Dave Cousins — Two Weeks Last Summer [Expanded Edition] (2019)
• Dave Cousins is one of the most distinctive and enduring talents to come out of the mid to late 1960s British folk~rock boom — indeed, along with Richard Thompson, he might be the shining alumnus within the field. Cousins is best known as the leader/founder of the Strawbs, the folk~turned~folk~rock turned progressive rock band that has been his major creative outlet — with a few notable breaks — since the mid~'60s. Born David Joseph Hindson in Hounslow, England, Cousins grew up in a middle class home in an area known in more recent years as the Thames Delta.
Editorial Reviews:
• In between the recording of Strawbs LPs, leader Dave Cousins released his first solo LP that is a unique mix of powerful rock, psychedelia and sensitive, deeply personal sons. Recorded in Richard Branson’s Manor Studio, the musicians read like a who’s who of British rock music at the time — Rick Wakeman, Roger Glover, Jon Hiseman and guitarist Miller Anderson. This highly sought after collectors LP from 1972 has been remastered for CD for the very first time.
Location: UK
Recording date: June, 1972
Recording Location: The Manor, Kidlington, Oxfordshire, England
Album release: Oct. 1972/April 1, 2016/2019
Record Label: WITCHWOOD MEDIA
Duration: 38:26+
Tracks:
01. Two Weeks Last Summer 3:08
02. October To May 2:28
03. Blue Angel: Divided/Half Worlds Apart/At Rest 9:52
04. That’s The Way It Ends (including “The World”) 3:02
05. The Actor 4:33
06. When You Were A Child 3:03
07. Ways And Means 4:22
08. We’ll Meet Again Sometime 4:50
09. Going Home 3:27
10. The Actor (Alternate Mix) 4:41
11. Ways And Means (Alternate Take) 4:19
12. I’ve Been My Own Worst Friend 3:01
13. See How They Run (1972 Demo) 2:42
14. The Rip Off Blues (1972 Demo) 2:32
• Track 02: feat. The Kidlington Kossacks / Milen Natchev
• Track 04: feat. Milen Natchev / Robert Kirby Wind Septet
• Track 09: feat. Lampoon / Milen Natchev
Credits:
• Tom (Colonel) Allom Engineer, Organ, Producer
• Miller Anderson Guitar, Slide Guitar
• Dave Cousins Bells, Composer, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Percussion, Piano, Primary Artist, Producer, Vocals
• Roger Glover Bass
• Rodney Green Artwork, Booklet Design
• Jon Hiseman Congas, Drums
• The Kidlington Kossacks Accompaniment, Primary Artist
• Robert Kirby Wind, Wind Septet Accompaniment, Primary Artist
• Dave Lambert Guitar
• Lampoon Accompaniment, Primary Artist
• Milen Natchev Primary Artist
• Rick Wakeman Keyboards, Organ, Piano
AllMusic Review by Richie Unterberger; Score: ****
• Esoteric Recordings release a newly re~mastered edition of the classic 1972 solo album by Strawbs founder Dave Cousins, Two Weeks Last Summer.
⊕ Recorded at The Manor studio, Oxfordshire in June 1972, the album followed on the heels of the highly successful Strawbs album Grave New World. With many songs still to record, Dave Cousins chose to record a solo album utilising different musicians. An impressive cast of players was drafted for the sessions including former Strawbs member and keyboard player Rick Wakeman, bassist Roger Glover (from Deep Purple), drummer Jon Hiseman (from Colosseum) and guitarist Miller Anderson (from the Keef Hartley Band). The album also saw contributions from future Strawbs member Dave Lambert.
⊗ Two Weeks Last Summer featured a host of wonderful material, including the epic Blue Angel, the classic title track (later recorded by Sandy Denny / Fotheringay), We’ll Meet Again Sometime, The Actor and Ways and Means. Although failing to chart upon its release, the album is now regarded as a lost classic and worthy of anything Strawbs recorded at the peak of their success.
• This Esoteric Recordings edition has been newly re~mastered from the original master tapes and features five bonus tracks. The release restores the original artwork and includes a new essay by Dave Cousins.