Hero and Heroine


Hero and Heroine is the 6th 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. John Hawken of The Nashville Teens and Renaissance on keyboards, Chas Cronk on bass and Rod Coombes on drums from Juicy Lucy and Stealers Wheel completed the line-up. 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 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". The album ranked number 44 in 50 Greatest Prog Rock Albums of All Time list of Rolling Stone magazine.

Track listing

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

Personnel

;Additional personnel
Recorded at Rosenberg Studios, Copenhagen.

Release history

RegionDateLabelFormatCatalogComment
United KingdomA&Mstereo LPAMLH 63607
United StatesA&Mstereo LPSP 3607
CanadaA&MCDVPCD 3607
WorldwideA&MCD540 935-2Remastered with bonus tracks
JapanA&MCDUICY-9216