Description
Dave Bilbrough & Friends is the debut album by the British singer and songwriter Dave Bilbrough, released on Dovetail Records in 1978. The album was recorded by Brook Trickett with Gareth Kiddier and Trickett producing. All songs co-written by Dave Bilbrough and Nick Butterworth except tracks A4, B3, B4, and B5 written solely by Bilbrough.
Dave Bilbrough is backed by various members of Glyder (a Warner Brothers signed Irish classic rock band active during the 1970s), Mick Inkpen (an original member of Bluesology, the first band that Elton John was ever in), among others. (According to a note on the back of the LP sleeve, “this album is a reflection of the relationship, both musical and otherwise, that Dave Bilbrough enjoys with his friends. Most of them are a part of a Christian community where Dave is … leading in worship.”)
Dave Bilbrough talks about his album Dave Bilbrough & Friends
It seems an eternity ago. Actually it was 31 years, when the first white label copy of my debut recording arrived through the post. This was in the days of 12″ vinyl, six tracks after which you’d turn the disc over. So the key songs were always one, six, seven and 12: first impressions and last impressions with a desire to leave the listener wanting more. I began writing my songs out of a sense of community. God was doing some powerful things amongst us as a group of young people and just like many who had gone before and doubtless will follow on, I found myself as the writer of songs that reflected the movement that was emerging across the Church with new expressions and new emphases of the age-old truths that we call the Gospel.
One of the keynote songs on ‘Dave Bilbrough & Friends’ was «Abba Father». It was the first song that I’d ever written and to my amazement had become the expression of so many on that same journey. But alongside the devotional was the desire to break new ground and side one closed with a seven-minute epic that I called «The Train Song». The lyrics contrasted safe status quo attitude of the suburban office worker commuting into work in the city with the adventurous spirit of the early settlers in America laying down the railroad tracks in spite of all the odds. These people had a pioneering spirit, something that I aspired to have and a vision to break into something new. These were the hallmarks of the developing house church movement, and coupled with the voices of the preachers at that time the song became a symbol, or an anthem, of reckless abandonment to God’s activity for our generation. There were some lighter moments as well on the album. A song called «I Am Free» spoke about the redeeming work of the New Covenant which I was to develop later in many ways against the backcloth of a reggae beat. I guess you could say this was my first foray into the territory of world music.
Our church community at that time was full of creatives, particularly musicians. Many of the band Glyder were part of our church and they were having considerable success when, under the name The Pinkees, they had a top 10 hit with the song «Danger Games» and appeared on Top Of The Pops and other national TV programmes. They formed the core of my band that was to take shape over the coming years. Dave Engel on drums had been my school friend. His influences of Led Zeppelin and mine of singer/songwriter James Taylor produced an interesting cocktail of songwriter-meets-rock! Journalist Tom Morton gave a favourable review in the popular Christian magazine Buzz, saying that this album was a sign of more things to come, which was hugely encouraging and like so many first albums I was beginning to find my voice. [Excerpt from the article “Dave Bilbrough: Artist Output – The worship leader talks about his releases so far” published in Cross Rhythms, April 2009]
[Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Walking In The Sun” – 3:32
A2. “I Have Loved You” – 2:52
A3. “I Am Free” – 3:01
A4. “Abba, Father” – 2:35
A5. “Train Song” – 7:04
Side Two
B1. “It’s Good To Be Here” – 3:52
B2. “Thank You Jesus” – 3:49
B3. “There Is Rest” – 3:27
B4. “I’m Gonna Thank The Lord” – 2:44
B5. “Simple Song” – 3:39
B6. “Coming Home” – 4:01
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Dovetail Records.
CREDITS. Produced by Brook Trickett and Gareth Kiddier. Engineered by Brook Trickett. Cover Design by Nick Butterworth.
Musicians: Dave Bilbrough (Vocals, Six String Guitar, Harmonica), Dave Bryant (Twelve String Guitar), Kenzil Cope (Acoustic Guitar on track B4), Gareth Kiddier (Keyboards, Electric Guitar), Arthur Simmonds (Accordion), Keith Brown (Saxophone), Nevil Kiddier (Bass, Mandolin, Percussion), David Engel (Drums), Mick Inkpen (Congas). Backing Vocals: Annette Butterworth, Dave Bryant, Dave and Pat Bilbrough.
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