Hudson-Ford
Band members Related acts
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line up 2 (1974) - John Ford -- vocals, bass - Richard Hudson -- vocals, lead guitar - Mickey Keen (RIP) -- lead guitar - Gerry Conway -- drums, percussion - Chris Parren -- keyboards
backing musicians (1974) - Billy Bell - banjo - Tom Allom -- keyboards - Jack Emblow - accordeon - Rick Wakeman -- harpsichord, keyboards
line up 2 (1974-77) - John Ford -- vocals, bass - Richard Hudson -- vocals, lead guitar NEW - Ken Laws (RIP 2007) -- drums, percussion (replaced Gerry Conway) - Chris Parren -- keyboards
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- Icarus (John Ford and Richard Hudson) - The Monks (John Ford and Richard Hudson) - Strawberry Hill Boys - The Strawbs (John Ford and Richard Hudson) - Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera (John Ford and Richard Hudson)
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Genre: rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Nickelodeon Company: S&M Catalog: SP
3616 Country/State: UK Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: includes original inner sleeve Available: 1 Catalog ID: 1690 Price: $20.00
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After a couple of albums with The Strawbs, in 1973 singer/bassist John Ford and drummer Richard Hudson decided to strike out on their own. Recruiting lead guitarist Mickey Keen, drummer Gerry Conway, and keyboardist Chris Parren, the band signed with A&M under the nameplate Hudson-Ford.
left to right: Richard Hudson - John Ford
Perhaps because I was expecting to hear a collection of Strawbs-sounding tunes, 1973's "Nickeloedeon" came as a major surprise to me. Co-produced by Tom Allom, John Ford, and Richard Hudson, tracks like 'Hello, I Thought You Were Dead' and 'Dark Lord' reminded me a bit of The Strawbs patented folk-rock sound, but elsewhere the album offered up a surprisingly varied collection that included slinky country-rock ('Pick Up the Pieces'), top-40 pop (the pretty ballad 'Don't Understand'), and funky rock ('Crying Blues'). As much as I liked David Cousin's instantly recognizable voice, Hudson and Ford were way easier on the ears and their voices blended together like a good wine. The pair had a knack for crafting radio-friendly hooks. Doubt that comment, then I suggest you check out the shimmering ballad 'Angels' Hard to adequately describe, but this was one of those albums where, as good as the individual tunes were, the album as a whole entity was even better. I hate to label anything a lost classic, but were not for a couple of throwaway song fragments, this one sure came close to that category.
"Nickelodeon" track listing: 1.) Crying Blues (John Ford - Richard Hudson) - 3:30 Hum, I never thought of Hudson-Ford as being a particularly funky outfit, but the blistering 'Crying Blues' showed how far off target I was. To my ears the tunes always had kind of a Beatles-esque pop feel. Gerry Conway turned in some blazing drums on this one. The sound quality was muddy, but YouTube has an entertaining clip of the band performing the song on the German Musik Laden television program. rating: **** stars 2.) Angels (John Ford - Richard Hudson) - 3:06 The pair were responsible for some of the prettiest harmony vocals in the business and they were seldom displayed as well as on the beautiful, country-tinged ballad 'Angels'. Billy Bell's banjo added a wonderful touch to the arrangement. Add in some nice electric sitar and this was the tune I would have tapped as the single. rating: **** stars 3.) I Wanted You (John Ford - Richard Hudson) - 3:09 The first disappointment, the ballad 'I Wanted You' sounded like an off mixture of 10cc and The Beatles. Pretty melody, but the song never seemed to kick into gear. rating: *** stars 4.) Hello, I Thought You Were Dead (John Ford - Richard Hudson) - 0:58 Funny folk-tinged tune that sounded more like a song fragment than a true song ... rating: ** stars 5.) Burn Baby Burn (John Ford - Richard Hudson) - 2:37 The original UK release included the Strawbs-styled folk tune 'Solitude'. The US release dropped the song in favor of the UK hit 'Burn Baby Burn'. The song was simultaneously thought provoking as a not-to-subtle environmental tune and actually kind of funny. With a drunken chorus, it sounded like one of those British pro-union ditties. The tune was also tapped as a single throughout Europe:
- 1974's 'Burn Baby Burn' b/w 'Angels' (A&M catalog number AMS 7096) The sound and video quality are poor, but YouTube has a clip of the band performing the tune at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1Y8RLhVtcA rating: **** stars 6.) Dark Lord (John Ford - Richard Hudson) - 4:37 I always liked 'Dark Lord' but with it's folk-rock melody and fantasy lyrics it sounded out of place on the album - more like something The Strawbs would have done. rating: *** stars
(side 2) 1.) Pick Up the Pieces (John Ford - Richard Hudson) - 2:34 With a slinky country-rock flavor 'Pick Up the Pieces' was one of the most commercial things they ever did. Great platform for their blended voices and some of the tastiest pedal steel you'll ever hear. Shame it was so short. The tune was tapped as their first single:
- 1973's 'Pick Up the Pieces' b/w 'This Is Not The Way (To End A War Or To Die)' (A&M catalog number AMS 7078) 2.) Let Her Cry (John Ford - Richard Hudson) - 2:31 Very commercial ballad that showcased their wonderful voices and one of Mickey Keen's prettiest guitar solos. rating: *** stars 3.) Tea Leaf (To Joss) (John Ford - Richard Hudson) - 0:58 Another Strawbs-like song fragment ... rating: ** stars 4.) Take It Back (John Ford - Richard Hudson) - 4:40 The kind of rocker Dave Cousins and company always wanted to record. rating: *** stars 5.) Don't Understand (John Ford - Richard Hudson) - 1:50 Simply one of the prettiest songs you'll ever hear, there was only one thing wrong with the gorgeous 'Don't Understand' - clocking in at under two minutes, it was just toooooooooo short. rating:**** stars 6.) Revelations (John Ford - Richard Hudson) - 5:09 Seamlessly melding into the previous 'Don't Understand', 'Revelations' added a nice country and folk flavor to the beginning of the tune. The song slowly morphed into an engaging slice of lysergic tinged rock. Another tune that reminded you a bit of their Strawbs catalog, though the treated vocals were irritating. rating: **** stars
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Genre: rock Rating: 4 stars **** Title: Free Spirit Company: S&M Catalog: SP
3652 Country/State: UK Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 2 Catalog ID: 1495 Price: $20.00
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As much as I liked Hudson-Ford's debut album, their sophomore release was even better. Co-produced by namesakes John Ford, Richard Hudson, and Tom Allom, 1974's "Free Spirit" found the band shifting their attentions to a mixture of pop (the title track), rock ('Take a Little Word))', and progressive genres ('Silent Star'). With Hudson-Ford responsible for penning all eight tracks, the collection showcased the pair's knack for crafting strong melodies (regardless of the genre) and their wonderful voices. Elsewhere, 'Such a Day' found the band taking a backwards look at their Strawbs catalog. And that very diversity probably spelled the album's commercial stillbirth. Powered by Chris Parren's mellotron, tracks like 'Don't Want To Be a Star' and 'Silent Star' may have held considerable interest for progressive fans, but would not have done anything for the band's Strawbs-era fans. Similarly, pop tune like 'Free Spirit' and 'How Many Times' weren't going to appeal to Strawbs, or progressive fans. Shame since the whole album was quite good.
"Free
Spirit" track listing: 1.) Take a Little Word (John Ford - Richard Hudson) - 6:44 I can remember a buddy playing this tune and telling me it was most of The Strawbs. I frankly didn't believe him. Not that I was a gigantic Strawbs fan, but from what little I knew, The Strawbs simply didn't rock out like 'Take a Little World'. Fantastic tune and hard to believe it didn't garner radio play for the band. rating: **** stars 2.) Free Spirit (John Ford - Richard Hudson) - 3:12 With an upbeat, Latin-percussion flavored pop melody, 'Free Spirit' about as radio ready as a tune could be ... Imagine 10c.c without the need to sound clever. A&M tapped it as the second single:
- 1974's 'Free Spirit' b/w 'Dark Lord' (A&M catalog number AMS 7130) rating:**** stars 3.) Mother Mild (John Ford - Richard Hudson) - 3:55 Beautiful, haunting acoustic ballad that's hard to forget. rating:**** stars 4.) Don't Want To Be a Star (John Ford - Richard Hudson) - 6:28 Buoyed by Chirrs Parren's mellotron, 'Don't Want To Be a Star ; found the band trotting out their progressive moves; though with a bouncy top-40ish melody slapped on top of it. rating: *** stars
(side
2) Showcasing Parren's wonderful mellotron moves, 'Silent Star' was the album's most progressive-oriented tune (and longest track). Let me underscore progressive, but with the kind of melody most top-40 bands would kill to have written. Should have been a single for the band. rating: **** stars 2.) Such a Day (John Ford - Richard Hudson) - 4:11 Opening up with Parren on harpsichord and the ban's sweet harmonies, 'Such a Day" was the only tune that bore a resemblance to their Strawbs days. Nice. rating: **** stars 3.) How Many Times (John Ford - Richard Hudson) - 3:13 Old timey slice of English pop. Would have sounded right at home on Radio Caroline. rating: *** stars 4.) Floating In the Wind (John Ford - Richard Hudson) - 4:19 "Floating In the Wind' ended the album with a pretty, slightly jazzy-tinged ballad. Even though it wasn't the album's most commercial tune, the song was tapped as the album's first 45:
- 1974's 'Floating In the Wind' b/w 'Revelations' (A&M catalog number AMS 7116) # 35 UK pop rating: *** stars
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