Description
Grand Arrival is the third studio album by the British singer, songwriter, and blues guitarist Bryn Haworth, released by A&M Records in February 1978 on both sides of the pond. Later also distributed by Kingsway Music. The album was recorded by Ronnie Light at Crazy Mama’s Studios in Nashville, Tennessee; with Audie Ashworth producing, the latter known as JJ Cale’s producer. Mixed by Chris Kimsey at Olympic Studios and at Basing Street Studios (a.k.a. “Island Studios”) in London, England. All songs written by Bryn Haworth. (Haworth actually started doing the recording of the album with Glyn Johns in England. For some reason the record company thought Haworth be better off in America, so they took him to Nashville and they ended up at Crazy Mama’s, the studio of JJ Cale.)
The title track features harmony vocals by The Imperials and “Nothing Without You” features Bryn Haworth backed by the American progressive bluegrass band The New Grass Revival. The album’s opening cut, “Come See What Love” [ b/w “Full Day” ], was released as a single and although it was played on BBC Radio 1, it didn’t chart. The tracks “Woman Friend” (with Don Everly on backup vocals) [ b/w “Moments” ], and “We’re All One” (featuring vocals by Halladay Sisters as well as a brass section) [ b/w “Nothing Without You” ] were also released as singles. (“We’re All One” was later covered by Sheila Walsh on her 1985-album, Don’t Hide Your Heart.) The album track “Moments” has been covered by Mary Black as well as Sandy Denny of Fairport Convention fame, one of Britain’s finest female singer-songwriters. (She died pretty young in 1978, and “Moments” actually turned out to be among her final studio recordings.)
A slightly more pop-minded commercial record than Sunny Side Of The Street, but no less enjoyable. «Come See What Love» opens the album with an irresistibly sleek string-backed groove, followed by the graceful mandolin-layered melody of «Nothing Without You». Slide guitar spices up bluesy boogie/shuffle numbers like «We’re All One» and «Beans On Toast», while the ballad «Sing To The Lord» constructs a quieter mood with mandolin and jazzy saxophone. Title track draws its theme from the Second Coming. Unlike the previous and subsequent album, Grand Arrival was co-released in the United States. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]
Bryn Haworth has written a collection of shuffle-rock and sweet lovesongs which are all catchy in their different ways and been supported in the Nashville Studios by the standard gang of names unknown and skills unmatched…. It’s a very warm and appealing sound… However I was just starting to feel thoroughly affectionate towards the album when I had a look at the lyric sheet and discovered that at least four of the tracks were, in effect, hymns, if that’s what a song in praise of ‘God’ is. Being an atheist I was taken aback but I have to say if there were more hymns like this the pews in British churches would be SRO. Haworth doesn’t divert his musical course even half a degree in deference to his subject and the pleasant result is a complete absence of sanctimonious mawkishness. To carp would be arrant prejudice. There’s not a duff song in sight but my favourite is «Grand Arrival» (Matthew 24v30 says the lyric sheet) [Phil Sutcliffe, Sounds Magazine, 1978]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/12-classics/id1213064818)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Come See What Love” – 4:28
A2. “Nothing Without You” – 3:41
A3. “Woman Friend” – 3:00
A4. “Moments” – 3:00
A5. “We’re All One” – 4:13
Side Two
B1. “The Grand Arrival” – 4:42
B2. “Sing To The Lord” – 3:42
B3. “Full Day” – 3:28
B4. “Summer Wine” – 4:28
B5. “Beans on Toast” – 4:43
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by A&M Records. Available at Bandcamp: https://brynhaworth.bandcamp.com/album/grandarrival
CREDITS. Produced by Audie Ashworth for Audigram Inc. Recorded by Ronnie Light at Crazy Mama’s, Nashville, TN. Mixed by Chris Kimsey at Olympic Studios and Basing Street Studios, London, England. Horns on track A5 arranged by George Tidwell. Strings on track A1 and A4 arranged by Cam Mullins. Design and Art Direction by Michael Ross. Photography by Gered Mankowitz. Sunris by Virginia Fass. All songs written by Bryn Haworth.
Musicians: Bryn Haworth (Vocals, Guitars, Slide Guitar on track B3, Lead Guitar on track B4 and B5, Mandolin on track A2 and B2, Harpolek on track B2), Hargus “Pig” Robbins (Piano – tracks: A3, A4, B1, B3), Bobby Woods (Keyboards on track A1, Piano on track A5 and B5), Ron Oates (Keyboards on track B4), Billy Sandford (Guitar on track A1, A5, and B5), Ronny Light (High String Guitar on track A3), Harold Bradley (High String Guitar on track A4 and B3, Gut String Guitar on track A4, B2, and B3, Guitars on track B4), Buddy Emmons (Steel Guitar on track A3), Jessie Boyce (Bass on track A1, A5, and B5), Joe Osborn (Bass on track B1 and B2), Nick Rather (Bass on track A3), Tommy Cogbill (Bass on track A4, B3, and B4), Buddy Harmon (Drums – tracks: A4, B2, B3, B4), Jerry Carrigan (Drums – tracks: A1, A5, B1, B5, Claves on track A1, Cowbell on track B1), Karl Himmel (Drums on track A3), Farrell Morris (Percussion on track A1, B1, and B4). Track A2 features The New Grass Revival: Sam Bush (Mandolin), Courtney Johnson (Banjo), Curtis Burch (Guitar), and John Cowan (Bass). Brass Section featured on track A5: George Tidwell (Trumpet), Wayne Jackson (Trumpet), Dennis Goode (Trombone), Andrew Love (Saxophone), and Billy Puett (Saxophone). Shelley Curland Strings featured on track A1 and A4. Backing Vocals: Don Everly (track A3), Halladay Sisters (Vocals on track A5), The Imperials (Harmony Vocals on track B1).
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