Soon after getting married we visited a friend of my husbands. I was 17 yrs old then. We sat and chatted the night away, the men drank more than they should have and a right old time was had by all. In the back ground a vinyl LP played over and over, it was Home Thoughts From Abroad by Clifford T Ward. Apparently he was topping the charts with a hit called Gaye. I asked if I could borrow the record because that night I fell in love with the stories told by this singer.
It was returned soon after and we moved, actually we moved another 16 times, and lost touch. Along the way I was bought Home Thoughts and another LP called Mantle Pieces for birthday presents from my sister. I played and played these records. The children grew up with the sounds in their background.
Time passed and records gave way to tapes and then to CD’s. Eventually our old stereo system went the way of most older systems and was replaced by one that didn’t have a record deck on it.
I lost touch with this beloved music
until one day my sister phoned me and said “What do you want for Christmas?” Well out of the blue and on the spur of the moment I said a Clifford T Ward CD. I hadn’t thought of his music for a long time so then went on the internet to look up what else he had written and sung.
What a shock I got, he had just died and it felt like I had lost a friend, having just found him again.
My sister found and sent me Home Thoughts From Abroad for Christmas but couldn’t get Mantle pieces on CD. So for my birthday she asked me to choose another and Gaye and other Stories was the one I chose. Never having heard it or known what tracks were on it I waited with anticipation for it to arrive.
The Tracks
Gaye, a beautiful piece of work, really haunting words with treasure to be found on listening again. Not one of my favourites but I have grown to love it as the years go by. Wherewithal: I love this one, more beauty. Cellophane: Not a favourite or mine but worth listening to anyway. The dubious Circus Company: Oh I love this, catchy, bouncy, different, listen to the words, enjoy. Not waving – Drowning. Haven’t we all felt like this at times? Time – The magician: Time passes and the splendour of this song never fades. Home Thoughts From Abroad: My second favourite (if I have one) I love the sentiment, the lyrics, the poetry of it. The Way of Love; Pure beauty The open University: Oh the tragedy, but I always sided with the girl here. Jigsaw Girl: Super music and lyrics A day to myself: A lovely song. Something I dream of. Nightingale: I used to sing along to this and cry because I never have been able to sing in tune. If I can have another second favourite it is this. We could be talking: AAAAHHHH Where’s it going to end? I really love this, musical purity. Crisis: Is this why divorce happens more nowadays? This one is catchy and sing along for me. Scullery: May be a bit sexist for nowadays but another second favourite of his songs. Where would that leave me? If you only listen to the words of one song then this is it. For me this sums up new love. To an air hostess: Beauty here, sunshine imagined. A sad affair: Not one I know as well as the others, but growing on me all the time Miner: See above. This one is the same.
My favourite? Well it is on the other album that I have of Cliffords called Home Thoughts, and is called The traveller. If you get a chance to listen to it then do. It takes the bad in the world and asks the question whether we can change things for the better then as the traveller leaves the village he hears the children and realises that all the time there are children singing in this world good will prevail.
Clifford T Ward was born in 1944 and died in 2001. He had suffered for many years from multiple sclerosis, I don’t know how this affected his music career, there are several websites if anyone is interested in reading about his life or buying his CD’s.
http://members.madasafish.com/~ctward/start.html
This one tells about his life.
I felt so sad at the time of his death, and still feel sad now when I listen to his music. Clifford told stories, he put them to music and played them himself, he really was undervalued as a musician of the ‘70’s 80’s and 90’s. His songs are different, not pop songs, possibly classified as country, I am not sure. His CD’s are still available and I really would suggest that anyone who has bothered to read this far try and at least listen to one song, it will lift your heart and possibly make you smile as they do me.
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Never hearD of hiM ... I'd possibly enJoy this ... my muM will have the cD ! I'll root throuGh her collectioN ! ... my Husband and I moveD 12 times iN 3 years ... and we stayed In one place for twO years ... sOOO effectively moved 11 times in one yeaR ! ... I don't wanna do That again in a huRRY ! ~ philippA X. ~
whoopidoo 12.08.2004 10:56
Not someone I have heard of either - but sounds like someone I would enjoy - am going to check out the auctions that Ciao have consideratly placed at the side of your review and will let you know. Carmen x
Gaye Wherewithal Cellophane The Dubious Circus Co Not Waving - Drowning Time The Magician ... more
Ihomethoughts From Abroad The Way Of Love The Open University Jig - Saw Girl A Day To Myself Nightingale We Could Be Talking Where's It Going To End? Crisis Scull...
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