David Ford Forums - All Forums

Cover versions

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:25:14 +0000

Stumbled across this guy this morning from a link a mate of mine sent to me... looks like David has some serious competition on the Cover Version front... some creative playing style this chap's got!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-fpLmJHL...ure=relmfu

Wow, is all I can say!

Sundance 2012

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:07:30 +0000

So as usual we built a little side trip around a gig and in this instance we were lucky enough to take in two days of ascap's music cafe over the sundance film festival in park city, utah. And to see Lisa Hannigan, Ingrid Michaelson but mainly to see David Gray. I know he falls to somewhat mixed reviews but what the hell we love him! And Ford is on record that he thinks Ingrid is one of the best out there....

The venue was Rich Haine's art gallery which was this awesome packed intimate space............by the second day I had schmoozed the gal in charge of the event for ascap and somehow found ourselves backstage sitting on a couch not more than 15 feet from DG! Nice. Anyway two awesome solo acoustic gigs where he demonstrated the breadth of his talent and catalog - and we got three new songs!!

I have seen DG solo acoustic several times but they have always been PR appearances in advance of gigs later in the eve - in this instance these were THE gig with a thought through set list etc..............so we got classics like Falling Free, From Here You Can Almost See the Sea, Shine, Tidal Wave and Flame Turns Blue - a great cover of In the Morning - and solid recent stuff including Jackdaw, Kathleen, Draw the Line, Forgetting (awesome) and two unreal performances of Nemesis. Also the unreleased It Accumulates along with the new songs Snow In Vegas (best of the three), Force of Nature and Dancing With Both Feet Off the Ground - all of which in my mind clearly demonstrate he is still one of the best singer songwriters out there.....so far only one good vid has popped as the rest are the hits - hoping for more.........

For anyone who wants to read about this ad nauseum there is a sundance thread over at davidgray.com.............

Lisa Hannigan

O Sleep

Ingrid - a couple tunes off her new cd - go buy it!!

David Gray

Dancing With Both Feet Off the Ground

Babylon - gotta give him credit for still putting out great versions of this after all the years..........

She's Not The One For Me 2

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:35:54 +0000

Guess David aint the only one to pen an ode of love for the Iron Lady

Okie dokie!

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:49:25 +0000

a quick grazi to our romantic okies!! what tremendous news!!

and maybe a return to the east coast?!

Exploring the Gentleman's Box

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:21:11 +0000

Happy New Year everyone!

A couple of evenings after the Bush Hall gig Ford expertly manoeuvered his enormous van onto our not-very-enormous driveway - impressively, his paintwork and our gatepost both survived intact - to deliver the Gentleman's Box. The Box is huge and heavy and full of goodies and I've spent the last couple of weeks exploring its contents.

The auction description was 100% accurate: it's a Ford Solo Career Museum in a box. All the official releases - CD and vinyl; the original hat and jacket; tour and M&C t-shirts; promotional bumpf; I Choose This; the Decimate typewriter (a lovely 1950s Remington model); the Let The Hard Times Roll artwork proofs; you name it...

There are also lots of other goodies, though, and over the next few days I'll try to let you know about those.

First up, there was the nice surprise of some Easyworld things I wasn't expecting, including the test pressing vinyl of their first single on Fierce Panda, Hundredweight, and copies of all their 7" singles. There's also the demo of I Don't Expect You To Notice and a 3-song demo CD from 2004 entitled Songs From The Big Arsecrack (didn't know Ford was a Tears For Fears fan...), which includes the demos of Go To Hell, What Would You Have Me Do and How Did It Ever Come To This, which were the three candidates for the final Easyworld single.

The demo of WWYHMD sounds very much like what ended up on I Sincerely Apologise..., minus saxophone, and is therefore I think the version on the Apology Demos CD. The Go To Hell demo is a little slower than the version we are used to, is largely piano-based and is initially sung in Ford's Easyworld era falsetto. The demo of How Did It Ever Come To This is again slower than the released version but is otherwise fairly faithful to the final version.

During the auction Ford tweeted that he'd found two black notebooks in which he'd scribbled lyrics for some early solo songs and ideas for the first solo album, and they also found their way into the Box. Unfortunately they're not particularly easy to photograph - the notes are occasionally illegible and Ford used to write with some luridly coloured gel ink pens (fuchsia, turquoise, gold...) which don't reproduce very well - but I've done what I can.

The first notebook dates from 2003-4. Among the phone numbers and email addresses and similar debris of everyday life, it features lyrics for a big chunk of the Kill The Last Romantic album - Saddest Song, When You Come Back I Won't Be Here, California, 2nd Amendment (LOTS of rewrites on that one), You Have Been Here, Til The Day - and contains some variations on proposed track listings for that album as well as early album art ideas.

I'm intrigued to know whether or not he ever got his hands on this:

Quote:Mini Mayfair, 1983, 1 lady owner, 3000 miles, £1950

Sounds like a steal, but I haven't phoned the number to see if it's still available...

I assume Easyworld toured in spring/summer 2004 because there's a list of essential things Ford needs to remember to get:

Quote:GET
1) big cards
2) TT bats
3) frisbee

Only after dealing with these essentials does the list move on to things like spare guitar strings...!

Midway through, the notebook contains the first notes for the "Apology Sessions", including the following list of tracks:

Quote:- Save Your Breath
- Go To Hell
- I Don't Care
- What Would You Have Me Do
- NY
- I Don't Expect You To Notice

(NY is also referred to elsewhere in the notebook as I NY.)

Then come working lyrics for State Of The Union and This Is Not Desire.

All those songs seem to have been in existence or gestation before June 2004. (I'm reasonably confident of this date because the next couple of pages in the notebook set out a betting pool for Group A in the Euro 2004 football tournament! None of the participants in the syndicate expected Greece to do particularly well; needless to say Greece went on to lift the trophy.)

The work in progress lyrics for State Of The Union show some lines that didn't make the final cut...

...as well as one rare example of Mr. Potty Mouth himself reining in his Anglo-Saxon tendencies...

...and an example of where his initially polite thoughts turned foul-mouthed before the song was completed:

After that there are lyrics for Nobody Tells Me What To Do, Can't Go Back and Trying To Find My Feet.

Towards the back of this book are various notes and ideas, including two phrases that would appear on Let The Hard Times Roll:

Quote:"meet me in the middle"
"a martyr without a cause"

The notebook ends with draft setlists and itineraries for a potential Easyworld tour in late 2004, but events would obviously take a different course.

More soon.

Cheers,

Jonathan

Hello from Milk

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:16:34 +0000

I''ve been crazy about Mr Ford for a long time,but I didn't post to say hello to everyone here.
so..hello,everyone

maybe I do not know so much about Ford,but sure I'll learn more in our general chat.
hope Mr Ford will bring us more surprises on music!
in addition..'I Choose This' is awesome as it is!I've got my hands on it.

London Bush Hall, 19 December 2011, flac and mp3

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 07:13:07 +0000

FLAC

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=M21ZQD97

MP3

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=WY1463UA

For some reason the mp3 says it's temporarily unavailable - I'm assuming this is temporary as it's still showing in my account. If not, I'll upload tonight or tomorrow.

Collector ? + France

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:18:51 +0000

Hello everybody...

Before posting a few words about myself, as a new member, I would like to know if I found a real collectable item about David on the French Ebay site?

David Ford Vynil LP

Now, a few words about me...

I don't know if there are many French people on this site...

Well I'm French... I didn't know anything about David three months ago.

Some day, I was watching Counting Crows videos on Youtube.

Youtube suggested a cover of Round Here by Juniper Jones which was interesting but not impressive.

Then Youtube suggested the same cover by someone called David Ford... Never heard about that guy. I gave it a try... and liked it... The next suggestion was Jackie, originally by Jacques Brel...

I spent the evening watching everything I could find about David...

One week later "I sincerely apologize..." arrived at home
One week later "Songs for the road" arrived at home
One week later "Let the hard times roll" arrived at home

Two weeks later, I ordered all I already hadn't found from the online store...

I'm finishing the book these days.

I purchased the two first Easyworld CDs, and the third should arrive at home soon...

I must admit that I have been rarely impressed that way by an artist, in the 30 or so years I have spent with music (both as a listener and working with the (French) music scene) - I'm in my mid 40s.

I had to share this moment of happiness somewhere, and I thought this forum was the right place!

JLuc

Fairytale over Bush Hall

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:55:19 +0000

Bloody hell it's quiet in here! Are people still making their merry way back from London, or did you all nab a lift in Ford's transit and indulge in some sort of rock n' roll roadtrip?

Looks like I can take the Bush Hall virginity then, wow, again what a great night that turned out to be! Congrats to Ford and his band of travelling minstrels and warblers. Didn't Hannah look great?! Really nice to see the return of Frances too, man it's been a long time...!

The show was a fun, (and at times shambolic), impassioned, rabble rousing, singalong of the highest pedigree. I agree with Ford - I think the days of the book(s) are behind us, I'm still wondering what the "greatest song in the world" was that he had to cut short. There is however one exception to this rule... the cover we were all waiting for "Fairytale of New York" delivered with all the gusto and Christmas cheer Ford (and Hannah) could throw at it.

LOVED the new songs, was there a couple from the new Austerity Measures EP? I know "It's the economy, stupid" certainly was. What a song! This one has to become a perm feature in the set I feel, it's like a new anthem for the doomed generation. And Ford's fast delivery really upped the ante - class.

The boy can still hit the notes - as heard on the divine cover of "Me and Mrs Jones". I particulary liked the storming "Thunder Road" too.

Despite the slightly longer than expected interval the whole thing was one to remember until new memories are made next year.

Such is the greatness of Ford's debut tome - I HAD to buy another as a Christmas present for my sister, and picked up the new EP too.

Matt out xx

FCB Leeds

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 01:27:34 +0000

I made a little compilation vid...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns7y4yOLk-o

2 spare tickets for tonight

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:51:20 +0000

Can't really figure out from the other threads who's now sorted for tickets and who isn't, but if you need one or two tickets for tonight, text me on 07771 767646. We've had a couple pull out because of sickness. First come, first served.

Cheers
Gareth

Spooky!

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:09:24 +0000

I was going through the photos from FCB in Leeds and I was about to delete this one when I saw something odd lurking behind Ford's face. WHAT THE HELL IS THAT???

Leeds

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 11:11:24 +0000

Folks any news from last nights show

WANTED : Bush Hall Tickets for Mon x2

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:21:44 +0000

Hello all,

Can anyone help. Thought I'd booked two tickets for Monday (Dec 19 @ Bush Hall) but appears the order didn't process...anyone got any spares.

Thanks

Beth

FCB - who's coming?

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 19:40:48 +0000

It's that time of year again... the annual NotMilk and Cookies shows!

The T-shirts and CDs have arrived, Ford is hiding out in his basement being cagey about the setlist, the tickets are sold... we just need it not to snow like it's Armeggedon and the rail networks to make it through the weekend.

I'm at both shows - how about you?

New EP

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 13:48:38 +0000

Is this EP going to be available from the online store ? Can't get to the Leeds gig.

The Winner of The Gentleman's Box!

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:12:31 +0000

Hi Everyone,

Now the administration of the auction has been concluded, we can announce the winner of the auction is charliebrown. Congratulations! You will be the object of everyone's jealousy for a good while.

It was an excellent auction, and thanks go to everyone who participated. The winning figure is guaranteed to keep Ford in looping pedals until Easter.

Apology Demos track list

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 23:20:04 +0000

Hello!

I've had a massive iTunes library clean up recently, and have found a couple of Ford tracks without names.

I don't know where my listing for Apology Demos came from (manually entered, or autodetected through iTunes/Gracenote), but wherever it came from I'm pretty sure the first and last tracks aren't correctly titled!

1. Track 01
2. Go to Hell
3. I Don't Care What You Call Me
4. Can't Go Back
5. What Would You Have Me Do?
6. This is not Desire
7. New York
8. State of the Union
9. Young Hearts Run Free
10. If You Only Knew
11. Laughing Aloud
12. Nobody
13. Track 13

Any ideas? I've tried Googling for lyrics form Track 13 ("Take a look...") but found no results, and Track 1 is a 46 second instrumental.

Also, hello to any former easyboarders (I used to run Easyworld's website for 'em)

thanks,
Paul

Bookings?

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:47:17 +0000

Hi there

I tried to send an email on the contact form but it seems to be failing.

I partly worked with David Ford a few years back when he performed live at the University of Cumbria. I was doing my first year of a degree in Film and TV Production and we where helping out with the second years.

At the time I was running a small online based radio station from home with a few students helping me out. I have just graduated now from my degree and I am re-launching the station with a brand new image, name, look etc including my own small studio. The station's main audience are students and teens, with many of our presenters from the University of Cumbria. We are also linked with the Carlisle Youth Zone which aims to teach children/teens new skills and give them a wide variety of experiences.

We aim to launch hopefully in the first few weeks of January and are hoping to put on a pre launch party, hopefully in a bar situated next to us, as they are interested in working alongside us. They often regularly have artists performing live through the week, and we'd like to have some kind of live music for the pre-launch party. I was very impressed with what I saw at the University of Cumbria and have been a fan ever since, and wondered if David was interested in possibly performing on the night if he was free.

Thanks
Peter Thompson

HOW DID IT EVER COME TO THIS?

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:59:52 +0000

HOW DID IT EVER COME TO THIS?
Yes David felt like that when he was Dav and still in short pants and running through the Prehistoric Swamps - hilarious.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueyKcSxZI...ure=artist

I was looking for a video of "You were right" one of my favourites. Has he ever done it solo?

(11-25-2011 12:59 PM)Bro Bernard Wrote: I was looking for a video of "You were right" one of my favourites. Has he ever done it solo?

I might have to get him to try at Leeds - just got tickets.