I remember when I was first hired at the Pink Lady Christian bookstore I kept seeing this album in the demo LP section and never bothered to listen to it because the cover looked liked a late 70’s adult contemporary cover. That was my loss. September was a band comprised of three siblings, Russ, Dale and Doug Kirkland. Their music output lasted three decades with seven releases that maneuvered in and out of the current musical landscape of the time. This was their finest work. Fans of Servant, Anthem, Prodigal and the more progressive edge of CCM at the time will find much here to appreciate. The album starts off with “Prelude/Jester” a more than 6 minute song that if I only gave it the first two minutes (Prelude) it may have not made it into my consistent musical rotation. Prelude sounds like the album cover looks, but it is when “Jester” kicks in that every about the album (and the band) changed for me. Where “Prelude” sounded similar to Annie Herring, “Jester” was much more Prodigal and Barnabas. Great transition and killer guitar work! “Why Did I Wait” has touches of Farrell and Farrell and Seawind, but with a heavy rock tinge as the guitar solo kicks in. Fans of Jesus Music band, Parable,” will be very please with what they hear here. Again, like “Jester,” the guitar work here is fantastic. The more I listen the more I hear Parable’s “The City.” “Can’t Be Right” is way more Ambrosia and even Steely Dan than the rest of the album. Fans of the Prodigal debut along with the Doobie Brothers will really appreciate this song. There are a few straight ahead CCM radio songs that will remind listeners of The Archers and Second Chapter of Acts. Unfortunately, Christian radio just didn’t jump on what was an independent release, though it did receive moderate distribution. The album has become a pretty sought after vinyl collectors item, for a good reason.
Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist
1 – Prelude / Jester – 6:07
2 – Relate It To Me – 3:23
3 – Why Did I Wait – 5:17
4 – Can’t Be Right – 4:17
5 – I Owe You Everything – 3:23
6 – Sorry – 4:36
7 – Empty Love – 3:52
8 – Island Song – 3:29
9 – Hallelujah – 3:17
Credits
Carl Albrecht – Drums, Percussion
Wayne Boosahda – Producer
Jim Bullard – Bass
Doug Flagg – Drums
John Hayes – Guitars
James Hollihan – Guitars
Billie Kessler – Recording Engineer
Kent Kesterson – Engineer
Doug Kirkland – Vocals
Russ Kirkland – Songwriter, Piano, Minimoog, Rhodes, Prophet 5, Organ, Vocals
Michael James Murphy – Songwriter
Jan Parker – English Horn, Oboe
Scott Payne – Guitars
Dan Peek – Production Assistance, Guitars, Percussion
Steve Peistrup – Assistant Engineer
Bobby Price – Songwriter
Darwin Seidel – Bass
Curt Taipale – Engineer, Mixed
Dale Kirland Tiemann – Piano, Organ, Vocals
Bobby Wilson – Songwriter
