Strawbs was an underrated UK band with its origin roots in the early ’60s. At one time, Strawbs employed the great Rick Wakeman. By 1968, Strawbs were signed to A&M Records, and that release schedule was a rich one indeed. It included fan favorites like Grave New World (1972), Nomadness (1975), and Ghosts (1975). Over time, the band led by Dave Cousins, released 26 studio sets that includes The Magic Of It All, issued in 2023. Dave Cousins passed in 2025 at the age of 85.
On April 2026, Esoteric Recordings (Cherry Red UK) will release a 5CD/1BD Box set that will collect all of the known British radio and TV appearances made by the band during the period of their best visibility between 1966 and 1984. This box will feature 63 live performance tracks that aired over British airways. The included Blu-ray disc (BD) will bring together 13 BBC TV appearances from Top Of The Pops, and Old Grey Whistle Test. A booklet tying everything together is packed in. The newly remastered set will be titled A Glimpse Of Heaven: Radio & TV Sessions 1966-1984.
A Glimpse Of Heaven: Radio & TV Sessions 1966-1984 – Strawbs
CD1
01 The Grey Hawk (BBC World Service – Songs from the Folk Cellar 1966)
02 The Cruel Wars (Higher Germanie) (BBC World Service – Songs from the Folk Cellar 1966)
03 The Battle (BBC Radio 1 Top Gear session – December 1968)
04 Poor Jimmy Wilson (BBC Radio 1 Top Gear session – December 1968)
05 That Which Was Once Mine (BBC Radio 1 Top Gear session – December 1968)
06 Another Day (BBC Radio Meet Peter Sarstedt – August 1969)
07 We’ll Meet Again Sometime (BBC Radio Meet Peter Sarstedt – August 1969)
08 Canon Dale (BBC Radio 1 Sounds of the 70s session – October 1970)
09 Song Of A Sad Little Girl (BBC Radio 1 Sounds of the 70s session – October 1970)
10 The Hangman and the Papist (BBC Radio 1 Sounds of the 70s session – June 1971)
11 Witchwood (BBC Radio 1 Sounds of the 70s session – June 1971)
12 New World (BBC Radio 1 Sounds of the 70s session – November 1971)
13 Benedictus (BBC Radio 1 Sounds of the 70s session – November 1971)
14 Tomorrow (BBC Radio 1 Sounds of the 70s session – April 1972)
15 Is It Today Lord? (BBC Radio 1 Sounds of the 70s session – April 1972)
16 Heavy Disguise (BBC Radio 1 Sounds of the 70s session – April 1972)
17 New World (BBC Radio 1 Sounds of the 70s session – April 1972)
18 Here It Comes (BBC Radio 1 Sounds of the 70s session – April 1972)
CD2
01 The Hangman And The Papist (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – August 1971)
02 Martin Luther King’s Dream (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – August 1971)
03 A Glimpse Of Heaven (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – August 1971)
04 Witchwood (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – August 1971)
05 In Amongst The Roses (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – August 1971)
06 R.M.W. (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – August 1971)
07 Flower And The Young Man (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – August 1971)
08 Fingertips (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – August 1971)
09 The Shepherd’s Song (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – August 1971)
10 When You Wore A Tulip (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – August 1971)
11 Sheep (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – August 1971)
CD3
01 Lady Fuschia (BBC Radio 1 Sequence session – January 1973)
02 Part Of The Union (BBC Radio 1 Sequence session – January 1973)
03 The Winter And The Summer (BBC Radio 1 Sequence session – January 1973)
04 New World (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – March 1973)
05 Sheep (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – March 1973)
06 Tears And Pavan (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – March 1973)
07 Stormy Down (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – March 1973)
08 The Hangman and the Papist (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – March 1973)
09 Benedictus (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – March 1973)
10 Heavy Disguise (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – March 1973)
11 Bovver Blues (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – March 1973)
12 The River / Down By The Sea (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – March 1973)
13 Winter And The Summer (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – March 1973)
14 Part Of The Union (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – March 1973)
15 Lay Down (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – March 1973)
CD4
01 Hero And Heroine (BBC World Service Top of the Pops session – April 1974)
02 New World (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – April 1974)
03 Lay Down (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – April 1974)
04 Autumn (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – April 1974)
05 Tears And Pavan (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – April 1974)
06 Just Love (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – April 1974)
07 Out In The Cold / Round and Round (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – April 1974)
08 Hero And Heroine (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – April 1974)
09 The River / Down By The Sea (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – April 1974)
10 Lay A Little Light On Me (BBC Radio 1 In Concert – April 1974)
CD5
01 The Hangman And The Papist (BBC Radio – 19th Cambridge Folk Festival 1983)
02 Song Of A Sad Little Girl (BBC Radio – 19th Cambridge Folk Festival 1983)
03 I’ll Carry On Beside You (BBC Radio – 19th Cambridge Folk Festival 1983)
04 The River / Down By The Sea (BBC Radio – 19th Cambridge Folk Festival 1983)
05 Oh How She Changed (BBC Radio – 19th Cambridge Folk Festival 1983)
06 Part Of The Union (BBC Radio – 19th Cambridge Folk Festival 1983)
07 The Hangman And The Papist (Gastank session – Channel 4 TV 1983)
08 Heavy Disguise (Strawbs in Rehearsal – South West Television 1984)
09 That’s When The Crying Starts (Strawbs in Rehearsal – South West Television 1984)
BD (Strawbs At The BBC)
01 The Hangman And The Papist (Top of the Pops – 1st July 1971)
02 Lay Down (Top of the Pops – 16 November 1972)
03 Part Of The Union (Top of the Pops – 25 January 1973)
04 Tears And Pavan (Old Grey Whistle Test – 20 February 1973)
05 Flying (Old Grey Whistle Test – 20 February 1973)
06 Shine On Silver Sun (Top of the Pops – 27 September 1973)
07 Hero And Heroine (Old Grey Whistle Test – 10 April 1974)
08 Round And Round (Old Grey Whistle Test – 10 April 1974)
09 Lemon Pie (Old Grey Whistle Test – 31 January 1975)
10 You And I (Old Grey Whistle Test – 31 January 1975)
11 Promised Land (Old Grey Whistle Test – 16 December 1975)
12 Absent Friend (Old Grey Whistle Test – 16 December 1975)
13 Back In The Old Routine (Top of the Pops – 2 June 1977)