Tag: Candy Hemphill

This was the third and final solo album from Candy and in my opinion her best. I simply don’t understand how Candy didn’t have more success. Maybe it was a lack of promotion by her label or maybe some internal politics were in play. This album did have a charting single however, “Let Lightning Strike made it to #30. Candy went on to tour, sing, and record with the Gaither concert series. She also put out a few singles under her now married name Candy Christmas. Candy’s greatest success came in the early 2000’s when she founded The Bridge Ministry, a Christian organization founded to serve the homeless of Nashville, TN. Candy also founded the Food For Kids program helping underprivileged children. Many performers take some role in helping the needy but Candy put herself out there and gets the job done.

Tracklist
1 – Opening / Let Lightning Strike – 5:23
2 – Nothing Wrong With Being Right – 3:11
3 – You’ve Got To Trust Somebody – 4:12
4 – That’s Something Else – 3:23
5 – Jehovah Ropheka – 4:23
6 – All Creation Dances – 3:29
7 – Oh, It Is Jesus – 4:14
8 – Walkin’ In the Way Of Love – 3:24
9 – Empty Arms – 4:13
10 – Arms Of Love / Closing – 5:47

Credits
Candy Hemphill – Songwriter, Vocals
David Baroni – Songwriter
David Binion – Songwriter
Bobby Jones Singers – Background Vocals
Niles Borop – Songwriter
Bob Clark – Engineer
Andrae Crouch – Songwriter
Jackie Cusic – Background Vocals
Gary Driskell – Songwriter
Bob Farrell – Songwriter
Mark Gersmehl – Songwriter
Jon Goin – Guitar
Lari Goss – Producer, Keyboards
Mark Hammond – Drums
Joel Hemphill – Songwriter
Mike Hudson – Songwriter
Bonnie Keen – Background Vocals
Marty McCall – Background Vocals
Dave Murphy – Second Engineer
Craig Nelson – Bass
Wendy Odenbuagh – Executive Producer
Cheryl Rogers – Keyboards
Billy Smiley – Songwriter
Leann Steinhauer – Background Vocals

This was Candy’s first solo album. She started her music career in her family band who had great success with 13 albums and 6 Dove awards. In the mid 70’s she started a band called Heirloom but they never released an album. That brings us to 1982 when Candy finally got her own record deal and this album is the result. At this point in history all the labels were looking for the next Amy Grant and Candy fit that search. Now I am going to cause some controversy because I think Candy is a better vocalist than Amy. I’m kind of confused as to why she didn’t have a lot more success. That said this album did spawn a single, In A Different Light, but it only made it to #28 on the CCM charts. The best part of this album for me are that there are a couple of country tracks on the album that are very good and could easily be released today. It’s a traditional country but it’s very well done.

Tracklist
1 – In A Different Light – 2:41
2 – The Shepherd – 3:04
3 – The Only Real Peace – 3:31
4 – Cast Your Bread Upon The Water – 3:15
5 – I’m Gonna Hold On To You – 2:49
6 – I’m Yours Now – 3:51
7 – Hold Fast To The Right – 3:17
8 – I Am Not Along – 3:09
9 – The Rock That Never Rolls – 2:37
10 – Make Yourself At Home (In My Heart) – 2:56

Credits
Backing Vocals – Bill Beld, Caroline Traylor, Diane Tidwell, Joel Hemphill, Julie Mouser, Labreeska Hemphill, Lisa Silver, Norman Holland, Sheri Huffman, The Cherry Sisters, Trudy Barker Bass – Jack Williams, Steve Schaffer Guitar – Billy Sanford, Bobby Thompson, Pete Bordonali Keyboards – Bobby Wood, Hargus “Pig” Robbins, Shane Keister
Percussion – Jerry Carrigan, Kenny Malone
Steel Guitar – Pete Wade
Strings – The Nashville String Machine

This was Candy’s second solo album. It’s an excellent album and you can really see that she was born to sing. At this time in CCM history every record label was looking for their own “Amy Grant”. While Candy fell into this category she’s every bit the singer that Amy was and in my opinion might have been better. This album spawned 2 singles. Can’t Stop Reachin’ made it to #40 and Take Us Inside Your Love made it to #27. The album was produced by Billy Smiley and Dann Huff played guitar somewhere on the album so this album has a Whiteheart stamp on it.

Tracklist
1 – Heart of Fire – 3:43
2 – He Knew Everything About Me – 4:00
3 – Can’t Stop Reachin’ – 3:53
4 – You Still Believe In Me – 4:01
5 – If The Lord Is On My Side – 2:52
6 – Look to the Light – 3:53
7 – In His Presence – 0:50
8 – Stranger – 3:32
9 – Take Us Inside Your Love – 3:56
10 – Going To the New Jerusalem – 3:30
11 – Others Were, But Jesus Is – 3:28

Credits
David Baroni – Songwriter
Pete Bordaneli – Guitars
Niles Borop – Songwriter
Clyde Brooks – Drums
Bob Clark – Additional Engineer
Ken Criblez – Second Engineer
Tim Daniel – Songwriter
Bill Deaton – Additional Engineer
Ron Downey – Background Vocals
Greg Fisher – Songwriter
Sonny Garrish – Steel Guitar
Mark Gersmehl – Songwriter
Jon Goin – Guitars
Lee Groitzsch – Second Engineer
Chris Harris – Background Vocals
Don Hart – String Arrangements
Joel Hemphill – Songwriter
Wayne Hilton – Executive Producer, Songwriter
Dann Huff – Guitars
Gary Janney – Background Vocals
Brent King – Engineer, Mixed
Lenny LeBlanc – Songwriter, Background Vocals
Larrie Londin – Drums
Gary Lunn – Bass
Farrell Morris – Percussion
Phil Naish – Songwriter, Synthesizers, Piano, Rhodes
Ron Oates – Piano
Gary Pigg – Background Vocals
Dave Robbins – Songwriter
Brent Rowan – Guitars
Doug Sarrett – Second Engineer
Billy Smiley – Producer, Songwriter, Arrangements, Background Vocals
Hank Williams – Mastered