Description
Road to Freedom is the seventh studio album by the British singer and songwriter Garth Hewitt, released on Myrrh Records in 1983, a division of Word. The album was recorded and mixed June 1983 by Trevor Vallis at Atmosphere Studios in London, England; with Tom “Razor” Blades producing. All tracks arranged by Blades except “Nero’s Watching Video” arranged by Jan Pulsford.
“Nero’s Watching Video” was later covered by Continental Singers on their 1985-album, Together We Will Stand, featuring Steve Taylor on lead vocals.
After touring parts of the Third World for the Tear Fund, Garth Hewitt recorded ‘Road to Freedom’, a chronicle of what he saw, particularly in India and Africa, and what God revealed to him. These are not songs that ask us to pity the poor and hungry, and solely to pray for them. The words cry out for action and involvement – and for a definite change in the thrust and direction for our Western Christianity.
The theme of the album can be found in two songs. «Nero’s Watching Video» depicts the Christian Everyman who has become desensitized to the needs of the destitue everywhere; he fills his life with diversions that blind his heart to the outward expressions of the gospel. “Nero’s watching video while Rome begins to burn/ Nero’s wearing roller skates so he can quickly turn/ And get away from what he doesn’t want to see or want to hear.”
The Western Christian too often expresses his faith in a materialistic vein, avoiding a spiritual comprehension of the world just beyond his consciousness. However, there does exist a fragile relationship among all God’s creatures. Using images from John Donne in «No One Is an Island», Hewitt reminds the Nero in each of us of the divine spark in every human. He admonishes that “when you turn your eyes away, turn and look again/ Remember that you’re looking at God’s Son.”
Hewitt calls for Christians to escape religious complacency and embark upon compassionate, Christian action. The lyrics form the backbone onto which the flesh of the music is grafted. A folk style dominates the LP, interrupted by the new wave flash of «Nero’s Watching Video» and a few strains of calypso and reggae. [Dan Kennedy, CCM, January 1984]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Road To Freedom” – 4:45
A2. “Freedom Fighter” – 4:00
A3. “Water Water” – 3:50
A4. “Nero’s Watching Video” – 4:15
A5. “No One Is An Island” – 3:14
Side Two
B1. “Namirembe” – 4:20
B2. “Rainbow Over Kampala” – 4:06
B3. “So Much Better” – 3:40
B4. “Zachariah The Zulu” – 4:35
B5. “Living Under The Mercy” – 4:28
Note: Has eight-page illustrated booklet included with comments on how each song came to be written and when.
CREDITS. Produced by Tom “Razor” Blades. Arranged by Blades and Jan Pulsford (track A4). Recorded and mixed by Trevor Vallis. Recorded at Atmosphere Studios, Lexington St. London W1, England; June 1983. All songs written by Garth Hewitt.
Musicians: Garth Hewitt (Vocals, Acoustic Guitar on track A5, Harmonica on track A2), Tom Blades (Acoustic Guitar and Electric Guitars, Movement Drum Computer and Steel Drums on track B1), Bryn Haworth (Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, and Dobro on track B5; Slide Guitar on track A5), Pete Willsher (Pedal Steel Guitar on track B3), Mick Parker (Piano, Organ, Synthesizer, Vocoder, Steel Drums on track B4), Jan Pulsford (Synthesizer and Movement Drum Computer on track A4), Luis Jardim (Bass, Percussion), Paul Robinson (Drums), Luis Jardim (Percussion). Backing Vocals: Bryn Haworth (tracks: A1, B3, B5), Garth Hewitt (tracks: B1), Jan Pulsford (tracks: B1), Linda Jardim (tracks: B1).
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