Sample a track from each of Grod's 11 CD's

The "Complete Grod" covers the 11 main CD's produced in the career of "Grod Groddler", the musical persona of G.P. Walker.

"Grod Groddler" became one of Bath's most recognized buskers as a singer guitarist, playing regularly in the squares by the Abbey and Pump Rooms, also occasionally in York in Kings Court by "The Shambles."

The evening and early hours after busking though were spent recording songs people didn't even know existed. They were his own songs. Then after creating his own recording style, he then later applied it to the cover versions he used in his busking set, but uniquely different from the original recordings.

Over the years video footage had been taken and edited to make video for some of the songs. Including live performances of the songs, both solo and with bands, but also montages made from stills and video images from Grod's video diary.

Therefore as well as listening to the songs from the various albums, this CD-ROM also contains videos for some of the songs to explore. But also a full description of each of Grod's CD's, the story behind them and the story behind the songs on them.

Giving the life story of the artiste whom created all of this from his solitary bedsit studio over four years. Everything seen, heard or read being created by just one person, all comes from the hand and mind of Grod.

On this page we introduce the different CD's in order of their making, with a brief description about each CD.

By clicking on each CD though you can not only listen to the tracks on that CD, but also learn more about why the CD was made, the lyrics of the songs and the story behind the song or instrumentals.

The first ever CD produced was "Looking For Trouble" in May 99. Fulfilling a lifelong wish to make a CD of his music. It coincided with a ban on his use of an amplifier. Named after, and a tribute to his dog "Trouble" who had recently died, the CD contained a collection of songs and ballads recorded to tape over the years.

The CD also though contained a data side, put into a computer there was an equivalent to a web-site also on the CD. Here video, pictures and documents could be explored telling Grod's story to date.

By clicking on the CD below you can explore both the tracks and most of the data side of this unique CD.

Next came "Yours & Mine". When using an amplifier to perform, the amplifier was actually a karaoke machine that allowed the "live set" to be recorded each time. With requests to make a CD of the songs Grod performed while busking, a CD of just guitar and voice, is was simply a case of ploughing through the tapes that had been made before he was banned from using the amp. So this is a purely acoustic CD, each track from a live performance, half of other peoples songs... "Yours", and half songs written by Grod. "Mine"

The breaking up of a relationship and moving into a small studio flat in the village of High Littleton was the catalyst for the rest of Grod's recordings. Over the next three years he produced all but the final CD. The first of these was "Diary Of A Millionaire" It was a compilation CD of songs from the past CD's and songs already recorded for future CD's. The difference being Grod had now begun to master the recording software and his keyboard playing skills improved. Instead of recording to tape he was recording and mixing straight to the hard disk. The difference in sound quality was very noticeable. Each song recorded brought new skills learnt to apply to the next one. But each song was a diary entry itself about what was going on in Grod's life

Now having put together a few tracks now with full accompaniment, backing vocals, keyboards etc. and a noticeable unique recording style and sound, it was time to apply those skills to other peoples songs. Cover versions of songs that were already learnt from busking them every day. So using the same concept of "Yours & Mine" this is a CD half full of other peoples songs and half by Grod. But unlike "Yours & Mine" it wasn't an acoustic CD, this was the songs recorded in Grod's unique way with accompaniment of strings, backing vocals, keyboards etc. Like all the CD's, all you see and hear is the work of one person, from conception to production. All has been created personally by the hand of Grod.

In many ways all that had been learnt in producing the last four CD's, in both musicianship, vocals, song-writing, recording mixing and producing was the preparation for Grod's next CD. All self-written songs, all recorded in the unique style that had developed. It is the defining Grod CD and the views of people who have followed his work cite it as his best. The songs written reflecting the break up of his last relationship, he put into words and music what many then experience in similar situations. But few have dared to be so truthful. All that had gone before led to Greyfield.

Christmas though was fast looming. A Christmas Grod was destined to spend alone for only the second time in his life. The only other one had been the previous year, and that had been a solitary hell. But with Christmas having been taken over by commercialism, like every other artiste he had to have a Christmas record out. Containing a few of the traditional standards, done a very different way. Recorded by a person whom the magic of Christmas and all it stood for, had long disappeared. What claimed to be Christmas was a commercial imposter. Including a haunting version of "Away In A Manger", the CD also gives Grod's only self-penned Christmas song written years previously, but re-recorded specially, "Christmastime."

Having been previously been banned from using an amplifier when busking, he then fought a further ban with the claim he was too loud even without an amp, as he was now doing sing-a-longs and people were joining in! Grod now heard that he was again going to be banned because the "Three Tenors" were doing a special concert to celebrate the opening of Bath's New Multi-million pound Spa complex. Grod had recently stood in the local council elections as an independent, achieving even more notoriety in his struggle against the authorities in Bath and deliberate victimization. The news was that worldwide attention would be on Bath, the council didn't want the event ruined by any loud buskers.

So Grod went a bit quiet. Then sprung up on the eve of the concert, busking in the Square and promoting his new "Three Tenners" CD, so named because on a normal days busking he makes an average of £30... three tenners. It was purely co-incidental that someone of the same name was doing a concert nearby.

But there was still another CD to complete. And once again a broken relationship lay at the heart of it's muse. Just as the band "Muse" had been the soundtrack of the relationship.

But this time there was tragic consequences.

She was pregnant with Grod's child. Against his wishes she aborted on the final day of the legal 24 weeks. Then she attempted suicide, then she ran off illegally with her works supervisor who had a Position Of Trust and in vengeance tried to have Grod killed. He was attacked several times while busking, his car wheel nuts loosened causing him to crash, writing the car off.

Just when it could get no worse, life had taken cruel, cruel twists. The Police seemingly dis-interested in Grod's plight, he became scared for his life and housebound. There was only one way to wile away the time. To put all his feelings once again into words and music, and tell the whole tragic story from start to end.

There were friends trying to help him through it though. When he risked going out busking, to help avoid further attacks he'd normally hide out at a pub called the Coeur De Lion. It was the smallest pub in Bath, the regulars, staff and management all became friends. There were even a few impromptu gigs.

One of the barmaids let him occasionally stay over at her rented flat on Great Pultney Street, rather then return to High Littleton. Grod was now going through bankruptcy and every penny counted. In return for this favour he used to sing to her in her kitchen. While she knew his busking set she didn't know he wrote his own songs and enjoyed hearing them. Then when she went to bed, still awake Grod began to write some new songs.

In playing them to her she turned around and said "You should record those while you've still got your flat and still can. Maybe you should put them with the best songs you've done acoustically and call it "The Kitchen Sessions!"

She was joking. Grod wasn't. Recorded as if live at one of his amplified acoustic gigs, featuring new recordings of old songs and a few classics and covers, featuring just guitar and voice, a mixture of ballads rock, blues and folk, "The Kitchen Sessions."

Having put together a live acoustic CD, Grod had also recently come across tapes of live performances of the bands Grod was in when studying at Hendon Business School for his Business Studies Degree and Diploma in Marketing. Starting with "Arien Experience", Grod later formed "Jabberwocky" and then "No Names Mentioned." It was only years later Grod performed again with a band. That was a one off gig of "Grod Groddler & The Grodlings" of which Grod had the video but also some of the rehearsals.

Each band had done a couple or more of Grod's songs in the set list. Being in a band also allowed Grod the experience of playing on other band member's songs and concentrating on his lead and rhythm guitar skills.

The result is quite different from any of Grod's self-made CD's, so this one shows a nice contrast. From the tapes of live performances and live studio rehearsals, this is "Grod Live." Or having kept a very low profile over the last year and hardly going out, as a way of letting people Grod wasn't dead yet, it's full title being "Grod Groddler-Alive & Well"

All things come to an end. Death is part of life. But is there everlasting life? Is there a God?

Grod's first CD "Looking For Trouble" told the story of the struggle to live the life of a committed Christian in modern times. That money was worthless compared to your time and how you spent it. In being an entertainer Grod wanted to be a positive light in this world. But it had driven him to suicide. It was only then he began to record his songs and music. Then made the film he'd always dreamed of. He now had a musical of a true-life story called "Diary Of A Millionaire."

In keeping a documentary of his life since his suicide attempts, some ten years previously, while many truths had revealed themselves, to Grod there was proof that God didn't exist after all. It is all a myth to keep us going and keep control. Those who have known this throughout history have used to their advantage.

As the darkest Christmas ever approached for Grod, he wrote and recorded three last songs. "To Live The Life Of Christ", "Old Age" and "Don't Want My Life." Adding them to the dark Christmas carols he had recorded two Christmas's earlier, spent alone in turmoil, he then added his other songs which questions or mentions God. Then added to the mix his darkest instrumentals. It's the black album. And maybe it was always going to lead to this. From the man with no emotion.