CCM music as it was presented to me is a funny thing. I don’t recall seeing a single soul gospel album at my local record store. Now I did live in rural Canada so I’m not overly surprised but why didn’t the big record companies try to get up to listen to people like Pastor Shirley Caesar? The woman had at least 30 albums out by the 80’s so how come I never heard of her. The album we’re featuring today came in 1983 and is probably one of the best soul gospel albums I have ever heard. I do not understand how an artist who has 59 studio albums starting in 1967, 12 Grammy Awards and 18 Doves as well as induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame isn’t better known to me. I do not like to throw around the word racism but I do not understand why no one was trying to sell this music to white kids in the 80’s. Anyway this probably the best soul album I have heard from the era. The title track, just shortened down to “Jesus”, is worth the entire price of admission and “Guilty As Judas” was begging for a Blues Brothers version.
Tracklist
1 – I’ll Keep My Light On In The Window – 4:00
2 – He’s Only A Prayer Away – 4:28
3 – I Don’t Wanna Stay Here – 4:13
4 – Mark Of The Beast – 4:34
5 – No Charge – 3:25
6 – Take It Away From Me – 3:35
7 – I Won’t Let Go – 3:50
8 – Jesus – 3:41
9 – Guilty As Judas – 3:59
Credits
Arranged By [Strings And Horns] – Lloyd Barry, Sanchez Harley
Art Direction – McConnell Graphics
Backing Vocals – Ann Price, Bernard Sterling, Carl Hunter, Charles Obie, Donna McElroy, LeRoy Caesar, Mike Mathis, Ron Meadows, Steve Twyman, The Caesar Singers
Bass – Jessie Boyce, Tom Robb
Drums – James Stroud
Engineer – Ken Corlew, Rick McCollister
Executive-Producer – Ken Harding
Guitar – Larry Byrom, Reggie Young, Steve Buckingham
Horns – The Nashville Hornworks
Keyboards – Lisa Nelson, Mike Mathis, Randy McCormick, Tony Brown
Liner Notes – Carolyn Sanders, Attorney Richard Manson*
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Percussion – Micky Buckins
Photography By – Rick Blumen
Producer – Tony Brown
Strings – The A Strings
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co. – △25970
Recorded At – Woodland Studios
Mixed At – Woodland Studios
Mastered At – Woodland Studios
