Love Song for the Earth

Description

Love Song for the Earth is the third studio album by the British singer and songwriter Garth Hewitt, released on Myrrh Records in 1976, a division of Word. It was the first of Hewitt’s albums to be released in the US. (The American record company said that the picture on the cover wasn’t suitable because “Christians smile and shave”, and Garth Hewitt actually had to have another photo session to get him looking suitably Christian on the US album cover…) The album was recorded by Martin Levan at Morgan Studios in London, England; with Bryn Haworth producing. All songs written by Garth Hewitt except “Harmonica Talk” written by Jerry Jeff Walker.

Third LP from UK harmonica-toting patched bluejeans cowboy boots muscle shirt Greenbelt troubadour; and the first to be co-released in the States (he’s smiling on the US cover, frowning on the UK cover). This is probably Garth’s most natural down-to-earth recording, beginning and ending with stripped-down bluesy numbers (Jerry Jeff Walker’s «Harmonica Talk» and «I’ve Made Up My Mind») that feature nuthin’ but Garth, mouth harp, and toe-tap. In between you’ll find ten original compositions in an unsweetened folk-rock-country format, with Bryn Haworth’s rousing presence on acoustic, electric slide, mandolin, dobro, 12-string and something called a “harpolek”. Also a bit of banjo and fiddle, but no keyboards, strings or horns in sight. «The Dust Of Death», «The Reason And The Rhyme», «Paint My Picture (Warts And All)», «Wooden Cross Rider» and «Get Up And Dance» all have rustic influences that ensure there will be no over-polished-British-male-solo syndrome on this album. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Harmonica Talk” /
A2. “The Dust Of Death” – 5:08
A3. “The Reason And The Rhyme” – 4:30
A4. “Live For Now” – 2:33
A5. “Paint My Picture (Warts And All)” – 2:48
A6. “Love Song For The Earth” – 3:34

Side Two
B1. “Travellin’ (Back Home To You)” – 3:35
B2. “A Friend Of The King” – 3:37
B3. “Wooden Cross Rider” – 3:08
B4. “Holy Ground” – 4:18
B5. “Get Up And Dance” – 4:35
B6. “I’ve Made Up My Mind” – 1:32

Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by Myrrh Records. Later self-released on CD.

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Cover Artwork, UK Edition

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Cover Artwork, US Edition

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CREDITS. Produced by Bryn Haworth. Recorded at Morgan Studios, London. Engineered by Martin Levan. Mastered by Harry Fisher at Decca. Photography and Cover Design by Tony & D’reen Neeves. All songs written by Garth Hewitt, except track A1 written by Jerry Jeff Walker.

Musicians: Garth Hewitt (Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar on tracks: A2, A3, A5,B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, Harmonica on tracks: A1, A2, A3, A4, B6, Feet on tracks: A1, B6), Bryn Haworth (Acoustic Guitar on tracks: A2, A3, A4, A5, B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, Electric Guitar on tracks: A2, B5, Electric 12-string Guitar on track B1, Leslie Guitar on tracks: A2, B4, B5, Slide Guitar on track A2, 12-string Guitar on tracks: A3, A5, Dobro on track B2, Harpolek on track A5, Mandolin on tracks: B2, B3), Andy Smith (Banjo on tracks: A4, B1, Fiddle on track A4), Danny Wilding (Flute on track A5), Gordon Haskell (Bass on tracks: A2, A3, A4, A5, B1, B2, B3, B4, B5), Dave Mattacks (Drums on tracks: A2, A4, B2, B3, B4, Tambourine and Maracas on track B1), Stuart Francis (Drums on tracks: A3, A5, B1, B5). Backing Vocals: Bryn Haworth (tracks: B1, B3, B4), Crystal Sea Community Choir (tracks: A5).