‘Branch Road’ was recorded and produced in Sussex and Bermuda in 2008 and 2009; largely to satisfy a long held view that ‘there was an album in there somewhere.’ It has been over 25 years since my last recorded effort so it’s probably not before time. Of the twelve songs featured, seven are my own compositions, and the rest are covers of some favourite songs; in the unlikely event that Brenton Wood, The Velvet Underground, The Allman Brothers, The Honeycombs and Alan Hull ever listen to this, I hope they think I’ve done them justice. If I’m being honest, this project has been an exercise in self-indulgence on the grand scale, but inevitably it had to be exposed to the world at some point; so here it is, warts, bum notes and all. For those of you kind enough to buy a CD or a downloaded version, all of the net sale proceeds will be divided equally between the Make A Wish Foundation – a fabulous organisation providing children suffering from life threatening illnesses with the holiday of their dreams; and Teach First, a charity established to hire top graduates to teach children in underprivileged areas. Please donate as much as you are comfortable with and can afford; at the very least your donations will be put to good use, regardless of what you think of the record! My thanks go to the lovely Victoria van Holthe for the album photographs (featuring my daughter Katie in the midst of another primal scream), and to the talented Oliver Barnes for designing the album cover. Thanks also to the honey voiced Lisa Rhoads for the backing vocals on ‘Gimme Sign Girl’. I’d like to dedicate this to my three beautiful children, Katie, Sean and Siobhan, all of whom think the old man has gone bonkers; to my Mum, Dad and brother Terry, who endured my early musical bangings and twangings with such patience; and last but not least to Karen - my Irish handful and soul mate; I love you all. Up the Hammers, John. July 2009.