After a short tenure for one of the greatest bands assembled in Christian Music History, The Front, the group reformed with a few new members under the moniker “What If” and released one album on mainstream label, RCA. And what an album it is! Bob Wilson of Seawind and session singer phenom, Tommy Funderburk, formed The front with guitar great Dann Huff (Giant) and produced one of CCM’s best albums ever. They toured for a short while and disbanded. Two years later the primary members (Wilson and Funderburk) recruited a few Seawind member and enlisted young guitarist Michael Landau to join on the record. the latter was a great choice and the Toto-styled music fit perfectly with Landau’s blazing guitar work. Landua was the one responsible for the great guitar work on Leslie Phillip’s debut project. The album is filled with straight ahead pop and rock tunes in the vein of Toto, Yes , Genesis and Ambrosia. Great hook filled rockers and stunning, memorable ballads. A great example of the later is the wonderful cover of Tonio K’s, Perfect World. When it comes right down to it, though, the album, like The Front, is all about Tommy Funderburk’s voice. He is easily one of the strongest vocalist to ever appear in CCM and he carries every song with his emotive, scratchy and spot on style. He effortlessly belts out both rockers and ballads with similar passions. One must not look for common evangelical themes here as this was an album directed to the mainstream audience. there are plenty of spiritual and Biblical themes, but one must think this is a record aimed at Christians. Along with themes of love and loss in relationships there are more social conscious and spiritual themes in One Look, What If, When Right is Wrong and Ride the Hurricane. Funderburk later formed the band “King of Hearts” and has released a few projects under that name. he has also continued in the CCM world with appearances on several projects on backing vocals and his own work in worship music.
Contributor David Lowman – https://ccms500bestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist
1 – What If – 4:48
2 – If This Is Love – 4:04
3 – Perfect World – 4:36
4 – One Look – 3:36
5 – Ride The Hurricane – 3:49
6 – She Rocked My World – 4:08
7 – Love Is A Fire – 5:19
8 – When Right Is Wrong – 4:12
9 – Turn And Walk Away – 4:45
Credits
Arranged By – What If
Art Direction – Norman Moore
Drums – Bob Wilson
Engineer – Gary Wagner
Engineer [Additional] – Bill Jackson, Darin Klein, Don Murray, Richard McKernan
Engineer [Second] – Marnie Riley
Keyboards, Saxophone, Keyboards [Synth Bass] – Larry Williams
Management – Burt Stein, Danny Goldberg
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Photography By – Phillip Dixon
Producer, Engineer, Mixed By – Mick Guzauski
Vocals – Tommy Funderburk
Companies, etc.
Copyright (c) – BMG Music
Phonographic Copyright (p) – BMG Music
Manufactured By – BMG Music
Distributed By – BMG Music
Recorded At – Conway Studios
Mixed At – Conway Studios
Pressed By – Electrosound Group Midwest, Inc.
