Nomadness Explained

Nomadness is the ninth studio album by English band Strawbs. It was their last album recorded for A&M Records and their first with no full-time keyboard player since 1970's Dragonfly. Indeed, Strawbs would not feature a full-time keyboard player until 1978 when Andy Richards joined the band. All the tracks are timed at less than five minutes giving the album a lighter, less 'epic' feel in contrast to the previous three studio albums. Rick Wakeman came back to help on electric harpsichord on one song.

Track listing

Side one

1. "To Be Free" (Dave Cousins) – 4:17
2. "Little Sleepy" (Dave Lambert) – 4:10
3. "The Golden Salamander" (Cousins) – 4:57
4. "Absent Friend (How I Need You)" (Cousins) – 4:42
5. "Back on the Farm" (Cousins) – 2:42

Side two

1. "So Shall Our Love Die?" (Cousins) – 3:39
2. "Tokyo Rosie" (Cousins) – 2:48
3. "A Mind of My Own" (Rod Coombes) – 4:33
4. "Hanging in the Gallery" (Cousins) – 4:32
5. "The Promised Land" (Chas Cronk) – 4:07

Bonus tracks - 2008 reissue CD

1. "Still Small Voice" (Cousins) – 2:27
2. "It's Good to See the Sun" (Cousins) – 4:05

Personnel

Strawbs

• Dave Cousins – lead vocals, (tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 10) backing vocals, acoustic guitar, dulcimer, banjo
• Dave Lambert – lead vocals (tracks 2, 5, 8 and 10), backing vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
• Chas Cronk – backing vocals, bass guitar
• Rod Coombes – backing vocals, drums, acoustic guitar

Additional Personnel

• John Mealing – piano (tracks 4 and 6), organ (tracks 1, 4, 5, 9 and 10), electric piano (track 7)
• Tony Carr – congas
• Jack Emblow – accordion (track 5)
• Tommy Eyre – piano (tracks 8 and 10), clavinet (track 8), synthesizer (track 8)
• John Lumley-Saville – synthesizer (track 9)
• Rick Wakeman – electric harpsichord (track 7)
• Tom Allom – cymbalum (track 7)

Recording

• Tom Allom – Producer
• Vic Gamm – Engineer

Recorded at Sound Techniques, London

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog	Comment
United Kingdom		A&M	stereo LP	AMLH 68331
United States		A&M	stereo LP	SP 4544
		A&M	CD	5302822	2 bonus tracks

References

• Nomadness on Strawbsweb
• Sleeve notes AMLH 68331 Nomadness
• Sleeve notes 5302822 Nomadness