Reviews of 'Behind The Lines' by John Richards

John Richards reputation as one of our most interesting songsmiths continues to grow.

An old fashioned balladeer who knows how to tell stories and fit them with enviable craftsmanship to tunes that are easy on the ear and which usually have choruses that defy you not to join in.

Little wonder that Fairport and Show of Hands have been keen to record his songs.
Gary Copeland
Express and Star

John Richards is one of our finest writers and singers.
He specialises in powerful songs which you can neither ignore nor forget.
Listen to Shine On, it's a perfect song deserving to be sung every night of the week in a club somewhere.
Bill Caddick

This is his first solo C.D., but many readers will know of him via songs like
Did you like the battle? Honour and Praise, The Deserter, and Roaring Water Bay covered by Show of Hands and Fairport.
He proves more than capable of doing justice to his own songs, for me the best was The Moth, the only love song in the set (and possibly the first I've ever heard refer to Jackie Collins novels)
Nick Beale
Folk Roots

Despite his material being covered by the likes of Fairport Convention, Bill Caddick and Robin Dransfield, John Richards has tended to go largely unnoticed.
From Behind the Lines it's easy to see why he's considered such a fine writer.
From the epic seafaring tale Honour and Praise to Polly, Richards is a master of his craft.
Taplas