Strawbs: Dave Cousins, Dave Lambert (guitars); Andy Richards (keyboards); Chas Cronk (bass guitar); Tony Fernandez (drums).
Audio Remasterer: John W. Edwards.
A 1999 release of a mid-'70s live set, CONCERT CLASSICS VOLUME SIX is not for fans of either Sandy Denny--who had long since left the group--or the Strawbs' original folk-rock sound. By the time of this concert, Dave Cousins and friends had almost entirely disassociated themselves from folk music, although there are hints in the melodies of "The Last Resort" and "No Return."
By the mid-'70s, the Strawbs were a British progressive-pop group in the tradition of 10cc, who they most recall in the catchy "Ghost." Even the encore, "Hero and Heroine," which dates from their earlier, folkier days, is given a rock & roll sheen--the surprising thing is that it doesn't suffer from the radical reworking. CONCERT CLASSICS VOLUME SIX is more for fans of mid-period Genesis than fans of Fairport Convention, but as UK prog-pop goes, it's not bad at all.