In the summer of 1988, the year I was married and would also move to Maryland to begin working for the Benson Company I attended the Christian Artists event known as Estes Park in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Somehow I ended up meeting and hanging out with a new artists who was in the midst of recording his debut project. He would perform during the week and I became an instant fan. Less than a year later David Mullen’s debut, “Revival” hit the stores and went beyond anything i had imagined from meeting and spending time with him. That amazing, razor edged and strained voice, the pounding rock and blues were only outdone by some amazing songwriting. Mullen would record only three albums but would win a shelf full of songwriting awards for his wife, Nicole C Mullen (aka Nicole on two Frontline released projects), as well as a who’s who list of CCM artists. When Nicole was an artist on Frontline David came with her to a Frontline sales conference and we played a game of softball. I played shortstop and robbed him of a sure double by stabbing a smoking line drive (that’s just a reminder to David in case he ever reads this). The title track rocks in a real Mellencamp, Americana fashion. His voice gravels through and killer hook in the chorus. “Sho’ Love You” keeps the same theme of true American rock with a phenomenal backing band. “Heaven’s to Betsy” takes the popular phrase and twists the meaning and turned it into a radio hit. The real centerpiece of the album is “Backstreet.” The Springsteenesque song builds from a quiet, nearly whispering introduction into a huge chorus that drives the point home both musically and lyrically. This is Mullen’s best vocal performance on this or any of his albums. the emotional ferocity that builds is the stuff spine tingling is made from. It is not just the voice but the attitude with which the voice derives. Empathetic and prophetic simultaneously where the words both exhort and condemn, mainly because they are to be believed. Later albums would no longer feature the same rock and passion, but for fans of Rick Elias, Carson Cole, John Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen this album was a sheer delight.
Contributor David Lowman – https://ccms500bestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist
1 – Revival – 5:20
2 – Sho’ Love You – 3:56
3 – Heaven’s To Betsy – 4:34
4 – Backstreet – 4:56
5 – Somebody Say Amen – 3:29
6 – Fallen World – 4:48
7 – Still Here – 2:15
8 – Live So God Can Use You – 3:43
9 – The Blood – 4:46
10 – Hang My Head And Cry – 5:31
Credits
A&R [A&R Direction] – Danny Kee, Mark Maxwell
Art Direction, Design – Laura LiPuma
Backing Vocals – Ashley Cleveland, Kim Fleming, Vicki Hampton
Engineer [Assistant Engineers] – Barry Dixon, Carry Summers, Kevin Twit, Steve Bishir
Mastered By – Doug Sax
Mixed By – Jeff Balding
Mixed By [Assisted By] – Ken Allardyce
Musician [The Players], Bass – Tommy Sims (tracks: 1 to 5, 8, 10)
Musician [The Players], Drums, Percussion – Chris McHugh (tracks: 1 to 5, 8, 10)
Musician [The Players], Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Classical Guitar, Dobro – Gordon Kennedy (tracks: 1 to 5, 8, 10)
Musician [The Players], Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Slide Guitar – Tom Hemby (tracks: 1 to 5, 8, 10)
Overdubbed By [Overdubs Recorded By] – Bill Deaton, Brent King, Lee Groitzsch, Lynn Fuston, Ronnie Brookshire
Photography By – Mark Tucker
Producer [Produced By] – Chris McHugh, Mark Gersmehl
Recorded By [Additional Tracks Recorded By] – Ronnie Brookshire
Recorded By [Basic Tracks Recorded By] – Jeff Balding
Companies, etc.
Record Company – Warner Communications
Copyright (c) – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Manufactured By – WEA Manufacturing
Recorded At – OmniSound Studios
Recorded At – Digital Recorders
Overdubbed At – Hummingbird Studio, Nashville, TN
Overdubbed At – OmniSound Studios
Mixed At – Bill Schnee Studios
Mastered At – The Mastering Lab
Published By – Word Music
Published By – Kutable Music
