Harvey Andrews
Encyclopedia
Harvey John Andrews is an English
singer, songwriter
, and poet
.
Harvey Andrews has produced 17 successful albums singing his own songs, many of which have also been recorded by other artists.
His emotive Soldier
(mp3 clip) transmits the same quiet desperation of a soldier about to die "in conflict" as Wilfred Owen
's Dulce Et Decorum Est
, though in a very different setting. In fact, the contrast of a battlefield to a commonplace urban setting and the proximity of children makes the situation even more poignant and the waste of a young life even more tragic.
Hey Sandy (mp3 clip) on the album Writer of Songs is another description of the senseless loss of a young life in conflict. It is based on the death of a female student, Sandra Scheuer
, who was shot by the Ohio National Guard
at the Kent State University
in the U.S.
anti Vietnam War
demonstration of 1970, although, unlike the Sandy of Andrews' song, the real student was not directly involved in the demonstration. The album version of the song is an unusual, but powerful, arrangement, in which the first verse is sung to the accompaniment of a solo double bass, played by Danny Thompson
. The recording was never issued in the USA until Kent State University's commemorative CD
was released in 2005. It reached number 2 in the New Zealand
chart in November 1972. In stark contrast, his Boothferry
Bridge (mp3 clip) and Gift of a Brand New day (mp3 clip) reflect the contentment of the simple pleasures of everyday life.
He collaborated on a successful musical depicting life growing up in Birmingham in the forties and fifties. "Go Play Up Your Own End" has been well received across the Midlands, especially in its latest production in 2006 featuring Jasper Carrot in a major role, but has yet to make the transfer to London
. The musical has played at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, the Birmingham Hippodrome
and the Alexandra Theatre
, thus setting a record of having been staged at every one of the second city’s major theatres.
In 2007 he published a musical memoir "Gold star to the Ozarks". He continues to write and perform.
He is father of the author Scott Andrews.
s in the U.K. Tours have taken him to Canada, Newfoundland, U.S.A, Germany, Cyprus, Belgium, Ireland, Switzerland, Belize, Malta, Holland, Sardinia, Gibraltar, Italy, Portugal, Denmark and Ascension Island.
Television appearances include The Old Grey Whistle Test
, Rhythm on Two and over 50 other shows. He has made two television specials featuring his songs, The Camera and The Song, and The Same Old Smile. Two further specials were produced in Holland and Ireland. He wrote and sang the theme songs for the TV series Golden Pennies and The Haunted School and sang the theme song in the British movie Psychomania
. He has hosted BBC
Radio Two’s Folk on Two and a Radio Four Kaleidoscope special was devoted to his work.
The lyrics of one of his songs were used in course work for the national (England and Wales) GCSE
English language examination. Another lyric was included in the Oxford University Book of English Traditional Verse.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
.
Career
From 1964, Andrews supported his nascent career as a singer/songwriter by working as a schoolteacher, before becoming a full-time professional musician in 1966.Harvey Andrews has produced 17 successful albums singing his own songs, many of which have also been recorded by other artists.
His emotive Soldier
Soldier (Harvey Andrews song)
Soldier is a song written and recorded by Harvey Andrews in 1972 .The song was inspired by an event which happened in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In 1971 Sergeant Michael Willetts of 3 PARA cleared a room in Springfield Road RUC Police Station of civilians because a bomb with a short burning fuse...
(mp3 clip) transmits the same quiet desperation of a soldier about to die "in conflict" as Wilfred Owen
Wilfred Owen
Wilfred Edward Salter Owen MC was an English poet and soldier, one of the leading poets of the First World War...
's Dulce Et Decorum Est
Dulce et Decorum Est
Dulce et Decorum est is a poem written by poet Wilfred Owen in 1917, during World War I, and published posthumously in 1920. Owen's poem is known for its horrific imagery and condemnation of war. It was drafted at Craiglockhart in the first half of October 1917 and later revised, probably at...
, though in a very different setting. In fact, the contrast of a battlefield to a commonplace urban setting and the proximity of children makes the situation even more poignant and the waste of a young life even more tragic.
Hey Sandy (mp3 clip) on the album Writer of Songs is another description of the senseless loss of a young life in conflict. It is based on the death of a female student, Sandra Scheuer
Sandra Scheuer
Sandra Lee Scheuer was a student at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, when she was killed by Ohio National Guardsmen in the Kent State shootings....
, who was shot by the Ohio National Guard
Ohio Army National Guard
The Ohio Army National Guard is a part of the United States National Guard and a reserve component of the United States Army. It is also a component of the organized militia of the state of Ohio, which also includes the Ohio Naval Militia, the Ohio Military Reserve and the Ohio Air National Guard...
at the Kent State University
Kent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
anti Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
demonstration of 1970, although, unlike the Sandy of Andrews' song, the real student was not directly involved in the demonstration. The album version of the song is an unusual, but powerful, arrangement, in which the first verse is sung to the accompaniment of a solo double bass, played by Danny Thompson
Danny Thompson
Daniel Henry Edward 'Danny' Thompson is an English multi-instrumentalist best known as a double bassist and businessman...
. The recording was never issued in the USA until Kent State University's commemorative CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
was released in 2005. It reached number 2 in the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
chart in November 1972. In stark contrast, his Boothferry
Boothferry
Boothferry is a village in the East Riding of Yorkshire in England. It is situated on the north bank of the River Ouse where the A614 road crosses the river...
Bridge (mp3 clip) and Gift of a Brand New day (mp3 clip) reflect the contentment of the simple pleasures of everyday life.
He collaborated on a successful musical depicting life growing up in Birmingham in the forties and fifties. "Go Play Up Your Own End" has been well received across the Midlands, especially in its latest production in 2006 featuring Jasper Carrot in a major role, but has yet to make the transfer to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The musical has played at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, the Birmingham Hippodrome
Birmingham Hippodrome
The Birmingham Hippodrome is a theatre situated on Hurst Street in the Chinese Quarter of Birmingham, England.Although best known as the home stage of the Birmingham Royal Ballet, it also hosts a wide variety of other performances including visiting opera and ballet companies, touring West End...
and the Alexandra Theatre
Alexandra Theatre
The New Alexandra Theatre, commonly known as The Alex, is a theatre on Station Street in Birmingham, England.Construction of the theatre commenced in 1900 and was completed in 1901. The architects were Owen & Ward. The theatre was opened on 27 May 1901 as the Lyceum Theatre on John Bright Street;...
, thus setting a record of having been staged at every one of the second city’s major theatres.
In 2007 he published a musical memoir "Gold star to the Ozarks". He continues to write and perform.
He is father of the author Scott Andrews.
Appearances
He has appeared at many festivals including Tonder in Denmark, Lunenburg and Regina in Canada, and five Cambridge Folk FestivalCambridge Folk Festival
The Cambridge Folk Festival is an annual music festival held on the site of Cherry Hinton Hall in Cherry Hinton, one of the villages subsumed by the city of Cambridge, England. The festival is renowned for its eclectic mix of music and a wide definition of what might be considered folk. It occurs...
s in the U.K. Tours have taken him to Canada, Newfoundland, U.S.A, Germany, Cyprus, Belgium, Ireland, Switzerland, Belize, Malta, Holland, Sardinia, Gibraltar, Italy, Portugal, Denmark and Ascension Island.
Television appearances include The Old Grey Whistle Test
Old Grey Whistle Test
The Old Grey Whistle Test was an influential BBC2 television music show that ran from 1971 to 1987. It took over the BBC2 late night slot from "Disco Two", which had been running since January 1970, while continuing to feature non-chart music. It was devised by BBC producer Rowan Ayers...
, Rhythm on Two and over 50 other shows. He has made two television specials featuring his songs, The Camera and The Song, and The Same Old Smile. Two further specials were produced in Holland and Ireland. He wrote and sang the theme songs for the TV series Golden Pennies and The Haunted School and sang the theme song in the British movie Psychomania
Psychomania
Psychomania is a British horror film and cult film starring Nicky Henson as a devil worshipping gang leader and Robert Hardy as the detective in charge of bringing them in.It is also known as Death Wheelers Are.....
. He has hosted BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Radio Two’s Folk on Two and a Radio Four Kaleidoscope special was devoted to his work.
The lyrics of one of his songs were used in course work for the national (England and Wales) GCSE
General Certificate of Secondary Education
The General Certificate of Secondary Education is an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 14–16 in secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is equivalent to a Level 2 and Level 1 in Key Skills...
English language examination. Another lyric was included in the Oxford University Book of English Traditional Verse.
Awards
In 1996 he was voted International Artiste of the Year in the Canadian Porcupine Awards for Folk music.Discography
- "Harvey Andrews EP" (Transatlantic 1966)
- Faces And Places (Decca 1970)
- Writer Of Songs (Cube 1972)
- among the tracks are: "Hey! Sandy" (also "Hey Sandy"), written about Sandra ScheuerSandra ScheuerSandra Lee Scheuer was a student at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, when she was killed by Ohio National Guardsmen in the Kent State shootings....
- among the tracks are: "Hey! Sandy" (also "Hey Sandy"), written about Sandra Scheuer
- Friends Of Mine (Cube 1973)
- Fantasies From A Corner Seat, w/ Graham Cooper (Transatlantic 1975)
- Someday (Transatlantic 1976)
- Margarita (Beeswing 1980)
- Brand New Day (Polydor 1980)
- Old Mother Earth (Beeswing 1986)
- PG (Beeswing 1988)
- 25 ... Years On The Road (Hypertension 1989)
- Spring Again (Hypertension/Ariola 1994)
- Snaps - The Family Album (Hypertension 1996)
- The Gift (Hypertension 2001)
- The Journey (Hypertension 2003)
- Somewhere In The Stars (Hypertension 2005)
- Resigning from Today. Transatlantic compilation (Sanctuary 2007)
General references
- Discography: