Strawbs

Strawbs was named for the Strawberry Hill district of London.

The Strawbs was the first act signed by A&M Records, Ltd. in Great Britain in May 1968. The group broke in Canada before the U.S.

Strawbs had more members who were eventually signed to A&M as members of other bands and as solo artists than any other group on the label. David Cousins, Sandy Denny, Richard Hudson and John Ford, and Rick Wakeman all released albums for A&M Records.

Billboard reported the "Part of the Union" single reached #2 in Bangkok on March 24, 1973 and #8 in Singapore on April 7, 1973.

The Strawbs evolved from an acoustic folk band to an electric band. The change happened in 1973.

Strawbs: Hero & Heroine 1974 Canada promo with J. P. Guilbert and Marc DeMouy owner of record store 2000 Plus

Strawbs: Hero & Heroine 1974 Canada promo with J. P. Guilbert and Marc DeMouy owner of record store 2000 Plus

 

They left A&M as their sales slowed down.

 

Ghosts New Music On A&M Records
Nomadness New Music On A&M Records
20th Century Masters press release

Sources

The Strawbs, David Cousins' Simple Visions. Frank Jarvis. Goldmine, August 21, 1992, 30.

Recording Years / Label
1968-1975 -  A&M Records
1987 -  Virgin Records
Name Member Years Instruments
Ron Chesterman 1968-1969 bass
Rod Coombes 1973-1975 drums, percussion, vocals
Dave Cousins 1968-1975 vocals, dulcimer, banjo, guitar, recorder
Chas. Cronk 1973-1975 bass, synthesizer, vocals
Rod Demick 1987 bass
John Ford 1970-1972 vocals, bass
Claire Deniz 1969
John Hawken 1973 keyboards, sythesizer
Tony Hooper 1968-1971 vocals, autoharp, guitar, tambourine
Richard Hudson 1970-1972 drums, vocals, sitar
Robert Kirby 1975 keyboards
Dave Lambert 1972-1975 guitars, vocals
John Mealing 1975 keyboards
Chris Parren 1987 keyboards
Rick Wakeman 1970 organ, celeste, clarinet, piano, harpsichord, sythesizer
Blue Weaver 1971-1972 keyboards
Brian Willoughby 1987 guitar
Name Birth Death
Ron Chesterman 1943-11-27 2007-03-16
Rod Coombes 1946-05-15
Dave Cousins 1945-01-07
Chas. Cronk
Rod Demick 1947-03-17
John Ford 1948-07-01
Claire Deniz
John Hawken 1940-05-09
Tony Hooper 1943-09-14 2020-11-18
Richard Hudson 1948-05-09
Robert Kirby 1948-04-16 2009-10-03
Dave Lambert 1949-03-08
John Mealing 1942-04-05
Chris Parren
Rick Wakeman 1949-05-18
Blue Weaver 1947-03-11
Brian Willoughby
Name See associated acts
Rod Coombes Stealers Wheel
Dave Cousins Dave Cousins
Rod Demick Demick/Armstrong
John Ford Hudson-Ford
Richard Hudson Hudson-Ford
Chris Parren Hudson-Ford
Rick Wakeman Rick Wakeman & Roger DaltreyRick Wakeman

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