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Rick Hayward - Rick Hayward - Rick Hayward (1971)

Track listing:
  1. Lament F'yorke 2:08
  2. Light In The Sky 4:09
  3. His Imperial Highness Prince Chicken Rag 2:43
  4. Can't See Any Sign 2:22
  5. Neptune 3:20
  6. Weasel 3:05
  7. Dance Of The Sour Grape Fairy 2:59
  8. Seeing Through 3:06
  9. Minuette 1:04
  10. Mongrel 2:25
  11. Find Yourself Sometime 4:24
  12. Wheels Within Wheels 2:47
  13. Tattered Rag 2:42
  14. Gwendolynne 2:00
  15. Morning After 2:26
  16. Fast Track 1:49
  17. Peregrination 3:11
  18. Ragtiming 3:00
  19. Greensleeves (Sort Of) 2:26
  20. Strolling Home 3:36
  21. Boogie Bill 1:50
  22. Breathing Space 2:20
  23. Bonnie Wee Fling 2:28

Notes

Rick Hayward had been in The Accent (when he was known as Rick Birkett), who'd produced a stunning 45 which is now sought-after by collectors of psychedelia. His solo album was released on the very collectable Blue Horizon label. Prior to recording this album he'd done the guitar honours on Christine Perfect's 1970 album for Blue Horizon. These two rarities will appeal to very different collectors.

A beautiful solo debut from Rick Hayward -- a guitarist who'd played on numerous blues and rock sessions for the Blue Horizon label as a session musician, but who steps out here with a gently folksy voice of his own! The set's almost all acoustic -- and features Rick on sitar, mandolin, bass, bongos, and a bit of drums as well -- sometimes instrumental, with a lyrically jazzy inflection to his sound -- sometimes with a bit of vocals, which have a fragile quality that's quite different than Hayward's more confident guitar. The guitar carries echoes of late 60s British folk -- particularly Bert Jansch -- but there's surprisingly jazzy changes that continue to keep things interesting. Titles include "Wheels Within Wheels", "Weasel", "Neptune", "Can't See Any Sign", "Lament F'Yorke", "Light In The Sky", "Dance Of The Sour Grape Fairy", "Mongrel", and "Find Yourself Sometime". CD also features a full bonus second album of songs -- 11 more tracks that were intended as Rick's next record, but issued here for the first time! These extra tracks are every bit as beautiful as the first -- and make the album a real treasure at this price.