Listened to The Strawbs's From The Witchwood earlier this evening, a great favourite of mine from way back when. Brought back some odd memories: Listening to my prized vinyl version of it at Auntie Norah's in one of those periods when I was basically living there away from home, leading to my 'O' levels and she saying how beautiful the title track was. She was so right. And seeing the band in concert at the Free Trade Hall just after the album was released, with Rick Wakeman still on board and playing an ice-cold mellotron for In Amongst The Roses, instead of the harpsichord which features on the recording. It added another layer of gorgeousness to an already gorgeous song. I actually got goose bumps.
Struck by just how out there Dave Cousins voice was. I don't think anyone could get away with that these days in a mainstream recording - though sadly I don't know enough about contemporary stuff to be sure I'm right. Of course, bands like The Strawbs were still seen at that point as part of the 'underground', though it's obvious now how much they would have liked commercial success, and the reasonable living that the success would bring with it. Two albums later they got it, with two hit singles, so the public were ready to accept an entirely unconventional voice, from someone who only sounded like himself. (On Lay Down, at least - Part of the Union featured vocals by Rick Ford who was excellent but mainstream. Sounded like an extra Beatle, in fact.)
It's not difficult at all to think of lots of other examples of similarly 'way out' voices of the period. Roger Chapman of Family springs to mind - and they had 'hits' as well. I suppose it all went back to early Dylan and his phenomenal success and record companies seeing the possibility of big bucks in connection with vocalists who were just genuinely unique.
Just when did everybody start to sound like everybody else?
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