Tag: Adrian Snell

This is probably Adrian’s most prophetic album. Adrian himself describes it as “a contemporary oratorio that truly has a message for the world today.” While a little bit of a grandiose description I think it’s fair. The story of this album isn’t so much the album but the tour it spawned. It was first performed in Jerusalem, March 1986 and quickly spread around the world. Adrian made a point of hiring local choirs and performers as the tour went and some of them were pretty big choirs. He is very proud that so many people got to attend the concerts as a performer not just an audience member. So what is the album. Well it’s a Rock opera I guess. It adheres to the scriptures and as such is a rather spiritual experience for the listener. I’m not a big fan of this way of presenting music as I’m rather infantile and just want a song to entertain me and not make me work to enjoy it. That said this album is easy to enjoy if you just want some simple music. I think Adrian hit the balance nicely on this album. He actually re-recorded the album in 2017 and toured it again. You gotta respect a project that is still appealing to audiences 30 years later.

Tracklist
1 – Kaddish For Bergen-Belsen – 4:30
2 – The Nations Rage And Fall – 2:34
3 – Nobody Listens – 3:45
4 – Messiah Mask (Pretender To My Throne)/I Am Your God – 5:00
5 – Guns Of Peace – 6:50
6 – No Escape – 4:55
7 – Child Of Darkness – 2:52
8 – I Am Your God – 2:25
9 – Man Of Sorrows – 2:19
10 – I Am The Way – 4:22
11 – Lord Have Mercy – 2:32
12 – Streams In The Desert/And They Shall Prophesy – 4:41
12 – And In That Day – 4:23
14 – He Lives In You – 1:53
15 – Alpha And Omega (The Beginning And The End) – 5:00

Credits
Bass Guitar – Les Moir
Choir – The All Souls Choir, The Worship In Concert Choir
Design, Illustration – James Kessell
Directed By – Victor Kee
Directed By, Conductor [Choirs And Congregation Conducted By], Arranged By [Choir Arrangements] – Noel H. Tredinnick
Drum Programming [Additional], Guitar Synthesizer – Dave Bainbridge
Drums, Drum Programming – Dave Dowle
Electric Guitar, Guitar Synthesizer, Engineer, Producer, Arranged By – Neil Costello
Executive-Producer – David Bruce
Flute, Saxophone – David Fitzgerald
Mastered By [Mastering Engineer] – Dave Aston
Oboe – Debbie Bainbridge
Piano, Keyboards, Producer, Arranged By – Adrian Snell
Programmed By [Keyboards Sampling And Programming], Piano, Keyboards, Producer, Arranged By – Dave Bainbridge
Vocals – Joanne Hogg
Vocals [Additional], Arranged By [Vocal Arrangements] – Julie Moon, Mal Pope

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Copyright © – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Distributed By – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Pressed By – MPO

This is Adrian’s 9th studio album but this one isn’t quite as easy listening as his previous albums. I would even venture to say there’s 4 or 5 AOR tracks on this album. We recently got the entire Snell record collection and I simply can not believe how many albums this guy did. But here’s my question. How does a guy who had over 24 albums on major labels, most of which are in the easy listening category…… how did he never have a CCM single? I mean mathematically should have had quite a few. Don’t tell me it’s because of talent because if he didn’t have any talent he wouldn’t have had record deals for over 20 albums. I can point to several artists who were talented who could only get a one album deal. This guy had over 20 record deals. I don’t know, I’m just baffled at this. I’ve asked a few artists about it and they had no idea and were quite surprised also. They had nothing but good to say about Adrian. Oh well back to the album I kind of like this one, I’m generally not a fan of his work because it’s not my style but this album has a couple really good tracks. If you prefer his easy listening worship oriented style there’s lots of that here too so let’s call this one a cross over album.

Tracklist
1 – Who’s Laughing Now – 3:20
2 – Still Your Heart – 4:50
3 – Light On The Road – 3:55
4 – Rejoice – 3:50
5 – Shelter From The Storm – 4:05
6 – Start Over – 3:00
7 – Heart Of The Father – 4:29
8 – Come In From The World – 2:57
9 – Midnight Awake – 3:22
10 – Fill My Life – 3:55

Credits
Arranged By [String & Track], Bass – Tim Smith
Arranged By [Track], Keyboards, Synthesizer – John Lawry
Backing Vocals – Alician McInnes, Barry Crompton, Mo Stanway, Tom Douglas
Design, Typography – Wagstaff Design Associates
Drums – Joe English
Electric Guitar – George Cocchini, Norman Barrett
Engineer [Overdubs & Vocals] – Colin Owen
Engineer [Overdubs & Vocals], Acoustic Guitar – Terry Rowley
Engineer [Tracks] – Joe Wilson
Executive-Producer, Backing Vocals – John Pac
Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Adrian Snell
Mastered By – Jim Loyd
Mixed By – Bob Clark
Photography By – Slideffects
Producer – Ray Nenow
Saxophone – Donnie “Sax” Sanders

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Pilgrim America Records
Copyright © – Pilgrim America Records
Distributed By – The Benson Company, Inc.
Produced For – Primacy Productions
Recorded At – Master’s Touch
Mixed At – Great Circle Sound
Mastered At – Masterfonics

This was the second album from Adrian and it picks up right up where the last one left off. Adrian was a solid performer of worship / easy listening at this point in his career and few others did it as well as him. Now to be clear this is not my style of music but I know good music when I hear it and this is going to lead to my rant. How on gods green earth did Adrian never have a CCM charting single. He had 23 albums of which I’ve heard several now and I am completely dumbfounded at how he never had a song on the charts. I know I have ranted about the charts being very selective before but this has to be one of the best examples of people being blacklisted from the charts. I have no idea why Adrian was blacklisted but honestly it’s rather obvious that he was. Anyway this is an excellent 70’s vibe worship album and if that’s your style I’m sure you will agree with me that this is an excellent album.

Tracklist
1 – Prelude – 4:25
2 – This Land – 2:47
3 – By The Waters Of Babylon (Psalm 137) – 4:54
4 – Father, Saviour, Lord – 3:32
5 – City Bound – 2:50
6 – Goodbye October – 4:30
7 – Summer Song – 2:52
8 – Jesus, I’m Alone – 3:22
9 – Jesus Is My Song – 2:45
10 – And In The Morning – 3:25

Credits
Art Direction – Phil Thomson
Bass Guitar, Mandolin, Voice [Heathen Shouts], Handclaps – Gerry Page
Clarinet, Flute, Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone – Ken Parr
Design Concept [Sleeve Concept By], Illustration – Eugene Press
Drums, Percussion – Bernard Shaw, Keith Entwistle
Engineer – Andy Kidd, Dave Cooke, Helmut Kaufmann
French Horn – Gordon Carr
Lyrics By – Adrian Snell
Music By – Adrian Snell
Photography By – David McQuitty
Piano, Electric Guitar, Guitar, Twelve-String Guitar, Keyboards [Elka Rhapsody], Synthesizer [String & Moog Synthesizers], Arranged By – Joe King
Piano, Electric Piano, Guitar, Twelve-String Guitar, Classical Guitar, Keyboards [Elka Rhapsody], Synthesizer [String & Moog Synthesizers], Percussion [Jawbone], Vocals – Adrian Snell
Producer – John Pantry
Vocals [Female Vocals] – Elisabeth Kaufmann

Companies, etc.
Record Company – Dove Records
Recorded At – ICC Studios
Made By – Robert Stace
Printed By – Robert Stace
Published By – Thankyou Music
Lacquer Cut At – Pye Studios

While Adrian is probably best known for his worship musical style you might be pleasantly surprised by this album. There are 2 very good pop songs on this album. The lead track “Welcome To The Circus” is a fantastic tune once you get past the 1 minute intro. I also quite liked “Bathed In Neon” which has a great pop sound. Other than that it’s the usual high quality worship oriented music that made Adrian well known.

Tracklist
1 – Welcome To The Circus – 4:27
2 – Take Me Home – 4:16
3 – The Tongue Is Fire – 2:46
4 – Only Jesus – 4:22
5 – Cover Me – 4:40
6 – Feed The Hungry Heart – 4:17
7 – Psalm 27 (Wherever I Go You Are There) – 3:56
8 – Bathed In Neon – 3:09
9 – River, Son & Earth – 3:30
10 – Alpha And Omega – The Beginning And The End – 4:51

Credits
Backing Vocals – Mo Turner, Richard Barnes, Shirlie Roden
Bass Guitar – Paul Westwood
Drum Programming, Advisor [Good Ideas], Engineer – Johnnie Schinas*
Drums [Simmonds Drums] – Peter Boita
Electric Guitar – Dzal Martin (tracks: B5), Kevin Mann (7) (tracks: A1)
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Hugh Burns
Keyboards [Additional], Programmed By [Keyboard Programming] – Ron Edwards (6)
Piano, Keyboards – Adrian Snell
Producer – Jon Miller (4)
Soloist [Sax Solo] – Chris White (tracks: A4)

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Copyright (c) – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Printed By – Shorewood Packaging
Recorded At – Redan Recorders

This is Adrian’s 3rd album and it continues the style he became famous for. It is easy listening with a hint of Jazz. Adrian was becoming fairly well known by this album but hadn’t yet adjusted to a style that was easier for the public to identify with. Unfortunately, when artists put out so many albums with such a similar style it is hard to point out anything that is unique about the album. This is one of those times.

Tracklist
1 – Reach Me – 3:57
2 – Peace Be With You – 2:26
3 – Through The City Noise – 3:30
4 – Judas – 4:30
5 – Travelling – 3:38
6 – That’s Me In The Corner – 2:25
7 – Turn Your Vengeance – 6:40
8 – Losing – 5:10
9 – Children Of The Dream (Psalm 126) – 3:42
10 – Listen To The Peace – 4:45

Credits
Acoustic Guitar – Adrian Snell
Arranged By [Strings, Brass & Harp] – Bill Thorp
Bass – Gerry Page
Drums – Keith Entwistle
Engineer – Andy Kidd, Helmut Kaufmann
Graphics – Phil Thomson
Illustration – Eugene Press
Keyboards – Adrian Snell
Photography By [Cover Portrait] – Audrey Cox
Photography By [Inside Cover] – Phil Thomson
Producer – John Pantry