Finch & Henson

The South African Rock Encyclopedia > Rock Legends > 1970s / 1980s > Finch & Henson

Legends Of South African Rock

Biography

Finch & Henson, a popular South African musical duo, comprised Brian Finch and Kenny Henson. Though they had been performing together since 1974, they only released their debut album in 1977. Both artists had established careers prior to forming the duo.

Brian Finch began his musical journey as a folk singer in Durban during the 1960s. From 1973 to 1974, he broadened his experience, working in England and Amsterdam before returning to South Africa in 1974, where he recorded the album Bringing Back The Good Times.

Kenny Henson’s career began with Leeman Ltd in 1965. He then joined several prominent South African rock bands: Freedom’s Children in 1966, and Abstract Truth in 1970. In 1972, he relocated to London to play with Daddy Longlegs, returning to South Africa in 1974.

Finch & Henson toured extensively throughout South Africa until 1982 and continued to perform sporadically until Kenny Henson’s death on 24 May 2007. Brian Finch passed away on 19 May 2019.

Brian Finch

Kenny Henson

Discography

The roots, branches and main works of the phenomenon that was Finch & Henson, together and apart.

Albums

KEY:
Title – Artist (Year of release) Label, Catalogue number comments

Totum – Abstract Truth (1970) Uptight, STIC 101 featuring Kenny Henson
Silver Trees – The Abstract Truth (1970) EMI Parlophone, PCSJ(D) 12065 featuring Kenny Henson
Cool Sounds For Heads – Abstract Truth (1970) EMI Parlophone, PCSJ 12070 compilation, featuring Kenny Henson
Godspell – Des & Dawn Lindberg (1973/74) Cat, CAL 16000 featuring Kenny Henson
Bringing Back The Good Times – Brian Finch (1974) Asylum, AUC4504 featuring Kenny Henson
Let Us Become Man (A Human Symphony) – Kenny Henson (1977) Warner Brothers, WBC 9002. Soundtrack of a multi-media show produced by The South African Council of Churches. Also featured Ramsay MacKay, Colin Pratley, Mike Dickman, Andrew Tracey and Marilize van Reenen.
Playgrounds In Paradise – Brian Finch and Kenny Henson (1977) Warner Brothers, WBC 9004
High Octane – Finch and Henson (1978) Warner Brothers, WBC 9007
Giving A Little Away – Kenny Henson’s Harambee (1978) WEA, WBC 9008
Recycled – Finch and Henson (1979) Warner Brothers, WBH 7712 a compilation of old songs, a few remixes and a couple of new songs
The Road Is Much Longer – Roger Lucey (1979) 3rd Ear Records, 3EE 7004 featuring Ken E Henson
At Home In The Dark – Finch and Henson (1980) Warner Brothers, WBC 9014
Oh Brother … Greatest Hits – Finch and Henson (1982) Warner Brothers, WBL 7715 compilation
A New Day – Freedoms Children (1990) Victory Records, CRS (3002) Gospel album by Colin Pratley and Kenny Henson, but credited to Freedoms Children
Free And Easy – The Very Best Of Finch And Henson (1993) Tusk, WOND 116 compilation
Mummies (Back From The Dead) – Freedoms Children (1996) unreleased
Hero Of Heroes – Brian Finch (January 2002) 3rd Ear Music, LM0039
Another Time, Another Place – Ken E Henson (October 2002)
Never Look Back – Brian Finch (April 2003) Janus, BFCD001 featuring Ken E Henson
Bringing Back The Good Times (CD reissue) – Brian Finch (April 2003) 3rd Ear Music, AUC4504
Eden – Brian Finch (January 2007) Bowline Music, F1001137
3 Chord Trick – Ken E Henson (2009)
In Another World – Brian Finch (July 2011)
Once In A Lifetime (DVD) – Brian Finch (July 2011)
Living For Yesterday – Brian Finch (November 2014)
The Classic – Brian Finch (2017) Brian Finch Music, BFM2017
Out Of The Blue (EP) – Brian Finch (August 2019)
The Early Years – Live 1974 – Finch & Henson (2019)
Ourang-Outang – Freedom’s Children With Malombo Jazz Makers (2020, recorded 1971) Sharp-Flat Records, SF06 featuring Kenny Henson
Never Look Back (The Lost Sessions) – Brian Finch & Kenny Henson (2026) Next Music recorded July to September 1987
Live At Gardens Village Hotel, 25th March 1988 – Brian Finch & Kenny Henson (2026) Next Music

Album Covers (selected)

Singles

Key:
A-side / B-side – Artist (Year) Label, Catalogue Number comments

In The Midnight Hour / Heartaches – Leeman Limited (1966) Continental, PD. 9046 featuring Kenny Henson
Under My Thumb / Mother’s Little Helper – Leeman Limited (1966) Continental, PD. 9100 featuring Kenny Henson
The Coffee Song / (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – Fleadom’s Children (1967) Troubadour, TRS-E-9087 featuring Kenny Henson; Freedom’s Children under a slightly different name
Good Times / Love Is Hard To Find – Brian Finch (1974) Asylum, AUS 404 featuring Kenny Henson
Free And Easy / Plans For Tomorrow – Brian Finch and Kenny Henson (1977) Warner Brothers, WBS 707
Love You A Little More Everyday / Shovel – Finch and Henson (1978) Warner Brothers, WBS 717
Belinda Lou / Ain’t It A Shame – Brian Finch and Kenny Henson (1978) Warner Brothers, WBS 274
Sweet Marie / Ten Times Loser – Finch and Henson (1979) Warner Brothers, WBS 721 The A-side is a cover of Bob Dylan’s ‘Absolutely Sweet Marie’
Windy Days / The Road Is Much Longer… – Roger Lucey (1979) 3rd Ear Music, 3 EZ 012 featuring Kenny Henson
Old Timer / No Direction – Borstal Boys (1979) 3rd Ear Music, 3 EZ 014 featuring Kenny Henson; A-side written by Pete Measroch, who had been in Abstract Truth with Kenny
Cherry Rose / Tears Of Sorrow – Finch and Henson (1980) WEA, WBS 737
Oh Brother (You’ve Got A Long Way To Go) / Drifter – Finch and Henson (1980) WEA, WBS 740
When You Were My Queen (2023 remix) – Brian Finch (April 2023)

Various Artists Compilations (selected)

Rock Steady

track: Lonely Spaceman (Finch and Henson)
release info: Promo LP 1978, WEA PRO 222
more info: CPlan Audio

Spotify

Sharp Cuts – South African Pop 1976-1990

track: Belinda Lou (Finch and Henson)
release info: CD 1992, One World, WOND 103
more info: Discogs

Spotify

Astral Daze 2 – More Psychedelic Gems From The South African Underground

track: Lonely Spaceman (Finch and Henson)
release info: CD September 2009, RetroFresh, freshcd 162
more info: The South African Rock Encyclopedia

Spotify