Search - John Wesley Harding :: It Happened One Night & It Never Happened at All

Expatriate British singer-songwriter John Wesley Harding considers the format of his first album, 1989?s "It Happened One Night," to be a mistake. It was a live 17-song recording of an early solo, acoustic club show, and Harding was already moving on. "My first album should have been "It Never Happened At All" ? a whole different album of I was making in 1988/89 with great musicians. . . To me, it is my alternative album from a parallel world where you can have two debut albums," he explains. Critics and listeners were impressed by "It Happened," though: Creem called it "a remarkable live debut" and Harding "a very funny, very passionate man . . .His eloquence can be gut-wrenching." The All Music Guide wrote that the CD captured Harding?s "folk roots and a wonderful sense of humor." Now Appleseed Recordings offers a 2-CD package that should satisfy everyone: "It Happened One Night & It Never Happened At All" presents a remastered and expanded version of "It Happened One Night" (with two extra songs) plus "It Never Happened At All," a companion disc of 14 previously unreleased 1988/89 studio recordings that Wes wanted as his first release. "It Happened One Night" presents Wes?s acerbic, keenly observant, and emotionally open songs bursting with words, humor and intensity as high-energy modern folk, whereas "It Never Happened At All" dresses some of those same songs ? such as his early signature tune, "The Devil in Me" and later favorites like "Scared of Guns" and "Who You Really Are"? in arrangements ranging from Bo-Diddley-meets-Buddy Holly to folk-rock, rockabilly, C&W, and blues, as well as solo acoustic, frequently with full-band accompaniment by members of Elvis Costello?s Attractions, Lindisfarne, current solo artist Geraint Watkins and others. Not to be missed: disc one?s "July 13 1985," a hilariously piercing look at the historic Live Aid broadcast, and two different versions of "The Devil in Me," in which Harding sardonically accepts responsibility for the world?s ill?s: "It all just seems like human behavior to me."