Tag: David and The Giants

While this is David & The Giants 4th Christian album it’s the one where I started listening and in my opinion is there best album. It has the original version of “Almost Midnight” which is much better than the 1985 remake which is probably the better known version. This album also welcomed back Keith Thibodeaux on drums. He was the original drummer for the band but left during their Christian transition but he’s back and you can tell as on this album I think the band was much tighter. A bit of trivia about Keith is that he played “Little Ricky” on the I Love Lucy show. Anyway here’s a great rock album that was perfectly timed for 1980.

Tracklist
1 – Almost Midnight – 2:55
2 – Keep On Keeping On – 3:47
3 – Keep On Singing My Song – 2:45
4 – Thank You Lord (For Coming Into My Heart) – 3:12
5 – Upper Room Experience (Recorded Live) – 6:02
6 – The Well (Will Never Run Dry) – 4:32
7 – Ten Miles High – 2:22
8 – Borrowed Time – 5:48
9 – Holy Rain (Recorded Live) – 5:15
10 – Daddy – 4:30

Credits
Bass, Backing Vocals – Clayborn Huff
Cover – Jim Paris
Drums – Keith Thibodeaux
Engineer – David Huff, David Yelveton (tracks: A5,B4), Rayborn Huff
Guitar, Mandolin, Piano, Vocals – David Huff
Harmonica – Lance Appleton
Organ, Synthesizer [Arp Quadra, Poly Korg], Strings [String Ensemble], Backing Band – Rayborn Huff
Piano, Synthesizer [Quadra], Backing Vocals – Gerald Hagan
Producer – David And The Giants
Written-By – Clayborn Huff, David Huff, Rayborn Huff

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Huff Studios

David & The Giants returned with their 8th Christian album. This album wasn’t all that well received but they did achieve their first CCM chart single. “I Can Depend On You” made it to #30 which isn’t too bad I guess but it’s not really the best track on the album. Considering what David Huff is capable of the album is just a little boring. If I didn’t know Huff was on the album I probably would have liked it more as I wouldn’t have held it to as high a standard. I’ll go out on a limb and say that Huff was help back by the band. Considering what he achieved away from The Giants I just don’t think this was working. That said there are some solid Rock & Roll tunes here but most have a 70’s flavour and it was 1984. To be clear I don’t hate the album I just don’t love it. It’s well worth listening to and I’ll be honest, “I’ve Been Drinking” has made it into my regular rotation.

Tracklist
1 – Are You Ready? – 3:43
2 – Higher – 3:59
3 – I Can Depend On You – 3:16
4 – Moving On Up – 4:03
5 – To Know Him Is To Love Him – 4:29
6 – Fire – 4:10
7 – I Am Persuaded – 3:31
8 – Holy Rain – 4:23
9 – I’ve Been Drinking – 2:52
10 – You’re Gonna Be Somebody – 4:02

Credits
Arranged By [Horns] – Donnie Sanders, Wardell Quercerque
Art Direction, Design – Kent Hunter
Backing Vocals – Cindy Richardson, Lenny LeBlanc, Mylon LeFevre, Susan Slade
Baritone Saxophone – Quitman Dennis
Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals, Engineer – Clayborn Huff
Drums, Congas, Percussion – Keith Thibodeaux
Engineer – Dennis Richey, Jerry Masters
Guitar, Clavinet, Backing Vocals, Engineer – David Huff
Mastered By – George Marino
Percussion – Kellye Huff, Lance Huff
Photography By – Mark Tucker
Piano, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Synthesizer [Oberheim, ARP Quadra, Synclavier, Mini Moog], Backing Vocals, Engineer – Rayborn Huff
Producer, Arranged By – David & The Giants
Synthesizer [Synclavier] – Paul Davis
Tenor Saxophone, Saxello, Soloist – Donnie “Sax” Sanders
Trombone – Wayne Butler
Trumpet, Arranged By [Horns] – Wayne Jackson

Companies, etc.
Record Company – Word
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Published By – Preference Music, Inc.
Recorded At – Huff Recording Studios
Recorded At – Monarch Studios, Alpharetta, GA
Recorded At – Sea-Saint Studio
Recorded At – Master’s Touch
Remixed At – Huff Recording Studios
Mastered At – Sterling Sound
Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co. – △26486

Unfortunately by this point David and The Giants were producing albums too regularly. This album while good feels like they just went into the studio to get another album out. The album is a good listen but there just aren’t any real stand out tracks. Probably the best track is “Perfect Love” which features harmonies from David’s daughter Kellye Huff. Of course CCM charts missed this entirely and picked “Show Them the Light” and “Strangers to the Night” as the charting singles. But while I think “Perfect Love” is a great track it’s not gonna make it onto my regular rotation. To sum up, it’s a good album but unfortunately not a great album.

Tracklist
1 – Celebrate His Power – 3:50
2 – Show Them the Light – 3:54
3 – Lively Stones – 4:22
4 – I’m Not Ashamed – 3:23
5 – Perfect Love – 4:28
6 – Restless – 5:30
7 – Strangers to the Night – 3:49
8 – No Compromise – 4:34
9 – I Believe in You – 3:48
10 – I Was the Nails – 3:40

Credits
Backing Vocals – Dave Mullen, James Bolton, Karen Harding, Kellye Huff, Rick Florian
Concept By, Design, Art Direction – P. R. Allen
Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Keith Thibodeaux
Engineer, Arranged By, Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Rayborn Huff
Engineer, Bass, Backing Vocals – Clayborn Huff
Engineer, Engineer [Assistant Remix Engineer] – Terry Ostovich
Mastered By – Denny Purcell
Percussion – Lance Huff
Producer, Arranged By, Backing Vocals – Tommy Sims
Producer, Engineer, Mixed By [Remixed By], Guitar, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – David Huff
Saxophone – Donnie “Sax” Sanders

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Giant Records (13)
Copyright (c) – Giant Records (13)
Distributed By – The Benson Company, Inc.
Recorded At – Huff Recording Studios
Mixed At – Huff Recording Studios
Mastered At – Georgetown Masters

David & The Giants finished off the 80’s with what I think is their best album. If for no other reason than the title track. They turned David Huff loose with his guitar and probably came up with their best Rock song ever. The album was a “commercial” success with three singles. “Here’s My Heart” made it to #2, “Count On Me” to #24, and finally “Love Has A Place” made it to #12. It’s rare when I agree with the CCM charts but on this album I do, though their choices of singles doesn’t line up with mine. This album however did mark the departure of Keith Thibodeaux, long time drummer of the band (though he would return in 2007). Lance Huff (David’s Son) stepped in with drum duties for the subsequent tour and future albums. This album falls in the “should listen to” category in case you missed it in 89.

Tracklist
1 – R U Gonna Stand Up – 3:59
2 – I’ll Stay With You – 4:19
3 – Love Has A Place – 4:30
4 – Joy Up In The Sky – 3:40
5 – Evolution Is Pollution – 4:20
6 – Here’s My Heart – 4:08
7 – Everybody Got A Story – 3:52
8 – Living On High Hopes – 3:36
9 – Count On Me – 3:58
10 – Everybody Needs Love – 3:52
11 – He’ll Be There – 4:22

Credits
Arranged By – Tommy Sims
Backing Vocals – Kellye Huff (tracks: 9), Tim Pedigo
Bass, Backing Vocals – Clayborn Huff
Drums, Backing Vocals – Keith Thibodeaux
Guitar, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Remix – David Huff
Harmonica – Terry McMillan
Keyboards, Programmed By, Backing Vocals, Arranged By – Rayborn Huff
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Percussion – Lance Huff
Photography – Richard Gazowski
Producer – David Huff
Remix [Assistant Remix Engineers] – Terry Ostovich
Remix [Assistant Remix Engineers], Arranged By – Scott Carter

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – The Benson Company, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Giant Records
Copyright (c) – Giant Records
Published By – Huff, Huff And Huff Publishing
Recorded At – Huff Recording Studios
Recorded At – Sound Barrier Studio, Nashville
Mastered At – Mastermix
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus, Virginia

Under Control is David and The Giants 9th album since becoming Christians and their second on Myrrh/Word Records. It was an upbeat album which needs to be said as they had several albums that could only be described as an Easy Listening/asleep style. This album was well received and sold well in Christian circles. The tracks “Almost Midnight”, and “Borrowed Time” were both from the album “Almost Midnight” however both were re-recorded with a more current Rock & Roll feel for this release. The album had one CCM charting song, “His Love Lifted Me Up” made it to #17 and was on the charts for 13 weeks.

Tracklist
1 – You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet – 2:39
2 – He’s Got It Under Control – 3:11
3 – Taking It To The World – 3:40
4 – Rockin’ For The Rock – 3:28
5 – Borrowed Time – 5:06
6 – It’s Just A Matter Of Time – 3:46
7 – Sweet Inspiration – 4:14
8 – His Love Lifted Me Up – 3:23
9 – You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me – 3:22
10 – Almost Midnight – 3:30

Credits
Art Direction – Kent Hunter
Backing Vocals – Clayborn Huff, Keith Thibodeaux, Rayborn Huff
Bass – Clayborn Huff
Design – Thomas Ryan Design
Drums – Keith Thibodeaux
Engineer – David Huff, David Schober, Rayborn Huff
Guitar – David Huff
Keyboards – Rayborn Huff
Lead Vocals – David Huff
Mastered By – Doug Sax
Performer [David & The Giants Is] – Clayborn Huff, David Huff, Keith Thibodeaux, Rayborn Huff
Photography – Ron Keith, Scott Bonner
Producer – David & The Giants
Remix [Engineer] – David Schober

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Word
Recorded At – Huff Recording Studios
Mastered At – The Mastering Lab
Pressed By – Electrosound Los Angeles

This was the third album from David and the Giants after their conversion to Christian music in 1977. They departed from their previous sound to a more subdued Jesus Music style for this album. This style did not sell well and this album was considered to be a bit of a failure. I will admit that it is not my favourite album by them but I really don’t consider it a failure. It’s just a bit of a different attempt by them. I think it’s well done and the songs are well written but I guess it just wasn’t quite the right time for this sound.

Tracklist
1 – I Love Him More Today (Than I Did Yesterday) – 4:16
2 – San Francisco – Help Is On His Way – 3:50
3 – Gonna Take A Ride – 4:25
4 – Israel – 5:15
5 – I’m In Love With Love – 4:02
6 – If You Ain’t Living For Jesus (You’re Just Dying) – 3:31
7 – He’s Got The World In His Hands – 4:22
8 – It’s Not A Dream – 0:45
9 – Lift Up Your Eyes – 4:27
10 – Step In My Shoes – 4:04
11 – The End Of Time – 5:14

Credits
Bass Guitar, Vocals – Clayborn Huff
Drums – Owen Hale
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Cymbal [High Sounding Cymbal], Piano, Synthesizer [Arp], Vocals – David Huff
Engineer – David Huff, Rayborn Huff
Keyboards [Fender Rhodes], Synthesizer [Arp, Korg, Polykorg], Organ, Vocals – Rayborn Huff
Mixed By [Re-Mixed By] – David Huff
Piano, Synthesizer [Arp], Vocals – Gerald Hagan
Producer – David And The Giants

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Huff Recording Studios, Laurel, MS
Pressed By – Houston Records – LH-18463
Pressed By – Houston Records – LH-18464