Tag: Illustrator

For those who didn’t know Illustrator is essentially a new and improved version of Eternity Express. This is their second and last album under this name. Well actually they did release an album in 2011 to be factual. This album is a rather typical but well done late 80’s AOR album. It is said that though uncredited Dann Huff played some of the guitar tracks but I have no way to know if this is true or just rumour. As with their other album this was a much improved version of Eternity Express and this album like their other definitely deserves a listen.

Tracklist
1 – New Way to Love – 3:53
2 – Dying to Meet You – 3:57
3 – Hold My Heart – 4:58
4 – Cryin’ Time – 4:44
5 – I Surrender – 4:21
6 – Help is on It’s Way – 3:40
7 – Listen – 4:00
8 – Should’A Been Love – 4:30
9 – Feels Like – 4:32
10 – Carry the Cross – 3:44

Credits
Art Direction – Loren Johnson
Backing Vocals [Additional] – Angie Alan, Cindy Cruse, David Ebensberger, Tim Miner
Bass Guitar, Lead Vocals – Mark Matthews
Design, Layout – Teresa Pratt
Drums, Vocals – Kirk Allen
Executive-Producer – Freddie Piro
Guitar, Vocals – Dan Gaub
Keyboards, Lead Vocals – Nathan Gaub
Keyboards, Vocals – Dawndee Gaub
Producer, Engineer – Win Kutz
Saxophone – Randy Lee

Companies, etc.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Ocean Records
Copyright © – Ocean Records
Recorded At – Nick’s Place Recording Studio
Recorded At – Mama Jo’s
Mixed At – Eagle Mountain Studios
Mastered At – The Mastering Lab
Pressed By – Wakefield Manufacturing – 47497

Illustrator appears to be a new version of Eternity Express. Nathan Gaub, Dan Gaub, Mark Matthews,Kirk Allen are all from Eternity Express and this version is joined by Dawndee Gaub. I’ll be honest that there is a pretty different sound here than Eternity Express. The album is much more pop oriented and quite frankly much better than the previous Eternity Express album. One last point is that neither this version or the original Eternity Express ever had a charting single on the CCM charts. How is that even possible?

Tracklist
1 – Lonely Hearts For Sale – 4:21
2 – Love’s Not Your Enemy – 4:15
3 – Hidden Pain – 4:04
4 – Let It Go – 3:20
5 – Out Of Time – 3:28
6 – Don’t Change Your Heart – 4:46
7 – Gina – 4:37
8 – Holding On – 4:25
9 – End Of The Line – 4:53

Credits
Drums, Percussion [Electronic] – Kirk Allen
Engineer – Steven Ford, Wes McGuire
Engineer [Additional Assistance] – Mike Buster
Mixed By – Win Kutz
Producer – Illustrator
Vocals, Bass Guitar, Keyboards – Mark Matthews
Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion – Dan Gaub
Vocals, Keyboards – Dawndee Gaub
Vocals, Keyboards, Programmed By [Synth & Computer] – Nathan Gaub

Companies, etc.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Ocean Records
Copyright © – Ocean Records
Recorded At – Nick’s Place Recording Studio
Recorded At – Mama Jo’s
Mixed At – Eagle Mountain Studios
Mastered At – The Mastering Lab
Pressed By – Wakefield Manufacturing – 47497

I must admit I knew nothing about Eternity Express before writing this review.

The album here is your typical late Jesus Music offering bridging into 80’s easy listening. It’s well produced and engineered and the band is pretty good at what they do.

But here’s the story on the band. The brother of evangelist Ken Gaub, Mike, joined up with Nathan and Dan Gaub to form a support band for Ken’s ministry. They had some erratic album releases and members came and went over the years.

In 2012 Dan Gaub appears to have committed suicide as he was being investigated by the FBI for securities fraud. It’s been alleged that he robbed investors of approximately 40 million dollars.

The band changed names in the late 80’s to “Illustrator” and released two albums under that name.

Track Listing:
1 – Reservation
2 – Turn Your Life Around
3 – Dream World
4 – Happy New Year
5 – Always There
6 – End Of The Line
7 – Shame
8 – Lost Love
9 – Stop Your Runnin’
10 – Never Alone
11 – Gotcha By My Side

Credits:
Nathan Gaub – Vocal, Bass
Mike Gaub – Vocal, Drums
Dan Gaub – Guitar & Arranging