OUR ReCOLLECTIONS

Evelyn ‘Evie’ Tornquist was born on March 29, 1956 in Rahway, New Jersey to Norwegian immigrants.  She released her debut album A SONG FOR EVERYONE in 1970.  In 1977 and 1978 she won the Dove Award for ‘Female Vocalist of the Year’.  In 2005 she was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.  Three of her albums were Grammy nominated, including 1977’s COME ON, RING THOSE BELLS.  What I will be reviewing here is a best of project entitled OUR ReCOLLECTIONS (1996, Word).  Evie shares: “Really, life begins with Jesus and never ends thereafter.  It reaches its full meaning when we make Him center and Lord of our lives.  I did that at a very early age and have been privileged to walk with Him for all of these years”.

First up is the adult contemporary ballad ‘Special Delivery’ about the uniqueness of Jesus: “Never was anyone like Him/Never will one be the same/A tiny babe, an infant King, Savior/We worship and honor the power of His Name/Oh, He came special delivery/Wrapped up in love/Bound by a promise/Sealed by a dove”.  ‘Live for Jesus’ was penned by Nancy Henigbaum, better known as Honeytree.  It talks about the importance of legacy: “Oh, I want to be remembered/As a girl who sang her songs for Jesus Christ/Who was willing to lay down her life/And do His will no matter what the price”.

Ron and Carol Harris wrote ‘Mirror’, an easy listening tune addressed to seekers: “You’re searching for Jesus/Looking to find hope for tomorrow and some peace of mind/When you can find Him in the Bible and many churches that I know/But ‘til you find Him in the mirror/You’ve got a long way to go”.  ‘Step Into the Sunshine’ is a song of invitation: “Children, step into the sunshine, get out of the shade/This is the one time that you’ve got it made/And you can feel yourself smilin’ way down to your shoes/Step into the sunshine, find the great Good News!”

‘Give Them All to Jesus’ points to Him as Healer: “Wrap up the shattered dreams of your life/And at the feet of Jesus lay them down/Give them all (2X)/Give them all to Jesus/Shattered dreams, wounded hearts, broken toys/Give them all (2X)/Give them all to Jesus/And He will turn your sorrow into joy”.  Andrew Culverwell wrote the classic country and western song ‘Born Again’ that uses tambourine.  It’s a testimonial: “One day I prayed ‘Jesus take my sin away’/And that’s when I was born again/Born again, there’s really been a change in me/Born again, just like Jesus said/Born again and all because of Calvary/I’m glad, so glad that I’ve been born again”.

Kurt Kaiser wrote the campfire classic ‘Pass it On’.  It begins with these familiar words: “It only takes a spark to get a fire going/And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing/That’s how it is with God’s love once you’ve experienced it/You spread the love to everyone/You want to pass it on”.  Evie’s husband Pelle Karlsson wrote ‘Never the Same Again’, a country ballad of testimony: “I remember how He waited/How He called me by night/Yet I chose to wander my own way/And nothin’ worked out right/Till the day I finally surrendered/Jesus healed my life/I won’t be the same, no never the same again”.

‘Clean Before my Lord’ speaks of how Jesus transforms us: “Clean before my Lord I stand/And in me not one blemish does He see/When I placed all my burdens on Him/He washed them all from me”.  John Daniels wrote the disco track ‘Broken Up People’ which offers a commentary on society: “Broken up people and broken down lives/Broken up homes, broken husbands and wives/All the world around us is falling apart/Broken up people with broken up hearts/There are so many things that money can buy/But it won’t buy peace of mind no matter how hard you try/Broken up people need brand new lives”.

Ray Hildebrand wrote the inspirational classic ‘Say ‘I Do’’.  It anticipates heaven: “Anybody here want to live forever?/Say ‘I do’/Anybody here want to walk on golden streets?/Say ‘I do’/Anybody here sick and tired of living like you do?/Anybody here want a home with love forever?/Say ‘I do’”.  ‘Praise You Just the Same’ includes these prayerful words: “Oh, but thank You for the trial if it will bring me close to You/Help me Lord to smile when things don’t go the way I’d want them to/If I suffer pain, help me that I don’t complain/But thank You Lord and praise You just the same/I want to thank You, Lord, and praise You just the same”.

‘Unfailing Love’ sounds like an epic ballad from a Broadway musical.  It speaks of Christ’s goodness: “Unfailing love flows from His heart and heals my soul/In spite of who I am He loves and makes me whole/I almost can’t believe it’s true/Unfailing love and yet I know/He gave His life to give to me/Unfailing love”.  Sharalee Lucas and Ron Harris wrote ‘Praise the Lord, He Never Changes’, a praise and worship ballad: “Praise the Lord/He never changes/I come to Him/He’s always there/He comforts me on every level, takes the burden that I bear/Praise the Lord/He never changes/He’s never any other way/And He’ll be the same tomorrow as He was and is today”.

‘The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power’ is one of two gospel numbers on this CD penned by Andrae Crouch.  This one’s about the atonement: “The blood that Jesus shed for me way back on Calvary/That blood that gives me strength from day to day/It’ll never lose its power/It reaches the highest mountain/And it flows to the lowest valley/That blood that gives me strength from day to day/It’ll never lose its power”.  Jessy Dixon wrote ‘Hold On’, a song of encouragement: “Weeping may endure for a night/But if you’ll trust in Jesus/Everything’s gonna be alright”.

‘Just Because I Asked’ is the song of one amazed: “I can’t help singing/I feel I’m bursting/I can’t keep it to myself, oh no/For the Spirit is moving in me/And has filled me and made me new”.  Last up is another classic, ‘My Tribute’.  It exalts God: “With His blood He has saved me/With His power He has raised me/To God be the glory/For the things He has done”.

If you enjoy the easy listening and inspirational sounds of Twila Paris, Sandi Patty, and early era Amy Grant, you should pick up this superb collection by a true Christian music pioneer.  These are songs that come from a childlike innocent faith in Jesus Christ.  The lyrics admit life can oft be difficult, but point to Jesus as the solution to our problems.  He is loving and compassionate and yearns for a personal relationship with us.  I’m rating OUR ReCOLLECTIONS 100%.  For more info visit: www.eviemusic.org.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Thousand Foot Krutch released their indie label debut SET IT OFF back in 2000.  In 2003 they followed it up with PHENOMENON (Tooth & Nail) on September 30^th.  A bit before that, on July 22, 2003, FM Static released their debut album which I’ll be reviewing here.  It is called WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Two of the band’s four members at the time were also part of Krutch, those being Trevor McNevan (vocals), and Steve Augustine (drums).  On this side project they were joined by Justin Smith (bass), and John Bunner (guitar).  The album was produced by Aaron Sprinkle and executive produced by Brandon Ebel.  Sprinkle also provides additional guitars on the album.  The band thanks God “for blessing us with each day we have to do this”.

‘Three Days Later’ is a fun pop song: “Call up your friends and let’s go down to the beach/Bring your stereo and all your favorite CD’s/We’ll bring all the guitars, sit on top of our cars, and sing the night away/Just like rock stars”.  ‘Crazy Mary’ is one of the album’s three hit singles.  This pop song is about a troubled girl: “She watches the world pass her by like a freight train/And they all call her the same names, laughing as they point and stare at her/So she cries out to God up in Heaven/Been prayin’ since she was eleven for Him to send someone to meet her there/Maybe if I took a little time/Then she’d heal a little if she wants to”.

‘Something to Believe In’ is a pop/punk song of one seeking meaning and purpose: “I don’t wanna look, I just wanna find/Can you give me somethin’ to believe in?/Keep your religion, don’t need your lies/I’m just lookin’ for one good reason/I feel like it’s teenage hunting season and nothing out there sounds half decent/Who’s out there?/Who’s gonna save us?/Before we all fall through the cracks in the pavement”.  ‘Definitely Maybe’ is a story song: “I met a girl named Tara and she lived in the heart of America/She liked black caddies, listened to Puff Daddy, danced till her legs were sore/She worked around the corner at a diner with a grouchy owner/And her boyfriend’s shady, dates another girl named Katie/He loves her/Definitely maybe”.

‘Donna’ is a fast paced pop/punk song that finds a guy conversing openly with a gal: “Oh Donna/Won’t ya pick me up tomorrow?/I need to get out of this place I’m in and get my life in order/Although this world just might fall apart/I’ve got enough in my heart to get us started/Come with me, oh, I’m beggin’ you please/Or just say goodbye, cause this is the end of me”.  ‘All the Days’ is about a group of friends going off to separate post-secondary institutions: “This is the last day of our freshmen summer/Textbooks and essays wait around the corner/Saying goodbye now to our best friends/We’ll try if we can to get home on weekends.../Probably won’t see each other the same ways/But no matter what happens/I’ll never forget all the times we’ve had together”.

‘Hold Me Twice’ includes these words from a girl to a boy: “You can hold me once, you can hold me twice/Even better if the stars are good tonight/You can hold me, be my one and only”.  However, the girl ends up moving away: “365 days have gone by now and I could paint a picture of you/I see you every time I pass your locker/Remember the time we talked till 6 a.m./And I’m tired of missing you”.  ‘The Notion’ is a rocker about having a great time: “Let’s go!/Don’t say maybe/Forget everyone around/Let’s get together and get down/I know it sounds crazy/1, 2, 3 times a lady/Oh no, I’ve got the notion/Let’s get together and start the commotion/Round and round til everyone stops/Til the next needle on the record player drops”.

‘October’ speaks of a girl who ends up becoming famous: “I saw you in Cosmopolitan and your hair was down and everybody liked you/I remember way back when, way back in grade seven/Cause your hair was down and everybody liked you/You were a smart girl/Favorite day was Earth Day/Forget what those jerks say/I dug you in the worst way/No doubt, cause you even went out and bought me a Boyz-N-the-Hood soundtrack for my birthday”.  ‘My First Stereo’ is an ode to one’s music machine: “Somethin’ tells me I’ll never be close to another like you/Helped me through the things that we all go through/Everyone wants, everyone needs/Everyone hurts sometimes like me/It never rejects me, always accepts me/Nothing can compete with my first stereo”.  After a several minute lengthy silence, the album concludes with the hidden acoustic track ‘Hey Now’.  It’s about being smitten with a girl: “Every minute I’m not with you/I hope I’ll see you soon/There’s just something that happens when you walk into the room/And instantly I feel so complete/It hits me right about the time you kiss my cheek/And you give me this feeling/It’s like no other feeling/But it knocks me off my feet”.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? is mainly a mainstream fast paced pop/punk music album, although two of the songs speak of a deeper spiritual meaning.  There are happy songs about infatuation and love, as well as songs that long for a gal, and one that reaches out to a hurting gal.  There is even a love song to one’s stereo.  As a side project of two TFK members, this album is a success, as it does not sound like the rock music that band puts out.  The lyrics here are not that deep and will appeal most to the teenage crowd. Fans of MxPx and Relient K should buy this disc. It’s a fun listen which I’m giving 85%.  For more info connect with the band on Facebook.

NOTHING IS SOUND

Switchfoot began as Chin Up in 1996.  By the time they released their debut album THE LEGEND OF CHIN the next year, they were known as Switchfoot.  Their third album LEARNING TO BREATHE, which came out in 2000, was nominated for a Grammy for ‘Best Rock Gospel Album’.  Four of the band’s songs were used in the 2002 Mandy Moore film ‘A Walk to Remember’.  In 2005 Switchfoot released their fifth studio album, NOTHING IS SOUND (Sony BMG/Sparrow).  Group members were: Jon Foreman, Tim Foreman, Chad Butler, Jerome Fontamillas, and Andrew Shirley.  The album was produced by John Fields and the band.  It reached #1 on the U.S. Top Christian Albums chart and #3 on the U.S. Billboard 200.  The album was nominated for a Dove for ‘Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year’.

‘Lonely Nation’ is a catchy rock song about a gal coming apart: “She’s been breaking up inside, inside/Singing without tongues, screaming without lungs/I want more than my lonely nation (2X).../Lonely, lonely.../Don’t leave me hollow/I’m tired of feeling low, of feeling hollow”.  ‘Stars’ was the album’s first single, peaking at #16 on the U.S. Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart.  It won a Dove for ‘Short Form Music Video of the Year’.  Andy Sturmer sings background vocals on this song nature lovers will dig: “I’ve been thinking about everyone/Everyone you look so lonely/But when I look at the stars I see someone else/When I look at the stars I feel like myself”.

Next up is ‘Happy is a Yuppie Word’.  One online source defines a yuppie as “a young person with a well-paid job and a fashionable lifestyle”.  This rock ballad exposes materialism: “I’m looking for a bridge I can’t burn down/I don’t believe the emptiness/I’m looking for the kingdom coming down/Everything is meaningless/I want more than simple cash can buy/Happy is a yuppie word/Nothing is sound!”  ‘The Shadow Proves the Sunshine’ is Psalm-like: “Oh Lord, why did You forsake me?/Oh Lord, don’t be far away, away/Storm clouds gathering beside me/Please Lord don’t look the other way”.

‘Easier than Love’ is a pop/rock song about lust: “Sex is currency/She sells cars, she sells magazines/Addictive, bittersweet/Clap your hands with the hopeless nicotines.../She is easier than love, is easier than life/It’s easier to fake and smile and bribe.../Sex is industry, the CEO of corporate policy”.  ‘The Blues’ is a ballad that includes these words that the prodigal son could have spoken: “I miss direction most in all this desperation/Is this what they call freedom?/Is this what you call pain?/Is this what they call discontented fame?”

‘The Setting Sun’ is a pleasant pop song about heaven: “My hope runs underneath it all/The day that I’ll be home/It won’t be long/I belong somewhere past this setting sun/Finally free, finally strong/Somewhere back where I belong.../Let the weak say I am strong and it won’t be long/Let the right say I was wrong and it won’t be long/Let us find where we belong, beyond this setting sun”.  ‘Politicians’ is a pounding rock song with words still appropriate for today: “Everything is breaking down, breaking down/I pledge allegiance to a country without borders, without politicians/Watching for my sky to get torn apart”.

‘Golden’ is a terrific adult contemporary number boosting a gal’s self-esteem: “She’s been staring down the demons who’ve been screaming she’s just another so and so, another so and so/You are golden, you are golden child/You are golden, don’t let go/Don’t let go tonight.../The earth spins and the moon goes round/The green comes from the frozen ground/And everything will be made new again like freedom in spring!”  ‘The Fatal Wound’ makes use of harmonica and includes these heavy words: “I am the crisis/I am the bitter end/I’m gonna gun this down/I am divided/I am the razor edge/There is no easy now/Son of sorrow, staring down forever with an aching view/Disenchanted, let’s go down together with the fatal wound”.

‘We Are One Tonight’ was the album’s second single.  It was #8 on the Christian Hit Radio year end chart.  Rachel Masen sings background vocals on this happy pop/rock song: “We are one tonight and we’re singing it out/We are one tonight and we’re dreaming out loud/Though the world is flawed these scars will heal.../I don’t want to lose the common ground with the whole world upside down”.  The song’s about unity.  Last up is ‘Daisy’ a sleepy ballad of surrender that turns into a rocker at the end.  Chris Westlake and Tommy Barbarella play strings on this song about surrender: “Let it go, daisy let it go/Open up your fist/This fallen world doesn’t hold your interest/It doesn’t hold your soul/Daisy, let it go../He gives Himself away...”

NOTHING IS SOUND clocks in at 51 minutes and 6 seconds.  Jon Foreman`s vocals are passionate.  The emptiness of lust, greed, and materialism is explored here.  Loneliness is a common theme.  The album does however, offer hope and peace, cries for unity, and points to heaven with anticipation.  This is a perfect modern rock album with doses of pop mixed in.  Fans of Skillet and Thousand Foot Krutch should acquire this one.  The lyrics here are deeper and more thought provoking in many cases than those two bands however.  I`m rating NOTHING IS SOUND 100%.  For more info visit: www.switchfoot.com.

PHENOMENON

Thousand Foot Krutch formed in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada in 1997.  The next year they released the now out of print THAT’S WHAT PEOPLE DO, independently.  In 2000 they released SET IT OFF on an indie label.  ‘Puppet’ was a highlight on that album.  In 2003 Krutch signed with Tooth & Nail Records and put out PHENOMENON.  On the album, produced by Aaron Sprinkle and the band, Krutch is: Trevor McNevan (vocals, guitar), Steve Augustine (drums), and Joel Bruyere (bass).  Sprinkle plays additional guitars.  The band thanks “God for the chance to use the gifts He’s given us”.

Starting things off is the album’s first single and title track ‘Phenomenon’.  It hit #1 on ChristianRock.Net.  It’s basically meant to energize the crowd: “Down, here comes the sound/Everyone pound your feet to this phenomenon/Now, let’s make it loud/Let me show ‘em all how you move to this phenomenon/Whoa, open your soul/Baby, lose control inside of this phenomenon/Just let yourself go/We’ll let everyone know/You moved to this phenomenon”.  ‘Step to Me’ is a great rock song aimed at Satan: “I’m sick of letting you control the places that I go/I’m never giving into you again/Take another look at me/And tell me what you see/All of these cats tryin’ to get under my skin/But they can’t step over me/You try to control me/But you can’t hold me/You don’t own me/If you ever step to me”.

‘Last Words’ seems told from the perspective of one who has committed suicide: “You’ve got what it takes to make it through/And if I was you I’d get down on my knees and pray/Thank God in the morning for another day/Cause these are the last words/I’m ever gonna get to say to you/When everything falls away from you/Take these words and know that the world is not worth leaving”.  ‘This is A Call’ is a moving ballad about finding purpose: “And they say someone out there sees us/Well, if you’re real, then save me Jesus/Cause I’ve been this way for far too long/I wasn’t meant to feel alone.../I’m asking You to show me what this life is all about”.

‘Rawkfist’ hit #1 on ChristianRock.net and broke into the Top 40 on mainstream radio.  It’s a punchy rocker that’s all about having fun: “Throw up your rawkfist/If you’re feelin’ it when I drop this/Show ‘em how we blow the spot/Let’s make it hot/Let’s shock ‘em with the bodyrock/Til the party stops/It’s time to take it up a notch and keep it locked/For all the headbangers in the parking lot”.  ‘Faith, Hope And Happiness’ speaks of the downside of fame: “Every single word I say is judged by a million critics/Every which way you turn you’ve got the sound of a million voices/Every single move you make is torn by a million cynics.../Wish everything didn’t happen to me/All I want is faith, love and happiness”.

‘I Climb’ is a rock song about relationships: “I don’t want you to be anything at all/I just want you to say you love me/I don’t care, just stop living like this/I don’t want to be anything at all/I just want you to see who I am/And stop the violence, no more silence/I’m gonna show ya I’m alive/Breathing clearly for the first time/Hold me in your arms/Take me to the place where you are”.  ‘Quicken’ cries out to God: “It’s coming to that point/I’m down on my knees/I’m praying/You change my life and change me/I’ll follow You there/Got nothing to lose/Unwind me, heal my sickness/Unravel this and set me free”.

‘New Design’ talks of loneliness: “Sometimes I feel so alone/It feels like I’m standing out here on my own/I’ve never felt so far from home/It’s comin’ on/It hits me when I step outside my zone.../I’ve never felt so far from home”.  ‘Bounce’ is an energetic fun rocker: “Everyone bounce!/Show me what it’s all about/Don’t stand up, bounce/Cause we’re takin’ over now/It’s TFK, we rock the party/We keep the party jumpin’ in an old school way/Bounce!/Show me what it’s all about/Don’t touch us, bounce/Get up and let it all hang out/If you find it hard to breath, ya better just leave/We ‘bout to make it hotter than the third degree!”

‘Ordinary’ is a song of reflection: “You could never stop this feelin’ I’ve got inside of me/And you could never fill these shoes/Cause I refuse to lose/I’m just ordinary me/Digging slowly, flowers growing/Beautiful from inside of me”.  ‘Break the Silence’ is conversational: “You make me feel complicated sometimes/I try to explain the way/You took me, turned it all around/Everyone will know the minute we let it go/I can’t take it anymore/Let’s be original”.

Well, you won’t find any sex or drugs here, but you will find lots of ambitious rock ‘n’ roll!  In fact the only ballad is ‘This is A Call’.  It’s a good one by the way.  Three of the songs are simply about rocking out and having a good time.  Other topics include: crying out to God, fighting Satan and loneliness, and the cost of fame.  You won’t find much theological depth here lyrically, but it would be a good album to work out to.  Fans of Skillet and Manic Drive will enjoy this effort, but it’s not as strong as several of Krutch’s other works, so I’m only giving it an 83%.  For more info visit: www.thousandfootkrutch.com.

CANDLE IN THE RAIN

David Meece was born on May 26, 1952 in Humble, Texas.  His bio says he “distinguished himself as a child prodigy and began touring as a concert pianist at the age of ten.  By fourteen, he performed the Mozart Piano Concerto in F Major with the Houston Chamber Orchestra”.  He went on to tour internationally.  He gave his life to Christ while studying at the Peabody Conservatory of Music.  His debut album, DAVID, came out in 1976.  Fast forward to 1987, and he released CANDLE IN THE RAIN (Myrrh), on which he used six different producers including Gino and Joe Vannelli, Brown Bannister, and Brian Tankersley.

The album opens with the Gino Vanelli/Roy Freeland composition ‘All is God’s Creation’.  It’s an adult pop song of praise about God’s sovereignty: “All is God’s creation/Fashioned by one hand/Satan and salvation/Under one command/All is God’s creation/All is in His hands/A day of celebration/Is coming to this land”.  ‘Nothing to Forgive’ is a pop/rock song about not holding grudges: “And who am I to call you the guilty one?/Every man’s a sinner under the sun/Been through the fire/We been through the rain/They say nothing’s forever/But I say some things don’t change/You turned on your brother, you did what you did/But when you love someone/No matter what it is, when you really love someone/There’s nothing to forgive”.  ‘God Only Knows’ is a pop ballad that includes these words: “There’s a voice from a distant place/It calls my name/There’s a hand that pulls me up to a higher plane/There are mountains high to climb/And rivers deep to cross/Though His love may lead me blind/My soul will not be lost”.

‘The Water is Fine’ speaks of baptism: “You been high and dry and afraid to get wet/Take a chance on Jesus and wash your debts/Now hush your mouth and swallow your pride/Take a leap in the Jordan and come alive/Walk right in/The water is fine”.  Gino Vannelli and David Meece co-wrote ‘His Love Was Reaching’, a beautiful, inspirational song of testimony: “When I thought I had nothing, yet I had so much/Through the years that it seemed we were out of touch/His love was reaching/An invisible hand pulling me through/His love was reaching/Touching my life in more ways than I ever knew”.  ‘Amor Conquesta Todo (Love Conquers All)’ speaks of the events of Easter: “So, remember this/When you see a weeping willow cast its shadows on the leaves/It speaks through the wind and it tells of the Martyr nailed to its friend/And there on the willows we hung up our lives/But man could not kill something that cannot die.../Love conquers all”.

‘Higher Ground’ is a pop anthem that serves as a prayer for help: “I see the light on a distant shore but I’m too tired to row anymore/Won’t You give me the strength to get through the rain?/Won’t You show me the way to get home again?/Lift me up to higher ground/Lift me up, I’m sinking down/And I know the water’s cold and I might drown/Lord, lift me up to higher ground”.  David is the sole writer of the title track, ‘Candle in the Rain’, a pop ballad calling Christians to action: “Light a candle in the rain/Light an everlasting flame that burns the night away/Let’s burn the night away.../Frightened people, they need a second chance/Can you help them?”  Last up is ‘Hold On’ penned by Meece, Jonathan David Brown, and Lynn Barrington.  It’s a song of encouragement with Howard McCrary and Debbie McClendon on background vocals: “The Lord is bringing a turnaround/He’ll fight your battle on holy ground/Hold on for a miracle/Hold on, if it takes another day/Hold on for a miracle/Hold on, and a miracle will come today”.

CANDLE IN THE RAIN has 80’s written all over it, from the cool picture of David on the front cover to the musical sounds contained within!  Six of the nine tracks are upbeat 80’s pop music, while the remaining three are ballads.  These are songs sung by a man of the Christian faith.  Varying topics are presented, including: trusting all to God, God’s love for us, our call to be a light in the darkness, and our opportunity to forgive one another.  Fans of the musical stylings of Michael W. Smith and Billy Joel will find something to appreciate on this album, which I’m rating 94%.  For more info visit: www.davidmeece.com.

KATHY TROCCOLI

Kathleen Colleen ‘Kathy’ Troccoli was born on June 24, 1958 in Brooklyn, New York.  According to Wikipedia.org her Dad died of colon cancer when she was fifteen, and her Mom died of breast cancer in 1991.  Kathy’s debut album STUBBORN LOVE came out in 1982.  Her 1991 album PURE ATTRACTION birthed the mainstream hit ‘Everything Changes’ which hit #14 on the Billboard Hot 100.  In 1994 she released a self-titled album on Reunion Records.  In the liner notes, she writes: “This album is dedicated to my 8^th grade teacher, Rose Czygier, for giving me my first glimpse of what God had in store for me”.

First up is the pop/dance number ‘Just You’, about love at first sight: “Some girls need a little time/Some just can’t make up their mind/When you came knocking at my door/Oh, this girl just knew for sure/It was love, it was right/I knew you were now my once in a lifetime/It was love, it was right/And I never looked behind me/Since you came and found me”.  The gifted Diane Warren wrote ‘Tell Me Where It Hurts’, a lovely ballad about emotional healing, with Dann Huff on guitars: “Why don’t you tell me where it hurts now baby?/And I’ll do my best to make it better/Yes, I’ll do my best to make the tears all go away/Just tell me where it hurts, now tell me/And I’ll love you with a love so tender/And if you’ll let me stay/I’ll love all of the hurt away”.

The Nashville String Machine is utilized on the ballad ‘If I’m Not in Love with You’.  It finds Kathy thinking out loud: “Why do I go crazy every time I think about you baby?/Why else do I want you like I do?/If I’m not in love with you/And if I don’t need your touch/Why do I miss you so much tonight?/And if it’s just infatuation then why is my heart achin’ to hold you forever?”  ‘I’ll Be There (For You)’ is an upbeat R&B/pop song about true friendship: “Who knows tomorrow?/Everyday there can be change/And I know you’ve gone with me/Down many roads/And now that you’re here in a place where you can’t see/Let me be what you’ve been to me/Gonna lead you to a better day”.  Background vocalists used are: Donna McElroy, Michael Mellet, Ashley Cleveland, Kenny Greenberg, and Michael Omartian.

‘All of My Life’ is one of two co-writes by Kathy and Michael Omartian.  He’s also one of the producers on the album.  Mark Douthit plays saxophone on this ballad that is romantic: “Forgive me for all of the ways that I’ve hurt you/You’re the last one I’d ever want to harm/Oh, I want you back in my arms/All of the days of all of my life/I pray will be with you/All of my nights right by your side/Never a time away from you and from the love we share/Oh, now I know we’ll make it through/Spending all of the days of all of my life with you”.  ‘Takin’ A Chance’ was written by Whitney Houston, BeBe Winans, and Keith Thomas.  It’s a peppy pop song that reminds us love can sometimes be a gamble: “There’s a chance that maybe once I could be wrong, but I never felt so right/There’s a chance that maybe I’m risking much too soon/But our hearts just fell in tune/Good things come to those who wait/I’m just afraid that I might sit here and wait too late/So, I’m takin’ a chance on loving you/No matter the price, I’ll pay my dues/I’m takin’ a chance on loving you/They tell me I’m crazy”.

‘Mission of Love’ is a happy pop song with a spiritual message: “I wanna find somebody/I wanna bare my soul/Wanna tell the world/So the world will know/That I’m sending out my heart on a mission of love/Light this single life/Turn this black to white/Reach into this desperate night/Cause so many are all alone and tired of feeling cold/Living on their own”.  ‘Never My Love’ was penned by Don and Dick Addrisi and was a #1 hit for The Association in October of 1967.  This quiet song is one of loving assurance: “You ask me if there’ll come a time when I’ll grow tired of you/Never my love, never/You wonder if this heart of mine will lose its desire for you/Never my love (2X)/What makes you think love will end/When you know that my whole life depends on you?”

Jerry McPherson plays guitar on ‘Fallin’’ which finds Kathy head over heels: “When I’m down/Your voice can always soothe my soul/Without a sound/You touch me and you let me know that you love me.../It’s like a dream come true/Me and you...baby”.  Last up is ‘My Life is in Your Hands’, one of two co-writes by Kathy and Bill Montvilo.  This inspirational number would become a signature song for Kathy.  It offers these words of personal testimony: “My life is in Your hands/My heart is in Your keeping/I’m never without hope/Not when My future is with You/My life is in Your hands/And though I may not see clearly/I will lift my voice and sing/Cause Your love does amazing things/Lord, I know my life is in Your hands.../So, I will find my rest and I will find my peace/Knowing that You’ll meet my every need”.

If you think Christians should only sing songs about God, you’ll be sorely disappointed with this album.  Eight of the ten songs here are mainstream songs.  They celebrate love between women and men, and also speak of romantic longing and heartache.  One song speaks of the commitment friendship takes.  Musically, half of the album is upbeat pop in nature, with the other half being pop and adult contemporary ballads.  Quality wise, the instrumentation is superb and Kathy’s vocals are moving and soulful.  The background vocals are also strong.  The pictures of Kathy included with the CD are beautiful.  I’m rating KATHY TROCCOLI 95% and recommending it to fans of Amy Grant and Kim Boyce.  For more info visit: www.kathytroccoli.com.

THE LIFE

Michael Card was born in Madison, Tennessee on April 11, 1957.  In 1988 he released the two disc set THE LIFE (Sparrow).  It is a trilogy on the life of Christ, which contains almost all of the songs from Card’s albums: KNOWN BY THE SCARS (1984), SCANDALON (1985), and THE FINAL WORD (1987).  THE LIFE was produced by Norbert Putnam.  Card shares: “This trilogy represents a progression, perhaps you might even call it a pilgrimage, through the Gospels...from the Incarnation to the death and Resurrection-those two most implausible, impossible, and unthinkable events, the bookends of that impossible life, the birth and the death of God.  It is an ongoing pilgrimage, open to everyone who has the guts and gall for it”.

Disc One begins with ‘Overture to the Trilogy’, a beautiful, mostly instrumental piece.  This is followed by a beautiful flute based piece, ‘The Promise’ which tells of prophecy being fulfilled: “The Promise was love and the Promise was life/The Promise meant light to the world/Living proof Jehovah saves/For the name of the Promise was Jesus/The Faithful One saw time was full/And the ancient pledge was honored/So God the Son, the Incarnate One/His final Word, His own Son/Was born in Bethlehem/But came into our hearts to live”.

‘Immanuel’ is a great Christmas themed anthem using a choir: “A sign shall be given, a virgin will conceive a human baby bearing undiminished deity/The glory of the nations/A light for all to see/And hope for all who will embrace His warm reality/Immanuel, our God is with us/And if God is with us, who could stand against us?/Our God is with us, Immanuel”.  ‘Carmen Christi’ delivers these words about Christ’s humility in choral fashion: “Who being in very nature God/Would not grasp equality with Him/But made Himself nothing/And took up a servant’s nature”.

‘To The Mystery’ is a light Christian rock track about the immaculate conception: “When the Father longed to show a love He wanted us to know/He sent His only Son and so/Became a holy embryo/That is the mystery/More than you can see/Give up on your pondering/And fall down on your knees”.  ‘The Final Word’ is a lovely easy listening ballad about God’s plan for us: “He spoke the Incarnation and then so was born the Son/His final word was Jesus, He needed no other one/Spoke flesh and blood so He could bleed and make a way Divine/And so was born the baby who would die to make it mine/And so the Light became alive and manna became Man/Eternity stepped into time so we could understand”.

‘Spirit of the Age’ tackles abortion: “A voice is heard of weeping and of wailing/History speaks of it on every page/Of innocent and helpless little babies/Offerings to the spirit of the age/Now, every age had heard it/The voice that speaks from hell/’Sacrifice your children and for you it will be well’” .  ‘Celebrate the Child’ is a happy pop praise and worship song using sax: “Celebrate the Child who is the Light/Now the darkness is over/No more wandering in the night/Celebrate the Child who is the Light/First born of creation/Lamb and Lion, God and Man/The Author of Salvation/Almighty wrapped in swaddling bands”.

‘Joseph’s Song’ is a ballad that finds Jesus’ earthly father talking to God: “How could it be, this baby in my arms sleeping now, so peacefully/The Son of God, the angel said/How could it be?/Lord, I know He’s not my own/Not of my flesh, not of my bone/Still Father let this baby be/The son of my love”.  ‘Jesus Let us come to Know You’ invites Him in: “Jesus draw us ever nearer/Hold us in Your loving arms/Wrap us in Your gentle presence/And when the rain comes bring us home”.

‘Meditation/Baptism’ runs over five minutes.  It begins as an instrumental and eventually goes on to include lyrics: “He came gently and stepped down into the water/With the light of the Father in His face/Son of God He had been since the beginning/Now as Son of Man Jesus took His place/A stone that makes men stumble/And a rock that makes them fall”.  ‘Scandalon’ is a light rock number that reminds us we all must make a decision about Christ: “To some He is a barrier, to others He’s the way/For all should know the scandal of believing/He will be the truth that will offend them one and all/A stone that makes men stumble/And a rock that makes them fall/Many will be broken so that He can make them whole/And many will be crushed and lose their own soul”.

‘What Will it Take (To Keep You From Jesus)’ speaks to those who haven’t given their lives to Christ: “And how long before you stop with your reasons/Take your defenses away/It’s only a lie that keeps you from following/Don’t let it stand in your way/So many excuses and so many lies/Are blocking the Light and the Way/But the final decision to follow the Lord can shatter and blow them away”.  Closing out Disc One is ‘The Lamb is a Lion’, which reminds us that Jesus was not always meek and mild: “Priests and the merchants demanded some proof/For their hearts were hardened and blind to the Truth/But Satan’s own law is to sell and to buy/But God’s only way is to give and to die/And the Lamb is a Lion who’s roaring with rage/At the empty religion that’s filling their days”.

Disc Two begins with ‘The Wedding’, a pleasant easy listening song about Jesus’ first miracle: “Lord of light, oh, come to this wedding/Take the doubt and darkness away/Turn the water of lifeless living/To the wine of gladness we pray/So amidst the laughter and feasting/There sits Jesus full with the fun/He has made them wine because He is longing/For a wedding that’s yet to come”.  ‘The Nazarene’ has a wonderful chorus: “He came, He saw, He surrendered all/So that we might be born again/And the fact of His humanity was there for all to see/For He was unlike any other man and yet so much like me”.  ‘The Gentle Healer’ is an effective acapella song that begins: “The Gentle Healer came into our town today/He touched blind eyes and the darkness left to stay/But more than the blindness, He took their sins away/The Gentle Healer came into our town today”.

Card co-wrote ‘Forgiving Eyes’ with Norbert Putnam.  It’s told from the perspective of the woman caught in adultery: “My body could feel the stones that were waiting/My judge a man from Galilee/In His eyes so gentle I could see/A father and a brother and a son/Just as I saw Him/The hope I had lost became born again/I was not hopeless though I’d been lost/Now I felt I was found when He looked at me with His forgiving eyes”.  ‘God’s Own Fool’ is a light pop track of spiritual invitation: “So come lose your life for a carpenter’s son/For a man never died for a dream/And you’ll have the faith His first followers had/And you’ll feel the weight of the beam”.  ‘Why’ uses tambourine and reflects on Judas: “Why did it have to be a friend who chose to betray the Lord?/Why did He use a kiss to show them that’s not what a kiss is for?”

‘Known By the Scars’ is a strong Christian rock song about Christ’s earthly mission: “For a time He sought to tell the world He was the Way/That God the Father had a human heart/With His own holy hands He sought to touch and heal their scars/But they chose to tear those gentle hands apart”.  ‘Ride on to Die’ is about Jesus riding into Jerusalem: “Midst the shouting so loud and the joy of the crowd/There is One who is riding in silence/For He knows the ones here will be fleeing in fear/When their shepherd is taken away”.  ‘Come to the Table’ is a co-write with Niles Borop.  It’s an adult contemporary song of warmth focused on communion: “Come to the table He’s prepared for you/The bread of forgiveness, the wine of release/Come to the table and sit down beside Him/The Savior wants you to join in the feast”.

‘In the Garden’ reflects on Gethsemane: “Trembling with fear, alone in the garden/Battle before the final war/Blood became tears, there in the garden/To fall upon the silent stones/There in the darkness the Light and the darkness stood still/Two choices, one tortured will”.  ‘Traitor’s Look’ is a pop/rock song with extremely honest lyrics: “Now, Judas don’t you come too close/I fear that I might see/That traitor’s look upon your face might look too much like me/Cause just like you I’ve sold the Lord and often for much less/And like a retched traitor/I betrayed Him with a kiss”.  ‘Cross of Glory’ contains these words of testimony: “Upon the cross of glory/His death was life to me/A sacrifice of love’s most sacred mystery/And death rejoiced to hold Him/For soon He would be free/For love must always have the victory”.

Randy Scruggs co-wrote ‘He Was Heard’, which includes these joyful words: “In the fullness of the promised time/The Final Priest did come and He offered up a living sacrifice/Now we His children wait for Him/With hope and joyful praise/For we know that God has heard Him/For we know that He was raised.../Oh, once and all He paid the cost enduring all the shame”.  These lyrics from ‘Crown Him’ make me think of Revelation: “Crown Him! Crown Him!/Holy angels sing/All glory, honor, power, and grace/Crown Him King of Kings!/Crown Him! Crown Him!/Those redeemed and damned will bow with me and humbly sing/Worthy is the Lamb!”  Last up is ‘Joy in the Journey’, a ballad that offers great hope: “There is a joy in the journey/There’s a light we can love on the way/There is a wonder and wildness to life/And freedom for those who obey/And all those who seek it shall find it/A pardon for all who believe/Hope for the hopeless and sight for the blind”.

THE LIFE is a magnificent 29 track collection focused on the birth, life, and death of Jesus Christ.  It is a good theological study on the Incarnation and the Atonement.  This album reinforces my belief that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and the only way to heaven and eternal life.  Musically, THE LIFE is mainly easy listening and light pop but other genres are also delved into.  If your faith and beliefs have been shaky lately, pop these two discs into your player and be encouraged and strengthened!  If I could give this project over 100% I would!  For more info visit: www.michaelcard.com.

GLO

Delirious? released their first album under that name, entitled KING OF FOOLS, in 1997.  It was nominated for a Grammy and peaked at #7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Christian Albums Chart.  It included the hits ‘Deeper’ and ‘History Maker’, peaking at #20 and #4 respectively, on the UK Singles Chart.  In 1999 they released their second album, MEZZAMORPHIS.  It peaked at #25 on the UK Album Charts and #2 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Christian Albums Chart.  In 2000 the band released their successful third album GLO (Furious?).  Martin Smith, Stuart Garrard, Tim Jupp, Jon Thatcher, and Stewart Smith were the group members at the time.  The album was produced by Tedd Tjornhom and the band.

Stuart Garrard wrote the first song, a modern worship one, entitled ‘God You are my God’.  It opens with the sounds of The Monks of Ampleforth Abbey and includes these beautiful words: “God, You’re my God, You’re my God (2X)/And I will seek You, yes I will seek You (2X)/You satisfy my soul (2X)”.  ‘GLO in the Dark Pt 01’ is an extension of the previous song.  It includes the vocal talents of Sharlene Hector and encourages us to: “Come into the house of God”.  Martin Smith wrote the lengthy ‘God’s Romance’, a pop/rock song of celebration: “There’s a song that everyone can sing/There’s a race that everyone can win/Leave your sadness, it’s our time to dance/Everyone let out your praise/People with their hearts ablaze/We’ve found Jesus/He’s our great romance”.  A choir is used.

‘Investigate’ is a rock ballad that cries out for purity: “Investigate my life and make me clean/Shine upon the darkest place in me/To You my life’s an open book/So turn the page and take a look/Upon the life You’ve made.../Investigate, I can’t wait/Excavate, recreate”.  ‘GLO in the Dark Pt 02’ is a creative continuation of the previous song, with great electric guitar work.  ‘What Would I Have Done?’ is a tender, reflective ballad: “Where do you go when you’ve lost the keys/When all is dead and you’re on your knees?/And in a world where its love betrays/There is a light that will save the day/Don’t go away/What would I have done?/What would I have done if it wasn’t for Jesus?/And what would I have become if it wasn’t for Jesus?”

‘My Glorious’ is a rousing modern worship anthem: “People, we believe that/God is bigger than the air I breathe/The world we’ll leave/God will save the day and all will say/’My glorious!’/Clouds are breaking, heaven’s come to earth/Hearts awakening, let the church bells ring”.  ‘Everything’ is a co-write between Martin Smith and Stuart Garrard.  It’s a commercial sounding pop song of testimony: “It’s a beautiful day and we’re running proud/And we’ll run to the line/Hear the witness cloud/I know it’s true/We’re gonna fly, we’re gonna dance/On that glorious day with You/You give me everything, give me  hope within/You’re the song I sing”.  ‘Hang on to You’ puts full confidence in our God: “Looking out like a little child/Holding tight when it all gets wild/And I’ll hang on to You/Nothing in this world will see me through/Only You/And I’ll hang on to You/Everyday I live, I give to You”.

‘Intimate Stranger’ is the album’s longest track at almost seven and a half minutes long.  It is a quiet and beautiful song: “Intimate stranger be my life/Jesus I love You/Jesus I adore You/Jesus, You still have my affection/And my song will be ‘I love You’”.  ‘Awaken the Dawn’ is a pretty worship song: “Sing to the Lord with all of your mind/With understanding give thanks to the King/Sing to the Lord with all of your strength/Living your lives as a praise offering/You are the Lord, the Saviour of all/God of creation we praise You/We sing the songs that awaken the dawn/God of creation we praise You”.  Bagpipes are used here and on ‘GLO in the Dark Pt 03’.

‘The Years Go By’ is an adult rock track that speaks of God’s faithfulness: “Looking back across the years/We’ve had joy, we’ve had tears/Hand in hand we’ve run the race/Gratitude for Your grace/Thank You every time You’ve led us through/Always You are the fire in me/The years go by and still I fly/On wings like eagle’s/You take me high where angels cry/Glory forever!”  ‘Jesus’ Blood’ talks of redemption: “There’s a secret I must tell of all the love I’ve found/And it’s hidden in my heart/The day You tore my world apart/Hallelujah, King forever, Friend and Saviour/Jesus’ blood never fails me (2X)/Jesus’ blood (2X)”.  Last up is ‘GLO in the Dark Pt 04’ which uses strings to good effect.

There are several lengthy songs on GLO making it a lengthy album, clocking in at 71 minutes and 43 seconds, but don’t confuse that with being a bore to listen to!  There is no filler here!  This is a modern rock worship record, with the majority of the songs praising and worshipping God for who He is and what He has done.  He has saved us and redeemed our tears and our lives, out of His great love!  He satisfies our souls, giving us hope, strength, and a song to sing.  The album also expresses a desire for holiness.  Musically, this is a cool, experimental project.  Fans of Switchfoot and U2 should acquire GLO, which I’m rating 100%.  For more info visit: www.martinsmith.tv or check out the band on Facebook.

SUMMER DAYS (AND SUMMER NIGHTS!!)

The Beach Boys released their debut album SURFIN’ SAFARI in 1962.  Fast forward to mid 1965 and they released their ninth studio album SUMMER DAYS (AND SUMMER NIGHTS!!) on Capitol Records.  It reached #2 on the U.S. Billboard 200 Albums Chart and #4 on the UK Top 40 Album Chart.  This was the first album by the group that touring member Bruce Johnston sang and played on.  In the liner notes Dennis Wilson shares: “I love the summertime most because we get around to all the towns and I can meet all the girls.  We sang our hearts out for this new album and I hope you’ll flip out for it like we did”.

The album begins with ‘The Girl From New York City’, one of eight co-writes by Brian and Mike.  Mike sings lead on this song about a fascination with girls: “She come out with her best friend for the summer in L.A./They took a spot and plopped down on the beach/Well, you find them there every day/And I said/’California guys all can’t peel their eyes from that girl from New York City/And L.A. boys all heard the noise/About that girl from New York City’”.  ‘Amusement Parks U.S.A.’ was a #3 hit in Japan.  It is a rock ‘n’ roll number with a carnival feel all around: “You’ll crash and burn in the bumper cars at Jersey’s steel pier/You’ll crack ‘em up when you stand in front of all the crazy mirrors/At first you’ll be a chicken at the jackhammer ride/But you’ll do it with a girl sittin’ right by your side/Let’s take your car and mess around at the park all day”.

Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich, and Jeff Barry wrote ‘Then I Kissed Her’, a pleasant mid-tempo rock ‘n’ roll song: “I kissed her in a way that I’d never kissed a girl before/I kissed her in a way that I hope she liked forevermore.../Then I asked her to be my bride/And always be right by my side/I felt so happy that I almost cried/And then I kissed her (3X)”.  ‘Salt Lake City’ is all about a place the band was really popular: “There’s a park near the city, yeah/All the kids dig the Lagoon now/It’s full of all kinds of girls/And rides and we’ll be flyin’ there soon now/And girl for girl they’ve got the cutest of the Western states/They got the sun in the summer/And winter time the skiing is great, yeah/Salt Lake City, we’ll be coming soon”.

‘Girl Don’t Tell Me’ features the first lead vocal by Carl Wilson on a Beach Boys studio album.  It’s a light pop song about heartbreak: “Hi little girl, it’s me/Don’t you know who I am?/I met you last summer when I came up to stay with my grand/I’m the guy who left you with tears in his eyes/You didn’t answer my letters/So I figured it was just a lie.../Girl, don’t tell me you’ll write (2X)/Girl, don’t tell me you’ll write me again this time”.  Next up is ‘Help Me, Rhonda’ (Single Record Version) with Al Jardine on lead and a different spelling than on the TODAY! album.  This version reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart!

‘California Girls’ is one of my all time favourite Beach Boys songs.  It’s a fun rock ‘n’ roll song with Mike on lead.  It includes an organ break and hit #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart.  Here are a few of the lyrics: “The Mid-West farmers daughters really make you feel alright/And the Northern Girls with the way they kiss/They keep their boyfriends warm at night/I wish they all could be California girls/I wish they all could be California/I wish they all could be California girls”.  ‘Let Him Run Wild’ aims to convince a gal she’s with the wrong guy: “When I watched you walk with him tears filled my eyes/And when I heard you talk with him/I couldn’t stand his lies/And now before he tries it/I hope you realize it/Let him run wild, he don’t care.../He’ll do the same with other girls as he did to you”.

Brian sings lead on ‘You’re So Good to Me’.  It has a strong percussive beat and sings the praises of one’s girl: “You’re kinda small and you’re such a doll/I’m glad you’re mine/You’re so good to me/How come you are?/You take my hand and you understand when I get in a bad mood/You’re so good to me/And I love it, love it/You’re my baby, oh yeah/Don’t mean maybe, oh yeah”.  ‘Summer Means New Love’ is a nice easy listening instrumental.

‘I’m Bugged at my Ol’ Man’ is one of three songs Brian wrote alone.  This piano based number on which he sings lead, is no doubt directed at Murry, but is hilarious: “I’m bugged at my ol’ man/Cause he’s making me stay in my room/Darn my dad/I came in a little late.../Why did he sell my surfboard?/He cut off my hair last night in my sleep.../I tried to call up my chick/But he jerked my phone right out of the wall”.  Last up is a short, dreamy acapella song, ‘And Your Dreams Come True’.  Two of the five bonus tracks on the 2001 CD re-issue of TODAY! and SUMMER DAYS (AND SUMMER NIGHTS!!) are an alternate take of ‘Let Him Run Wild’, and the single ‘The Little Girl I Once Knew’.  The latter begins: “We met when she was younger and I had no eyes for her/A few years went by and I saw her/Now I’m gonna try for her/Look out, baby/She’s not the little girl I once knew”.

SUMMER DAYS (AND SUMMER NIGHTS!!) is leaps and bounds more enjoyable than its predecessor TODAY!  It consists of eight fun rock ‘n’ roll songs, two light pop songs, one instrumental, and one acapella selection.  Girls are hands down the main focus of these songs.  There are four happy songs about relationships and three about an attraction to girls, as well as three focused on heartache.  I would say the songs are pretty family friendly compared to some of what is on the charts these days.  There is a certain innocence to them.  The group’s trademark harmonies are present throughout.  I’m rating this record 97%.  For more info visit: www.thebeachboys.com.

TODAY!

By the end of 1964 the Beach Boys had had twelve Top 40 hits!  Late that year Brian Wilson quit touring with the group due to a mental breakdown.  For a short time Glen Campbell took his place on the road, and then it was Bruce Johnston.  Brian stayed at home writing and working on tracks.  David Leaf writes: “Working with one instrument at a time, Brian taught each musician his or her part”.  Leaf adds: “Brian was fascinated by and obsessed with new sounds...Production-wise, Brian Wilson was way ahead of almost every other contemporary recordmaker”.  In March of 1965 the group released TODAY! (Captitol Records).  It peaked at #4 on the U.S. Billboard 200 Albums Chart.  In the original album liner notes Dick Clark wrote: “Today they still care about the same things their audiences care about.  Fame is important to them, but not as important as their music and their fans towards whom they feel a true allegiance”.

The opening song is a peppy rock ‘n’ roll one called ‘Do You Wanna Dance’.  It’s a cover of a 1958 Bobby Freeman hit, with drummer Dennis Wilson on lead vocals here.  It finds a guy propositioning a gal: “Do you wanna dance and hold my hand?/Tell me baby I’m your lover man/Oh baby, do you wanna dance?/Do you wanna dance under the moonlight?/Hold me baby all through the night/Oh baby, do you wanna dance?”  ‘Good to My Baby’ is one of eight co-writes between Brian Wilson and Mike Love.  They share lead vocals here.  It’s about a strong relationship: “Some guys may think they’d be better for her/But she knows just what she wants for sure/And when we’re out with our friends now/You know that we never have to put on a show/And we stay together while other couples come and go/She’s my girl and I’m good to my baby (2X)/And I know she’s happy with me/Good to my baby (2X)”.  ‘Don’t Hurt My Little Sister’ is a rock ‘n’ roll song from the perspective of a protective big brother: “There she goes, she ran in her room/She’ll probably stay in there the rest of the day/It sounds like it must have been something you said/You know she’s awful used to getting her way/Why don’t you kiss her?/And while you kiss her tell her you miss her/Why don’t you treat her nice?/Don’t hurt my little sister”.

‘When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)’ is a great song that makes use of the harpsichord and harmonica.  It’s a song of reflection: “When I grow up to be  man/Will I dig the same things that turn me on as a kid?/Will I look back and say that I wish I hadn’t done what I did?/Will I joke around and still dig those sounds?/When I grow up to be a man/Will I look for the same things in a woman that I dig in a girl?/Fourteen, fifteen/Will I settle down fast or will I first wanna travel the world?/Sixteen, seventeen/Now I’m young and free, but how will it be?/When I grow up to be a man”.  Al Jardine sings lead on the LP version of ‘Help Me, Ronda’.  It’s a danceable rock ‘n’roll song about heartache: “She was gonna be my wife and I was gonna be her man/But she let another guy come between us and it ruined our plan/Well, Ronda you caught my eye and I can give you lots of reasons why/You gotta help me Ronda/Help me get her out of my heart”.  ‘Dance, Dance, Dance’ was the highest charting single from the album.  It reached #8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart.  Mike Love sings lead and sleigh bells are used: “When I feel put down I try to shake it off quick/With my chick by my side the radio does the trick/I love to dance right on the spot/The beat’s really hot!”

‘Please Let Me Wonder’ is the ballad of a fellow yearning for a certain lady: “For so long I thought about it/And now I just can’t live without it/This beautiful image I have of you/Baby/Please let me wonder/If I’ve been the one you love/Please let me wonder/If I’m who you’re dreaming of/Please let me wonder, love”.  ‘I’m So Young’ was penned by W.H. Tyrus Jr.  It was previously recorded by the Students and then the Ronettes.  It begins with these timeless words: “I have a girlfriend/She says I’m her only one/We wanna get married but we’re so young, so young/Can’t marry no one/They say our love is just a teenage affection/But no one knows our hearts’ direction”.  ‘Kiss Me Baby’ is a post argument ballad: “As I drove away I felt a tear/It hit me/I was losing someone dear/Told my folks I would be alright/Tossed and I turned, my head was so heavy/Then I wondered as it got light/Were you still awake like me?/Woah baby, kiss me baby/Woah baby, love to only”.

Brian sings lead on ‘She Knows Me Too Well’ which again has timeless lyrics: “I get so jealous of the other guy/And then I’m not happy til I make her break down and cry/When I look at other girls it must kill her inside”.  The oboe is one of the instruments used on the fifth ballad in a row, ‘In the Back of My Mind’.  It’s a song that expresses vulnerability: “In the back of my mind I still have my fears/I live my life with her/Love her true she knows I’m sure/I make her happy just living so plain/In the back of my mind I’m ‘fraid it’s gonna change”.  Last up is ‘Bull Sessions With Big Daddy’.  According to David Leaf, this one’s about the band and Earl Leaf (no relation), a rock ‘n’ roll publicist, reflecting on the 1964 fall tour of Europe they’d went on.

On the 2001 CD re-issue of TODAY! and SUMMER DAYS (AND SUMMER NIGHTS!!) there are five bonus tracks.  Two are alternate takes of ‘Dance, Dance, Dance’ and ‘I’m So Young’.  The latter includes flute which isn’t used on the album version of the song.  In 1964 the group had performed the Four Freshman classic ‘Graduation Day’ on their CONCERT record.  Here, we have a studio recording of the sentimental song: “There’s a time for joy/A time for tears/A time we’ll treasure through the years/We’ll remember always/Graduation day/At the senior prom we danced ‘til three/And there you gave your heart to me/We’ll remember always/Graduation day”.

This is an interesting Beach Boys album.  There is nary a mention of surfing or cars.  There are three happy rock ‘n’ roll romantic relationship songs, but the vast majority of the songs here are sad songs about love.  One could argue that instead of putting five ballads back to back at the end of the record, they should have been interspersed with the more upbeat songs.  As presented here, they sound a bit the same.  Nonetheless, the group’s vocal harmonies are great as usual and collectors such as I will want to make sure they have this album.  I’m rating it 84%.  For more info visit: www.thebeachboys.com.