John Elefante was born on March 18, 1958 in Levittown, New
York, but his family soon moved to Long Beach, California. He sang lead vocals, played keyboards, and
wrote songs on three albums by the mainstream rock group Kansas. Those albums were released between 1982 and
1984. John put out four Christian rock
albums with his brother Dino under the name Mastedon from 1989 to 2010. John and Dino also produced albums for the
likes of Petra, X-Sinner, Barren Cross, and Greg Long. In 1993 the Elefante’s founded The Sound
Kitchen in Franklin, TN. That recording
studio has been used by The Boss, Amy Grant, Brad Paisley, and several
others. ON MY WAY TO THE SUN (2013,
Kingheir Music) is John Elefante’s fourth solo disc. It was self-produced. John: “Lyrically, I have more inside of me
that I need to say, more I need to express and convey than ever before”.
The album begins with ‘This is How the Story Goes’ featuring
Kansas members Rich Williams on guitar and David Ragsdale on violin. Brian Dollar and Rusty Posey are on backing
vocals. This lengthy, well-executed,
experimental rock number, directly addresses the listener: “And this is how the
story goes, you must believe it all my friend/From the beginning to the end,
cause everyone lives forever/We just have to choose where, my friend/Cause the
virgin had a Son, and the stone was rolled way/So how can we be
terminal?/Because He lives today”.
‘Where Have the Old Days Gone’ is an electric guitar driven rocker. Those from the older generation will be able
to relate to these lyrics: “I remember me and my friends playing in the
schoolyard/Playing silly games making up the rules/Then I would walk home all
by myself/Cause back then we didn’t worry ‘bout no strangers/I would get to my
house, there were no locked doors/Never worried about freaks or predators
hanging around/We fought with our fists, nobody pulled a gun/Just get a bloody
nose and take off and run/But nowadays everything has changed, violence everywhere/A
state of disrepair”.
‘On My Way to the Sun’ finds John concluding that he needs
the Lord, on this melodic chorus: “Then if I’m alright, but everything’s
wrong/Then why can’t I seem to find my way home/The fields have all dried up,
so desperate for rain/No wonder why the harvest never came/A knock on my door,
this time I’m answering/I’ve waited too long to put a crown on my King/This
time, it’s everything/On my way to the sun”.
‘All I Have to Do’ is a great adult rock song. Again, it ultimately points to Jesus:
“There’s a feeling in the air, so many signs of your arrival/And some will call
us fools as they invest their time in idols/It’s coming through/The seasons are
changing, but the battle is far from over, and what is true/It’s so much harder
to see, living in the new reality/And I could no longer see it, it’s out of my
range/Though it’s my own skin, I feel so strange/A Savior is waiting/He’s not
only mine/He wants me to embrace you so/Let Him shine”.
‘The Awakening’ is a cry for unity in the Body of Christ:
“Angelic voices fill the air/It’s a joyful occasion to bring to the
nations/This truth that must be shared/A time for repentance and a time to show
reverence to the One who can take you there/.../Why did it take so long to come
together as one/And lift our hands unto the Lamb of God?” ‘Half the Way Home’ is a strong song that
makes good use of backing vocals. It
reflects on the nature of time: “Every second means much more than the one I
lived before/Time is much more precious than gold/Take His hand, let Him take
hold/Leave your mistakes on the table, cause the table will be cleaned/Like a
long forgotten dream/Celebrate the moment, it will never come again/Make the
best of every moment, until the time that we ascend/I’m finally at peace with myself/I’m
on my way to the Son/I can slow down, there’s no reason to run/I’m half the way
home”.
‘We All Fall Short’ has an acoustic feel which is
refreshing, and uses strings. It points
to God as a refuge: “We don’t have to sit ashore and watch the ocean/We have
the power, we can overcome the waves/We don’t have to fear and always run for
cover/We have a love like no other/But we all fall short of the Glory of the
Lord/And if we stand on the fence, it’s not a life we can afford/No better
place to be than underneath His wings/And the love we crave is the love that He
brings/A far greater love than anything we can conceive”. ‘Don’t Hide Away’ is a contagious song that
is evangelical in nature: “Hide away, hide away, don’t hide away, let the light
turn on/Shine down so the world will see, hide away/Don’t hide away/Let your
light turn on/Let everyone see that we are strong/Don’t hide away”.
‘This Time’ is a powerful ballad that builds in
intensity. It tells the story of a young
teen at an abortion clinic where God intervenes: “Right then the Lord began to
speak, you’re not taking this one, she’s Mine/She’ll grow up to seek My
Name/You’re not taking her this time/I decided before time began/Her name is
written in the Book/They didn’t have the power to take her life/They’re not
taking her she’s Mine/And you’re not taking her this time/No, you’re not taking
her/THIS TIME”. John’s adopted daughter,
Sami, was rescued from abortion! He has
partnered with Online For Life. The
album closes with ‘Confess’. It contains
these simple, yet powerful words: “Praise Him and fall to your knees/And
confess with your lips/That Jesus is Lord/And He’ll be faithful to forgive you
of your sin/Just confess, oh, that Jesus is Lord”.
The vocals and instrumentation on ON MY WAY TO THE SUN are
definitely mostly in the classic rock vein.
Fans of Foreigner, Journey, Petra, Kansas, and later Whiteheart, will
love it! John Elefante rocks out with a
purpose and a clear Christian message. I
would say this is a very artistic, memorable album with great depth. I’m rating it 93%. For more info visit: www.johnelefante.com.