Here Comes the Groom (album)
Here Comes the Groom is an album by folk-rock singer John Wesley Harding, released in 1990.[3] Harding called the backing band the Good Liars. It included Pete Thomas and Bruce Thomas of the Attractions.[4] Not surprisingly, Here Comes the Groom has a feel similar to classic Elvis Costello. Harding's articulate and biting vocal delivery, also reminiscent of Costello, retains a good dark sense of humor.[5]
Here Comes the Groom | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | January 5, 1990 | |||
Recorded | July 1989 | |||
Studio | Eden Studios, Chiswick | |||
Length | 64:31 | |||
Label | Sire[1] | |||
Producer | Andy Paley[2] John Wesley Harding Tom Robinson | |||
John Wesley Harding chronology | ||||
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Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [6] |
Chicago Tribune | [7] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [1] |
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [4] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [8] |
Select | 2/5[9] |
The Chicago Tribune wrote: "Possessed of an appealing, folky sensibility, Harding takes a musical approach that falls somewhere between folk and rock and manages to be lyrically offbeat enough of the time to make him one of the more interesting new talents around."[7] Trouser Press called the album "a fine modern realization of the same honest singing and playing that typified England’s pub-rock graduates."[10]
Track listing
All songs were written by John Wesley Harding; except as noted
- "Here Comes the Groom"
- "Cathy's New Clown"
- "Spaced Cowgirl"
- "Scared of Guns"
- "You're No Good"
- "When the Sun Comes Up"
- "The Devil in Me"
- "An Audience with You"
- "Dark Dark Heart"
- "Same Thing Twice"
- "Affairs of the Heart"
- "Nothing I'd Rather Do" (Andy White, David Lewis, Harding)
- "Things Snowball" (with Peter Case) (Peter Case, Harding)
- "The Red Rose and the Briar" (David Lewis, Harding)
- "Bastard Son"
Personnel
- John Wesley Harding - guitar, vocals
- Kirsty MacColl - vocal harmony on "Affairs of the Heart"
- Dave Alvin - guitar on "You're No Good"
- Geraint Watkins - accordion on "Affairs of the Heart"
- Ken Craddock - keyboards
- Jeff Lass - keyboards
- Bob Loveday - fiddle
- Matthew McCauley - vocal harmony
- Keith Nelson - banjo on "Same Thing Twice"
- Tom Robinson - keyboards on "Bastard Son"
- Peter Case - guitar, vocals on "Things Snowball"
- Andy Paley - guitar, vocal harmony
- Paul Riley - bass
- Bruce Thomas - bass
- Pete Thomas - drums, percussion
- Steve Donnelly - guitar, autoharp
- Choir of Julian Dawson - chorus harmony on "Dark Dark Heart"
- Dalai Lama Horns - horns
References
- Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 129.
- "A 'GROOM' TO CALL HIS OWN". Tampa Bay Times.
- "NIGHT LIFE : THE CLUB SCENE : A Folk Vision : John Wesley Harding is on a tour, peddling his songs, humor and tall tales". Los Angeles Times. 31 May 1990.
- MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 526.
- Allmusic review: Here Comes the Groom at AllMusic
- Allmusic review
- Matre, Lynn Van. "John Wesley Harding Here Comes the Groom..." chicagotribune.com.
- The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 307.
- Barnes, Mark (August 1990). "John Wesley Harding: Here Comes The Groom". Select. p. 95.
- "John Wesley Harding". Trouser Press. Retrieved 12 October 2020.