Blue Angel

"Blue Angel" is the 15th studio album by the English band Strawbs, notable for being their first album in 12 years to feature new material. The album incorporates various musicians from different eras of Strawbs' history, reflecting a blend of past and present line-ups.

One prominent collaborator on "Blue Angel" is Welsh folk singer Mary Hopkin, who had previously worked with Dave Cousins and Brian Willoughby on their album "The Bridge." Several tracks on "Blue Angel" draw from this collaboration and showcase the continued partnership between Hopkin and the band.

The album features reworked versions of some earlier Strawbs tracks: "Blue Angel" is a rearrangement originally from Dave Cousins' solo album "Two Weeks Last Summer," while "Lay Down" is a re-recorded version of their hit single from "Bursting at the Seams." Additionally, "Sealed With a Traitor's Kiss" is a rearranged track originally appearing on the 1978 studio album "Deadlines."

As a bonus, "Blue Angel" includes the original 1979 version of a track that later appeared on the 1991 studio album "Ringing Down the Years," providing a retrospective look at Strawbs' musical evolution over the years.

Overall, "Blue Angel" represents a significant milestone for Strawbs, marking their return with fresh material while celebrating their enduring musical legacy through reinterpretations of earlier songs and collaborations with notable artists like Mary Hopkin.