John Ford - Backtracking (2004)

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John Ford - Backtracking (2004)

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Backtracking - a chronological history of the work of John Ford with hits from Strawbs, Hudson Ford and The Monks plus a selection from his Solo repertoire all in place for you to enjoy. Includes liner notes in John's own words about the songs. ~ cdbaby.com

John Ford Bio:

As a British singer, songwriter, guitarist, bass player, producer and recording artist, John Ford's talent has made an enduring impact in music and pop culture through the years.

Ford's versatile live performance shifts easily from Solo Acoustic, to fronting a full electric band. He has played, toured and shared the bill with other music legends, including Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Ritchie Blackmore, Dave Mason, Eagles, Frank Zappa, Marc Bolan, T. Rex, Blue Oyster Cult, ZZ Top, RUSH, REO Speedwagon, King Crimson, Lynyrd Skynrd, Billy Preston, Cat Stevens, Roy Harper, Ian Lloyd (Stories) and many more! John Ford also did a stint, performing and recording with Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night, in their Blackmore's Night band and featured on "Wind in the Willows," on Under a Violet Moon CD.

Ford, a teen heartthrob, wrote his first hit, "Mistletoe Love," as bassist, singer and songwriter for Jaymes Fenda and the Vulcans on Parlophone Records and produced by British producer, Mickie Most. Later, John Ford went on to join Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera (aka Velvet Opera), who opened for Pink Floyd regularly on UK club circuit, and at times mistaken for the Floyd.

Originally known as a bass player, Ford's unusual percussive style of bass playing caught the eye of Strawbs' leader, Dave Cousins, with Ford joining the Strawbs in May of 1970. The Strawbs band, primarily known as a Folk Rock group, shifted easily into the Prog Rock Scene with John Ford's unique influence. The Strawbs members also included Rick Wakeman, on synth/keyboards, later replaced by Blue Weaver, when Wakeman joined YES. Weaver went on later to The BeeGees.

John Ford penned the Strawbs biggest hits, "Heavy Disguise," and "Part of the Union," a UK Top of the Pops Chart Hit at #2, on Bursting At The Seams, spending 59 weeks on the UK Album and Single charts. Popular worldwide and still a favourite with Union workers to this day, as well, was produced by Tony Visconti for A&M. John Ford received several Platinum and Gold Records, in addition to an Ivor Novello Award for his songwriting achievements through the years. Also, appearing in Grave New World full film album video.

Leaving the Strawbs to form Hudson Ford, releasing five records and more hits, "Pick Up the Pieces," "Burn Baby Burn" – an early "green" song, "Floating in The Wind," whilst on A&M. In 1979, John Ford formed The Monks; a British pop punk rock band signed with EMI, and back on the Charts again with surprise hits, "Nice Legs Shame About The Face" from Bad Habits (now gone Double Platinum), followed by Suspended Animation with both Album and self-titled Single, going Gold. Ford satisfied his penchant for 30s style music, as founding member and songwriter for the band, High Society, before relocating to the US in mid 80s. John has regularly reunited with the Strawbs for UK Tours through the years, most notably for September 2009 Strawbs Anniversary Weekend at Twickenham Rugby Stadium, and also included Rick Wakeman, original UK Electric Line-up keyboardist in London, all of which was filmed and recorded for CD/DVD release. In addition, that year, Ford won Best Indie Rock Artist of the Year, from the Progressive Rock Hall of Fame, followed in 2010, by Ford and other Strawbs members becoming PRHoF.

John Ford is featured on various Strawbs' DVDs: 2008 Lay Down With The Strawbs, from the 2006 Strawbs Spring UK Electric Tour, and also appears on DVD classics - Strawbs Live In Tokyo '75 & GRAVE NEW WORLD, The Complete Strawbs - Live at Chiswick House, in addition to nine solo records on Whole Shot Records and dozens of recordings. John Ford appears on with the Strawbs, Hudson Ford, The Monks, High Society, his other band projects and as a session player. Big Hit In India, his ninth Solo album in 2008, since moving to the states from the UK in the late 80s, features twelve of his latest, greatest songs, an array of styles to fit many genres from Rock to Pop.

2012 thus far, has been an exciting year for John Ford. Ford's new 20 track album release, Resurrected has been met with accolades, and highlights Ford's superb vocals, lyrical ability and instrumentation – including title track, "Resurrected," "Acoustic Sunrise," "Going Back," and a fantastic covers of Lou Reed's "A Perfect Day," and Geoff Stephens' "The Crying Game." Ford has also picked up the ukelele, adding a new element to his music.

Aside from that, John Ford, founding member of The Monks, received a Double Platinum Record Award from EMI for The Monks' Bad Habits album whilst in Toronto, Canada in July for a special Monks BAD HABITS Tribute show, at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern. The Monks Tribute Show featured a slew of members from top Canadian bands – including Sloan, The New Pornographers, Small Sins, C'mon, and Cursed with Thomas D'Arcy at the helm in presenting the show. D'Arcy also put The Monks BAD HABITS Tribute Album together which John Ford, D'Arcy and musicians from the Tribute Show are also on. Its available for FREE download! There's also talk of The Monks' Bad Habits going the route of Green Day's American Idiot, as a punk rock opera one-act stage production! October 30, 2012 marked the Anniversary of The Monks' Bad Habits album release in 1979! Time really flies when you're having FUN!

John Ford is a member of ASCAP, PRS and The Grammy Awards organizations.

~ johnfordofthestrawbs.com

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John Ford - Backtracking (2004)

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John Ford - Backtracking (2004)

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John Ford - Backtracking (2004)

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John Ford - Backtracking (2004)

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