Hero and Heroine

Hero and Heroine
Studio album by Strawbs
Released	1974
Recorded	November 1973, Rosenberg Studios, Copenhagen
Genre	Progressive rock[1]
Length	39:36
Label	A&M, (UK)
Producer	Dave Cousins, Tom Allom
Strawbs chronology
All Our Own Work (1973)All Our Own Work1973 Hero and Heroine (1974) Strawbs by Choice (1974)Strawbs by Choice1974
Singles from Hero and Heroine
"Shine on Silver Sun" "Hero and Heroine" "Hold on to Me (The Winter Long)"

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic[2]

Hero and Heroine is a studio album by English band Strawbs.

Background

After the tour supporting the previous album, Bursting at the Seams, there was an acrimonious split leaving only Dave Cousins and Dave Lambert to rebuild the band. The new line-up gelled very quickly and studio sessions were very productive. The album was released first in the US to a warm reception, and then in the UK where reviews were less positive. The album only reached number 35 on the UK Album Charts^[3] and the band increasingly began to look to North America for a successful future.

The album, although still recognisably Strawbs, contains tracks with harsh "straight talking" lyrics, in contrast to the more lyrical approach shown on Bursting at the Seams. The music is more Gothic and doom-laden with washes of mellotron and guitar power chords, especially on the longer tracks.

All band members made writing contributions, notably Chas Cronk, with whom Cousins would write many songs on future albums.

Critical reception

Stephen Lambe, author of Citizens of Hope and Glory: The Story of Progressive Rock, has called it "their most prog album" and has identified John Hawken's Mellotron playing as "a particular highlight".^[1] The album ranked number 44 in 50 Greatest Prog Rock Albums of All Time list of Rolling Stone magazine.^[4]

Track listing

Side one

1. "Autumn" – 8:27

   "Heroine's Theme" (John Hawken)

   "Deep Summer Sleep" (Dave Cousins)

   "The Winter Long" (Hold on to me) (Cousins)

2. "Sad Young Man" (Rod Coombes) – 4:09
3. "Just Love" (Dave Lambert) – 3:41
4. "Shine on Silver Sun" (Cousins) – 2:46

Side two

1. "Hero and Heroine" (Cousins) – 3:29
2. "Midnight Sun" (Chas Cronk, Cousins) – 3:06
3. "Out in the Cold" (Cousins) – 3:19
4. "Round and Round" (Cousins) – 4:44
5. "Lay a Little Light on Me" (Cousins) – 3:27
6. "Hero's Theme" (Lambert) – 2:28

Bonus tracks

The following tracks did not feature on the original vinyl release and were included as bonus tracks on the A&M reissue.

1. "Still Small Voice" (Cousins) – 2:28
2. "Lay a Little Light on Me (early version)" (Cousins) – 2:20

Personnel

• Dave Cousins – lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
• Dave Lambert – lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
• John Hawken – organ, piano, electric piano, Mellotron, synthesizer
• Chas Cronk – backing vocals, bass guitar, synthesizer
• Rod Coombes – backing vocals, drums, percussion

Additional personnel

• Claire Deniz – cello on "Midnight Sun"

Recording

• Dave Cousins, Tom Allom – Producers
• Tom Allom, Freddy Hansson – Engineers

Recorded at Rosenberg Studios, Copenhagen.^[5]

Release history

Sources

• Hero and Heroine at strawbsweb.co.uk
• Hero and Heroine: CD 540 935-2 - sleeve notes

Notes