is about to begin, leaving behind the confusion of the world..."Grave New World" and "Heavy Disquise." Strawbs seemed to take seriously what the Beatles only dabbled in when they made their pilgrimage to India. Additionally, this LP occured well before the "New Age Merchants" could get their hands around what was going down.

So what relevence does this all have today? Very little unless you are a fan of prog rock and want one of the best, most uniquely blended concept albums ever produced ( in ANY genre). The lyrics, artwork, musicality, instumentation, albeit..the sum of all the band's talented energies went into making a singular concept to express a clear spiritual point. And it was done in a fashion that was deeper and more gorgeous ( Cousin's style I guess) than "Tommy," "Days of Future Passed," or "Court of the Crimson King" ( though one could argue who had the better musical scores). If you can get your hands on an original copy of the LP, it is well worth having along side your cd, since some of the "wholeness" of this album is lost a little with the cd alone. But for fans of prog rock, this cd is an ABSOLUTE MUST. I don't want to sound like your grandpa, but seriously, they simply don't produce concept albums as complete as this one was and still is. If you are a musician and want to know how to put together the most complete conceptual package, start here.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars may you rock, in your grave.. new world, May 8, 2002

By 

allismile0 "allismile0" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grave New World (Audio CD)

Every Strawbs album between Witchwood and Nomadness has something unique to offer. Put it all together, its the same band but the progression of band member changes and sound were so quick and impressive that for the most part no two albums are all that similar. Grave New World is the Strawbs pioneering the sound to its farthest reaches. This was a really great band and Dave Cousins is a fantastic talent who deserves more attention for passionate songs and original ideas. I only found out about his band by chance, but I feel that their music had a great joy and sincerity about it, and this album is the cornerstone at which all their ideas reached it's zenith.