Clifford Thomas Ward - Born 10 February 1944, Stourport-on-Severn, Worceste… Read Full Bio ↴Clifford Thomas Ward - Born 10 February 1944, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire — 18 December 2001
Clifford T. Ward typified the early 70s bedsitter singer-songwriter with a series of albums that were at best delightful and at worst mawkish. Ward left grammar school before A-levels to work as a clerk, but by 1962 was fronting local beat group Cliff Ward and the Cruisers. The group changed their name to Martin Raynor and the Secrets and made their recording debut for EMI Records in 1965, before recording several more tracks as the Secrets for CBS Records.
In 1967 Ward enrolled at Worcester teacher training college to study English and divinity, after which he taught at Bromsgrove high school. His debut album appeared on disc jockey John Peel's brave-but-doomed Dandelion Records label in 1972. His second album and his first release for Charisma Records, Home Thoughts, proved to be his finest work and gave him wider recognition. Ward constructed each song as a complete story sometimes with great success.
The beautiful "Gaye" became a UK Top 10 hit but surprisingly the stronger "Home Thoughts From Abroad" and the infectious and lyrically excellent "Wherewithal" failed to chart. Mantle Pieces and Escalator contained a similar recipe of more harmless tales like the minor hit "Scullery" with affecting lyrics like; "You're my picture by Picasso, you'd brighten up any gallery'.
Ward's refusal to tour and promote his songs did not help endear the singer to his record company, however, and he switched to the Phonogram Records label for 1975"s No More Rock 'N' Roll. In later years although still recording the occasional album and still reluctant to perform live, Ward received kudos as a songwriter with his material being recorded by artists such as Cliff Richard, Art Garfunkel and Justin Hayward.
He was struck down with multiple sclerosis in 1987 and his health rapidly deteriorated. He managed to record 1991's vinyl-only album Laugh It Off, and friends and colleagues pieced together two more albums of new songs, out-takes and demos to give the ailing Ward some financial assistance. He finally succumbed to pneumonia December 18th 2001.
Clifford T. Ward typified the early 70s bedsitter singer-songwriter with a series of albums that were at best delightful and at worst mawkish. Ward left grammar school before A-levels to work as a clerk, but by 1962 was fronting local beat group Cliff Ward and the Cruisers. The group changed their name to Martin Raynor and the Secrets and made their recording debut for EMI Records in 1965, before recording several more tracks as the Secrets for CBS Records.
In 1967 Ward enrolled at Worcester teacher training college to study English and divinity, after which he taught at Bromsgrove high school. His debut album appeared on disc jockey John Peel's brave-but-doomed Dandelion Records label in 1972. His second album and his first release for Charisma Records, Home Thoughts, proved to be his finest work and gave him wider recognition. Ward constructed each song as a complete story sometimes with great success.
The beautiful "Gaye" became a UK Top 10 hit but surprisingly the stronger "Home Thoughts From Abroad" and the infectious and lyrically excellent "Wherewithal" failed to chart. Mantle Pieces and Escalator contained a similar recipe of more harmless tales like the minor hit "Scullery" with affecting lyrics like; "You're my picture by Picasso, you'd brighten up any gallery'.
Ward's refusal to tour and promote his songs did not help endear the singer to his record company, however, and he switched to the Phonogram Records label for 1975"s No More Rock 'N' Roll. In later years although still recording the occasional album and still reluctant to perform live, Ward received kudos as a songwriter with his material being recorded by artists such as Cliff Richard, Art Garfunkel and Justin Hayward.
He was struck down with multiple sclerosis in 1987 and his health rapidly deteriorated. He managed to record 1991's vinyl-only album Laugh It Off, and friends and colleagues pieced together two more albums of new songs, out-takes and demos to give the ailing Ward some financial assistance. He finally succumbed to pneumonia December 18th 2001.
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Julia & Other Stories
Clifford T. Ward Lyrics
Give Me One More Chance Won't you give me one more chance, baby won't you…
Heaven Heaven isn't high up in the sky Where the stars are…
Heaven Lend A Hand Well I marvel at the at the things she do She's…
I Don't Understand Your Logic I don't understand your logic You say you want me to…
Jackdaw If I was a born again jackdaw You know I'd help…
Julia Ah now please Julia don't try To get confident and star Le…
Lost In The Flow Of Your Love There's a mist coming down tonight And it seems to be…
Lullaby Good night close your eyes Sleep tight grow up wise Dream …
Marble Arch Every day I get caught up in the traffic Every day…
Marron's glance We are lost we are confounded We're some of us in…
New English Bible I hired a video and put it under the Tele I…
Sunshine Girl It's all warm weather in her eyes There's not a single…
Sweetness And Light When life gets weary And the going gets tough And you're f…
Taking the Long Way Round Takin' the long way round I know it's a big mistake I…
That's The Way Our Love Goes Our love's like painting the Forth Bridge Just as it's endi…
The Dancer I love the way she dance I love the way she…
Unmarried Mother Sitting in the waiting room Of the Department of Social Sec…
Water I don't mind eternity Now I've seen you alright I can face…
Weather Here's Bill Giles with the weather Good old Bill Everythin…
Who Cares Who cares if you live, who cares if you die But…