Tag: Rhythm & News

This is the 3rd and final album from Canadian band Rhythm & News. They actually temporarily moved to Detroit so they could work with legendary Gospel producer Fred Hammond for this album. I am a huge fan of their first 2 albums but that all ends here. This album was on Word records in some odd convoluted licensing agreement that I don’t understand. Their first 2 albums were on Canadian label Image VII and distributed by Word but this one had a different licensing structure. I am guessing this is where this album went wrong. The talent is still there as these guys can sing but the songwriting is not as good as their previous work and the production is, well it’s different. I don’t want to bash Fred Hammond as the man is a legend but I don’t think he was a good mix for this band. Anyway the album isn’t horrible it’s just not great. This also ended the band as after the album original members Doug and Kevin left the group. They were replaced by Todd Wickens and Spencer Welch who transitioned the band into a instrument oriented band. Personally when half the members of the band are replaced and the sound is changed is it even the same band? They continued touring into 1998 but that was the end of it for them and they quietly faded away. My voyage of listening to Rhythm & News fell in line with the release order of their albums and I could hear the highs and lows in those albums. In a way I didn’t need to read a history of the band, I could hear it.

Tracklist
1 – I Promise You – 4:03
2 – They Will Know – 4:38
3 – Give You All – 5:10
4 – Honeymoon Hunny – 4:16
5 – Dream – 5:22
6 – Ain’t Gonna Play – 4:04
7 – Tell Me Why – 4:46
8 – To The Rhythm – 4:38
9 – He Is – 3:50
10 – Give You All (Remix) – 5:13

Credits
Design [Sleeve Design], Art Direction – Nancy Yeasting
Engineer [Assistant Mix Engineer] – Todd Fairall
Engineer [Assistant Recording Engineer] – Kevin Wilson
Engineer [Mix Engineer] – Randy Poole
Mastered By – Steve Hall
Mastered By [Mastering Notes] – Dave Slagter
Photography By – Jane Weitzel
Producer, Arranged By – Fred Hammond
Production Manager [Production Administration] – Monica Coates
Recorded By – Raymond Hammond*
Stylist [Grooming] – Pippa (6)
Stylist [Styling] – Catherine Dunwoody

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – RAN Productions
Manufactured By – Nelson Word Canada
Distributed By – Nelson Word Canada
Pressed By – Disque Americ
Produced For – Face To Face Productions
Recorded At – Face To Face Studios
Mixed At – Studio A, Dearborn Heights, MI
Mastered At – Future Disc
Published By – R&N Boyz Publications

Rhythm & News were a great a cappella band out of Vancouver Canada. Started by 4 guys in a basement singing along to a boom box they got a few dates performing across Canada. After some very successful small shows they headed into Roy Salmond’s studio to record this album that was also produced and engineered by super producer Roy Salmond. The album has the a cappella mandatory Randy Stonehill track “Shut De Do”. Another fun track is “Pharaoh, Pharaoh” which is a reworded version of Louie, Louie made famous by The Kingsman. It is mistakenly attributed to Chuck Berry but was actually written by Richard Berry but that’s a common mistake. All in all a great album that I missed back in the day so I’m glad I heard it now.

Tracklist
1 – Get With The Rhythm – 2:46
2 – Looking For Love – 2:41
3 – Sittin’ On The Steps – 2:47
4 – Lighthouse – 5:03
5 – Rhythm Thang – 4:10
6 – Real Salvation – 4:03
7 – This Little Light Of Mine – 2:39
8 – Pharaoh, Pharaoh – 2:49
9 – Shut De Do – 2:27
10 – It’s Gonna Rain – 2:22
11 – Lord Of All – 4:47

Credits
Arranged By [Arrangements] – Rhythm & News, Roy Salmond
Design [Cover Design] – Ferris, The Warning Guy, Rick Yeager
Mixed By – Dave Slagter
Performer [Rhythm & News Is] – Brad Strelau, Doug Zimmerman, Kevin Pollard (4), Mark Batten
Photography By – Francis Cheng
Producer, Engineer, Recorded By – Roy Salmond

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Image 7 Music Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Image 7 Music Inc.
Manufactured By – Image 7 Music Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Pressed By – Disque Americ
Recorded At – Whitewater Productions, Richmond, B.C.
Mixed At – Whitewater Productions, Richmond, B.C.
Mastered At – Future Disc
Published By – R&N Boyz Publications