This is Jeff’s first Christmas album. He has actually done several Christmas albums over the years. This one is spoken word of poetry by Keith Patman with a musical score written by Jeff. I’m not usually a fan of spoken poetry but I quite enjoyed this album. Maybe I’m getting soft in my old age or maybe it’s just that good. The poetry is pretty good and as usual with Jeff the music score is fantastic. This might be one you may want to add to your Christmas rotation.
Tracklist 1 – O Come, O Come Immanuel – 1:18 2 – Another Mystery I Pose – 0:48 3 – A Gallery Carol – 3:00 4 – The Bondage Of Corruption – 1:40 5 – While Shepherds Watched – 5:10 6 – Snow – 3:54 7 – Lord Of Green And Red – 1:43 8 – Judah’s Lion / Carol Of The Bells – 3:43 9 – Centerpoint – 2:04 10 – Oregon Carol – 2:14 11 – Inversion – 2:52 12 – The Heavens Declare / Wexford Carol – 3:08
Credits Acoustic Guitar – Paul Chasman Artwork By, Photography By – Kathy Hastings Bass [Fretless] – Rick Crittenden Flute – Brian Dunning Percussion, Sound Designer [Ambience] – Roger Hadley Producer, Keyboards, Music By, Arranged By, Recorded By, Mixed By – Jeff Johnson Read By – Dallas McKennon Written-By [Poetry By] – Keith Patman
Jeff Johnson was making “New Age” music before “New Age” was cool. In fact, he was making it before it existed at all. More progressive rock than many of his new age instrumental contemporaries Jeff Johnson has, over the years, created a monstrous library catalog of utterly brilliant, passionate and spiritually moving music that has unfortunately escaped the attention of many in the CCM world. When “New Age” instrumental music was all the rage in CCM during the mid-1980’s Johnson was a leading artist, but many missed out on his more creative, provocative and, dare I say, commercial vocal projects. Of those many overlooked albums comes “Icons,” an utterly brilliant, and completely unforgettable album that is a must own for any audiophile. Not quite as commercial or rock influenced as “Fallen Splendor,” Icons contains some of Johnson’s best vocal music and remains his most cohesive vocal driven project. It also contains “Closed, Please Call Again,” which is Johnson’s finest song. Opening with “Tesseract,” an instrumental opener inspired by the concept of space travel as described in Madeleine L’Engle’s classic novel, “A Wrinkle In Time.” The book may be the only time in this blog I ever use the term “BYSO!” Johnson’s musically explores the “feeling” expressed in the book as the main characters travel through space using the tesseract. The album includes more of Johnson’s early progressive rock influences than on any album that follow outside of Fallen Splendor. “People in Peril” starts with limited percussive sounds and accompanying synthesizer background that is added upon as the song grows. Johnson’s wonderful falsetto is offset by a distant backing vocal that seems to challenge or respond to the lead the vocal as the song fades. The previously mentioned “Closed, Please Call Again” musically explores the heart of one postponing a response to the call of the Gospel or closed off to any true human contact. The song features some of the finest saxophone work on any Christian album. The longing heart is musically portrayed through the instrumental work and the aching vocals make this song a sheer delight. The saxophone is introduced brilliantly with a vocal and instrument interplay. There is so much more to be said about this amazing album, but space limitations prohibit a deeper discussion. Suffice it to say this is clearly an AYSO and would serve as a great introduction to the artist for those unfamiliar with his amazing collection of work.
Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com
Tracklist 1 – Tesseract – 2:30 2 – People In Peril – 6:22 3 – Selah – 1:55 4 – Closed, Please Call Again – 7:14 5 – Birth, Dreaming, Death – 6:02 6 – Remove The Mask – 4:32 7 – Agony And Ecstasy – 3:29 8 – Waiting For The End – 4:40 9 – Ancient Icons – 3:51 10 – Windemere – 7:08
Credits Acoustic Guitar – Sandy Simpson Acoustic Guitar [Solo] – Paul Chasman Artwork – David Hastings, Kathy Hastings Backing Vocals – Sandy Simpson Bass Guitar – Rick Crittenden Bass [Oregon] – David Friesen Bells – Roger Hadley Caxixi – Roger Hadley Cymbal – Roger Hadley Drum Programming – Brian David Willis Drums – Brian David Willis Drums [Hand] – Roger Hadley Drums [Heater] – Sandy Simpson Electric Guitar – Sandy Simpson Electric Piano – Jeff Johnson Percussion – Roger Hadley, Sandy Simpson Percussion [Shells] – Roger Hadley Piano [Acoustic] – Jeff Johnson Producer – Jeff Johnson, Sandy Simpson Programmed By [Emulator] – Jeff Johnson Saxophone – Susie May Synthesizer – Jeff Johnson Tabla – Roger Hadley Vocals – Jeff Johnson Wind Chimes – Roger Hadley Written-By – Jeff Johnson
This album was Jeff Johnson’s 4th album though album one and two had a very limited release.
It was the first album where he would team up with Sandy Simpson. It is for the main part an easy listening album with strong audio effects and synthesizer.
The opening track is a vocal story telling piece that is very well done. It was also the first album for his best known song Someday Sunday which he would go on to rework and re release throughout further albums.
Track Listing:
1 – The First Sleep – 2:21
2 – Through The Door – 4:10
3 – The Golden Key – 5:09
4 – The Morning Glory – 3:59
5 – Chan Fang-Sheng (Sailing Homeward) – 5:06
6 – Stuck On Mars – 3:21
7 – The Jupiter Effect – 6:07
8 – Someday, Sunday – 3:34
9 – The Last Sleep – 4:04
10 – Winding Road – 6:31
Credits:
Acoustic Guitar – Sandy Simpson
Artwork – David Hastings (2), Kathy Hastings
Autoharp – Sandy Simpson
Backing Vocals – Jeff Johnson, Sandy Simpson
Effects [Sound Effects] – Jeff Johnson, Sandy Simpson
Electric Guitar – Sandy Simpson
Electric Piano – Jeff Johnson
Harpsichord – Jeff Johnson
Mastered By – John Golden
Mixed By – Jeff Johnson, Sandy Simpson
Percussion [Seasonal] – Sandy Simpson
Piano [Acoustic] – Jeff Johnson
Synthesizer – Jeff Johnson, Sandy Simpson
