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Condition: Used: Very Good
Comment: Original 1974 A&M, SP-3607; 12" 33 RPM Stereo LP Record, Not a CD !! Record: VG+, Case: EX, Original Inner sleeve: VG; same day shipping; (Location: LP-92)

Hero and Heroine

LP

Strawbs Format: Vinyl
$7.99

Editorial Reviews

The Strawbs Hero And Heroine UK vinyl LP

Product details

  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • Package Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.2 x 12.2 x 0.1 inches; 7.2 ounces
  • Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ A&M
  • Date First Available ‏ : ‎ March 14, 2008
  • Label ‏ : ‎ A&M
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0015YDFIY
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
235 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

J.Park
5.0 out of 5 stars Bleak progressive folk rock with some upbeat moments
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2006
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Released in 1974, a lot of folks regard this as the first prog album for the Strawbs (and their best), although I felt they were proggy as early as 1972 (with Grave New World). The musicians on Hero and Heroine included former Renaissance keyboardist John Hawken (acoustic/electric piano, Hammond organ, mini-moog, mellotron w/voice and string settings, and string synthesizer); Chas. Cronk (bass); Rod Coombes (drums); and Dave Cousins/Dave Lambert (acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and vocals). I should note that the vocals of Dave Cousins may be an acquired taste, but I actually like them quite a lot. The playing on the album is generally very good, with John Hawken creating wonderfully gothic atmospheres with his haunting and sweeping work on the organ, and especially the mellotron. In fact, his wall of minor keys and somber tones sets the melancholic mood for much of the album. On the whole, the pieces comprise a nice blend of prog, folk, and rock styles and range in length from 2 - 5 minutes, with one track at 8'27". The album opens with a brooding swirl of mellotron, string synthesizer, and some very gloomy guitar chords on Autumn, which is the longest track and a personal favorite. The proggy track Round and Round is also great - as an aside, this track was included on the prog rock box set by Rhino and was my first exposure to the Strawbs. Added bonus tracks include the excellent Still Small Voice and an early version of Lay a Little Light on Me. Although I generally liked this album, the upbeat rock piece by Dave Lambert (Just Love) does not fit very well with the gloom and doom of the remaining pieces. Apart from this minor complaint, Hero and Heroine is highly recommended to those folks interested in exploring progressive folk rock. Other albums by the Strawbs that might also be enjoyable include Grave New World (1972) and Ghosts (1975), which features the Hero and Heroine lineup.
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S. M. H. Klauber
5.0 out of 5 stars Probably the best Strawbs disc from their “American” period.
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2018
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Arguably the best Strawbs disc from a period where they were enjoying considerable success in North America. Quite a bit more than in the U.K., or so I’ve been led to understand.

I believe the band toured with Supertramp at the time of this album’s release and the popularity of the aforementioned group (which I never got!) really helped expose the Strawbs to a wider audience in the United States/American market. While many name Grave New World as the quintessential Strawbs album I don’t think this the case when viewing the band from North America. Bursting at the Seams maybe, but a stronger case can be made for Hero and Heroine. Hudson and Ford were gone and the sound was generally harder, with Dave Lambert’s fine and criminally underrated guitar work right up front. I have always contended Lambert was the key player in making the Strawbs a genuine “Rock & Roll band”. This album’s concept, execution and its performance by the band while on tour in North America brought the Strawbs to their high water mark of success in the United States. While not able to sell out stadiums or arenas, the bands’ following became large enough for the band to perform at mid sized venues (1000-3000) in most of America.
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Bradley Johnson
4.0 out of 5 stars 70’s PROG band at its best!!
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2021
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If you like ELP or YES or even King Crimson.
You’ll like this album. It’s a fresh combination on the lighter side of these three bands with their own unique sound. STRAWBS are a prog band with strong song writing ability.
An Absolutely Beautiful sound!!
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R. Lindeboom
5.0 out of 5 stars When folky things get wierdly and wonderfully electric
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2004
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I first heard this album back in 1973 in Portland, Oregon on KQIV, one of the best free-form radio stations that ever existed. The DJ, Mike Saklareides, played the whole album straight through on his show and I have been hooked ever since. This is one of the best Mellotron albums of all time. Where the Moody Blues used the 'tron in a bright amalgam of New Age paintings of brightness and light, the Strawbs drew their colors from a darker and more frighteningly apocalyptic pallette. The opening trilogy of Autumn|Deep Summers Sleep|The Winter Long is as good as progressive rock ever got. I'd put this trilogy up against anything in the genre, it's that good. Hero & Heroine is one of the most clever lyrical anti-drug songs ever written. Told as a tale of a man (Hero) who meets the woman (Heroine) 'who grabs him firmly by the arm saying she alone can save him' -- this is great songwriting. Few songwriters craft their offerings as does Dave Cousins. Backed with John Hawken on keyboards and Rod Coombes on drums -- along with the amazing Chas Cronk on bass -- this is powerful progressive rock that most prog fans deservedly list as one of the cornerstones of the genre. It is. It doesn't get much better than this. The album also sports one of the very best mixes in early progressive rock. Whereas early Genesis mixes are quite weak when listened to today, Strawbs' mix on Hero & Heroine is intense, fat, brash, bold, majestic and at times frighteningly dark and apocalyptic. A great album.
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Chris
5.0 out of 5 stars Great to have this album again
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2022
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I had this amazing album on vinyl, but it was damaged in a move. I found this online for a fine price and ordered it. It arrived earlier than expected and with no skips or errors Shine on silver sun!
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Daniel Friedlander
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Album by a great band!
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2021
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I have always loved The Strawbs based on the one LP that I have had since the 70's called "Ghosts". I wanted to find something else by them and I found this one. "Hero and Heroine" is just as good as "Ghosts". I notice on the first track that the drummer Rod Coombes actually reminds me of Michael Giles "Court Of The Crimson King" by King Crimson. I have never heard anyone sound like Michael Giles until I heard Rod Coombes on this record. This band is very talented! Great record!
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Top reviews from other countries

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S. G. Parfitt
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best pieces of work from the band
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 2, 2023
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A good variety of heavy production tracks and softer lighter ditties in their old folk rock tradition.Give allowance for the Seventies recording facilities as they were,even with enhancement.Hearing this whole set live,if you were ever lucky enough now DC has retired,was the answer!
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José Luis Socas Rosquete
5.0 out of 5 stars Tiene buen sonido
Reviewed in Spain on April 15, 2023
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Es un buen disco para mí uno de los mejores de la banda.
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Client d'Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Livraison rapide et attentionnée
Reviewed in France on April 15, 2023
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Bon disque et assez rare
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Warren Weiss
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best Prog Albums of the 70's
Reviewed in Canada on February 18, 2021
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This is my favourite album of the Strawbs and in the top quartile of my favourite albums. For those who enjoy string synth and mellotron orchestration with a mix ture of electric and acoustic guitars and exquisite lyrics this is a must have I wish the new re-matered version was available in vinyl, I would have ordered that instead. Even the CD is scarce in Canada but available through a very dependable vender in Germany.
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Surfbeatfreak
5.0 out of 5 stars Bestes Album der Strawbs!
Reviewed in Germany on April 1, 2016
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Hier stimmt einfach alles. Die Songs sind klasse, das ganze Album sehr progressiv und trotzdem direkt. Es gibt heftige Gitarrenpassagen und knackige Schlagzeugparts. Nicht zuletzt ein Melotron daß genau zur Stimmung passt. Dave Cousins klingt für mich ein bischen wie eine Mischung aus Peter Gabriel und Fish, deshalb passt seine Stimme auch besonders gut zu der progressiven Grundstimmung dieses Albums. Vom Folk der Anfangstage ist kaum noch etwas zu spüren. Schade aber nur "Ghosts", in derselben Besetzung, kam noch einigermaßen an diese Klasse heran.
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