Tag: Parable

This is the first of 2 albums from Parable. While their second album was far better known this one is good as well but with a slightly more subdued and seventies feel and sound. In fact as I listened to both albums today I really couldn’t see many similarities. Vocals on this one were handles by Chuck Butler and Joy Strange. Joy’s vocal style is better suited to this style of music. While she left Parable after this album she contributed to several more seventies feel albums throughout the late seventies. So if you liked the 1977 offering from Parable you may not be as excited about this one but if you listen to it as an individual album it’s actually pretty good.

Tracklist
1 – More Than Words – 3:37
2 – All Alone – 3:24
3 – Sweet, Sweet Song – 2:50
4 – Maybe – 2:17
5 – Someone’s Callin’ – 3:17
6 – I Know What It’s Like – 3:17
7 – Peter, James & John – 3:07
8 – On Your Own – 2:50
9 – Let The Old Man Die – 2:52
10 – Friends – 2:31
11 – Song For The Church – 2:50
12 – Goodbye – 2:46
13 – 16 Petersham Place – 2:10

Credits
Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals – Chuck Butler, Joy Strange
Bass, Vocals – Pat Patton
Drums – Don Kobayashi
Engineer – Buddy King
Engineer, Mixed By – Jonathan David Brown
Graphics, Illustration – Kernie Erickson
Orchestrated By, Conductor – Jim Stipech
Photography By – Carmen Terrazas
Producer – Tom Coomes

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Maranatha! Music
Copyright © – Maranatha! Music
Recorded At – Buddy King Studios, Huntington Beach, CA
Recorded At – Mama Jo’s
Mixed At – Buddy King Studios, Huntington Beach, CA

One of the often overlooked “Maranatha Bands” of the 1970’s was Parable. They recorded two albums before disbanding. Parable was lead by Chuck Butler, who had previously been a part of the band Country Faith, one of the great Jesus Music bands to never have recorded a full album despite great responses for the songs they had recorded on many different samplers. The first album, More Than Words, was more folk-rock with a country feel. Imagine The Eagles with a male and female lead vocals. the album was very well received. After The Way disbanded guitar virtuoso John Wickham joined the band for this second album and added a significantly more rock sound with some amazing guitar work. Stylistically the band went more pop with a rock emphasis and may remind some readers of early Servant and Petra. But it was really the guitar work that set the album apart along with very strong writing with very memorable hooks. There’s a reason and Come Untangled kick the album off with a strong rock emphasis and straight ahead evangelical messages before “The City” slows things down, at least initially. Sounding similar to a The Eagles or Chicago ballad before kicking into gear and finishing with one of the best guitar solos in Christian Music to that point. The only other albums at that time with such great guitar work were those by Phil Keaggy and Paul Clark. Female vocalist Lisa Faye Irwin takes the reins on several songs including “A Friend,” a song very reminiscent of Servant from the same era. The album is very consistent and memorable throughout, though side 2 is noticeably mellower than side 1, with very impressive production for the time, and far superior to most of the music coming out of Maranatha Music at that time. Both albums have been re-released on CD be the group and is still available as best as I can tell.

Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/

Tracklist
1 – There’s A Reason – 4:30
2 – Come Untangled – 3:24
3 – The City – 5:27
4 – A Friend – 3:23
5 – The Plain Truth – 3:34
6 – Act 3 – 3:55
7 – The Promise – 3:20
8 – Ladder Song – 4:24
9 – Got To Decide – 3:54
10 – A Prayer – 4:08

Credits
Arranged By [Horns] – Kim Hutchcroft
Arranged By [Strings] – Jim Stipec
Art Direction – Neal Buchanan
Bass Guitar – Gary Arthur
Drums – Don Kobayashi
Engineer – Jack Joseph Puig, Jonathan David Brown
Guest [Vocals] – Becky Ugartechea, Virgil Beckham
Handclaps – Malcolm & The Honeys
Horns – Allen Gregory, Glen Myerscough, Kim Hutchcroft
Illustration – Larry McAdams
Keyboards – Alan DiCato
Layout – Neal Buchanan
Lead Guitar – John Wickham
Lead Vocals – Chuck Butler, Lisa Faye Irwin
Mixed By – Jonathan David Brown
Organ [B3] – Mike Escalante
Percussion – Alex MacDougall, Donnie K.
Producer – Tommy Coomes
Rhythm Guitar – Chuck Butler
Vocals – Alan DiCato, Gary Arthur, John Wickham
Written By – C. Butler

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Martinsound
Mixed At – Martinsound
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Maranatha! Music
Copyright © – Maranatha! Music
Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co. – Δ22675