01	Flying						04:51
	02	Lady Fuschia						04:00
	03	Stormy Down						02:46
	04	The River						02:22
	05	Down By The Sea						06:20
	06	Part Of The Union						02:55
	07	Tears And Pavan						06:37
	08	The Winter And The Summer						04:09
	09	Lay Down						04:32
	10	Thank You						02:15
	11	Will You Go						03:54
	12	Backside						03:49
	13	Lay Down (Single Version)						03:34

Dave Cousins (Vocals, Guitar)
Richard Hudson (Drums)
John Ford (Bass)
Dave Lambert (Guitar)
Blue Weaver (Keyboards)

Date of Release 1973

AMG EXPERT REVIEW: The 1998 remastering of the Strawbs' best album (A&M 540-936-2 is the new catalog number) sports the finest sound of any of their CDs, which, by itself, would make this purchase worthwhile - the detailed notes and the presence of three bonus tracks - the shorter, punchier single version of "Lay Down," "Will Ye Go," and "Backside" - only add to the enticements offered. Additionally, the song order has been changed to the correct one (on the LP, "The River" had to follow "Down By the Sea" to end the first side, because of its heavy bass part), but the main virtue is the sound, which is extraordinary - every instrument sounds as though it's miked directly into your speakers. The result is that Dave Lambert's heavy chording is so close that the record does come off closer in texture to a Who album at certain points than it does to the group's folk roots. But the kettle drums at the end of "Down By the Sea" also sound close, and you can practically hear the bowing on the strings. The bonus tracks are a treat - "Backside," a B-side "credited" to "Ciggy Barlust and the Whales From Venus" (which would have been Tits From Venus if not for the censors) that's a pretty fair burlesque of "Space Oddity," et al.; and "Will Ye Go" is a version of "Wild Mountain Thyme" that is equal parts Cousins' voice, acoustic harmonium, and heavy power chords and bass. In all, in this version, Bursting at the Seams is the greatest Strawbs album of all, and the most overpowering. - Bruce Eder

1. Flying - 4:51
2. Lady Fuschia (Ford/Hudson) - 4:00
3. Stormy Down - 2:46
4. The River (Cousins) - 2:22
5. Down by the Sea (Cousins) - 6:20
6. Part of the Union - 2:55
7. Tears and Pavan - 6:37
8. The Winter and the Summer (Lambert) - 4:09
9. Lay Down (Cousins) - 4:32
10. Thank You - 2:15
11. Will You Go [*] - 3:54
12. Backside [*] - 3:49
13. Lay Down [*] (Cousins) - 3:34


Dave Cousins - Guitar, Vocals
The Strawbs - Producer
Richard Hudson - Percussion
Tom (Colonel) Allom - Engineer
John Ford - Bass, Vocals
Blue Weaver - Keyboards
John Tobler - Liner Notes
Fin Costello - Photography
Dave Lambert - Guitar, Vocals

1998 CD A&M 540936
CD A&M 394383-2
1973 LP A&M 4383
1998 CD A&M 4383


Strawbs - "Bursting at the Seams" (1973) "Bursting at the Seams" turned out to be Strawbs' best-selling and most known album as it featured their first hit-singles with the catchy and energetic "Lay Down" and the folky anthem "Part of the Union". But it also included longer and more suite-like pieces. "Down by the Sea" is one of my absolute Strawbs-faves and it starts with a guitar-theme that is soon joined by a mighty Mellotron-choir before it calms down to pleasant acoustic part, and then...BANG! A super-catchy hard-rock riff makes a very surprising entrance and Cousins sings convincingly about the hard life of fishermen's families while the Mellotron contributes with more symphonic power. The track then returns to the opening theme that is now joined by a whole orchestra! This is for me symphonic progressive rock at its absolutely best and most dynamic. The first part of "Tears and Pavan" is a Mellotron-drenched and depressive song and stands as the darkest moment on the album. The last part of the track makes a striking contrast with its uplifting Spanish guitar and joyful folk-feel. The rest of the album includes beautiful and atmospheric songs like "Lady Fuschia" and "The Winter and the Summer". The opening-track "Flying" is yet another excellent example of how the band were able to melt folk-rock together with symphonic progressive rock to create their own unique sound and style. This album is a display of great musical taste.