Tag: Keith Thomas

I was quite surprised when I first listened to this album. I have heard Thomas’s follow up album to this one and quite liked it’s synth heavy pop sound. This album has nothing in common with that album. This is an instrumental jazz album and quite frankly I don’t like it. I don’t deny that there is a ton of talent here but this album is not what CCM was looking for at the time. I can’t find any info on how well it sold so I’m guessing not well. As I said there is no shortage of talent here but to put out an album for a niche part of a niche market just seems odd to me. Thomas was one of the best studio musicians of the time and must have had tons of contacts in the industry but chose to do a jazz album instead of something a little more trendy. That said if you do like instrumental jazz you’ll love this one and it’s probably the best instrumental jazz album of the era, not that it had much competition in this category.

Tracklist
1 – Road To Paradise – 3:32
2 – I Can’t Believe It’s True – 2:24
3 – Midnight Celebration – 4:15
4 – Made To Love You – 3:18
5 – Livin’ Without Your Love – 3:09
6 – The Heartmender – 3:45
7 – Changes – 5:43
8 – One More Song For You – 3:40

Credits
Arranged By [Strings] – John Darnall
Art Direction, Design – Bill Brunt
Bass – Bob Wray
Drums, Percussion – Mark Hammond
Engineer [Recording] – Jeff Balding
Executive-Producer – Neal Joseph
Flugelhorn – Terry Townson
Guitar [Acoustic], Electric Guitar – Jon Goin
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Mixed By – Bill Schnee
Percussion – Terry McMillan
Photography By – Mike Borum
Producer, Arranged By, Piano [Acoustic], Synthesizer [Prophet V, Oberheim], Electric Piano – Keith Thomas
Strings – The Kris Wilkinson Strings
Woodwind – Mark Douthit

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Word, Inc.

You might be listening to this thinking you don’t know Keith Thomas but I can guarantee you’ve heard him or his songs. Keith was/is a prolific studio musician and song writer. He has worked for hundreds (yes I do mean hundreds). I’d offer some names here but there really are just too many but in the Christian market they include Amy Grant, Sandi Patty, and Carman plus many many more. This was his second and last album. Like so many high end studio musicians and writers they find great success right up until they try to release their own album. That said in this case Keith really should have had greater success. This album is fantastic and the quality is there through all 8 tracks. The album did have a CCM single with “It’s Only Natural” making it to #4 which is pretty darn good. The album is very synth heavy and at time has a cool funk feel. This is another one that if you missed it in the 80’s you need to give this one a listen now.

Tracklist
1 – Te Deum – 4:18
2 – It’s Only Natural – 3:54
3 – Pinwheel – 5:07
4 – Imagine – 4:31
5 – Home Away From Home – 3:58
6 – Arms Of Love – 4:04
7 – Suspicious Heart – 3:54
8 – Kaleidoscope – 5:55

Credits
Art Direction, Design – Bill Brunt
Backing Vocals – Donna McElroy, BeBe Winans, Greg Guidry, Lisa Bevill
Bass – Mike Brignardello, Jimmie Lee Sloas
Drum Programming – Mark Hammond
Featuring – BeBe Winans, Donna McElroy, Greg Guidry
Guitar – Jon Goin, Tom Hemby, James Hollihan
Illustration – Jim Osborn
Keyboards [Programming] – Brett Perry
Lyrics By – Paul Smith, BeBe Winans, Brett Perry, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Greg Guidry, Keith Thomas
Music By – Keith Thomas
Photography By – Dean Dixon
Producer – Keith Thomas
Recorded By, Mixed By – Jeff Balding
Saxophone – Mark Douthit
Synthesizer – Keith Thomas
Written-by – Keith Thomas

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Recorded At – Gold Mine Studio
Mixed At – Gold Mine Studio
Designed At – Private Eye Studio