posted by ad-vinylrecords
The Christians is The Christians' 1987 debut album and contained their first five UK hit singles: "Forgotten Town", "Hooverville", "When the Fingers Point", "Ideal World" and "Born Again".
On their first album, the Christians blend socially conscious lyrics of life under Thatcher with smooth, slickly programmed pop-soul arrangements, produced by Laurie Latham who was responsible for the popular Brit-soul sound of Paul Young.
The single "Forgotten Town" sets the tone for the album: propulsive verses leading to choruses laden with the Christian brothers' three-part harmony. "Ideal World," as the title suggests, imagines a world without racism and suffering; "Born Again" finds solace from the ills of society in friends and lovers. "Hooverville" compares Thatcher's Britain to the poverty-filled reign of one of America's least successful presidents.
As the band members’ names suggest, this outfit do not get their name from actually being Christian, although they do strike a couple of chords with Christians in a few of the things they say in this, one of the greatest debut albums I've ever heard.
Playing smooth soul/funk, this trio is engineered by songwriter Henry Priestman. Their words are full of love and heart, politically topical and beautifully sung by the group’s sonuous vocals. Their Christian similarities come with “Born Again” and “Save A Soul In Every Town”, although the former is more likely a romantic analogy, while the latter starts with the words, “Lord, you saved me from myself, now please save somebody else/I know I no longer need you.”
Other songs are beautifully composed. “Forgotten Town” and “Ideal World” speak of problems of the worlds, while offering rays of hope. “Hooverville” cries for the homeless with the lyrics, “Dirty faced children sit in the road by the shanty town shacks they call home/The comfort of knowing they won’t be there long is the only comfort they know”, while “One In A Million” offers personal encouragement, “Re-inject some self respect, it’s the one thing you must never lose/And with your confidence intact, you’ve got a second chance, so much to prove”, and the concluding “Sad Songs” is heartachingly moving.
Playing smooth soul/funk, this trio is engineered by songwriter Henry Priestman. Their words are full of love and heart, politically topical and beautifully sung by the group’s sonuous vocals. Their Christian similarities come with “Born Again” and “Save A Soul In Every Town”, although the former is more likely a romantic analogy, while the latter starts with the words, “Lord, you saved me from myself, now please save somebody else/I know I no longer need you.”
Other songs are beautifully composed. “Forgotten Town” and “Ideal World” speak of problems of the worlds, while offering rays of hope. “Hooverville” cries for the homeless with the lyrics, “Dirty faced children sit in the road by the shanty town shacks they call home/The comfort of knowing they won’t be there long is the only comfort they know”, while “One In A Million” offers personal encouragement, “Re-inject some self respect, it’s the one thing you must never lose/And with your confidence intact, you’ve got a second chance, so much to prove”, and the concluding “Sad Songs” is heartachingly moving.
Side one
1. Forgotten Town - 5:13
2. When The Fingers Point - 3:32
3. Born Again - 5:18
4. Ideal World - 4:35
5. Save A Soul In Every Town - 4:32
Side two
1. … And That’s Why - 5:17
2. Hooverville - 4:45
3. One In A Million - 4:42
4. Sad Songs - 4:25
Christians:
- Garry A. Christian – lead vocals
- Russell Christian – saxophone, vocals
- Henry Priestman – keyboards, guitar, vocals
Additional personnel:
- Mike Bulger – electric guitar
- Tony Jones – bass
- Paul Barlow – drums
- Anthony Moore – programming
- Produced & Engineered by Laurie Latham
- Additional engineering by Pete Coleman, Stuart Barry
- Mastered by Tim Young
- Mix on (4) - David Bascombe, Mix on - Pete Hammond
Notes
Release: 1987
Format: LP
Genre: Sophisti-pop
Label: Island Records
Catalog# 208601
Vinyl: Excellent
Cover: Excellent (Gatefold)
Prijs: €10,00
0 comments:
Een reactie posten