Year : 2026 (Iconoclassic Records Edition)
Style : Hard Rock , Classic Rock , Power Pop
Country : United States
Audio : VBR kbps + front
Size : 221 mb
Bio:
10 Old, New, Borrowed, & Blue tunes from London born, Top of the Pops,multi-platinum songwriter & member of Strawbs, The Monks. Hudson Ford. Ft Ian Lloyd of Stories & Edward Rogers, w/ a new take on Dave Cousins' "Deep In The Darkest Night" + more!John Ford’s always been an optimist and his faith in the future shone through “Heavy Disguise” that the bass player set in the heart of STRAWBS’ “Grave New World.” The veteran’s new album taps into the same, although much more lyrical, vibe which follows the instrumental twang of 2014’s "No Talkin’" with an array of songs in search of a higher ground. So while there’s urban loneliness in “Concrete Jungle” bouncing off an acoustic guitars web and a sensual beat, Ford’s brisk appropriation of his former band’s “Deep In The Darkest Night” chases the gloom away.More fitting for a finale, “Cry Me A River” gives the record a tired start, as John croons in a most traditional way over what could be expanded into an orchestral backdrop, letting this paradox drive the elegiac piece towards the light of hope. It illuminates the intimate solemnity and exquisite six-string solo of “You Can Do Anything” and the warm nostalgia of “Old, Borrowed And Blue,” whereas the riffing “After The Rock” rides a glitter groove, given a solid bottom end and Ian Lloyd’s smooth vocal support. Yet Ford wouldn’t be Ford without his patented humor and anthemic choruses, so the folk-tinctured title track offers them in abundance, although a short piano break in its midst reminds the listener about the passing nature of life.Hence the transparent, if sparkling, connection of “Link To The Chain” and the bittersweet recollection – and the refusal of sadness – in “The Letter,” but again, in a typical John Ford fashion, “Sandy” resolves the doubts in a hymnal rise, the song’s chorus proposing a new union and a prayer for everyone. A quintessential statement.
Album:
Melodic Rock / Power Pop Veteran musician John Ford, best known as a key member of The Strawbs as well as Hudson-Ford, The Monks, and Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera, is gearing up to release his new solo album "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" on July 24th, 2026 via Iconoclassic Records.Across a career spanning over five decades, Ford has navigated everything from psychedelia and progressive folk to new wave and music hall stylings. Based in New York since the mid-'80s, his solo output has highlighted a gift for sharp melodies and versatile musicianship rooted in power pop and acoustic rock. The new record continues that tradition with a set that balances lyrical introspection and infectious energy in equal measure.The album features nine original compositions alongside two carefully chosen covers. The lead single is a take on Tom Petty's "Walls", a track Ford discovered through Glen Campbell's rendition and felt compelled to put his own stamp on. The second cover digs into George Harrison's later catalogue with "The Rising Sun" from the "Brainwashed" album. A shared appreciation for the production style of Jeff Lynne threads through the entire record, tying these influences together naturally.Ford's connection to The Strawbs runs deep - he wrote and sang the band's signature hit "Part of the Union" back in 1973, and returned for their final two albums in 2021 and 2023 before the passing of founding member Dave Cousins in 2025. The new album is dedicated to Cousins, with Ford noting they had been actively collaborating right up until Cousins' hospitalization.This marks Ford's first solo release to receive full worldwide physical distribution. The CD edition comes with a bonus disc compiling 21 tracks from across his solo catalogue, offering a gateway into material that may have slipped under the radar on earlier self-released records.
Line-Up:
John Ford - Vocals & Guitars
John Ford Jr. - Guitars & Backing Vox
John Cardone - Bass
Richie Shapiro - Drums
Joe Depiola - Keyboards
Tracklist:
CD1: Between a Rock and a Hard Place (CD and Digital, Iconoclassic Records ICON 1096)
01. Between a Rock and a Hard Place
02. The Last Goodnight
03. Land of Dreams
04. Walls
05. Always
06. Lilacs and Hollyhocks
07. Since You've Been Gone
08. The Ship and the Sea
09. Who Turned the Lights Out
10. In the Dead of Night
11. The Rising Sun
CD2: The Best of John Ford 1998-2026 (Exclusive Bonus CD)
01. Poor Boy Running
02. Movin' On
03. Acoustic Sunrise
04. Strange Universe
05. I'm a Chameleon
06. Kissed By the Sun
07. Don't Blame Me
08. Together Apart
09. Natural High
10. Another Tradition Broken
11. Bread and Fishes
12. Love Is a Highway
13. Big Hit in India
14. Life in a Foreign Town
15. What Am I Going to Do Without You
16. Back in England
17. When Did I Ever Let You Down
18. Christmas Rendezvous
19. Cry Me a River
20. Poor Man's Son
21. You Can't Keep Me from Singing
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