line up 1  (1979-80)

- Dave Cousins -- vocals, guitar

- Brian Willoughby -- vocals, guitar

- Craig and Willoughby

- The Strawbs (Dave Cousins and Brian Willoughby)

- Brian Willoughby (solo efforts)

Genre: folk

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Old School Songs

Company: PVC/Passport

Catalog: PVC 8901
Year: 1980

Country/State: UK/Ireland

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 1533

Price: $10.00

The king of the Strawbs steps out as a solo act ...   well, not really.  In the UK this album was released as a collaboration between Dave Cousins and Irish guitarist (and future Strawb) Brian Willoughby.

Old School catalog number SLURP 1

Before releasing the set in the album in the States, PVC/Passport elected to revamp the album as a Dave Cousins solo album, including wrapping the album in a new cover.

So here's what Cousins' had to say about the album on the liner notes: 

"Last summer I decided that it had been too long since I played to an audience.  With the high cost of touring, the Strawbs only work where there is a album to promote, so the answer seemed to be a few acoustic gigs.

I rang Brian Willoughby, an old friend from the early days, and asked him if he felt like reliving his ill-spent youth,  he was cajoled over a pint.  So was I!  We threw guitars and suitcases into the car and set off on a merry jaunt around the colleges and clubs.  It was great fun - just like the old days.

Everywhere we went people kept asking if we'd made an acoustic album - something I never got round to doing.  Well, here goes folks1  This is Brian and me as it was.  No multi-track machines, no overdubs.  Just one take, straight down in living stereo.   Bobby Pridden recorded the live tracks on his cassette at the Exmouth Summer Festival.  It's the feel that counts."

And that was a petty good description of this collection.  What you got was Cousins and Willoughby in a purely acoustic setting, working their way through a career spanning set of Strawbs tunes, ranging from 1969's "Strawbs", up through 1976's "Deep Cuts".   The album also included three new Cousins compositions - 'I've Been My Worst Own Friend', 'You Keep Going Your Own Way', and 'A Song fro Me'.   The first side featured studio recordings, while the first five tracks on side two were live recordings recorded at a may, 1979 performance at the Exmouth Summer Festival.  The sound quality on these five tunes was middling.  Strawbs fans were likely to be entranced by what was essentially a "Strawbs Unplugged" collection, but unless you had a major in medieval English history, others were likely to find this set kind of tedious.

"Old School Songs" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Grace Darling   (Dave Cousins) - 4:10

Originally recorded for 1974's "Ghosts", this acoustic version of 'Grace Darling' (Just Cousins and Willoughby on acoustic guitars), was actually quite charming.   rating: *** stars

2.) I've Been My Own Worst Friend   (Dave Cousins) - 3:05

'I've Been My Own Worst Friend' was one of the three "new" Cousins tunes.  I'm no Strawbs scholar, but I think this one actually was one of Cousin's earliest compositions, stretching back to the Sandy Denny era.  Someone out there will let me know.  Stark, introspective ballad ...  oh wait a minute, that described all eleven of these tracks .  rating: *** stars

3.) Ways and Means   (Dave Cousins) - 4:18

'Ways and Means' was actually a Cousins solo effort, taken from  his 1972 solo debut Two Weeks Last Summer".  The original studio version featured a full rock arrangement including Roger Glover on bass, Jon Hiseman or drums, and Rick Wakeman on keyboards.  The stripped down acoustic version is nice (their guitar interplay was seldom better), but personally I  missed the rock arrangement.  rating: *** stars

4.) You Keep Going Your Way   (Dave Cousins) - 3:15

The second previously unreleased Cousins tune and it sounds like a Strawbs effort that would have benefited from a fuller arrangement.  Nice Cousins vocal on this one.    rating: *** stars

5.) The Battle   (Dave Cousins) - :5:34

The sole offering off the band's 1969 debut, this was another tune where I missed the original rock arrangements.   The acoustic cover was nice, but a bit spare.  Regardless, it. was still one of the greatest anti-war tunes ever recorded.   rating: *** stars

(side 2)
1.) The Hangman and Papist   (Dave Cousins) - 3:36

One of five live tunes, 'The Hangman and Papist' was original recorded for "From the Witchwood".  One of the saddest lyrics I've ever encountered, the live version showcased a surprisingly energetic performance thanks in large part to Willoughby's acoustic guitar.   rating: *** stars

2.) Hanging In the Gallery    (Dave Cousins)- 4:58

The second tune from "Strawbs" was a true showcase for Willoughby.  How could anyone play that fast ?   rating: *** stars

3.) Beside the Rio Grande   (Dave Cousins) - 4:27

The most recent tune, 'Beside the Rio Grande' was a tune off of 1976's "Deep Cuts" and found Cousins expanding his repertoire to the ills of the American West.  It was also one of his most energetic performances with Willoughby again turning in nice accompaniment.    rating: *** stars

4.) Josephine, For Better or For Worse   (Dave Cousins) - 3:17

Off of 1970's "Dragonfly" album, the live version reflects some shimmering twelve string guitar and was an album highlight.  rating: **** stars

5.) Lay Down   (Dave Cousins) - 3:54

A tune off "Bursting at the Seams", in spite of Willboughy's best efforts, 'Lay Down' was another track  that sounded spare and empty compared to the studio full band original.   rating: ** stars

6.) A Song for Me    (Dave Cousins) - 3:47

A return to studio material, 'A Song for Me' was the third and probably best "new track".   Pretty acoustic guitar melody with one of those patented Cousins melancholy deliveries.   rating: *** stars