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Graham Gouldman’s ‘Heart Full Of Songs’ is an inspirational evening built round his own remarkable song history and related stories.
The show is fleshed out by glistening harmonies, salient hooks and a set list which interweaves the substance of his songcraft.
He draws on five songs from his current ‘I Have Notes’ album (including a reworking of The Yardbirds ‘Heartful Of Soul’, complete with Andy Parks sitar sounding acoustic), which suggests Gouldman’s creativity and enthusiasm remained undimmed by the passing of time.
His unerring eye for an observational lyric, coupled with his willingness to explore emotional love songs within a broad musical landscape serves the songs well and draws the audience into a magical musical journey.
‘Heart Full Of Songs’ reaches back some 6 decades, and is built on the foundations of balance and flow.
As a result, 10cc’s ‘Good Morning Judge’ comes early, while the show stopping ‘I’m Not In Love’ is a near mid-show anchor and the celebratory ‘Dreadlock Holiday’ is the perfect closer.
The flow serves to highlight the evolution of his songwriting. He also punctuates it by using a shopping list style “aide memoire” in which he repeats the artist and title at the conclusion of each song. Happily, there’s a collective sense of anticipation which quickly fills the void and creates a new dynamic.
He opens with the 1966 Wayne Fontana hit ‘Pamela Pamela’ the kind of tender nostalgic love song that Gouldman captures so well.
When it comes to Herman’s Hermits ‘No Milk Today’, he dwells on the song’s achingly crafted defining couplet.
He explains his late dad provided the classic metaphoric line “No milk today, my love has gone away. The bottle stands forlorn, a symbol of the dawn.”
For Gouldman Junior it was obviously a lesson well learned, as his own songs continue to provide intricate glimpses of feelings and emotions, which tonight he polishes and brings to life with sparkling harmonies, flinty arrangements and intuitive band interplay.
His semi-acoustic line-up relies on subtle percussion rather than a powerful rhythm section and serves to underscore the nuances of his craft.
We are beguiled by a magical combination of melodies, words and harmonies which at times recall Crosby Stills & Nash and the like.
In a show built on familiar chart songs, it’s encouraging that some of his lesser known solo and collaborative efforts rise to the occasion and fill the cavernous hall with the very qualities that give his back catalogue its enduring purchase.
There’s the Latino feel of the film soundtrack ‘Sunburst’, on which the deft acoustic opening could be ’80’s Dave Mason.
Then there’s the ethereal ‘Floating In Heaven’ (complete with a subliminal ‘I’m Not In Love’ flashback intro), the heartfelt ‘Love’s Not For Me (Rene’s Song)’ and a jazzy ‘That’s Love Right There’.
The latter evokes the late Leon Redbone, albeit with intuitive lyrics and a catchy hook that is archetypal Gouldman.
His lyrics frequently search out commonly shared emotions, such as on the self explanatory ‘Memories’, while the later Andrew Gold co-write ‘Ready To Go Home’ borders on the anthemic with echoes of Simon & Garfunkel.
One of the best received songs of the evening, it arguably surpasses the equally good, but better known ‘Bridge To Your Heart’, which tonight sounds like something Hall & Oates could have recorded.
There’s a further ode to the late Andrew Gold on ‘Daylight’ which could almost be Paul McCartney, whilst the uplifting Beth Nielsen Chapman and Gordon Kennedy co-write ‘We’re Alive’ cleverly draws on prosody to make a musical connection with the subject matter.
The show stopping ‘I’m Not In Love’ is cleverly rearranged to include a ‘call and response’ section instead of the original whispered ‘Big Boys Don’t Cry’ line.
It’s only when he briefly indulges himself in the Nashville tinged ‘Dancing Days’, and tries to evoke The Everly Brothers on the country tinged ‘Say You Love Me Tonight’ that he sounds as if he’s chasing a song, rather than simply immersing himself in his own talent.
It’s a subjective quibble in a superb show which brings a seated audience to its feet on a number of occasions, notably on The Yardbirds ‘For Your Love’ and the aforementioned ‘Dreadlock Holiday’.
Put simply, ‘Heart Full Of Songs’ never sounded so good.
Tonight support Seb Wesson doubles both as an acoustic solo artist and electric band member.
In solo mode, he’s a potent whirl of left handed acoustic rhythms with a warm timbre, confident phrasing and a good mic technique.
His impresses with a handful of songs of which ‘Stand By Fire’ is a contemporary take on the late Nick Drake.
The ethereal sounding ‘Calais’ is also well received and the more up tempo optimism of ‘Elizabeth’ is neatly captured by the lovely refrain: “I hope you found your way home.”
Review by Pete Feenstra
Photos by Martin Porter
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
Next session: Sunday 6 April (Fifth Anniversary!)
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David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 23 February 2025.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast on 25 February 2025
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Power Plays w/c 10 March 2025
THE SOUL REVIVAL Outlaw (indie)
WHEN RIVERS MEET Addicted To Love (indie)
ISABELLA STORM Satan’s Valentine (indie)
KEYSTONE Slow Down Honey (indie)
THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE Sleep Tonight (Metropolis Records)
SAWMOON Madness (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 10 March 2025
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Singer Songwriter)
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