Description
Fool’s Wisdom is the debut album by the British folk-rock duo Malcolm & Alwyn (Malcolm Wild and Alwyn Wall), released in the UK on Pye Records in May 1973. Also released on Grapevine in the Christian music market, a division of Marshall Morgan & Scott. (The album was originally recorded for Key Records, who negotiated a release through Pye Records, one of the top mainstream labels of the day. Parchment’s debut album Light Up The Fire was as well snapped up by Pye.) Also released in the US on Myrrh Records in September the same year (“aimed to a great extent toward FM underground” according to the September first 1973 issue of Billboard Magazine, who reported that the duo “also will do a two month US tour this fall“). The album was recorded by Jack Clegg and Denny Bridges at Beatles sideman George Martin’s AIR Studios in London, England; with Jon Miller, Rod Edwards and Roger Hand producing – a production team known as Triumvirate Productions. (During the 1970s the team did produce numerous classic albums by CCM artists like Larry Norman, Randy Stonehill, Adrian Snell, Garth Hewitt, and Nutshell, as well as the sole album by the Alwyn Wall Band.) A Triumvirate Production for Key Records. All songs written by Malcolm & Alwyn.
Fool’s Wisdom was very much a landmark album of the fledgling CCM industry in the UK. The duo, playing acoustic guitar (Alwyn) and autoharp (Malcolm) respectively, is supported by a stellar cast of British session musicians including Rod Edwards and Roger Hand of Edwards Hand on keyboards and percussion, guitarist Mickey Keen of Hudson Ford and a rhythm section consisting of bassist John Wetton of King Crimson fame and iconic drummer Clem Cattini (who is featured on fifty number one hits in the UK).
The duo was popular among other Christian musicians at the time as well, like Phil Keaggy and Larry Norman (the latter wrote and recorded a tribute entitled “Dear Malcolm, Dear Alwyn”, a song released on Myrrh Records’ multi-artist sampler album Jubilation in 1975). The duo disbanded in 1976 but continued recording as solo artists, and as well fronting their own bands, Malcolm & The Mirrors and The Alwyn Wall Band, respectively.
Sure to evoke a smile from anyone familiar with the ‘70s Jesus music scene is the Liverpudlian duo of Malcolm Wild and Alwyn Wall. Fool’s Wisdom contains warm acoustic folk-rock sounds, moving harmonies and top-notch musicianship that suggest a British Simon & Garfunkel, made even more appealing by the cascading tones of Malcolm’s autoharp. Songs like the title track, «Growing Old», «Things Are Getting Better» and the riveting «Tomorrow’s News» (a post-rapture account from those left behind) are stirringly orchestrated with strings. «Seed Of Corn» and «The World Needs Jesus» have organ and electric piano augmenting their lyrical acoustic melodies. The opening «Say It Like It Is» is a strong number that features a propulsive bass line (courtesy of John Wetton), seething organ, and zestful acoustic guitar work. Electric guitar is not excluded as evidenced by the rocker «Heaven Or Hell», «You’re Always On My Mind» and the psych-edged «It’s Here The Answer Lies» (a shimmering blend of wah-wah, organ and autoharp, described on the back cover as “Harrisonesque”). The original UK Pye release includes a large folded lyric insert. Released on Myrrh Records (MST-6518-LP) for the American market. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]
When this album was originally released in 1973, alongside Parchment’s ‘Light Up The Fire‘, it was snapped up by Pye Records – one of the top labels of the day. ‘Fools Wisdom’ was very much a landmark album of the fledgling CCM industry in this country. Larry Norman, the godfather of contemporary Christian music, had become a British resident and the American Jesus Movement had inspired young Christians on this side of the Atlantic to take up their guitars for the cause. Malcolm & Alwyn, with their trademark autoharp, acoustic guitar and Beatlesque harmonies, sang at all the major Jesus Festivals across the country that summer and were clearly a cut above the rest in those pioneer days. For this, their first album, they were able to enlist the services of Norman’s production team and a superb roster of session musicians that included Elton John’s drummer. The investment was clearly worthwhile as the recording puts the duo’s voices and instruments very much to the fore on each of these delicate self-written songs. Despite dealing with issues common to spiritually seeking young people the world over, the lyrics are quintessentially British – a rare commodity then as now. Yet, curiously, the Americans loved them for it. Malcolm Wild has, for many years, pastured a Calvary Chapel in Florida whilst Alwyn Wall now leads a similar church in south London. Yet somehow, I doubt that they have ever preached so succinctly to their generation as on this brilliant debut. [Chris Tozer, Cross Rhythms, July 2005]
With this, our first album, we join the ever-growing ranks of singer-songwriters. The basic guitar work is Alwyn’s. And if the style sounds reminiscent of Paul Simon, don’t be surprised. He’s been a big influence. As have Bob Dylan and Lennon and McCartney. The lead vocals are shared, Malcolm being responsible for Things are getting better; Tomorrow’s news; Always on my mind and Seed of corn. The autoharp is Malcolm’s too. For the technical, it’s a 37 string, chromatically tuned B & M Miranda, hand-made in Germany.
There’s not much to say about the songs. Most of them just seemed to write themselves. This album is an important event for us and it means that we’d like to say ‘thankyou’ to people like Jon, Rod and Roger of Triumvirate Productions. And Merve and Pen of Spring Graphics, who illustrated the sleeve. Thanks too to CRP for the tapes. And to JC, LN, MGO and Mr Tomlinson. Special love to Carol and Gloria. But most of all our thanks go to the author of the ‘leather-bound book’ who made all this possible.
– Malcolm Wild and Alwyn Wall
[A note featured on the back of the album sleeve of the PYE Records edition]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/fools-wisdom-remastered/86693123)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Say It Like It Is” – 3:30
A2. “Fool’s Wisdom” – 3:04
A3. “Tomorrow’s News” – 3:30
A4. “Growing Old” – 3:53
A5. “Things Are Getting Better” – 3:24
Side Two
B1. “Heaven Or Hell” – 3:46
B2. “Seed Of Corn” – 2:57
B3. “The World Needs Jesus” – 3:38
B4. “Always On My Mind” – 2:05
B5. “It’s Here The Answer Lies” – 4:46
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Pye Records in the UK, and released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by Myrrh Records in the US. Re-issued on CD by Kingsway Music in 1989 as a part of their Kingsway Classics series.
US Edition, Myrrh Records
UK Edition, PYE Records
Malcolm & Alwyn, Live in Concert, January 21, 2013
CREDITS. Produced by Jon Miller, Rod Edwards, and Roger Hand. Recorded at AIR London Studios. Engineered by Denny Bridges and Jack Clegg. String and Woodwind Arrangements by Chris Gunning. All songs composed by Malcolm Wild/Alwyn Wall.
Musicians: Alwyn Wall (Guitar, Vocals), Malcolm Wild (Autoharp, Vocals), Rod Edwards (Keyboards, Percussion), Roger Hand (Keyboards, Percussion), Mickey Keen (Electric Guitar), John Wetton (Bass), Clem Cattini (Drums).
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