I have to declare an interest in this book as during the Strawbs 'Bursting at the Seams' era, I worked with the band as their lighting man.
It was on a sell out UK tour, which lasted some 7 weeks, when Part of their Union - not one of Dave's songs - was number one in the charts, that I met my wife to be, Lucy. We have now been married some 36 years!
In the book Dave includes the lyrics from Uncle Tom Cobley, the musical that he and I wrote together and which was performed in Plymouth.
At that time, in the mid 80's, as Dave says in the book he was running the local radio station, Devonair. After that he moved on and we rather lost touch until he contacted me recently to check on the script for Uncle Tom Cobley and tell me about the book.
I have to say I was expecting a slim volume with lots of words tightly packed on a few pages and no pictures. But I was very pleasently surprised to see the finished book that has just been published.
Dave's back catalogue is extensive to say the least and would be impressive for its volume alone but it is also the quality of his work that marks out this book and its contents.
In many way though Dave Cousins, and the Strawbs, has/have a loyal band who have followed the band through its many formats and re-incarnations, Dave's work has I think largely gone unrecognised by a 'mainstream' audience.
The book re-dresses that to some extent and places on record his large repertoire which I think will delight devotees of his music and should also find additional fans amongst those not as familiar with his work.
The quality of the book, its clear, attractive and accessible layout and the often intriguing photographs are first class and aptly match and illustrate the lyrics.
Erstwhile friend and collaborator or not it's a fascinating and very different kind of book about a man and his music and should be a worthy addition to anybody's 'rock and roll' library. Buy it, you will not be disappointed