Cousins Exorcising Ghosts

Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection.
In 1972, Dave Cousins released his first, and to date only solo album. Best known of course as the founder, leader, and only ever present member of the Strawbs, it could perhaps be argued that he has never needed to release solo albums, since the sound of Dave Cousins is the sound of the Strawbs.

Ghosts was the last album by the Strawbs to appear while the band was on its upward curve of commercial success; a more lyrical follow-up to Hero and Heroine, it was the group's last thrust at wide-audience appeal, with a hoped for-hit ("Lemon Pie") that didn't materialize. The group's mix of acoustic guitars, electric lead and bass, and Rod Coombes' heavy drumming was very compelling on this, their smoothest album. The title track introduction, mixing multiple overdubbed harpsichords, acoustic guitars, and church bells was a gorgeous beginning, and the melodies only got better further into the album.