BURSTING AT THE SEAMS

"Bursting At The Seams" is the fifth studio album of Strawbs and was released in 1973. It's one of the most perfectly realized Strawbs albums, in spite of its obvious commercial appeal. We may say that "Bursting At The Seams" was the definite break album for the Strawbs because it marked a major musical transformation in the group. It's also the album where the founder member Tony Hooper left the band and was substituted by their new guitarist Dave Lambert.

So, the line up on the album is Dave Cousins (vocals, acoustic and electric guitars and banjo), Dave Lambert (vocals, acoustic and electric guitars), Blue Weaver (organ, piano and Mellotron), John Ford (vocals and bass guitar) and Richard Hudson (vocals, drums and sitar).

"Bursting At The Seams" has ten tracks. The first track "Flying" written by Dave Cousins is a nice, melodic and well structured song with several contrasting sections. It has also good lyrics, nice vocal work, especially the harmonic choruses, and it has even an instrumental break featuring an interesting banjo and Mellotron combination. This is a delicate song and a great opener for the album. The second track "Lady Fuchsia" written by Richard Hudson and John Ford is a happy and lovely soft song sung by Richard Hudson and John Ford, featuring a beautiful sitar work and a fine guitar work. It's a melodic and well structured song, one of the songs on this album with a strongest folk approach. The third track "Stormy Down" written by Dave Cousins is a kind of a country rock soft song. It's a song with a mix of rock, folk and country and is performed in a style of a ballad. This is a nice and calm song, but represents one of the less interesting moments on the album. The fourth track "The River" written by Dave Cousins is a great song that makes an interesting combination with the next song "Down By The Sea". This is, basically, a folk song, played in a slow rhythm, which gradually develops into a lamenting, dramatic and melancholic track. It's a kind of an introduction to "Down By The Sea". The fifth track "Down By The Sea" written by Dave Cousins is one of the highlights on the album and is one of the best songs made by him. It's a powerful song, very symphonic and with a magnificent and triumphant choir. This is a song with plenty of variations and repetitions of the main theme, which develops in a crescendo, till a great and dramatic final. It's a brilliant and memorable song on the album. The sixth track "Part Of The Union" written by Richard Hudson and John Ford is the most different song on the album. It's one of the two songs released as a single. I agree with those who think this is a very well made and funny song, but that should only have been released as a single and never should be part of the album. Still, I enjoy this song too much, to be disappointed to its inclusion on the album. Lyrically, the song is very satirical and is about the power of the trade unions in the U.K. This is a controversial song that was misunderstood and poorly received by many union activists. The seventh track "Tears And Pavan" is divided into two parts, "Tears" written by Dave Cousins and "Pavan" written by Dave Cousins, Richard Hudson and John Ford. The song is with "Down By The Sea" one of the two best moments on the album. "Tears" is a sad song with some emotional parts and fantastic Mellotron lines. "Pavan" is a dance tune in the vein of the Greek or Spanish folksy dances, with a twin nice acoustic guitar works and a marvellous harpsichord performance. I like really the harpsichord sound on this song, which brings to us a certain medieval atmosphere. The eighth track "The Winter And The Summer" written by Dave Lambert is his first contribution to the band. This is a fine song. Dave Cousins even said once this is the best song Dave Lambert ever written. It's a nice guitar rock ballad, sung by Dave Lambert, with nice and intricate guitar melodies and with a delightful ending. The ninth track "Lay Down" written by Dave Cousins was the other song released as a single. It's a good and strong pure rock song, very enjoyable, well sung, with lots of Mellotron and a good guitar solo too. This is a song made in a more commercial vein to be a big hit. Sincerely, I think this is a real good track. The tenth track "Thank You" written by Dave Cousins and Blue Weaver" is a short and nice song with Dave Cousins singing along with a children's school choir. It's original and nice, but is at the same time an odd way to end the album.

Conclusion: Despite the departure of Rick Wakeman after "From The Witchood" and of Tony Hooper after "Grave New World", and of their substitution by Blue Weaver and Dave Lambert, respectively, "Bursting At The Seams" represents still the classic Strawbs' line up. However, this was the last album with their classic line up. John Ford and Richard Hudson would leave after the supporting live tour of "Bursting At The Seams". "Just A Collection Of Antiques And Curious", "From The Witchwood", "Grave New World", "Bursting At The Seams", "Hero And Heroine" and "Ghosts" are usually considered the albums that belong to their golden era. Still, "Bursting At The Seams" is generally considered the less good. But, I think this is a bit unfair because this is a well balanced album with some great musical moments.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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