Strawberry Sampler

From: Alex Lyons, June 7, 2001

Here's the info on the Strawberry Sampler, as forwarded by Jon Hall, originally written by Dave Greener.

This, as many of you will know from the lengthier explanation on the site,is the 99 copy privately pressed album, which was put together in 1969 as a publishers' demo to help Cousins and Hooper promote their songs to other artists for cover versions.

The main interest for fans of early Strawbs is that it contains all the tracks removed from the earliest version of the Strawbs first A&M album when it was rejected by A&M execs (who expected something more acid-folk).

There are only 3 versions known still to exist (Dave has one, Tony Hooper has one and I have one).

I just came off the phone from Dave C and the news is that this is actually legitimate - not a bootleg as had first been feared. It's being brought out by Witchwood Records sometime next month, and will be available from Witchwood direct.

Great news-it means that when we get to it alphabetically, we'll be able to discuss it properly rather than me having to sing extracts down the phone ;-)

Track listing is as follows:

All I Need Is You (Cousins): A&M album 1st version, different to any version heard to date - Hooper lead vocal.

Stay Awhile With Me (Cousins): A&M album 1st version, similar backing track to Sandy version, but Cousins lead vocals.

Sail Away To The Sea (Cousins): Same as published on Sandy Denny/All Our Own Work.

Two Weeks Last Summer (Cousins): Same/similar to Sandy Denny & Strawb's version.

Nothing Else Will Do (Cousins): As All Our Own Work.

Who Knows Where The Time Goes (Denny): As Sandy Denny.

I've Been My Own Worst Friend (Cousins): Demo.

I Turned My Face Into The Wind (Cousins): Early version of this, which came out on Dragonfly.

On Growing Older (Cousins): Demo version.

And You Need Me (Cousins): A&M album 1st version, different vocals.

Ah Me, Ah My (Hooper): A&M album 1st version, same/similar to GNW.

And You Need Me/Josephine, For Better Or For Worse (Cousins): A&M album 1st version, instrumental link (there would have been a spoken word intro over this probably) then the breathy night club version of Josephine with Herb Alpert tribute brass.

Just The Same In Every Way (Cousins): Either A&M album 1st version or outtake - not dissimilar to version on Preserves, but sounds as though this one is more finished.

How Everyone But Sam Was A Hypocrite (Cousins): A&M album 1st version- UNIQUE version of this song... set in an East End pub! Breaking glasses, fights everything going on behind.

Young Again (Hooper): Alternate version, probably demo, faster version with banjo.

Whichever Way The Wind Blows (Cousins): A&M album 1st version- unreleased melodic ballad, Tony vocals.

Sweetling (Hooper): A&M album 1st version - the closer - big band treatment, with the Ted Heath Orchestra (bar Ted) in attendance.