Description
Sunny Side of the Street is the sophomore solo album by the British singer, songwriter, and blues guitarist Bryn Haworth, released on Island Records in 1975. The album was recorded by Richard Digby “Diga” Smith assisted by Dick Cuthell at Island Studios, Hammersmith, and Sound Techniques in London, England; with Bryn Haworth and Smith producing. All songs written by Bryn Haworth except a cover of the American trad. tune “Darlin’ Cory”, as well as the title track written in 1930 by the American songwriting duo Jimmy McHugh & Dorothy Fields. The soulful “Give All You’ve Got To Give” was released as a single and received lots of airplay but sadly and inexplicably failed to sell much.
First-rate album of bluesy rock from British singer and songwriter known for his slide-bottleneck guitar work. This album and his next two were issued on mainstream labels with quality production and arrangements that make for a professionalism not often seen in Christian rock. Sunny Side Of The Street as I understand it is his first LP as a believer and it’s the grittiest of the bunch. Strong ‘70s Eric Clapton impressions throughout, coupled with a few folky rural moods courtesy of mandolin, banjo and fiddle. Female backing vocals in spots, sometimes with light gospel influences. Bluesy cover of the title song. Haworth originals include «Good Job», «Pick Me Up», «Dance», «Peace Of Mind», «Give All You’ve Got To Give», «Heaven Knows» and «Thank The Lord». Good jammin’ on «Used». Never flashy despite his obvious instrumental talents. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Good Job” – 5:00
A2. “Pick Me Up” – 3:22
A3. “Darlin’ Cory” – 3:22
A4. “Dance” – 3:02
A5. “Peace of Mind” – 2:55
Side Two
B1. “Give All You Got to Give” – 5:10
B2. “Heaven Knows” – 5:28
B3. “Sunny Side of the Street” – 2:30
B4. “Used” – 5:17
B5. “Thank the Lord” – 4:45
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Island Records. Later re-issued on CD featuring both Sunny Side Of The Street and Let The Days Go By (1974). Available at Bandcamp: https://brynhaworth.bandcamp.com/album/sunny-side-of-the-street
An album and tour ad was featured in the November 1975 issue of NME Magazine. “Bryn Haworth on tour featuring Rabbit on keyboards, Jackie McKauley on guitar (Them), Rosko Gee on bass (Traffic), and Terry Stannard on drums (Kokomo).”
12 String bottleneck prayer from the box room. “How Long” was recorded on 2 track reel to reel at Cedar Cottage in Sussex in 1976. I was recording for Island Records at the time and touring with Fairport Convention… though “How Long” never made it out the box room. – Bryn.
There were signs from early on that God had Haworth in his sights. He had an experience in the Congressehalle, Hamburg at a time when his début album was about to be released by the Island label. He was supporting Traffic on tour, and was actively looking for God.
“I got about half way through my set and was feeling quite insecure about how things were going. As I turned round to put one instrument down and pick up another ready for the next song, I saw this beautiful figure sitting behind the Hammond organ. I thought at first it was a roadie, but his face was serene and reverent and he emanated humility and power and was full of peace. But the thing I noticed most of all were his feet! They were this beautiful bronze colour. This all happened in the space of a few seconds but it made me think to myself, ‘Oh good, there is someone else on stage with me; I’m not alone’ and I carried on with a renewed confidence.
“When I came off stage I said to Sally, ‘Who was that on stage behind me? She hadn’t seen anybody. Then I asked the sound man the same question, and then the A&R man, but nobody had seen anything. That’s when it hit me. I wrote in my note book, ‘I believe. Now I believe’.”
Not long afterwards, the couple found themselves in a tent crusade, having thought that it was a circus, and made their commitment to Christ.
Listening to his second Island album Sunny Side of the Street is an enthralling experience. The playing is excellent, the songs are bubbly and Haworth’s new-found faith shines through it all. Most notably, on «Good Job», he sings, “It’s a good job I know just what I’m looking for / I never would have thought I’d find it here!”
He left that label, moving to A&M for a couple of releases before joining Chapel Lane in 1980, where he, “had the freedom to say all the things I wanted to say, which I needed to do at that time. I was and still am excited about God, but I realise that wasn’t necessarily something that secular record labels could market.”
The Chapel Lane label went bust in the ’eighties and for most of the next twenty years Word and Kingsway released his albums to Christians.
He is now independent with his own Bella Music label, something he enjoys very much.
[Excerpt from an article by Derek Walker entitled ‘Bryn Haworth – Helping Inmates to Get out of Jail Free’ published in Church of England Newspaper 01/11/2012]
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