Discography 1970 - 1986

Graham initially toured with a band called The Whispers of Truth. They played Christian coffee bars, etc, in the late 60's. After this, he went into the studio to record the first of many albums. Most are long unavailable.  I think we might reasonably ask why he has not released them on CD!

At the beginning, he worked largely as a concert artist. However over the years he accumulated a number of songs which were suited more for praise and worship, and in 1978 began to release albums to present these. After 1983 all of his output was in this format. These albums are marked with an asterisk.

The following albums were recorded:

• Alive
• Footsteps on the Sea
• Bright Side Up
• Paid On The Nail
• Breaking of the Dawn
• Fighter
• Jesus Stand Among Us *
• Triumph in the Air
• Cresta Run
• The King Is Among Us *
• Nightwatch
• The Blame
• Let God Arise *
• Magnificent Warrior *

Compilations:

• 18 Graham Kendrick Classics
• Graham Kendrick and Friends Volume I *
• Graham Kendrick and Friends Volume II *

Alive

Peter Meadows, Geoff Shearn, Dave Payne and John Webb set up Musical Gospel Outreach in the sixties to promote the use of modern music in evangelism (interestingly there was great suspicion among evangelicals about its use in worship then). They then moved into concerts, the first large-scale event being Alive at the Westminster Central Hall in 1969, featuring All Things New (a blues group), The Glorylanders (a Kingston Trio type folk group), Roger and Jan (a folk duo) ... and Whispers of Truth (Graham's group).

This must have been the first big outing for "Whispers" (a five-piece which also included Graham's brother and sister), who played by far the most sophisticated music.

MGO followed this up with their second LP on the new Key Records label - KL002 Alive, featuring all four groups plus the actor Nigel Goodwin with a monologue and a poem. The album was recorded at the Jackson Recording Studios in Rickmansworth.

"Whispers" actually recorded four Kendrick songs: Psychiatrist, Sunday Afternoon with Emily, Ode To Arnold and Reality. Emily and Arnold had Doug Fowler added on flute and alto sax respectively. The songs were all somewhat "quirky" in structure, with some unusual chord and tempo changes, a mixture of Beatles and very early Pink Floyd (Syd Barrett days).

Sample lyrics:

Psychiatrist:
This man cried,"How I long to be free!
Oh I've tried laughing at authority.
But I know, though I've shed responsibility,
There are some things that still cling to me."

Emily:
Sitting all alone (Emily)
On a Sunday afternoon (Emily).
Time is ticking by, the minutes seem like hours and hours.
Presently the clock will strike,
the cuckoo will come out to tell the time of day.

Arnold:
Saturday evening after tea, brushing his teeth and combing his hair,
Arnold goes out to groove about in the town.

Reality:
Reality is learning to see what is already there.
Open your eyes, look at the man who is real to me.
This man is Jesus, the man of reality.

All of the songs end with some form of declaration that Jesus is the answer to emptiness and a call to commitment, which is what would have been expected at that time for evangelistic use. That is undoubtedly their weakest point as songs, but excessive subtlety would have been frowned on in Christian coffee bars, and in the melodies and lyrics in general there are very clear signs of a significant if unpolished talent.

Graham Kendrick - Footsteps on the Sea

Review
Graham's first album is the most folky of them all! The instrumentation (two acoustic guitars and a string bass) reflects this, and the primitive recording techniques of the day seem to involve little more than a few microphones and a tape recorder. The musicianship is solid, rather than inspired. The album is best described as workman-like. The standard of songwriting is only average at best, dispaying few of the Kendrick trademarks. While this is not a bad album, Graham was soon to show that he was more than just another folkie.

Best Tracks
Jerusalem Road and The executioner

Graham Kendrick - Bright Side Up

Review
This is a very fine album, although at one or two points it seems as if Graham is still searching for a style. Much of the material is in the contemporary pop/rock style, with overtones of the Carpenters and Gilbert O'Sullivan.

The standard of the songwriting is high. The musicians are evidently studio warriors, and the crisp, clear production makes the most of the songs. Graham has already gone electric, but without losing sight of his folk roots.

The standout track is I'd like to be a martyr. The quotation given above shows a sense of humour all too rare in Christian music, while the use of vocal harmonies is extremely effective.

Best Tracks
I'd like to be a martyr, Bad Friday Blues, Kingdom Come, and Wildwood, all of which anticipate the style of the future.

Graham Kendrick with Peter Roe - Paid on the Nail

Review
Possibly the best all-round of Graham's albums. The combination of acoustic guitar and moog synth works very well, and the understated arrangements bring out the best in the songs. The sound is sparkling and warm, and the result is an excellent album that no-one would be afraid to play to anyone. Whoever Peter Roe was, his contribution made much of the difference. How much do you think you are worth was the bedsit classic, often played by Christians who could strum a chord or two, and is available currently on a Kingsway collection of Christian Acoustic Classics.

Best Tracks
How much do you think you are worth, No Room at the World, and Comforting Stranger.

Graham Kendrick - Breaking of the Dawn

Sleeve details

On the back of the LP sleeve, it says:

There is a kind of dawn breaking in millions of lives, a scattering of the darkness as the light and power released at the resurrection of Jesus begins to shine in those who have been made Sons of God and heirs of a new Kingdom. With this new Kingdom comes a new way of living, a straightening of twisted lives, a release of captive minds, a renewal of hope. There comes a healing of scarred relationships, the birth of new ones growing in purity, truth and an overwhelming thanksgiving to the King of this new creation. There dawns the joyful discovery of a new self, no longer ruled by sin but acceptable to the Father through the atonement of Christ, clothed in His purity, filled with His Spirit.

The promise of dawn is a glorious new day; but these songs are just the first few streams of light in the breaking of that dawn in my own life; I have not tried to cover up failure and pain but simply tried to be honest...

"Now I can laugh I can cry and I can sing
The sweetest joys and saddest tears can now begin
An honest heart and honest eyes its been a beautiful surprise
Since God gave me my true feelings."

Graham Kendrick

All songs by Graham Kendrick - Why do you weep? We thank members of the In the Name of Jesus for their part in putting this song together. All songs published by Thankyou Music.

Dove 36
Dovetail Records, Musical Gospel Outreach, 33 West Hill, Wandsworth, London SW18 1RB

Graham's other albums issued by Musical Gospel Outreach - Footsteps on the Sea, KL011 casette KCS011 : Bright Side Up, KL016 casette KCS016 : Paid on the Nail, KL024 casette KCS024 : Available from the MGO Shopping Service, 9 Hyde Green, Marlow, Bucks.

Graham can be contacted through British Youth for Christ, c/o Rev. Clive Calver, 136 Finch Road, Handsworth, Birmingham.

Drums - Tony Taylor; Bass Guitar - Gerry Page (courtesy of Living Waters Trust); Lead Guitar - Mo Witham; Acoustic Guitar - Graham Kendrick; Organ - Peter Banks; Oboe on "Peter at the Breaking of the Bread" and piano on "Why do you Weep" by Kathy Coupe; Banjo - John Allam; String and brass arrangements by Keith Routledge; Trumpets - Ray Allen, Robert Foster; Trombones - Dave Gladman, Dave Scrogg; Strings - violins - David Buckley, Ingrid Sandom; viola - Liz Buckley; cello - Stephen Buckley; Harp - Janice Gardner-Brown.

Recorded at I.C.C. Studios, Eastbourne, Engineer Helmut Kaufmann. Produced by John Pantry; Cover Design Paul Welti; Photograph "Popperfoto".

Review
This was the first album on which Graham used only Christian musicians, and he was to admit later that the album suffered for it. The problem was that although they might be individually as good as the session musicians he had used earlier (and encountered some tensions with, when they learnt he was recording Christian material), they weren't necessarily the right musicians for the sound he wanted.

The material is strong, but the sound is rather muddy and grey. Loneliness and Why do you weep? were the ones young people with a guitar tended to play, with the latter marking the start of Graham's interest in Jewish-sounding songs with an accelerating tempo. 

Note that I have since acquired a copy of this album, and find that it is a gatefold!  Also it comes with an insert lyric sheet with chords marked on it, which explains why so many people at college were able to play some of them...

Best Tracks
Loneliness, Why do you weep?, Georgie and John Smith

Graham Kendrick - Fighter

Note that Make It Soon is the same song as that on Paid on the Nail, but arranged more extensively. Also that Battle Hymn also appears on at least one Spring Harvest worship album in the early 80's. Graham also performed a segment of God put a fighter in me at Spring Harvest 1995 week 1 in Skegness, as part of a main-stage by Clive Calver.

Review
The most professional yet of Graham's albums, with the characteristic liquid electric guitar of all his later albums, and a clear, understated production. However neither it nor any of its successors apparently ever sold very many copies, which contributed to Graham's decision to stop making 'straight' albums and concentrate on worship albums.

Reluctant Disciple includes a segment of I'd like to be a martyr from Bright Side Up. Make It Soon isn't as good as the earlier version.

Best Tracks
God put a fighter in me is perhaps the stand-out track.

Graham Kendrick - Triumph in the Air

Review
A glum-sounding album. Most of the tracks are rather negative, and Graham sounds as if he has a cold! The musicianship is of the same high standard as before, and the songwriting is good.

The title track was later covered by Sheila Walsh on her album of the same name.

Rob Ayliffe wrote in and added the following:

There's not much info on the sleeve, but it does include a list of the musicians involved:

Drums & percussion - Mike Wade
Bass guitar & Hofner cello - Paul Cobbold
Acoustic guitars - Graham Kendrick
Electric guitar - Dave Plotel & Dave Plowman
String arrangements - Phil Boothe
Backing Vocals - Mark Williamson, donna Carey, Mike Wade, Stuart Penny
Arp Omni and Axxe - Paul Cobbold, Stuart Penny
Piano - Graham Kendrick
Harmonica and Jew's Harp - Igg Welthy

Produced by Paul Cobbold and Graham Kendrick assisted by Mike Wade
Engineered by Paul Cobbold
Recorded at Chapel Lane Studios, Hampton Bishop, Hereford, England

Sleeve design & photography - Phil Thomson
Illustration - Robert Jones
All songs written by Graham Kendrick - copyright

The record label is "Glenmore" and the catalogue no is SLCW 1037

... There is no mention of the condition of Graham Kendrick's sinuses, but you're absolutely right - he either has a heavy cold, or he recorded it while wearing a plastic bucket over his head!

Best Tracks
Is there life on earth, Countdown.

Graham Kendrick - Cresta Run

Review
This was the last studio album Graham made. All the characteristic trademarks are there, but the material isn't all that good. The musicianship remains of a high standard, and the songwriting is still very professional, but one can't help feeling Graham is tired.

Best Tracks
This is the fall is one of the better tracks with a surprising reggae feel. That's life is perhaps the other good track.

Nightwatch

This was a tour with a stage-show which Graham did, about which unfortunately I know nothing.  Indeed I had not known that there was a cassette tape, until Paul Bristow wrote in as follows:

You say the "Nightwatch" tour wasn't recorded, but it definitely was! It was done much the same way as "The Blame", as a reminder of the content of the
touring show. I never got to see the show, but the Nightwatch tape has two of my favourite ever Kendrick tracks: "Nightwatch" itself and "Love Come Down". Alas, the tape is inaccessible to me right now, but the tracks I can remember on it are:

Side 1:
1.Nightwatch (excellent, spooky introduction)
2.Sleepwalking
3.Oh the Human Heart
4.Private Life

Side 2:
1.Hollywood Hacks.
2. Child of My Time
3.Not Guilty (again very spooky, uses reversed reverb to create the dream/ nightmare set-up on the verses, before Graham lets rip on the chorus. )
4.Love Come Down

Graham's vocal style on the album is very Mark Knopfler-ish. I get the definite feeling from "Cresta Run" and "Nightwatch" that Graham was heavily into Dire Straits at this time. The guitar sound is bright and raw-sounding, and the overall feel is much rockier than "The Blame".

"Private Life" and "Not Guilty" were both covered on an album by Shelia Walsh, in heavily over-produced versions. I'm sad to say I own a copy. (Purely for reasons of academic study, y'understand...) 

"Love Come Down" is my all time favourite Kendrick track, and one I long to do on stage sometime, with some particular lighting effects and performance elements. Very dramatic, full of prog-rockish rythmic effects - The title and the style may well have been influenced by the Genesis (mostly Peter Gabriel) album "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway". It's a song for an actor to perform, rather than a mere singer to sing. Graham's rough but passionate performance does it complete justice.

Some info from the liner notes:

All songs written by Graham Kendrick and published through Thankyou Music, except No. 2 & 4 on Side 1 which is published through Sandy Music, and administered by Thankyou Music, P.O. Box 75, Eastbourne, BN23 6NW. 
No. 1 side 2 Copyright Graham Kendrick.

Keyboards/synthesizers - Chris Norton
Recorded at Pollen Studios, Bishop Wilton, N. Yorks.

This tape has been specially produced for the Kendrick and Stevenson mime and music production 'Night Watch'.

Geoffrey Stevenson appears on this tape courtesy of Your Imagination Ltd.

Rob Ayliffe confirms that there was indeed a cassette tape which he saw for sale in a Christian bookshop.

Graham Kendrick - The Blame

This album was only released on cassette through Kingsway (KMC412) as a record of a music and mime tour of the same name (with mime artist Geoffrey Stevenson), which began on 4th October 1983 at Leeds Grammar School, beginning what was billed as a '14 city tour'. It appeared only once in the Buzz magazine music charts, at number 8 in April 1984.

It was reviewed in Buzz in March 1984, p53:

"Although synth man Chris Norton has to work hard to cover the deficiences of the recording budget, this is still another compelling collection of songs."

The tour was reviewed in Buzz, April 1984, p49, reviewing the concert at the Angel Centre, Tonbridge 6/2/1984.

"The Blame takes as its central theme man's habit of trying to escape from reality - and so avoid responsibility for his own actions, and the state of the world by blaming others".

Songs mentioned were:

No Alibi
Song and Dance Man
Wish I could cry
Goodbye to the Night

and also Hollywood Hails and Love Come Down from the previous year's Nightwatch tour.

From an interview with Graham Kendrick, Buzz May 1984 (p52) by Gill Smith:

Graham was quick to point out that The Blame was his own personal project and was designed to give people something to remind them of the concert. "Before the tour, Chris Norton and myself went into a local studio with a bank of synthesisers and an acoustic guitar and did the whole thing out of our own finances. The tape was never made into an album due to budget constraints, also we felt we wanted to keep it linked in with the live performance".

The Blame was the last album of songs Graham released as a straight recording artist. All subsequent work has been in a worship context.

Rob Ayliffe wrote in to tell us:

I also have a copy of The Blame on cassette. The track listing is as follows:

1. Repeat to Fade
2. Song & Dance Man
3. Early Warnings
4. No Alibi
5. Wish I Could Cry
6. Softer Than Sound
7. Shadows
8. The Cross
9. Goodbye to the Night

Graham Kendrick - 18 Graham Kendrick Classics

This was a selection of tracks from the first three albums, released by Kingsway in the early 80's.  The following details were sent in by Arthur Fitzjohn, who has a copy!

Sleevenotes by GK:

Many have asked me how I came to write such songs as, 'Half a word' and There's a door'. I can only say that most of them come naturally out of applying Biblical principles and stories in the day-to-day life God has led me through, since I decided to take up my guitar instead of a teaching career!

Fisherman's Song:
I imagined the young Simon Peter as a restless man, always scanning the horizon  for a destination, but little expecting the form in which it would come to him.

You're the perfume I'm the jar:
This is a collection of mainly Biblical images put together in an attempt to illustrate and celebrate the experience of God living in us.

No one ever told me:
My contribution to the era of protest songs!

Yours faithfully:
The death of my Grandfather, whose Godly life always had a quality of peace about it, suggested to me the signing off at the end of a letter; "Yours faithfully, just moving on."

No room at the world:
At the time, I doubt if anybody would have remarked much upon the arrival of the pregnant woman and the man; just two more worried faces in the queue for a room at the world.

Moving On:
If you superimposed Jesus upon the age of the automobile and of western affluence, I wonder how much more uncomfortable he would make us feel than tucked safely away in the Sunday School pictures of another age.

Comforting Stranger:
Jesus still turns up unexpectedly and transforms the most mundane of situations with nothing but the most basic of raw materials: a walk, a conversation, a loaf of bread, a glass of wine . . . .

Half a Word:
Growing up in a Christian environment taught me so many of the 'right words' and the acceptable outward forms of behaviour. However, true Godliness and Christlike love cannot be obtained secondhand.

Sympathy:
It comes a lot cheaper than love and we often give it, not out of love, but as a sedative to our own restless conscience.

There's a door:
A lady living opposite me often appeared at her window, looking out on the street with an obvious air of sadness. I wanted her to know that there was a WAY out of her problems.

Graham Kendrick and Friends

There are currently available two compilations on CD titled Graham Kendrick and Friends, volumes I and II. These appear to cover the material from the four praise albums from this period, although since there are no sleeve notes (thank you Kingsway) it's hard to be sure. The CD's are credited to Kingsway America Inc, 1993, so this may be another attempt to expose Graham's work to the US market.

Volume I (KMCD-210)

Nearly all of the material on this CD has a singer other than Graham, who presumably is just writing the songs and playing acoustic guitar somewhere in the mix.

Much of the material is too familiar to be reviewed - the rest no doubt rests in deserved oblivion. Nonetheless, this represents a quantum leap in the standard of Christian hymns and songs, sufficient to bring an end to the rather banal choruses favoured before this period, and to introduce professional standards to Christian worship songwriting. Graham has commented on the standard of some modern worship songs on BBC TV: "People tell me, 'The Lord gave me this song'" (makes throwing away gesture, and smiles) "Maybe He wanted to get rid of it!".

More seriously, there can be no doubt that the material on this album has been used by the Lord to help people to worship, up and down the length and breadth of the land. We all know these songs. Perhaps you might like to thank God that He allowed Graham to write them for us.

The production is rather weedy, and it is difficult to think highly of any of the versions of the material recorded here. Probably a better source would be the contemporary Spring Harvest Live Worship albums, where most of the material was first demonstrated, and from there spread into all our churches and schools.

Volume II (KMCD-229)

On this collection, Graham is usually (but not always) lead vocalist. Again the songs are classics. Again the weedy production and over-arrangement of the songs spoils the versions given here. Again, we've all sung these.

Rob Ayliffe adds the following:

On your Graham Kendrick page you asked about the 2 other praise & worship albums he recorded in this period. They were:

"The King is among us" (1981)

and

"Let God Arise" (1984)

The track listings are exactly the same as the 2 GK & friends albums you already have listed - Volume 1 is "Jesus Stand Among Us" & "The King Is Among Us" and Volume 2 is "Let God Arise" & "Magnificent Warrior"

In the case of "Jesus Stand Among Us" the 'friends' are Sheila Walsh, John Daniels (who also collaborated with Dave Pope on a number of albums in the late 70's/early 80's) and Elizabeth Davidson.

Arthur Fitzjohn has written to me with the following information:--

A 3-CD set "Songs of Graham Kendrick - The Early Years", has been put out by Kingsway.

Disc 1 is the 13 tracks from the "Let God Arise" (1984).
Disc 2 is all of "Fighter" (1978) plus 2 tracks from "Paid on the Nail" (1974).
Disc 3 is the first side of "Bright Side Up" (1973), the 2nd side of  "Footsteps on the Sea" (1972) and 2 tracks from "Paid on the Nail" (1974).

They are the original recordings, not the highly orchestrated versions from 'Sacred Journey'.  Here are the tracks listed on the three volumes, with previous appearances. 

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