John Ford (British musician)

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John Ford

Background information
Birth name John Ford
Born July 1, 1948 (1948-07-01) (age 59)
Origin Fulham, London, England
Genre(s) progressive rock, punk rock, pop rock, psychedelic, acoustic rock
Occupation(s) singer-songwriter, musician
Instrument(s) bass guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar keyboards
Voice type(s) tenor
Years active 1960s - present
Label(s) A&M, EMI, present: Whole Shot Records
Associated acts Strawbs, Hudson Ford, The Monks, Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera, High Society
Website johnfordmusic.net
Notable instrument(s)
bass guitar

John Ford (born 1 July 1948, Fulham, London, England) is an English singer-songwriter and musician.

Contents

[edit] Career

The dynamics and versatility of his musical talent, run the gamut from the London folk clubs to large scale international rock venues. Spanning the British Invasion, up to the 21st century Ford has toured and played with musicians such as Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Ritchie Blackmore, The Eagles, Frank Zappa, Marc Bolan/T. Rex, Blue Öyster Cult, ZZ Top, RUSH, REO Speedwagon, King Crimson, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Billy Preston, Cat Stevens, Roy Harper and Dave Mason.

Early music projects as a teenager in the 1960s included The Five Proud Walkers, where Ford got his start. Jaymes Fender & the Vulcans landed Ford his first major record label signing with EMI, with the minor pop hit, "Mistletoe Love", and thence onto Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera signing to Repertoire.

After playing in various bands, Ford's unusual percussive style of bass playing caught the eye of Strawbs' leader Dave Cousins during a performance at Cousins' folk club in Hounslow. He joined Strawbs in May 1970, and Ford's influence on the band, primarily known as a folk rock group, shifted them into a new direction in the progressive / art rock scene. Ford penned songs such as, "Heavy Disguise" and "Part of the Union", Strawbs biggest chart hit, whilst working with David Bowie/T. Rex producer, Tony Visconti on A&M.

Ford received three gold discs and a platinum disc. A few years later, Ford and Richard Hudson, formed Hudson Ford, picking up the UK Singles Chart hits, "Pick Up The Pieces", "Burn Baby Burn" and "Floating In The Wind".

In 1979, Ford hit the charts again with The Monks, a punk project of sorts also picked up by EMI, with the surprise novelty hits, "Nice Legs Shame About The Face" and "Suspended Animation". Ford also developed an alter ego in High Society with classic 1930s style melodies, releasing a self-titled album in 1984. In 1986, Ford relocated to the U.S., and started working on his solo project and shows.

Ford teamed up again with Strawbs for the 30 Year Reunion Tour in 1998, performing as bass guitarist and vocalist, after a hiatus since the late 1980s, and again for the 2001 Strawbs' UK Spring Tour. In between, in 1999, Ford played on Ritchie Blackmore's band Blackmore's Night release Under a Violet Moon, their second international release, which featured Ford on "Wind in the Willows". He also played some shows with the band.

In January 2004, Ford opened for Dave Mason at a Long Island concert venue.

July 2004's Strawbs Summer UK Electric Tour, featured Ford on bass and vocals with the original UK electric line up from the 1970s. Some of his live performances can be viewed on DVD with "Strawbs Live In Tokyo" and "The Complete Strawbs - Live at Chiswick House".

In addition to his numerous album credits with band projects, and as session player throughout the years, Ford has released several solo albums: Love Is A Highway (1998), Heading For A High (2000), Natural High (2002), Backtracking (2005).

2005 releases included What Ever Happened to Christmas – a collection of holiday songs; plus he appeared on the Rock 4 Xmas All Stars compilation - which includes his cover version of "White Christmas".

2006 brought New World Maxi-Single EP and A Christmas Trilogy. New upcoming CD releases in post-production for 2008 include Resurrected and a yet untitled CD of newly written and recorded material by John Ford. All John Ford solo CD releases are under Whole Shot Records label.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera

  • Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera (1968)
  • Ride a Hustler's Dream (1969)

[edit] Strawbs

[edit] Hudson Ford

  • Nickelodeon (1973)
  • Free Spirit (1974)
  • When Worlds Collide (1975)
  • Daylight (1977)

[edit] The Monks

  • Bad Habits (1979)
  • Suspended Animation (1981)

[edit] High Society

  • High Society (1984)

[edit] Solo

  • Love is a Highway (Whole Shot Records 1998)
  • Heading for a High (Whole Shot Records 2000)
  • Natural High (Whole Shot Records 2002)
  • Backtracking (Whole Shot Records 2004)
  • Whatever Happened to Christmas? (Whole Shot Records 2005)
  • New World EP (Whole Shot Records 2006)
  • A Christmas Trilogy (Whole Shot Records 2006)
  • A Christmas Trilogy(Whole Shot Records 2006)
  • Resurrected (Whole Shot Records 2007) post-production
  • Untitled New Release (Whole Shot Records 2008 expected release) post-production

[edit] John Ford on Compilations

  • The Fox Lies Down: A Tribute To Genesis - track: Carpet Crawlers (Cleopatra Records/Purple Pyramid 1998)
  • ROCK 4 XMAS All Stars Compilation - track: White Christmas (ROCK 4 XMAS 2005)

[edit] Singles

[edit] Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera

  • "Flames"/"Salisbury Plain" (1967)
  • "Mary Jane"/"Dreamy" (1968)
  • "Volcano"/"A Quick B" (1969)
  • "Anna Dance Square"/"Don't You Realise" (1969)
  • "Black Jack Davy"/"Statesboro Blues" (1970)
  • "She Keeps Giving Me These Feelings"/"There's a Hole in My Pocket" (1970)

[edit] Strawbs

  • "Where is This Dream of Your Youth"/"Fingertips" (1970)
  • "Benedictus"/"Keep the Devil Outside" (1972)
  • "Keep the Devil Outside"/"Tomorrow" (1972)
  • "New World"/"Benedictus" (1972)
  • "Here It Comes"/"Tomorrow" (1972)
  • "Going Home"/"Ways and Means" (1972)
  • "Lay Down"/"Backside" (1972)
  • "Part of the Union"/"Will You Go" (1973)

[edit] Hudson Ford

  • "Pick Up the Pieces"/"This is Not the Way to End a War (or Die)" (1973)
  • "Take it Back"/Make No Mistake" (1973)
  • "Burn Baby Burn"/"Angels" (1974)
  • "Floating in the Wind"/"Revelations" (1974)
  • "Free Spirit"/"Dark Lord" (1974)
  • "When Love Has Overgrown"/What is a Day Without Love" (1975)
  • "Waterfall"/"Daylight" (1976)
  • "95 in the Shade"/"Lost in a World" (1976)
  • "Sold on Love"/"Daylight" (1976)
  • "Are You Dancing"/"Out of Your Shadow" (1977)
  • "Just Say No" (2001)

[edit] The G.B.'s

  • "We are the G.B.'s" / "The G.B. Jig" (1979)

[edit] The Monks

  • "Nice Legs Shame About the Face"/"You'll be the Death of Me" (1979)
  • "I Ain't Gettin Any"/"Inter-City Kitty" (1979)
  • "Johnny B. Rotten"/"Drugs in My Pocket" (1979)
  • "I Can Do Anything You Like"/"Monks Medley" (1981)

[edit] High Society

  • "I Never Go Out in the Rain"/"I Could Never Live Without You" (1980)
  • "Gotta Get Out of This Rut"/"Powder Blue" (1981)

[edit] Solo

  • "Love Is A Highway" (1998)
  • "Heading For A High" (2000)
  • "Natural High" (2002)
  • "Backtracking" (2004)
  • "New World" (2005)
  • "Whatever Happened To Christmas" (2005)

[edit] References

Associated Bands MySpace Websites:

Official Strawbs website:

Languages