LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

The Battle collects early Strawbs performances from the years when the group were moving from acoustic folk roots into the richer, more dramatic sound that would soon define their classic progressive-folk period. The material covers BBC sessions and live recordings from 1968 to 1972, catching the band in several different line-ups and moods: intimate, narrative, theatrical and increasingly ambitious.

Across the four sides, the collection moves from early BBC session pieces such as The Battle, Another Day and Canon Dale into live material from 1970 and 1971, including The Man Who Called Himself Jesus, We'll Meet Again Sometime, The Hangman And The Papist and Witchwood. The final side brings the story into the 1972 period with Benedictus, New World, Heavy Disguise and Tomorrow, making this a valuable archive release for collectors of early Strawbs.

1. The Battle
2. Another Day
3. Canon Dale
4. Song Of A Sad Girl
5. The Man Who Called Himself Jesus (live)
6. Temperament Of Mind (live)
7. Or Am I Dreaming (live)

1. That Which Once Was Mine (live)
2. We'll Meet Again Sometime (live)
3. The Vision Of The Lady Of The Lake (live)
4. The Battle (live)
5. Dance On (live)

1. The Hangman And The Papist (live)
2. Witchwood (live)
3. In Amongst The Roses (live)
4. R.M.W. (live)
5. The Flower And The Young Man (live)
6. The Shepherd's Song (live)

1. Sheep (live)
2. Benedictus
3. New World
4. Heavy Disguise
5. Tomorrow