Barking at the Ants

Description

Barking at the Ants, sub-titled The British Invasion, is a compilation album by the American singer and songwriter Larry Norman, independently released on Phydeaux Records in 1981. Side one features four tracks recorded by Larry Norman while side two features tracks by various artists that were signed to the brand new British independent label Chapel Lane; Alwyn Wall, Sheila Walsh, and Lyrix (known as the Mark Williamson Band in the UK), as well as a “British Invasion” medley (that also features songs by Bryn Haworth and Barratt Band).

The start of Phydeaux’s batch of compilation albums aimed at the type of fan who sought after rarities with relish! Side one has four Larry Norman songs and recordings each from different unreleased projects. There is a short version of «The Tune» in which Larry’s vocal overdub is interrupted by his dog Phydeaux requesting to be taken on his walkies, the live version of «Why Can’t You Be Good» from the Dominion Theatre, a cover of Dylan’s «Just Like A Woman» from Larry’s ‘Before & After’ tribute album celebrating Bob’s first 20 years as a recording artist and «Deep Blue» from ‘Island In The Sky’. Side two contains songs by Lyrix (better known as the Mark Williamson Band), Alwyn Wall and Sheila Walsh which date from the early days of Chapel Lane. Never issued on CD. [Dougie Adam, Cross Rhythms, May 2001]

An intriguing 1981 vinyl release for which Larry fanatics will no doubt pay an arm and a leg, the primary aim of this compilation was to introduce to the American public some British acts that Larry was working with. You will remember that at the time Larry was associated with Chapel Lane Records in Hereford and so the second side of this album is taken up with a medley of their music presenting tracks from the Mark Williamson Band (renamed Lyrix in the USA), Sheila Walsh and Alwyn Wall. On the first side, there are some Larry songs that, before Solid Rock’s avalanche of CD compilations, were rarities. These included a studio version of «Why Can’t You Be Good» and a cover version of Bob Dylan’s «Just Like A Woman» where Larry displayed his Dylan impersonation. «Deep Blue» was a story song from an album which had not yet been released while the opening cut was a piece called «The Tune (Almost)» which was a fun version of his longer conceptual piece «The Tune» only on this rendition, Larry keeps getting interrupted by his dog! Overall, the album is most famous for its inner sleeve photograph which appeared to include put downs of artists he’d formerly worked with. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, May 2010]

LP tracklist:

Side One – Larry Norman
A1. “The Tune (Almost)”
A2. “Why Can’t You Be Good”
A3. “Just Like A Woman”
A4. “Deep Blue”

Side Two – The New Solid Rock Artists
B1. “The British Invasion” (A medley of the new Solid Rock artists)
B2. “Don’t Turn Your Back On Jesus” (performed by Lyrix)
B3. “Doctor Doctor” (performed by Alwyn Wall)
B4. “Love In My Life” (performed by Sheila Walsh)

Note: Tracks included in the “The British Invasion” medley: Alwyn Wall – “Doctor, Doctor” / “Let The Light Come” / “Hold On”; Sheila Walsh – “You’re So Important To Me” / “Love In My Life” / “Here With Me”; Lyrix – “Don’t Turn Your Back On Jesus” / “Midnight Diamond” / “All Very Well”; Barratt Band – “Bad Mean World” / “Coming Of The Man” / “My Spirit’s Free” / “Your Love”; Bryn Haworth – “Egypt” / “The Gap” / “I Can Do All Things” / “It Could Have Been Me” / “Send Down The Rain”. “The Tune (Almost)” and “The British Invasion” was also released as a two-sided 7-inch vinyl promo single by Phydeaux.