Malcolm Wild – Broken Chains – 1979

You likely know Malcolm better as a member of the Malcolm & Alwyn duo but he did have a solo album and this is it. After the second Malcolm & Alwyn album they went their separate ways with Malcolm moving to the U.S. to work with Maranatha music. This is the album that came out of that relationship. The album features many of the Gang from Calvary Chapel Cosa Mesa including almost all the members of Gentle Faith but with drumming duty being shared between John Mehler and Greg Gustafson. There were many others appearing but I won’t list them all because it would take quite awhile, there was that many of them. Anyway this was my first time hearing this album and while I do like the album it just doesn’t have the magic touch that Malcolm and Alwyn had when they worked together. It ha s a strong 70’s feel and like I say it’s pretty good but it really lacked a track that stood out and made me want to listen to the rest of the album. That said this is still a great 70’s album and it deserves a listen.

Tracklist
1 – When You Call – 3:45
2 – Morning Star – 3:05
3 – Broken Chains – 4:53
4 – Was It You My Love? – 3:50
5 – Dreams – 3:49
6 – Pride (Before A Fall) – 3:44
7 – The Best Is You – 3:04
8 – You’re The Reason – 3:45
9 – Love Is You – 3:14
10 – The Prize – 3:32

Credits
Arranged By [Basic Track Arrangement Assistance] – Don Gerber, Henry Cutrona
Arranged By [String Arrangements] – Colin Owen
Art Direction [Inner Sleeve] – Neal Buchanan
Artwork, Art Direction – Jim Shepard
Co-producer – John Pac, Malcolm Wild
Concept By [Cover] – Malcolm Wild
Engineer – Chris Taylor, Colin Owen
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Photography By – Linda Dillon
Photography By [Assisted By] – Gary De Lacy, Steve Churchill
Vocals, Harmony Vocals – Malcolm Wild

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Pilgrim Records
Recorded At – Maranatha! Studio
Recorded At – The Old Smithy Recording Studio
Mixed At – The Old Smithy Recording Studio
Mastered At – A&M Studios

Malcolm & Alwyn – Fool’s Wisdom – 1973

This is the first album from Malcolm & Alwyn but they were actually in a band called The Zodiacs before their conversion to Christianity. This album actually had some of the top session musicians of the time. John Wetton of King Crimson on bass, Rod Edwards and Roger Hand of Edwards Hand on keyboards and percussion, veteran drummer Clem Cattini, and guitarist Mickey Keen of Hudson Ford. Pretty good for a Jesus album from 2 guys that hadn’t even been recorded before. The album is excellent if listened to from an early 70’s ear. For that genre and time period this is probably one of the best Jesus music albums of the period.

Tracklist
1 – Say It Like It Is – 3:30
2 – Fool’s Wisdom – 3:04
3 – Tomorrow’s News – 3:30
4 – Growing Old – 3:53
5 – Things Are Getting Better – 3:24
6 – Heaven Or Hell – 3:46
7 – Seed Of Corn – 2:57
8 – The World Needs Jesus – 3:38
9 – Always On My Mind – 2:05
10 – It’s Here The Answer Lies – 4:46

Credits
Arranged By [String And Woodwind Arrangements] – Chris Gunning
Autoharp, Lead Vocals – Malcolm Wild
Bass – John Wetton
Drums – Clem Cattini
Electric Guitar – Mickey Keen
Engineer – Denny Bridges, Jack Clegg
Guitar, Lead Vocals – Alwyn Wall
Keyboards, Percussion – Rod Edwards, Roger Hand
Producer – John Miller*, Rod Edwards, Roger Hand
Written-By, Liner Notes – Alwyn Wall, Malcolm Wild

Companies, etc.
Printed By – Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd.
Produced For – Key Records

Malcolm & The Mirrors – Red Alert – 1982

This was the only full length album from Malcolm (of Malcolm and Alwyn fame) and the Mirrors though some members of the Mirrors would go on to produce another album. Malcolm Wild did do some writing though the 80’s and 90’s but this was the end of his releases. The album had a strong anti nuclear warfare theme which was quite common in the 80’s given the era. This album had several strong punkish/new wave songs and some were compared to the Knack at the time. Personally I never really heard the connection. My personal favourite pick was ” She’s Gonna Go Through Changes”. Can’t really say why, it just tugged on my ear.

Tracklist
1 – Gotta Give – 2:28
2 – Paint Your Windows White – 2:28
3 – Red Alert – 5:38
4 – Where Did All The Love Go – 3:15
5 – Can’t Live Without Him – 2:57
6 – She’s Gonna Go Through Changes – 3:00
7 – Love Your Love – 2:02
8 – You Are My Love – 3:18
9 – Look Up! (His Coming Is Near) – 3:15
10 – Alright By Me – 3:00

Credits
Arranged By – Malcolm And The Mirrors
Backing Vocals – Tommy Coomes
Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals – Stan Linder
Co-producer, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Alwyn Wall
Cover – Kernie Erickson
Drums – Greg Gustafson
Electric Guitar – Mike Minardi
Electric Guitar, Co-producer – Richard Cimino
Engineer – Richard Cimino, Thom Roy
Keyboards, Backing Vocals, Percussion – Rob Watson
Producer – Thom Roy
Vocals, Percussion, Backing Vocals, Producer – Malcolm Wild

Companies, etc.
Published By – Maranatha Music (2) – 1982
Distributed By – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Copyright (c) – Wild Song Publ.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Maranatha! Music – 1982
Printed By – Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd.
Recorded At – Whitefield Studios

Malcolm & Alwyn – Live – 1981

1960s Brit rockers Malcolm Wild and Alwyn Wall created a duo in the 70s with some fun old time rock and folk songs. This 1981 this live performance was done in California and released by MRC, essentially introducing American audiences to the duo.

Alwyn Wall released solo albums as well, Alwyn showing up on Star Song records in 1981 under the heading “Larry Norman Presents” with his solo debut “Invisible Warfare.”

Malcolm is best known for his band “Malcolm & The Mirrors” who did a punk rock stint starting with the album Red Alert in 1982.

This album is a far cry from the rock recordings they made, but shows their hearts, personality, and musicianship. It’s a fun recording that sounds like it was a big blessing to the California church that hosted it. Wish we could have been there.

Track Listing:
1 – Say It Like It Is
2 – I Love
3 – I Feel Fine
4 – Morning Star
5 – Fools Wisdom
6 – Growing Old
7 – Things Are Getting Better
8 – The World Needs Jesus
9 – Tomorrow’s News

Companies, etc.:
Distributed By – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Printed By – Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd.

Credits:
Engineer – Chris Taylor (11)
Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Arranged By – Alwyn Wall
Producer, Autoharp, Arranged By – Malcolm Wild
Producer, Engineer – Dan Willard