Hero and Heroine

Infobox Album
Name = Hero and Heroine
Type = studio
Artist = Strawbs


Released = 1974
Recorded = November 1973, Rosenberg Studios, Copenhagen
Genre = Progressive rock
Length = 39:36
Label = A&M, (UK)
Producer = Dave Cousins, Tom Allom
Reviews =
*Allmusic rating|4.5|5 [http://wc03.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:dcfuxq95ldke link]
Last album = "All Our Own Work"
(1973)
This album = "Hero and Heroine"
(1974)
Next album = "Strawbs by Choice"
(1974)
Misc = Singles
Name = Hero and Heroine
Type = album
single 1 = Shine on Silver Sun
single 2 = Hero and Heroine
single 3 = Hold on to Me (The Winter Long)

"Hero and Heroine" is a studio album by English band Strawbs. After the tour supporting the previous album, "Bursting at the Seams", there was an acrimonious split leaving only Dave Cousins and Dave Lambert to rebuild the band. The new line-up gelled very quickly and studio sessions were very productive. The album was released first in the US to a warm reception, and then in the UK where reviews were more negative. The band increasingly began to look to North America for a successful future.

The album, although still recognisably Strawbs, contains tracks with harsh "straight talking" lyrics, in contrast to the more lyrical approach shown on "Busting at the Seams". The music is more Gothic and doom-laden with washes of mellotron and big guitar power chords, especially on the longer tracks.

All band members made writing contributions, notably Chas Cronk with whom Dave Cousins would write many songs on future albums.

Track listing

Side 1

#"Autumn" – 8:27
#:"Heroine's Theme" (John Hawken)
#:"Deep Summer Sleep" (Dave Cousins)
#:"The Winter Long" (Cousins)
#"Sad Young Man" (Rod Coombes) – 4:09
#"Just Love" (Dave Lambert) – 3:41
#"Shine on Silver Sun" (Cousins) – 2:46

Side 2

#"Hero and Heroine" (Cousins) – 3:29
#"Midnight Sun" (Chas Cronk, Cousins) – 3:06
#"Out in the Cold" (Cousins) – 3:19
#"Round and Round" (Cousins) – 4:44
#"Lay a Little Light on Me" (Cousins) – 3:27
#"Hero's Theme" (Lambert) – 2:28

Bonus Tracks

The following tracks did not feature on the original vinyl release and were included as bonus tracks on the A&M reissue.
#"Still Small Voice" (Cousins) – 2:28
#"Lay a Little Light on Me (early version)" (Cousins) – 2:20

Personnel

*Dave Cousins – lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
*Dave Lambert – lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
*John Hawken – organ, piano, electric piano, mellotron, synthesizer
*Chas Cronk – backing vocals, bass guitar, synthesizer
*Rod Coombes – backing vocals, drums, percussion

with

*Claire Deniz – cello on "Midnight Sun"

Recording

*Dave Cousins, Tom Allom – Producers
*Tom Allom, Freddy Hansson – Engineers

Recorded at Rosenberg Studios, Copenhagen.

Release history

References

* [http://www.strawbsweb.co.uk/@f/f_hero.htm "Hero and Heroine" on Strawbsweb]
*Sleeve notes CD 540 935-2 "Hero and Heroine"