Tag: Graham Kendrick

I’ll be honest I wasn’t very impressed with a previous Graham Kendrick album I listened to but I take it all back for this one. This album has raced into my personal top 100 albums of the era and genre. The opening track is absolutely mesmerising. Whoever played guitar on this track, Neil Costello or Andy Billups, absolutely nailed a Mark Knopfler sound. I don’t mean he came close, I mean he nailed it. There are several tracks that have a Dire Straights feel and Les Moir did some excellent production. I wish I had been in the studio for this one. The vibe I get is that was a great session. The album does end a little weak as Graham returns to his previous stylings but some real quality organ (Chris Eaton) makes up for the less exciting tracks. Les ordered the tracks perfectly. How this album didn’t get a North American release is beyond me. The Dire Straights feel was completely absent in the genre. This was that segment artist.

Tracklist
1 – This Is The Fall – 3:57
2 – That’s Life – 4:08
3 – News At Ten – 2:12
4 – God Knows What’s Going On – 4:24
5 – Anywhere You Walk – 3:55
6 – Cresta Run – 3:29
7 – War Games – 4:16
8 – Come On And Live – 4:00
9 – When You Gonna Turn Round – 3:02
10 – Jesus Coming Back – 3:54

Credits
Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Written-By – Graham Kendrick
Bass – Spud Spurling
Bass, Producer – Les Moir
Drums – David McSparran
Engineer – Simon Humphrey
Guitar – Andy Billups, Neil Costello
Organ, Backing Vocals – Bazil Meade
Piano, Electric Piano – Chris Eaton
Synthesizer – John Pantry

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Thankyou Music
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Kingsway Music
Copyright © – Kingsway Music
Published By – Thankyou Music
Lacquer Cut At – Tape One

When I picked up this album to listen to I was somewhat optimistic based on the album cover. Wow was I wrong. This is a very easy listening album. Now lets be clear, It’s a good album but not an album I would normally listen to. I was unfamiliar with Kendrick’s work but I think I have a good understanding of it now. This album has a “fight” theme. I don’t think I’ve ever listened to an album as heavily themed as this one. The songs are good and apparently several of Kendrick’s song have made their way into hymnals. Sheila Walsh also recorded the title track and had some success with it. Apparently some of the releases of this album were produced on a translucent vinyl which when held to light looked deep red. I am assuming this was supposed to represent blood.

Tracklist
1 – On The Frontline
2 – Sleeping In Gethsemane
3 – The Reluctant Disciple
4 – Night Comes
5 – Make It Soon
6 – Victory Is The Only Song I Know
7 – Often When The World Crowds
8 – The Story’s Just Begun
9 – God Put A Fighter In Me
10 – Battle Hymn