Mick Softley was a troubador in the classic mould; a drifter with a guitar slung over his shoulder, his songs drawn from his surroundings and his wonderful singing voice inflamed by social passion (a Londoner, his mother had worked for a time in the offices of Sylvia and Christabel Pankhurst). In the winter of 1959 he lost his job as an apprentice engineer and set off for Spain to follow his muse, with a mate of his, another Mick, on the back of a motorbike — which with almost tidal inevitability broke down. Eventually Softley found himself in Paris where he hooked up with numerous other dispossessed British beatniks, including Wizz Jones, Clive Palmer and Alex Campbell, who encouraged and mentored the inexeperienced singer. Returning to the UK in the early 60s, Softley discovered that the folk-protest movement was in full swing, and gripped by artistic fervour he started up a folk club in Hemel Hempstead, soon to be home to the likes of Mac MacLeod, Maddy Prior — and a young singer named Donovan Leitch, who by 1965 rapidly, meteroically almost, became a bona-fide star.
Tracks: (00:00) 01. Can You Hear Me Now? — (02:42) 02. Waterfall — (04:51) 03. Eagle — (09:17) 04. Julie Argoyne — (11:49) 05. Caravan — (14:53) 06. If You’re Not Part Of The Solution, You Must Be Part Of The Problem — (17:44) 07. Ship — (23:52) 08. You Go Your Way, I’ll Go Mine — (27:48) 09. Birdie, Birdie — (31:54) 10. Time Machine — (36:51) 11. On The Road Again — (38:35) 12. Love Colours —
Personnel: Mick Softley — acoustic guitar, harmonium Tony Cox — harmonium, piano, string conductor, synthesizer, producer Jerry Donahue — electric guitar Gerry Conway — drums, percussion Lyn Dobson — flute, harmonica, soprano & tenor saxophones, sitar Chris Laurence, Pat Donaldson — bass Barry Clarke — acoustic & electric guitars Ned Balen — tabla Mike Vickers — synthesizer Lesley Duncan, Sue Wheatman, Sunny Wheetman — vocals Tony Carr — percussion Steve Hayton — acoustic guitar, harmonica David Horowitz — piano Karl Jenkins — baritone saxophone The Montpelier Strings — strings Dudu Pukwana — alto saxophone Frank Ricotti — marimba, percussion The Smiley Brothers — vocal accompaniment Liza Stride, Doris Troy, Jimmy Thomas — backing vocals Richard Thompson — electric guitar
