An introduction to the songs from a magazine review by Ruth Taylor
There are twelve songs, each with a short written introduction in the sleeve notes, inspired mainly by the courage of Glynda’s husband, David, suffering from MS and now in full time care.
Glynda’s expressive voice is recorded in such a way that, when you listen, you feel you are meeting her. The wonderful backing of a whole rainbow of instruments: guitars, French horn, piano, saxophone, flute, cello, violin, border pipes and whistle, give an exciting dynamic variation in colour, depth and style.
Glynda’s songs are not easy sweet lyrics, but rather, thought provoking, and, in some cases, painfully close to difficult truths. The note of victory and hope though is constant; God is with us in all our sufferings, Jesus is ever close and he cares about us, his ordinary soldiers.
This (CD) only came about through the commitment and love of friends. Andy Hague, producer, with his extraordinary skills, has “worked wonders with my songs”, Glynda says. Michael Gould was responsible for the exciting and sensitive recording and in “They That Wait Upon The Lord” Emily Gould sings the top line of the chorale beautifully written by Andy.
“Cormorant Diving” includes another choral setting by Andy. “Shining” features Peter Linnett’s pipes and whistle. All musicians including David Fitzgerald of ‘Iona’ gave their services free of charge to maximise the charitable potential.
This recording speaks to a broad audience and repays the listener with deeper insights on repeated listenings.
Review by Ruth Taylor 2003
Front-line Soldier
This is the track listing from the CD, and you can listen to each of the 12 songs below.
- They That Wait Upon The Lord
- God Of All Comfort
- Father’s Song
- Holy Dove
- Saviour’s Song
- Cormorant Diving
- The Mind Of Christ
- Lo, Your Hero
Songs for David - Front-Line Soldier
- You Are A Letter
- Shining
- Found – a postscript, February 2003
Andy Hague: piano, guitars, programming, mandolin, French horn, vocals. My very special thanks to Andy. With great skill and sensitivity he has worked wonders with my songs! Thanks also to Jo Hague for all her support.
David Fitzgerald: saxophones, flute, whistle, piccolo on tracks 2,6,8 & 9
Mike Greenhalgh: David’s bodran on track 9.
Amy Lardner: cello on track 1.
John Ingerslev: violin on track 2.
Aaron Gidney: bass guitar on track 10.
Peter Linnett: border pipes and tin whistle on track 11.
Glynda Batchelor: lead vocals.
Carl Gidney: vocals, tracks 3, 7, 8 & 9.
Laura Higgins: vocals, tracks 1, 6 & 7.
Emily Gould: vocals, tracks 1 & 6.
Choir on tracks 4, 7 & 8: Liz Cole, Eileen Cranfield, Jane Gidney, Aaron Gidney, Emily Gould, Andy Hague, Kate Neen, Pete Neen, Marjorie Wetherill, David Wetherill.
Producer: Andy Hague
Recording: Michael Gould
Project co-ordination: Emily Gould
Cover design: Emma Harding
(Photograph courtesy of Amgueddfa ac Orielau Cenedlaethol Cymru, the National Museums & Galleries of Wales.)
They That Wait Upon The Lord
God Of All Comfort
Father’s Song
Holy Dove
Saviour’s Song
Cormorant Diving
The Mind Of Christ
Lo, Your Hero
Front-Line Soldier
You Are A Letter
Shining
Found – a postscript, February 2003
If you would like to listen to all 12 tracks in one sitting, rather than picking each song separately as above, you can do so by pressing the red play button below:
Many many thanks for sending me the CD “Front-Line Soldier”. I must apologise that it has taken me so long to reply. I find that life seems to run away so fast – the days so demanding and nights very broken, that it takes an effort to get my head into gear.
The CD is a real blessing, full of scriptural truths and encouragement to keep on keeping on. I need to keep my eyes on the Lord and trust for both R and myself that He is in control and will give us His grace. I appreciate your sharing about the stress and exhaustion…. At the moment I am trying to get some more help, but sometimes these things are difficult to access.
I paid a lovely lady to sit with R when we (a local Carers’ Christian Fellowship) had a Quiet Day a while ago. That is when I heard “Father’s Song” from the CD….
( part of a letter from a carer, 2004 )
My dear friend S is 44. She got MS at the age of 16. After 44 years of working I packed up my job to look after S seven days and nights a week on my own. She is now happy and life is so sweet for her even though .. (physically things don’t work for her) .. due to the MS.
I find that every day I’m here is a gift and a joy. I’ve been told to prepare myself for the day she will one day just fade away. I hope God will give me the strength to face all that and be happy for S.
We would like to thank you all for the wonderful music you put together.
I hope the charity “Wheels For The World”* really makes a difference.
Please will you write a book to tell the world about the MS cruelty of millions world wide. Thank you again, you and Mr David Batchelor. God bless you all.
( part of a letter from a man whom Emily had seen pushing a lady in a wheelchair along a busy street in York in 2004. Emily happened to have a copy of the CD with her and she went up to him and gave him the CD along with my address! His letter to me began by describing how “a lovely girl came up to me and handed me a CD of Front-Line Soldier. She must have been an angel. She seemed to disappear into the crowd very quickly. What a wonderful gift. We all enjoyed it. “)
To contact Andy Hague and to hear his songs go to: