Hope and Love Album by William Foley

Review

by

Jason O Donnell, Journalist

That Lonely Tear – reminiscent of the themes of Roy Orbison’s great songs, also “” by Aphrodite’s Child (’s group of the ‘60s). Sad lyrics with uplifting music. “Moves my ocean” – the ocean within all of us that pours out when tapped by love.

So Lonely Tonight – again sad lyrics in a carefree style. Singing to gain strength over sadness. Make your emotion into a song and release it (in fact, release an album of it). The beat in the song gives strength to the feelings expressed. A melancholy mood pervades these first two songs.

Weeping Willow – Nature reflects our emotions. Tomorrow will be new – love can be born and live again tomorrow (hope and love). Basic words of time-honoured truth encapsulate basic heartfelt emotions. The singer will be true to his loved one’s memory even as he moves on in life.

Hope & Love – Soaring Orbison-type vocals. Positive emotions surrounded by thoughts of expectation and desire and the longing to be with the special someone. Simple emotions cleverly worded.

You Need To Know – The album takes on an upward curve of feeling. Positive reminiscing. Remember the goodness of the past, and that can sustain you in the present. It will always be with you, a resource you can use.

Love In The Summer – A beautifully realised song. Strong theme now emerging in the album of love fondly recalled. Nice relaxed tempo giving pleasant atmosphere with concentrated vocals. The summer of our youth / of our hopes / of our lives. As we grow older, we come into the autumn and winter of our lives and summer becomes a memory, but what a memory! Shadows will inevitably fall but let’s remember the good times.

Something – that indefinable but perceivable quality of another person that makes us stretch ourselves to find expression and fail. These feelings are so much more powerful than words can give voice but sometimes words are all we have, though they fall short of the majesty of another person. These songs are well-constructed, with fitting conclusions, sharp clear endings.

Wonderful Was Your Love – A similar theme, the sweetness of past love, strong in the memory, shining still. (“Thank you for the days, those sacred days you gave me” – The Kinks, Days). The title could sum up one of the main themes of the album.

There Were Times – Similar theme of love remembered and delighted in. Throughout the whole album the melodies are just as good as the lyrics and complement them perfectly.

Beautiful Love – wholehearted devotion to the loved one, strong and expressive and appreciative of what she does for him.