Waiting for Goddard

Description

Waiting for Goddard is the sole album by the British singer and songwriter Steve Goddard, released on Kingsway Music in 1979. The album was recorded and mixed by Les Moir at ICC Studios in Eastbourne, England; and was produced by Paul Field with Moir co-producing. Background vocals provided by Nutshell (a trio featuring Paul Field, Annie McCaig and Mo McCafferty) and Mark Williamson of Mark Williamson Band. All songs written by Steve Goddard except “Maybe Lady” co-written with Iwan Russell-Jones of Oasis. The music of Steve Goddard has been described as “kind of an Elton John meets Al Stewart vibe with a little Leo Sayer thrown in to the mix.”

Kingsway Music also released a two-sided 7-inch single featuring two tracks from the album, “Maybe Lady” (with Norman Barratt on lead guitar) and “Child of My Time”. The latter song was covered by the British folk-pop duo Phil & John on their first live album, an effort simply entitled Live released on What? Records in 1990.

England still had its share of notable male singer/songwriters on into the late ‘70s. Goddard has a warm accessible soft rock style somewhere between Graham Kendrick’s early acoustic work and the lyrical keyboard prog edge of Adrian Snell. Some curious song titles like «Symphony River», «Born Fool», «Marx Room Rag», «Now That I’m Your Prisoner» and «Locked In A Memory». Shows his rock muscle on tracks such as «Propaganda» and «Maybe Lady», the latter with a terrific lengthy electric guitar solo and fadeout. Includes appearances by Paul Field, Norman Barratt and Mark Williamson. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th Edition]

I started as a musician, and recorded an album of my own songs called ‘Waiting for Goddard.’ It was moderately successful for a couple of years, but then I sent an article to Buzz magazine (published 1965-1987) about my disenchantment with the music scene, and the editor offered me a job. I ended up as editor within a year. I didn’t plan to go into journalism and PR.

I’m a freelance PR consultant. In my spare time I’m co-editor of Ship of Fools – “the magazine of Christian unrest”, the brainchild of Simon Jenkins. Ship of Fools is deliberately iconoclastic, but also committed to the ultimate value of faith. I love the opportunity to be playful and creative within a theological framework. I met Simon at London Bible College in the ’70s. I did a degree in theology. [Steve Goddard, interviewed by Church Times, July 2014]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Bridge”
A2. “Symphony River”
A3. “Hope is the Rainbow”
A4. “Child of My Time”
A5. “Maybe Lady”

Side Two
B1. “Born Fool”
B2. “Marx Room Rag”
B3. “Propaganda”
B4. “Locked in a Memory”
B5. “Now That I’m Your Prisoner”

Note: The album tracks “Maybe Lady” and “Child of my Time” (b/w) were released as a two-sided 7-inch vinyl single by Kingsway Music in 1979.

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CRE PODCAST – with CRE’s Steve Goddard, 2 July 2024. (Elliott Frisby chats with Steve Goddard about his journey to becoming the owner of the Christian Resources Exhibition.)

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CREDITS. Produced by Paul Field and Les Moir. Engineered by Les Moir. Recorded at ICC Studios, Eastbourne, UK. Sleeve Design by Phil Thomson. All songs written by Steve Goddard except “Maybe Lady” co-written with Iwan Russell-Jones.

Musicians: Steve Goddard (Lead Vocals, Piano, Synthesizer, Acoustic Guitar), Paul Field (Piano, Fender Rhodes, Synthesizer, 12-string Guitar, Backing Vocals), Rob McKay (Flute, Saxophone), Iwan Russell-Jones (6- and 12-string Guitars), Norman Barratt (Electric Guitar), Les Moir (Bass, Tambourine), Spud Spurling (Bass), Graham Jarvis (Drums and Percussion). Backing vocals: Annie McCaig, Mo McCafferty, Mark Williamson. Vocals (track B4): The Junior Choir of Carshalton Beeches Baptist Church.