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John Ford of the STRAWBS
UPDATED: 28 MAY 2009
John Ford's website main page will be undergoing reconstruction as server was migrated and things went askew but still functioning. Scroll down to find most info... Trying to straighten this out ASAP!
You can still buy CDs and MP3 Downloads HERE and find
For current NEWS - UPDATES & SHOW info PLEASE go to John Ford's MySpace
Please bear in mind as this site is in transition and some pages or links are in construction. Email the webmistress@johnfordmusic.net with any questions or if you encounter difficulties.
UPDATED:
27 MAY 2009
John Ford's
website main page will be undergoing reconstruction as server was
migrated and things went askew but still functioning. Scroll down to
find most info...
You can
still buy CDs and MP3 Downloads HERE
and
find
For current
NEWS - UPDATES & SHOW info
PLEASE
go to John Ford's MySpace
UPDATED:
27 MAY 2009
John Ford's
website main page will be undergoing reconstruction as server was
migrated and things went askew but still functioning. Scroll down to
find most info...
You can
still buy CDs and MP3 Downloads HERE
and
find
For current
NEWS - UPDATES & SHOW info
PLEASE
go to John Ford's MySpace
CDs - MP3s Downloads now
available at CDBABY and up soon on Itunes, Amazon and other online retail music outlets World-wide!
John Ford Cds also still available through Witchwood Records UK buyers
and here on this site!
NEW
'Big Hit In India' Album:
We're
gonna recreate the Summer of Love, the Maharishi’s
coming back!
Big Hit In India features 12 NEW Original Tracks:
1 Big Hit In India
2 Poor Boy Running
3 Weird
4 And I Love The Way
5 Still Waiting (For You)
6 Love Is All I Ever Want
7 We Always Rock and Roll
8 Paper Trail
9 Dead In The Water
10 Everybody Knows
11 If I Wanted To
12 Forbidden Planet
NEW Review!
John Ford - Big Hit in India
(Whole Shot Records)
Former
Strawbs bassist John Ford, now residing in the states, has been quietly
releasing home-made records for some time now. Having never lost the
ability to write a memorable hook, Ford opens the flood gates on his
latest offering serving up 12 slices of tasty treats that run the gamut
of Pop-Rock. From the 60s styled Brit Pop of the fab “Still Waiting,”
the Soft-Rock sway of “And I Love the Way,” to the neo-Rock-a-Billy of
“We Always Rock and Roll,” every track on Big Hit in India demands
repeat listening. This is a well thought out record having the flow of
classic albums from yesteryear with production and sound quality to
match (something that has been inconsistent on past recordings). On the
arena-ready title track Ford bemoans I can’t get on the radio/Or on
TV/They tell me I’m much too old/For this music scene only to
suppress his laughter as he sings But I’m a big hit in India/That’s
why they call out my name/Get out the mini skirts and the flowered
shirts/San Francisco, G I Jane! If some programmers got savvy and
started playing some of these infectious tunes Big Hit in India would be
a big hit everywhere.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"John Ford's new one 'Big Hit In
India' - If
you haven't gotten John's new one yet, you should treat yourself to one
of his most complete efforts yet. There is not weak track on this album.
There are so many little flourishes in the mix. it makes for a very
complete listening experience. John writes so many memorable melodies. I
wrote a complete track by track review a few weeks ago. With all the
releases, I know it takes time to get caught up but you owe to
yourselves to soak your head in this amazing collection of John Ford
compositions.
Cheers, Ken/NY"
or
order CDs direct here:
BIG HIT IN INDIA'Single out onProgressive
Rock Hall of Fame Soundscapes Volume 1 CD and available to Media & Radio
Stations - Let us know if your would like your station or media outlet to
receive a copy.
The Strawbs 40th
Anniversary will be celebrated with a week-end event scheduled for September 12
& 13 at Twickenham Rugby Stadium - Live Room and Rose Suite Bar in the newly
built South Stand.
Already confirmed and lots more to
come:
* Strawbs with
Oliver Wakeman
* Acoustic Strawbs
* John Ford * Strawbs with Oliver Wakeman
* Blue Weaver
* Cry No More
* Ian Cutler
* Strawberry Fools
SPECIAL
APPEARANCES JUST ADDED:
* Rick Wakeman
*Tony Fernandez
* Andy Richards
* Sonja Kristina (briefly
a Strawbs after Sandy Denny Left the band)
STAY
TUNED FOR MORE TBA DETAILS
WHERE: The venue is the Live Room in the
new South Stand at Twickenham Rugby Ground. Check it out at:
www.twickenhamexperience.com. There
is a licensed bar in the Rose Suites.
Running times are
expected to be: 2pm to 10pm on Saturday 12 Sept
&
12:.30 to 7pm on Sunday 13 Sept to
allow people to get there and get home.
Attendance will be
limited - numbers around 400. Weekend tickets only will be available:
prices to be announced - expect the weekend ticket price to be around
£80-85 GBP.
A Marriott Hotel
associated with the venue some visitors may wish to stay at -may be able
to facilitate a reduced room rate. More details of other possible hotels
in the area to come.
It is intended that
the whole weekend will be filmed/recorded for audio and video release in
2010. But we think you'll want to be there in person! As will a certain
collection of [Strawberry] Fools who will be performing at this
extravaganza. See more on Strawbs web:
www.strawbsweb.co.uk & TICKET BUY INFO!
JOHN FORD Crowned 2009
Progressive Artist of the Year by Progressive Rock Hall of Fame! -
See John Ford MySpace Blog
Click Icons above for PRHoF
MySpace & Website
OHN
FORD VOTED 2009 Progressive Artist of the Year by Progressive Rock Hall of
Fame
-----------------☼
----------------
CD RELEASES...
Don't forget these ~
NEW WORLD
"
NEW
WORLD" Maxi-Single Release -
What began as an upcoming single "New World" has developed into a Maxi-Single
or perhaps Mega-Single with 7 songs, including the FIRST LIVE version of "Part
of the Union" recorded in over 30 years! John Ford was accompanied by Brian
Willoughby and Cathryn Craig on POTU and Worried Man Blues and recorded at
Audio Tech Works Recording Studio in Southington, CT. NOW on this site for
sale.
Also available at
Witchwood Records
and www.cdbaby.com.
New
World Maxi-Single Full Tracks Listing:
1. New World (David Cousins)
2. You Can't Keep Me From Singing
(John Ford)
3. Across The Universe (John
Lennon-Paul McCartney)
4. A Whiter Shade Of Pale (Gary
Brooker-Keith Reid)
5. Kissed By The Sun (John Ford)
6. Part of The Union (J. Ford-R.
Hudson)
7.Worried Man Blues (Traditional -
Donigan)
CLICK CD Covers to Buy & more
info or CLICK CDBABY ICON for MP3 & CDS
NEW WORLD - John Ford
T-SHIRTS! Inspired by the NEW WORLD CD cover design on a black T-Shirt.
This 12 song CD album
features an array of Christmas Classics and John Ford original future
classics! A fantastic CD to add to your Holiday Music Collection that truly
captures the festive spirit of Christmas!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
S
trawbs
LIVE at Bilston 2006 CD & DVD UK Electric Tour - NOW Available
At last!
"LAY DOWN WITH THE STRAWBS" from
Secret Films/Records, the
Live 2006 UK show NOW OUT
on CD & DVD! Filmed and recorded live at The Robin in Bilston on March
5th 2006, capturing the power and the glory of the electric Hero and
Heroine/Ghosts line-ups at a stellar show. John Ford, joining them
for an acoustic show within a show and for the anthemic encore -
'Part of The Union.'
One of the best performances of one of the best bands of their day, time
has done nothing to diminish their powers.
"Lay Down With The Strawbs,"
features all the Hit Singles and
many classic album tracks spanning their 40 year career, along with an
interview with the band members! On Secret Films/Records Productions.
Here's video clip of "Part of the Union," featuring John Ford....
CD UPDATE - 8th April 2008:
While the title is still a mystery at the moment - not unlike the man
himself at times - with one thing for sure with the forthcoming
CD, Spring has sprung John Ford, as he has created 14! deliciously
sweet, glorious new tracks better than chocolate, covering all the
bases... totally fantastical, words just can't describe!
All one can say is, each and
every one is a surprise and delight = an explosion of sound and lyrical
flavours that all collide and put you in a mood to groove with a massage
to the mind and something to get excited about - we just can't wait for
you to hear! Oooooooo... so yummy to the ears! Dare I say getting
carried away here a bit? Not really she says - tis true! Tracks will be
up for Download, as will other previous JF releases to fill your pod in
coming weeks. So stay tuned to tune in and turn on... you'll love the
experience!
J
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John Ford Live Video!
'Werewolves of London' LIVE
at Cafe Coco's NJ Halloween show from John Buryk
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NEW MySpace up
for Jaymes Fenda and the Vulcans!!
Jaymes Fenda and the Vulcans, the very
first band John started his music career with and first hit, 'Mistletoe
Love' at age 16, has just launched a MySpace site created by Clive,
Michael (Jaymes) and son, Stephen Pierce. Has continuing neat story how
this teen
dream band began with
lotsa pics
and tunes...so click on the photo to go there or
www.myspace.com/jaymesfenda
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John Ford having completed
tracks for new CD having just added another fantastic new track, 'Big
Hit In India' in its final mix stage. CD Title still yet
undecided? 'Resurrected' release on hold at the moment.
SONY ATV has now signed John
for licencing agreement for his song catalogue. A new backing band
selected and in rehearsals for future shows to be announced. Check back
for more details on all that...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New German Strawbs 'Best of...'
CD available Jan 2008
- see below in Strawbs section
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOVEMBER 2007 UPDATE:
If you're wondering what John Ford has
been up to ????
John Ford has finally emerged from recording
studio with twelve BRAND NEW unreleased John Ford tracks completed
!!!! and in Mastering mode for a yet untitled CD. They sound GREAT!!!
A taste of one will be up shortly here and at MySpace site.
Release date for both that and
Resurrected should be early 2008, along with plans to release a Hudson
Ford release, a best of collection reissued for 1st time on CD!!!.
So much to look forward to for John Ford fans and collectors. Updates to
follow.
Auditions and rehearsals for John's backing
band now in progress for live shows to come. So things have been
busy!!!! Thanks to those, whose queries were much appreciated!!!
BTW - DLs are also available on iTunes and
numerous other mp3 DL sites for some of John's material including
Backtracking and New World.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christmas or Any Gift Idea!!!
- John Ford - NEW WORLD T-Shirt available
here
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NEW JOHN FORD RESURRECTED In
Post-Production.
Resurrected
track list
is being expanded with new Bonus tracks for release in the near future.H
ere's
a sneak peek at cover art - an image of British phone art by UK guerilla
artist, BANKSY.
The Monks - Nice Legs Shame About The
Face ( 1980 )
However, so as not
to disappoint viewers, taking it further and stepped into the depths of
YouTube to uncover covers of The Monks, bringing you these other YouTube
video links ranging from a well done Cartoon to
vintage Legs & Co.'s version to even a bit of Burlesque ! done by
fans young and old, as their video tributes to these not forgotten tunes !
Find these below by
clicking image:
Drugs In My Pocket -( Animation ) A
toxicological britpop, punk tribute to All Hallow's Eve. An impending
madness overwhelms our hero...
Toon, by the legendary band, The
Monks ( 2007 )
"
Legs and Co" perform The Monks
" Nice Legs Shame About the Face " ( 1979 )
Legs Malone - Nice Legs,
Shame About Her Face
-
December 6th, 2006 - performance at the Whoopee Agency's Tournament of
Tease - Bethnal Green Working Mens Club in London ( A bit naughty ! )
and worth a watch.
Johnny B. Rotten -LLittle
punk rocker dancing to his favourite song by The Monks. He calls the
song " Tummy Tummy". Possibly, the youngest known ( 3 yrs. ? ) fan of
The Monks ( 2006 )
Note: Some videos are prone to removal but can
resurface again, a bit dodgey at times...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ken Laws 1951-2007
Drummer for Hudson-Ford
On a sad note, we are sorry to post of
the passing of Ken Laws, a consummate musician and drummer with
Hudson-Ford. Ken appeared on several Hudson-Ford albums and hit singles
by the group along with extensive touring with the band and appearances
on Television including "Top of The Pops" and "Old Grey Whistle Test." Continuing other musical pursuits through the years after
Hudson-Ford's fold. In 2002, Ken married his wife Maryanne in
Blackpool and in time, made Atlanta, GA his home in the US. Early 2006,
Ken became ill, soon to be diagnosed with an inoperable Brain Tumor. He
would have been 56 on March 30, 2007.
For more on Ken Laws and Hudson-Ford /
Strawbs fans to send their sympathy and condolences to his wife Maryanne
go to
www.strawbsweb.co.uk
Update: A Memorial service for Ken held
April 3, 2008 - 4PM at the Hinde St. Methodist Church in Marylebone,
London for friends and fans.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sad News to Report ~
Hudson
Ford Guitarist, Mickey Keen’s Passing
Happy Day
with Hudson
Ford at Caribou Ranch, outside Denver, CO. Left to
right: Mickey Keen, Richard Hudson, Ken Laws. John Ford and Chris Parren
London,
UK Sat 8th November - Sad to report
the passing of Mickey Keen - also known as Peachy Keen, original
guitarist in Hudson Ford band, early Saturday morning after a brave
battle being diagnosed with cancer. Mickey was heard on first two
albums Nickelodeon and Free Spirit which included members John Ford,
Richard Hudson - having recently left the Strawbs, Chris Parren and the
late Ken Laws. John Ford remarked, “Mickey was instrumental in the
Monks’ second album, Suspended Animation and High Society being signed
to Eagle Records.
Other bits of Mickey Keen’s - also spelled Keene
musical attributions ~ In 1969, with a band on stage in the production
of the musical 'Hair' appearing on the album, as well. Early on in 1965,
he played with Division Two, followed by The Ivy League band and on to
Hudson Ford. Mickey re-grouped in 1999 with The Ivy League bandmate,
Tony Burrows forming, The Hit Squad which also included Chris Parren
from Hudson Ford. Mickey’s many recording sessions included Alex Harvey,
John Wetton, Larry Norman, Maggie Bell, Malcolm & Alwyn, Sparrow and
Edward’s Hand - Rod Edwards & Roger Hand, appearing on many album
releases. ~ Jill Morrison
Mickey's service will be held
Saturday 15th November 11AM at Thornhill Crematorium, Cardiff. A
memorial jam sessionto celebrate Mickey's life will be held at THe
Pilot, Queens Road, Penarth, Cardiff starting around 1:30PM later that
day. Mickey regularly jammed at The Pilot on Sunday evenings and was
highly thought of in both personally and musically.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Elmer Gantry's Velvet
Opera Upcoming Book In The Works...
John Ford was interviewed for an upcoming book on one of his early band projects,
Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera which will also touch on the first band that
started John's musical career, " The Five Proud Walkers, " with mention
of Hudson Ford, as well, by UK music author, Campbell. More news to come
of it's release.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'Nice Legs Shame About
The Face' covered by The Naked and The Shameless
'Nice Legs Shame About
The Face' to be covered on 'The Orange Peel Sessions' by The Naked &
The Shameless on Atomic Mouse Recordings out this Spring.
*Advisory - Not naked, but,
truly shameless in their lyrics, indeed ! :
The vision behind this CD
collection is that it will include all the Strawbs tracks that ought to
be in a boxed set, but virtually none of the versions that even devout
fans will currently have their collection. Accordingly, it is sourced
from the Strawbs' own archives and other sources ~ unreleased songs,
demo versions, alternate mixes, live material, all of which
will absolutely delight Strawbs fans everywhere! The release date is
planned this Autumn. John Ford’s bass wizardry, as well as, some songs
he penned, will be on this 5 disc, 48 page book & boxed set "A Taste
of Strawbs" - a must have upcoming Strawbs release!
For more info on how to procure
this set - go to the Strawbs site
www.strawbsweb.co.uk and visit
Witchwood Records also carrying
releases from the John Ford Solo CD catalog.
RECOLLECTION, 2006
After
Dragonflyfailed to achieve commercial success,
Ron Chesterman decided to leave: Cousins and Hooper decided to go for
broke. Recruiting Rick Wakeman they took him to Paris (he spent his
honeymoon there!) to play at the Rock'n'Roll circus. Shortly after their
return, the final piece of the jigsaw - the rhythm section of the Velvet
Opera, John Ford and Richard Hudson, replaced Lyndsay Cooper on string
bass who'd been with them for the Paris trip. The group was now an
electric outfit.
In the
run up to the triumphant QEH show which became their third album
Just A Collection Of Antiques And Curios,
the band developed the new
repertoire, and reshaped the old folkier numbers over the course of a
short tour with Roy Harper. A trip down memory lane and a stunning
archive release. John Ford on vocals and bass.
THE WITCHWOOD
PROJECT, 2006
This is a new
sampler featuring tracks from recent and forthcoming Witchwood Media
releases, and includes a hitherto unreleased Strawberry Hill Boys from
the deepest vaults and an Acoustic Strawbs outtake, "Simple Visions."
Also featured
on this 14 track CD Sampler is "All The Songs I Never Heard You Sing"
from John Ford's "Heading For
A High" CD.
It was
issued with March/April copies of subscription only magazine of the
Classic Rock Society, which also included a Strawbs double page spread.
For details see
the Classic Rock Society website.
"The
Witchwood Project" will be available from
Witchwood Records, price £6.00 - an absolute
bargain!!!
ACOUSTIC STRAWBS on US
TOUR ~ OCT 6 thru Nov 5, 2006
The Acoustic Strawbs ~ Dave
Cousins, Dave Lambert and Chas Cronk ~ will be "across the pond" for a
North Eastern stateside tour.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I
f
you have visited before you will notice a
new look
as the website undergoes a
reconstruction to make navigation easier through left side
buttons
and more information about John Ford's music history, his discography,
credits, gigs and tours, photos, his past and current bands, projects and solo
endeavors is always being added and updated,
plus... Hear, Order or DownloadJohn Ford's releases on this
website with secure online shopping.
You will find
other info on the Strawbs, as well.
Some pages or links
may be in construction or transition. Email the
webmistress@johnfordmusic.net with any questions or if you encounter
difficulty.
RESURRECTED"
