Ward enjoyed scant career luck, flitting between labels who weren’t sure whether they had Lindisfarne or David Essex on their hands. More than a one-hit wonder, however, he penned a handful of beautifully brittle ballads, with “Up In The World”, included here, being the finest. Covered later by Garfunkel and Cliff, it’s a delicate tale of class and sex, and thus, like most Ward, very English. Little here can match it: “Secretary” and “Gandalf” is as ghastly as you’d fear, and the title track patronises housewives. Five previously unreleased alternative takes, though, showcase his subtle, soft voice.
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