Malcolm and Alwyn
Encyclopedia
Malcolm and Alwyn were a popular British
gospel beat music
group in the 1970s. They played Beatles
-influenced rock music
with lyrics reflecting their conversion
to Christianity
. The duo was composed of Malcolm Wild and Alwyn Wall, who had been performing together in a band called The Zodiacs prior to their conversion. Malcolm and Alwyn recorded two album
s in the early '70s before they disbanded in 1976, and a live reunion album in 1981 before again parting ways. The live album was recorded on January 24, 1981 at Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa
, California, U.S.A. Both Malcolm and Alwyn released solo albums following the group's disbanding. Alwyn Wall featured on Larry Norman's 1981 live Friends on Tour album.
Their 1973 debut album Fool's Wisdom sported a stellar cast of session musician
s including John Wetton
of King Crimson
on bass
, Rod Edwards and Roger Hand of Edwards Hand
on keyboards
and percussion
, veteran drummer
Clem Cattini
, and guitarist Mickey Keen of Hudson Ford
. Edwards Hand and Mickey Keen also appeared on Malcolm and Alwyn's follow-up album, Wildwall. The group's popularity in the U.S. was given a boost by Larry Norman
thanks to his song "Dear Malcolm, Dear Alwyn" in which he sings:
Wild is currently Senior Pastor
of Calvary Chapel in Merritt Island, Florida, and still performs with the Calvary Chapel Worship Band as well as operating a record label
, Footstep Records. He also ministers via radio with the program "Sound Truth". Wall is currently Senior Pastor at Calvary Chapel, Westminster in London, England.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
gospel beat music
Jesus music
Jesus music, known as gospel beat music in the United Kingdom, is a style of Christian music which originated on the West Coast of the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This musical genre developed in parallel to the Jesus movement...
group in the 1970s. They played Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
-influenced rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
with lyrics reflecting their conversion
Religious conversion
Religious conversion is the adoption of a new religion that differs from the convert's previous religion. Changing from one denomination to another within the same religion is usually described as reaffiliation rather than conversion.People convert to a different religion for various reasons,...
to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. The duo was composed of Malcolm Wild and Alwyn Wall, who had been performing together in a band called The Zodiacs prior to their conversion. Malcolm and Alwyn recorded two album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s in the early '70s before they disbanded in 1976, and a live reunion album in 1981 before again parting ways. The live album was recorded on January 24, 1981 at Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa
Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa
Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa is a Christian church located near the boundary between the cities of Costa Mesa and Santa Ana in Orange County. It is the original Calvary Chapel, having grown since 1965 from a handful of people led by Chuck Smith to become the "mother church" of over one thousand...
, California, U.S.A. Both Malcolm and Alwyn released solo albums following the group's disbanding. Alwyn Wall featured on Larry Norman's 1981 live Friends on Tour album.
Their 1973 debut album Fool's Wisdom sported a stellar cast of session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
s including John Wetton
John Wetton
John Kenneth Wetton is an English bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He was born in Willington, Derbyshire, and grew up in Bournemouth. He has been a professional musician since the late 1960s...
of King Crimson
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
on bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Rod Edwards and Roger Hand of Edwards Hand
Edwards Hand
Edwards Hand are a musical group formed by Englishmen Rod Edwards and Roger Hand...
on keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and percussion
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, veteran drummer
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Clem Cattini
Clem Cattini
Clem Cattini , is an English rock and roll drummer who was a member of The Tornados before becoming well known for his work as a session musician...
, and guitarist Mickey Keen of Hudson Ford
Hudson Ford
Hudson Ford were a UK rock band-style duo, formed when John Ford and Richard Hudson left Strawbs in 1973. The original lineup featured Hudson and Ford along with Chris Parren on keyboards, Mickey Keen on guitars, and Gerry Conway on drums. Conway left in May 1974 prior to the recording of "Free...
. Edwards Hand and Mickey Keen also appeared on Malcolm and Alwyn's follow-up album, Wildwall. The group's popularity in the U.S. was given a boost by Larry Norman
Larry Norman
Larry David Norman was an American Christian musician, singer, songwriter, record label owner, and record producer, who worked with Christian rock music...
thanks to his song "Dear Malcolm, Dear Alwyn" in which he sings:
- Dear Malcolm, Dear Alwyn,
- You're my favourite singers in England.
- And I love you so much, you got the Holy Spirit's touch,
- You're much more than just a two-man band...
Wild is currently Senior Pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of Calvary Chapel in Merritt Island, Florida, and still performs with the Calvary Chapel Worship Band as well as operating a record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Footstep Records. He also ministers via radio with the program "Sound Truth". Wall is currently Senior Pastor at Calvary Chapel, Westminster in London, England.
Albums
- Fool's Wisdom (MyrrhMyrrh RecordsMyrrh Records, also known as Myrrh Worship, is a Christian music record label. According to Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music, the label was instrumental in developing a popular following for Contemporary Christian music as the label that first published music by Barry McGuire, 2nd Chapter of...
MST-6518, 1973, review) - Wildwall (Myrrh, Key Records KL 022, 1974, review)
- Malcolm and Alwyn - Live! (A&S Records AS0002C, 1982, review)
Solo
- The Alwyn Wall Band (solo), The Prize (Myrrh MSB-6596, 1977)
- Malcolm Wild (solo), Broken Chains (Maranatha!Maranatha! MusicMaranatha! Music began as a non-profit outreach of Calvary Chapel in 1971. The Jesus People of the late 1960s and early 1970s began to write new hymns and worship songs with a folk-rock style. Maranatha! Music was founded at this time in order to publish and promote this new type of Christian...
MM0069A, 1979) - Malcolm Wild (solo), Breaking Chains (Maranatha! MM0069T, 1980)
- Malcolm [Wild] and the Mirrors (solo), Red Alert (A&S Records AS0004A, 1982)
- Alwyn Wall (solo), Invisible WarfareInvisible WarfareInvisible Warfare is the title of the first LP by Alwyn Wall. It is often attributed to the Alwyn Wall Band, but apart from guitarist Norman Barratt the musicians were all different. In fact they were mostly the members of the Barratt Band. Although Alwyn made brief appearances on recordings over...
(Solid RockSolid Rock RecordsSolid Rock Records is the record label of Larry Norman. It was set up in 1975 to distribute his own work, after he had been released by Capitol Records. Solid Rock had a distribution deal with Word Records until 1980....
, SSR-0040, 1982)
Songs on compilations
- Love, Joy, Peace, "Fool's Wisdom" (Various Artists, Myrrh MYR-6540, 1974)
- Jubilation!, "Tomorrow's News" (Various Artists, Myrrh MST-6555, 1975)
- Jubilation, Too, "I Love" (Various Artists, Myrrh MST-6568, 1976)
External links
- Fool's Wisdom at Christian Music Archive. Retrieved on 25 April 2009.
- Jubilation, Too at Christian Music Archive. Retrieved on 25 April 2009.
- Malcolm & Alwyn at MySpace. Retrieved on 26 April 2009.
- Pastor Alwyn Wall at Calvary Chapel, Westminster. Retrieved on 25 April 2009.