12 Bryn Haworth Classics

Description

12 Bryn Haworth Classics is a compilation album by the British singer, songwriter, and blues guitarist Bryn Haworth, released on Chapel Lane Productions in 1981, distributed by Kingsway Music. (Chapel Lane was a newly established independent British label releasing superlative – and mostly cutting edge – albums by Christian artists, 12 Bryn Haworth Classics being their eighth release, Catalog Number CLS 8008.) The compilation features selected tracks from Grand Arrival and Keep the Ball Rolling, two studio albums released by Bryn Haworth on the mainstream label A&M Records in 1978 and 1979, respectively.

Bryn has had a long and varied career as a professional guitarist and singer and is considered by many as the leading exponent of slide guitar in Britain. His first two albums were on Island, followed by two more on A&M Records. The A&M releases, ‘Grand Arrival’ and ‘Keep the Ball Rolling’ are regarded by many as the flowering of Bryn’s faith as expressed in song, containing classics such as «Grand Arrival», «We’re All One», and «Standing on the Rock». [Note featured on the back of the album cover]

12 Classics was originally released on Chapel Lane Records in 1981, taking 6 tracks from each of Bryn’s breakthrough albums Grand Arrival and Keep The Ball Rolling. The original tape was recently found in a Kingsway warehouse gathering dust and was given to Bryn’s company Bella Music. It has been remastered by Denis (Bilbo) Blackham of Skye Mastering, who coincidentally mastered for vinyl the original tapes.

Phil Sutcliffe for Sounds Magazine wrote at the time of original release… ‘Bryn Haworth has written a collection of shuffle-rock and sweet lovesongs which are all catchy in their different ways and been supported in the Nashville Studios by the standard gang of names unknown and skills unmatched…. It’s a very warm and appealing sound… However I was just starting to feel thoroughly affectionate towards the album when I had a look at the lyric sheet and discovered that at least four of the tracks were, in effect, hymns, if that’s what a song in praise of ‘God’ is. Being an atheist I was taken aback but I have to say if there were more hymns like this the pews in British churches would be SRO. Haworth doesn’t divert his musical course even half a degree in deference to his subject and the pleasant result is a complete absence of sanctimonious mawkishness. To carp would be arrant prejudice. There’s not a duff song in sight but my favourite is ‘Grand Arrival’ (Matthew 24v30 says the lyric sheet)…

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/12-classics/id1213064818)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Standing On The Rock” – 3:59
A2. “First Time” – 3:52
A3. “Sing To The Lord” – 3:42
A4. “Luxury Liner” – 3:29
A5. “City Boy” – 6:00
A6. “We’re All One” – 4:13

Side Two
B1. “Grand Arrival” – 4:42
B2. “Unemployment Blues” – 3:58
B3. “Let Me Love You” – 4:22
B4. “Come See What Love Has Done” – 4:28
B5. “Full Day” – 3:28
B6. “Working For Love” – 4:35

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