Strawbs: Just a Collection of Antiques and Curios (1970)

In 1969 and 1970 the Strawbs released their first two albums, Strawbs and Dragonfly with guitarist/vocalist Dave Cousins, guitarist Tony Hooper and double bassist Ron Chesterman. Dragonfly also got help from a cellist named Claire Deniz. Those albums are pretty much firmly in the folk-rock vein, and neither of those albums have been easy to get a hold of (not released outside of the UK, despite being released on A&M, a major American label). After that the band witnessed a big shakeup in the lineup, with Chesterman gone, and in coming drummer/percussionist Richard Hudson and bassist John Ford, with keyboardist Rick Wakeman now full-time (he supposedly guested on Dragonfly). Wakeman was at that time mainly known for session work, best known for the Mellotron on David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” (the song, that is).

In July 11th, 1970, this new lineup performed at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, and it became the album Just a Collection of Antiques and Curios. And for their benefit, this album got released outside of the UK, including the United States, giving them international exposure. It might seem a bit strange a live album should be the first Strawbs album people outside of the UK heard, but it has to be pointed that, aside from “Where is this Dream Of Your Youth” (the studio original is off their self-entitled debut), all of the material presented here is brand new. Mainly the band was still sticking to their folk-rock roots, although thanks to Wakeman’s presence, the progressive rock elements were starting to surface. All the songs were written by Dave Cousins, aside from “Temperament of Mind”, which is a piano solo from Rick himself. “Martin Luther King’s Dream” is a nice folk-rock piece with lyrics obviously based on Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream”. You notice right away that Dave Cousins’ vocals will remind you of Cat Stevens. “Antique Suite” is basically a collection of four songs segued together, still sticking to their folk roots. I really like that last movement, “It’s Been a Long Time”, with wonderful vocal harmonies and a singalong quality. “Temperament of Mind” is Rick Wakeman’s solo spotlight. This is all him on piano where he does several quotes from classical music. It’s little wonder that the press stood up and took notice over his talents. “Fingertips” experimented with sitar, so has a stronger Eastern feel than the rest of the album. “Song of a Sad Little Girl” goes back to the folk-rock more typical of this album. Then you have a killer version of “Where is this Dream Of Your Youth”. Here the band gets jamming, with a wonderful extended organ solo from Wakeman himself. I like some of the tricks he does, including wah-wah effects on his organ, something I don’t recall him doing in Yes or his solo efforts.

Despite Rick Wakeman’s presence, you have to bear in mind that this isn’t Yes, or his solo efforts (such as The Six Wives of Henry VIII). The Strawbs have their own sound and identity. While many people look towards the albums the Strawbs did between 1972 and 1975 with Grave New World, Bursting at the Seams, Hero & Heroine, and Ghosts, this early album is great, even if there’s only minor prog rock tendencies. Just a Collection of Antiques and Curios is without a doubt one of their best of their early albums, and I very much highly recommend it!