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POLL: Pick the next Extended Play Lounge (Patreon)

Published:
2025-07-15 18:57:18
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

Poll

POLL: Pick the next Extended Play Lounge

  • From the Witchwood 18
  • Grave New World 41
  • Hero and Heroine 43
  • Bursting at the Seams 10
  • Ghosts 11
  • 2025-07-15
  • —2025-07-20
  • 123 votes
{'title': 'POLL: Pick the next Extended Play Lounge', 'choices': [{'text': 'From the Witchwood', 'votes': 18}, {'text': 'Grave New World', 'votes': 41}, {'text': 'Hero and Heroine', 'votes': 43}, {'text': 'Bursting at the Seams', 'votes': 10}, {'text': 'Ghosts', 'votes': 11}], 'closes_at': datetime.datetime(2025, 7, 20, 3, 56, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc), 'created_at': datetime.datetime(2025, 7, 15, 18, 45, 39, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc), 'description': None, 'allow_multiple': False, 'total_votes': 123}

Content

A few days ago, Dave Cousins (founding member of Strawbs) passed away. I've heard some of their songs, but I've never featured a Strawbs album here in the Extended Play Lounge. So, in Dave's memory, I'm asking you to pick from these five classic Strawbs albums. Which one should we hear?

Comments

Dave Hoffsommer

They are all excellent albums, but the title track of Ghosts alone is an incredible musical journey through a dream into a nightmare and back out.

Barbara Hughes

Grave New World was the first and only Strawbs album I purchased, pretty sure when it first came out. I don't recall what attracted me to buying it. I have not bought a LOT of albums over the years, so those I've purchased have been for pretty compelling reasons. I played that thing on constant repeat -- absolutely adored it! (I tend toward hyperfocus in my musical interests.) And then life moved on and I forgot all about them. I only kept up on a handful of favorite artists over the years. And then I met Mark Moerman in 1996, who many of you know from the Council of Dougs. Gradually, as we got to know each other, I realized that his vast knowledge of popular music and musicians totally blew my piddly little bubble of awareness way out of the water. One day, he played a record at his place and I heard a song from Grave New World hitting my ears. It was like a shockwave from my memories!! "Oh my god, I KNOW that song!! What IS that?!?" Mark told me all he knew about the Strawbs, and I was, as they say, gobsmacked. I couldn't actually BELIEVE that there was another person in the world who knew about this music I had loved decades earlier! LOL.... I have since learned so much more about so many musicians, and my bubble of awareness (and also APPRECIATION) has expanded by quantum leaps. Mark really opened up my head in directions I never would have gone on my own. But I discovered Doug's channel first (with his reaction to Close to the Edge) and turned Mark onto the Daily Doug, so I take credit for that!!! And together we continue to expand our minds........

Eric Schwenke

I’d never even heard of them before a few days ago, so I’ll be of no help here.

James Bardsley

Grace New World is an intense song, but I think Hero and Heroine is the best album they did and John Hawkins plays superb keyb9atf on it.

REPay

Thanks for doing this Doug. These are the big five album though it tears me to choose. I picked Hero & Heroine as my late friend John Hawken was on keyboards (Ghosts too) and composed and played the opening notes. Grave New World is spectacular - the first triplegate album ever and great music - first album post Rick Wakeman (Blue Weaver taking over admirably and serving the music) and some prog as well as more folky fare. Charted 11 in the UK. Bursting at the Seams charted 2 and was the first rock Strawbs with Dave Lambert on guitar. It was huge when the band split, largely because the bassist and drummer had a number 1 hit that was atypical and which led to tensions. Cousins and Lambert reformed for the prog era. Hero & Heroine & Ghosts made them a serious act on the east coast and Canada where they regularly went gold. A hugely underrated band - great tunesmiths and Dave Lambert with a great voice and looks. I saw them 40 times or so...many permutations and reformations.

Trevor Cotterell

I'll go for Hero & Heroine, but From The Witchwood deserves an airing too

Nickie Kelly

Any of them would be lovely, I am a huge fan of Strawbs and Cousins. And so many of the songs on all of these releases would be so poignant and appropriate to his passing. I think I'm going to go with Ghosts, just because of the album title. Thank you for thinking of doing this lovely tribute, Doug.

Adrian Goodrich

Hero and Heroine is perhaps overall the best album, from this so-underappreciated band. But I voted for Grave New World, as it holds a lot of meaning for me. And side 1 is just wonderful. Every second of it. "New World" still sends shivers down my back, 50 years after I first heard it. But the whole first side does. I still have that original vinyl, and remember the day I walked into the office at lunchtime having bought it. If H&H wins, as I expect it will, I can only plead with Doug to react to Grave New World as well, sometime. May you rest, in your grave, new world. And may you rest in peace, wonderful Dave Cousins. Safe journey, buddy.

me_you

I haven’t heard any of them. Can I get through 5 albums in 4 days? It is worth a try. Added note: are From the Witchwood or Grave New World available on any streaming platform? They are not on Apple Music, Spotify, or YouTube as complete albums.

Ron Swirson

I'm disappointed that Bursting at The Seams isn't currently in contention. it was the album that introduced me to the band and subsequently 3 live performances and a fan for life. However Grave New World would be my second choice so it's all good. Thank you Doug for doing this in memory af Dave. He is a very overlooked song writer. His lyrics are are often beautifuly poetic, powerful and introspective which always appealed to me. He will be greatly missed.

Ron Swirson

Doug, here is something to observe with this album. It has religeous overtones without being overtly religious. It also has 2 songs that cover being blesssed (Benedictus) with the counterpoint song New World which is about war and forgiveness. New World will send shivers down your spine when Dave overtly sings a line in the song, you'll know it when you hear it. To this day his delivery still hits me as hard as the first time I heard it.

Meng

Ah Me, Ah My - Grave New World is one of my Desert Island Discs, and Dave has reached his Journey's End.

Ray Sincere

I'm also disappointed not to see more support for Bursting at the Seams. I think that's their best album. It was still in the era with John Ford, Richard Hudson, and Blue Weaver, and it had such a strong crop of songs. But Grave New World would be my second pick, so I won't be too disappointed. I'm eager for Doug to hear "Benedictus". And "Queen of Dreams".

Scot Poland

Thank you thank you for this Doug! I actually was going to try to message you to plead for you to do Grave New World in an EPL. All these albums are worth hearing but GNW is (IMHO) the most appropriate for this sad time, as it’s about one’s journey through life. I was able to attend the 50th anniversary event in 2019, where they did the full album with narration to more fully explain the stages of the journey. And you’d appreciate that Annie Haslam filled Sandy Denny’s part on several songs from the first Strawbs album! Dave Cousins wrote a beautiful song in memory of Sandy, Ringing Down the Years. And as someone mentioned above, his song Hanging in the Gallery is especially poignant just now. I was lucky to find Strawbs very early, I had Witchwood and Antiques already when GNW came out. I saw them 3 times, and twice had the chance to chat with Dave, what a sweet, sweet man, and such a brilliant songwriter. This music death hits harder than any for me in a long time.

Adrian Goodrich

Well Doug, whichever of GNW and H&H wins (and both deserve to) I think you should react to BOTH! I had no head for heights but close my eyes to make the climb Oh Queen of Dreams Oh Queen of Souls Oh Queen of Heads It's time Time for some Strawbs.

Adrian Goodrich

Just realised. One of my favourite Strawbs songs shares a title with my very bestest favourite, just chuffing superb, Karl Jenkins piece - "Benedictus". The latter just blows me away, especially live. I'd love to hear Doug react to some Karl Jenkins, whether from his Soft Machine days or later, like in "The Armed Man" or "Adiemus".

Rolling Ronnie

Great band and a really interesting transition from pure folk to 'folk/prog' (see also Gryphon!). I'd have picked 'Just A Collection Of Antiques and Curios' for Rick Wakeman's contribution had it been on the list.

Allen

It's been a while since I heard "Grave New World," but "From the Witchwood" seems to be the one I replay the most. The songs are all interesting, electic, and features some beautiful piano work by Rick Wakeman (he departed after this, I believe). It's not too late to change your vote!