I was saddened to learn today of the passing of guitarist Norman Barratt who went to be with Jesus today. In mainstream music, he is best known for his time in Gravy Train who were signed to the Vertigo label in 1969 and in total recorded four albums in the early seventies. They were respected as a prog rock band and Barratt’s guitar playing was justly lauded by many critics. Sadly record sales didn’t propel them into the upper echelons of fame but they carved out a strong niche for themselves amongst English rock fans through a lot of live work.
Have a listen to this from 1970
Barratt had been a Christian for some time and when Gravy Train split in 1975, he decided to concentrate on working with Christian bands. He played on a couple of albums from The Mighty Flyers and I first heard him on one of their albums ‘Under New Management’.
A year later he joined singer songwriter Alwyn Wall to form the Alwyn Wall Band adding his amazing guitar talents to create one of the most musically accomplished bands from England in that era. The band found a great deal of success in America where they lived and toured for a year. Their one album ‘The Prize’ is an absolutely unmissable classic from the era. They were particulalry popular on the west coast amogst the emerging Calvary Chapel scene where their blend of strong songwriting, tight harmonies and of course, fantastic guitar playing made their mark.
Here they are playing at Calvary Chapel
I became a Christian in 1978 and ‘The Prize’ was one of the first albums that i went out and bought when I was first getting into Christian music. I was still at school and I can remember playing it back to back for hours and really loving the sound of the band. The first time I ever attended Greenbelt was in 1979 and the band were advertised on the bill and I was looking forward to it. Unfortunately I didn’t know as I was travelling to the festival that the band had split up. I never got to see them play live but I’ve watched the Calvary Chapel videos on youtube which has given me an idea. I’ve been watching them again tonight and appreciating afresh Barratt’s guitar playing.
In 1980, Barratt hooked up with the fledgling studio/label called Chapel Lane in Hereford. He formed the Barratt Band and in an era where there were plenty of live opportunities to gig, I saw him a number of times. By this time I was at university in Leeds and would travel to see him play all over the place with friends. Most memorably the launch party for Chapel Lane in the Albert Hall in London in 1981 with larry Norman headlining. Barratt played his own set, backed other musicians including Alwyn Wall for his solo set and then they backed Larry Norman.
The formula was so successful that Barratt, Wall and Norman embarked on a European tour together including some British dates. I remember seeing them at St Georges Hall in Bradford and loving Barratt’s performance.
The debut Barratt Band album ‘Playing In the City’ was always the best and again it is rightly hailed as a classic of the era mixing strong synth sounds, his distinctive voice and of course, plenty of opportunity for him to show off that he still had the guitar chops.
I next ran into him that summer. Aside from the work with the band, he was a guitar for hire for touring artists and recording sessions. I was working at the Musicreations management company in Headingley which amongst other things looked after Adrian Snell and John Pantry. Norman showed up at the office to sort out playing on a tour. Afterwards I remember my boss Kevin Hoy laughing about how Norman was still wearing the same jeans as he’d been wearing in the mid seventies. I felt sorry for him – so much talent but my boss was making a better living than him but then isn’t that always the way?
Norman was always unassuming, quietly spoken and a very gentle lovely guy, until, of course. he strapped a guitar around his neck and then he knew how to make some noise. Here’s a clip of Barratt Band playing mainstage Greenbelt in 1982
The Barratt Band split and Barratt did record further albums but none of them really equalled his early eighties work. I’d occasionally see him gig as an opening act for his old mate Larry Norman. He’d often show up in bands backing major American artists, memorably for a tour by Sheila Walsh and Steve Taylor. He also turned his hand to production work.
His later years were marred by ill health and although at one point it looked as though he was going to be starting a record label, it never really came to fruition.
And now he’s gone. Another of my young adult heroes has passed from earth to eternity. I have plenty of happy memories of enjoying Barratt Band gigs and now he’s moved to His Father’s House. I like to think of him taking his place in the Heavenly Choir, axe in hand, right next to Larry Norman and adding a few tasty licks to the proceedings!
A final offering of some blues from Barratt on the rather aptly named My Father’s House. RIP Norman
Excellent capture of what Norman was about… have posted a link and a couple of thoughts too: http://banksyboy.blogspot.com/2011/08/wednesday-wisdom.html
Thanks Mr Banks! Still sad he’s gone. Featuring his music on the prog this week.
I was at that Bradford gig! Right in the middle of the second row…with Larry’s piercing blue eyes looking right at me (it seemed) all the way through. I remember being struck by Norman’s playing, and also by his stamina – his own band set, then backing Alwyn, then all of them backing Larry. As Bryn says, “Aren’t you glad God loves guitarists?”
that was a memorable evening at Bradford. I ended up sitting on the stage at Larry’s feet. When he did his usual thing of asking the crowd which song they wanted to hear, I shouted “White Christmas” and he looked down at me with a very confused look on his face!
I only heard yesterday that Norm had died, and I was really sad. Having played bass with him in the Barratt Band (and on Playing in the City), the recording from Green Belt 1982 was made just after I left the band (to train for ordination). He was such an amazing guy and a brilliant guitarist. Touring with him was very entertaining (and tough at times), but it was a privilege to play with him and to support other people (such as Larry Norman, Alwyn Wall and Jesse Dixon) as well as play our own music. Just about my favourite track to play was “Never Seen Your Face” and it took me back to hear his soaring guitar solo again. Thanks for your tribute – and for reminding me again of just how good he was.
Hi Tim,
Thanks for your comment. Yes, one of the things I wanted to do was remember what a fine guitarist he was.
Only just heard of this sad loss of another great musician who had a major influence on the Christian music of my youth..
Saw Norman a few times performing live with Barratt Band and supporting other artists such as Shelia Walsh & Steve Taylor.
The first time I saw the Barratt Band they were playing at a youth concert at my old School..
I was so impressed I went home to get my copy of Playing in the city to get the band to sign it.
In my good ole Vinyl collection I have;
Playing In the City / Voice / Rock Of Ages / Barratt / The Prize / Invisible Warfare
all with lashings of Norman’s crafted guitar work.
Indeed he was another key figure in the bedrock of Christian music who has now gone home.
Thank you Norman Barratt for sharing your musical gift with us.
{p.s. Mike you may recall me from the youth centre you visited approx 15 years ago, that we opened with a concert by Randy Stonehill? Through Gods provision we are still open & running for our local youth. }
How could I forget you Stuart? Glad to see we share memories of Norman. I hat his bassist Tim Hatfield on my Rimmerama show last night. http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/listenagain if you’re interested. He’s on in the third hour on the show for 30th August.
When thinking of Norman, the words grossly underrated come to mind.
You’re right Ian, he deserved more recognition and more success.
Dear Mike…thank you for your lovely tribute to my late husband, Norm. Our children, grandson and I, even now, have little concept of life without him. He was a gentle spirit, great husband and fabulous dad, ‘their hero’, and with the music….what a blast. We met countless amazing people on that long road. We continue to be overwhelmed by the love folk had for him, and for us. Tributes keep on coming in. One said – ‘such a quiet, unassuming guy’…who was cheered all the way to meet his heavenly father…the only one he ever had. The same father who took him around the world to seek and find kids who were as lost as he once was…Shalom and all blessings to you and yours.