PRESERVED UNCANNED

This is where it started. 38 demos and privately recorded tunes covering the birth of the Strawbs. If you own their entire catalogue (like I do), this is essential. From "Coal creek march" to "Song to Alex" this double CD covers the early years of folk-rock and blue-grass that would slowly segue into rock and prog-rock as the 60ies turned into 70ies. Not everything catches fire, but somehow it doesn't matter. There is enough here to enjoy, like "All I need is you", "We'll meet again sometime" and "Tell me what you see in me" as well as quirky ditties like "Jenny O'Brien" and "Sweetling".

3.5/5