Jonathan Edwards (1972) Give Us a Song - LOST 70s GEMS

The 'Sunshine' hit maker Jonathan Edwards, not the Olympic rower, didn't have the same success with his 1972 ATCO relased sophomore effort the colourfully titled Honky-Tonk Stardust Cowboy. While the title track is straight up tongue in cheek novelty country the album still contains it's fair share of brisk folk pop. Stop And Start It All Again is a fast paced stop and start tune with acoustic licks galore, chiming away with Edwards upbeat positivism and simple but bright sound could easily classified this as 'Sunshine Pop'. Dues Day Bar continues in this semi- Bubblegum sound with some Mountain yodelling tucked in with the amiable strum. Everything starts with some delectable Pedal Steel playing while the song is based a around a circular vocal and contains some sweet backing harmony in a very traditional country sounding record. Dream Song starts with a pwoerful, inspsiring vocal by Edwards singing with determination before beautiful strings strain in a stirring and emotional waltz; the classical piano and the way he sings a little higher in the chorus is fantastic, while I could have done without the intrusion of the ill fitting harmonica solo.
Give Us a Song should've been his second big hit with it's slight pathos but incredibly melodic verse melody and chorus hooks; it's part old English folk dance, part California roots rock,part country western lament.