Description
Did He Jump… or Was He Pushed? is the fifth studio album by the British singer and songwriter Garth Hewitt, released on Patch Records in 1979, marketed and distributed by EMI Records, UK. The album was recorded and mixed by Tony Clark assisted by Haydn Bendall at Odyssey Studios in London, England; with Cliff Richard producing. (Cliff had persuaded EMI to let him establish a Christian music imprint, Patch Records, to develop new artists, Garth Hewitt being the label’s first signing.) Featuring a session band consisting of Jo Partridge and Bryn Haworth on guitars and a rhythm section consisting of Dave Wintour on bass and Graham Jarvis on drums.
The title track was released as a 7-inch single by EMI/Patch Records in October 1979, featuring “Roll On (The Second Coming)” on the B-side. “Roll On” was co-written by Elton John and Gary Osborne, Elton John’s one-time lyricist, and Osborne actually played guitar on the track as well. (The signature sound of Elton John is present in the performance, generated by the piano accompaniment. The second coming of Christ is the subject of the song, which is sung with ebullience by Hewitt, matched by Cliff’s excellent backing vocals.)
Cliff Richard did also produce the two-sided single “I Can Hear Love” b/w “Come Out Fighting” (written by Alan Tarney and Garth Hewitt respectively), released on Pye Records in April 1980. As well flipped over and re-issued on Precision in August the same year (distributed by PRT/Pye Records). Neither releases managed to enter the charts.
Garth Hewitt’s heaviest rocking album includes some good examples of punchy rock & roll («Not Afraid To Rock ‘N’ Roll»), boogie blues rock («On And On»), reggae-tinged pop («Let’s Go Out») and big beat rockabilly («Big Black Mamba»), the latter with slide guitar, pumpin’ drums and rippling piano licks. Offset with mellow ballads like «Physical Pain» and «World Of Difference». All Hewitt originals, save for a brisk bluesy interpretation of «We Sure Do» (i.e., «If We Ever Needed The Lord Before») and the closing gospel-edged «Roll On» (credited to Gary Osbourne and Elton John). Includes reappearances of Bryn Haworth (slide guitar) and Cliff Richard (backing vocals, producer). Label connected to EMI Records. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]
In the late ’70s, Cliff Richard persuaded EMI Records to let him set up his own label to develop Christian music talent. He signed up Nutshell and Garth Hewitt and although Nutshell never got as far as their own album for Patch Music, Garth released this pop record in 1979 and made a Greenbelt mainstage appearance resplendent in the white suit modelled on the cover (ironic really as decades later Garth was keen to identify with the Man In Black, Johnny Cash). Produced by Cliff Richard, ‘Did He Jump. Or Was He Pushed’ sounds very like the records Cliff was cutting at the time with an edgier pop/rock sound than Hewitt has pursued since those days. With a tight selection of session players including some excellent guitar work from Bryn Haworth this is very much of its time. Favorites for this reviewer include «On And On» with its bluesy feel and the pure pop of «Let’s Go Out Tonight» with its reggae vibe and close harmonies. The ’50s rock’n’roll feel of «Big Black Mamba» is a fun track and the gospel of «We Sure Do» is again reminiscent of late ’70s Cliff. The most poptastic song is the title track which has a «Devil Woman» type of vibe. The only song which really survived for more than a couple of years into Garth’s live performances was «World Of Difference» which pointed towards Hewitt’s future songwriting and passionate concern for the poor and disadvantaged. Cliff even sang this song at Live Aid. While his moments as a would be pop star were not a comfortable fit for Hewitt, this album still has considerable charm. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, November 2016]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Not Afraid To Rock ‘N’ Roll” – 2:41
A2. “On And On” – 3:12
A3. “Always On The Run” – 3:23
A4. “Physical Pain” – 3:34
A5. “Let’s Go Out” – 3:46
Side Two
B1. “Big Black Mamba” – 2:52
B2. “Did He Jump” – 3:33
B3. “He’s The One” – 3:55
B4. “World Of Difference” – 3:19
B5. “We Sure Do” – 2:31
B6. “Roll On”
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by EMI. Later self-released on CD. The 7-inch single “Did He Jump?”, b/w “Roll On (The Second Coming)”, was released by EMI/Patch Records in October 1979.
A Did He Jump Promo featured in Melody Maker, September 15, 1979, Page 5.
An advertisement for Garth Hewitt’s Did He Jump LP was featured in the September 3, 1979 issue of Record Business magazine (Volume Two, Number 25).
CREDITS. Produced by Cliff Richard. Recorded and mixed at Odyssey. Engineered by Tony Clark with assistance from Haydn Bendall. Cut at EMI by Chris Blair. Design and Artwork by Cream. Photography by Chris Hoppe. All songs written by Garth Hewitt, except track B5 (Traditional with lyrics by Garth Hewitt) and track B6 written by Elton John and Gary Osborne. Track B5 arranged by Garth Hewitt and Kevin Peek.
Musicians: Garth Hweitt (Vocals, Guitar), Mike Moran (Keyboards), Adrian Lee (Synthesizer – tracks: A2, A3, A5, B5), Dave Lawson (String Synthesizer on track B4), Jo Partridge (Guitar, Mandolin on track A5), Bryn Haworth (Slide Guitar on track B1), Kevin Peek (Acoustic Guitar on track B4), Dave Wintour (Bass), Graham Jarvis (Drums, Percussion). Backing Vocals by Cliff Richard.
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