Grave New World – Goodbye Rick Wakeman, hello Blue Weaver, fresh from Amen Corner and Fairweather. a review by Aaron Badgley

Grave New World

Release Date: February, 1972

A & M  AMLH 66078 (U.K.)

A & M  SP – 4344 (U.S.)

Universal 540 934 – 2 (1998 CD Reissue)

Goodbye Rick Wakeman, hello Blue Weaver, fresh from Amen Corner and Fairweather.

Here is the album that broke the Strawbs in the U.K in a big way.. Grave New World came a mere seven months following From The Witchwood. Here again were Dave Cousins (vocals, guitars, dulcimer), Tony Hooper (vocals, acoustic guitar, autoharp, tambourine), John Ford (vocals, bass, acoustic guitar), Richard Hudson (vocals, sitar, drums) with Blue Weaver making his Strawbs debut (organ, piano, mellotron, harmonium, clavioline). The other major change, was that the album was not produced by Tony Visconti, but produced by Dave Cousins, Richard Hudson, John Ford, Blue Weaver and Tony Hooper, although Visconti did produce the opening track “Benedictus” and Gus Dudgeon was credited as ‘original producer’ for “Ah Me, Ah My”, for which Visconti is credited as arranger.

Grave New World is the next step in Strawbs transition from folk into a rock band. The songs are more complicated and the album has a solid, dense sound to it. It is also a concept album of sorts. Not so much as in a story but it does have a theme running through it, which is the story of one man’s life. Once again, the album is a group effort with member contributing songs or co-writing songs. In fact, one song, “Tomorrow” is credited to all members of the band. Cousins takes on the lion’s share of writing, but it is an album that demonstrates the ability of the band to work together for a common goal.

For many, especially in the U.K., this is the album that served as introduction to the band. It transferred the band from cilt status to rock star level. The album just missed the top ten in the U.K. (peaking at 11), and earned them rave reviews and an even bigger following in the U.S. In Canada, it was and is a staple of FM radio programming.

The album opens with the majestic “Benedictus” (the sole single released from the album). Choir, big production, and lyrics inspired by the I Ching. Maybe not the stuff of a hit single, but it is the stuff of pure genius and it sets the tone of the album. The album rolls on from there. It hangs together musically and lyrically. Each song sets up the next until the stunning conclusion of “The Journey’s End”.  The lyrics read like a poem and concludes with the heartbreaking:

“And as he leaves so the signpost turns

To point the way to the journey’s end.

The old grey man with his heavy load

No longer needs a friend”

One interesting point, when the album was reissued on CD, two bonus tracks were added. One song, “Here It Comes” is a song issued as a single recorded at the time of Grave New World. The B-side was the album track “Tomorrow”. The other song added is “I’m Going Home”, a song from Dave Cousin’s solo album Two Weeks Last Summer and features Richard Hudson, John Ford, Blue Weaver and the first appearance of Dave Lambert. So, in fact, the first release of the new Strawbs lineup that will be featured on Bursting At The Seams.

Many songs from this album have been performed live and continue to be part of Strawbs’ setlists. Perhaps most exciting for fans, is the fact that Strawbs will be performing the album in its entirety as part of the Strawbs 50th Anniversary. Dave Cousins has written  new narration on April 27, 2019, no doubt adding to the story and the concept.