Lay Down
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| “Lay Down” | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Strawbs from the album Bursting at the Seams |
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| B-side | "Backside" | ||||
| Released | October 13, 1972 | ||||
| Format | 7" | ||||
| Genre | progressive folk, progressive rock | ||||
| Length | 4:31 | ||||
| Label | A&M | ||||
| Writer(s) | Dave Cousins | ||||
| Producer | Strawbs | ||||
| Strawbs singles chronology | |||||
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| Bursting at the Seams track listing | |||||
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"Lay Down" is a song by English band Strawbs featured on their 1973 album Bursting at the Seams. It peaked at number 12 in the UK Singles Chart.
The lyrics are based on the 23rd Psalm and the song was widely considered to be writer Dave Cousins's most commercial and radio-friendly offering to date. Indeed, some aficionados accused Cousins and Strawbs of "selling out", especially as the band later appeared on Top of the Pops dressed in glittery "glam rock" outfits.
The song was brought to the public's attention again in 2007 when it featured on the BBC television series "Life on Mars".
Contents |
[edit] B-Side
The B-side "Backside" is attributed to "Ciggy Barlust and the Whales from Venus", an obvious allusion to David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars".
It was actually a Strawbs composition credited to all members of the band at that time (see personnel below).
[edit] Other recordings
The song was re-recorded (with different personnel) for the 2003 Strawbs album Blue Angel and also the 1979 Dave Cousins and Brian Willoughby album Old School Songs
[edit] Personnel
- Dave Cousins – lead vocals, electric guitar
- Dave Lambert – lead guitar, backing vocals
- John Ford – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Richard Hudson – drums, backing vocals
- Blue Weaver – organ, mellotron
[edit] Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | October 13, 1972 | A&M | 7" single | AMS7035 | |
| Denmark | 1972 | Sonet | 7" single | T 7265 | |
| United States and Canada | 1973 | A&M | 7" single | AM 1451 | B-side "The Winter and the Summer" |
| Holland | A&M | 7" single | 12396 AT | ||
| Germany | 1972 | A&M | 7" single | 12396 AT | |
| Spain | 1973 | A&M/Hispavox | 7" single | HS 897 | B-side "Manana (Tomorrow)" |
| New Zealand | 1973 | A&M | 7" single | AMK 4927 | B-side "The Flower and the Young Man" |
| Japan | 1973 | A&M | 7" single | AM 186 | B-side "The Winter and the Summer" |
| Israel | 1972 | A&M | 7" single | AMS 7035 | |
| Portugal | 1972 | A&M | 7" single | 006 94136 |
[edit] References
- "Lay Down" at Strawbsweb
- Sleeve notes to CD 540 936-2 (A&M) Bursting at the Seams
[edit] External links
- Lyrics to "Lay Down" at Strawbsweb official site
- Lyrics to "Backside" at Strawbsweb official site
- Lyrics to "The Winter and the Summer" at Strawbsweb official site
- Lyrics to "Tomorrow" at Strawbsweb official site
- Lyrics to "The Flower and the Young Man" at Strawbsweb official site
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