‘Ark – The Angels Come – 1979

This album is really a one off gem that left us wanting for more. Dave Kelly and Derek Jeffery formed the band bringing David Mackay in on bass. When a producer was brought in Al Perkins filled the bill and he jumped in on lead guitar. Al Perkins had produced some of the biggest CCM albums of the time including Daniel Amos, Gentle Faith, and Terry Talbot. Anyway, personnel explanations out of the way lets talk about this album. The sound is often compared to The Byrds, Beatles, Crosby Stills & Nash and The Stones but personally I think it sounds most like the Byrds. This is a very very good album and it is such a pity it ended up being the only album from them. I don’t mean this album was a good CCM album, I mean this was a great album in all markets. I believe this album could have received air play on secular radio but I think it was just a little too late. The only track that I believe was timely was “Why?” and I think it would have done well on the radio. As for my favourite track those who know me know I almost always like the hard rock track but not on this one. On this one I love the ballad “Arms Of The Lord” in which I can hear a tinge of what was coming in the early 80’s. So to sum up, you need to listen to this album!!!

Tracklist
1 – Hold Me Tonight – 2:25
2 – Birthsong – 2:35
3 – For All You Know – 3:25
4 – A Place For Love – 2:56
5 – Hungry World – 3:03
6 – Don’t Look Now – 4:02
7 – All To Pieces – 2:28
8 – Standing At The Door – 2:23
9 – Arms Of The Lord – 3:25
10 – Why? – 2:40

Credits
Arranged By [Orchestra Arranger], Conductor – Greg Nelson
Bass – David Mackay
Design – Lynn Robb, Stan Evenson
Lead Guitar – Al Perkins
Mastered By – Lanky Linstrot
Photography By – Gary Heery
Producer, Engineer – Al Perkins
Strings – Edinburgh Symphony
Vocals, Drums, Percussion – James Kehn
Vocals, Rhythm Guitar – Dave Kelly, Derek Jeffery

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Spirit
Distributed By – Sparrow Records, Inc.
Recorded At – Soundcastle
Mastered At – ABC Records

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Author: Ray Mansfield

One of the founding cowboys of Real 80s CCM. Been listening to this stuff since 1978.

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