Description
Joy by Surprise is the debut album by the American singer and songwriter Bob Ayala (March 9, 1951 – November 22, 2020), independently released on Pure Joy Records in 1976. Re-issued by Myrrh Records the following year featuring new cover artwork based upon the same theme. The album was produced, recorded, and mixed by Buddy King for Pure Joy Productions at Buddy King Studios in Huntington Beach, California. Brass by Darrel Gardner Quintet. Strings by T. B. Stringalongs. All songs written by Bob Ayala.
Featuring Bob Ayala on acoustic guitar and lead vocals, backed by a session band consisting of Peter Jacobs of Children of the Day fame on piano (as well as harpsichord on track B5), Don Gerber of Gentle Faith fame on acoustic guitar and banjo, Virgil Beckham and Al Perkins on electric guitars (with the latter also playing pedal steel guitar), and a rhythm section featuring Bill Batstone on bass and Alex MacDougall on drums and percussion, with Mike Viccaro and Bill Baker sitting in on oboe and tenor saxophone, respectively. Backing vocals provided by Shirley Ayala.
The album was included among Harmony Magazine‘s Best Albums of 1976, a list of ten albums featured in issue No. 11. (“Harmony picks Jesus Music’s best of ’76” – “Regardless of music style, “the best” were picked on the basis of their ability to communicate beyond the four walls of the church.”)
The following note about the album was featured in the June 4, 1977 issue of Billboard Magazine: “A unique LP by Bob Ayala, ‘Joy by Sunrise,’ will achieve national distribution through Myrrh Records. Produced by Buddy King, the album has achieved a sales goal of 10,000 copies in its limited, pre-release on Pure Joy Records. A 25-year old Los Angeles native, Ayala has been blind since childhood and is noted for his self-taught guitar skills and unique and inspirational lyrics.”
Blind singer/guitarist Bob Ayala’s albums stand as significantly better-than-average CCM recordings of string orchestrated pastoral light rock and acoustic ballads, with glimmers of John Denver, Harry Chapin and Dan Fogelberg and the Talbot Brothers. Joy By Surprise is his best album, containing stately numbers rich with 12-string guitar («Do You Know Him?», «To The Ancient Of Days») as well as moving ballads like «Peace», the string-carressed «Silent Witness» and the climatic «Lord». Credits include Billy Batstone, Peter Jacobs, Dan Gerber, Al MacDougall and Al Perkins. Originally released on a private label called Pure Joy in a colorful gate-fold cover, with paintings front and back of Bob walking through heaven’s door where Aslan (I assume) the lion awaits. Later picked up by the Myrrh label (MSB-6577, also a gate-fold) with different art work on the same theme. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Stephanie, With Love” – 2:25
A2. “Do You Know Him?” – 2:52
A3. “Try And Keep The Pace” – 4:06
A4. “To The Ancient Of Days” – 3:33
A5. “Peace” – 2:15
Side Two
B1. “Silent Witness” – 3:08
B2. “Joy By Surprise” – 2:30
B3. “Song Of Joseph” – 4:29
B4. “Lord” – 4:34
B5. “New Beginnings” – 3:55
Note: Originally released by Pure Joy Records in 1976 (PJ-102) featuring gatefold cover. Re-issued by Myrrh Records in 1977 on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP, with the vinyl edition housed in a gatefold sleeve with new cover artwork based on the same theme.
Joy By Surprise, Pure Joy Records 1976 (Original Cover Artwork)
Gatefold Cover, Inside
Joy By Surprise, Myrrh Records 1977 (New Cover Artwork)
CREDITS. Produced by Buddy King. Engineered by Buddy King with assistant engineer Rick Donaldson. Mixed by Buddy King. Arrangements for track B5 by Pete Jacobs. String Arrangements by Bill Baker (tracks: A1 to A5, B1 to B4). Photography, Cover Concept, and Cover Art by Clark DeNoon. [Myrrh Cover Art by David McCall Johnson.] All songs written by Bob Ayala.
Musicians: Bob Ayala (Vocals , Acoustic Guitar), Pete Jacobs (Piano, Harpsichord on track B5), Mike Viccaro (Oboe), Bill Baker (Tenor Saxophone), Don Gerber (Acoustic Guitar, Banjo), Al Perkins (Pedal Steel Guitar, Electric Guitar), Virgil Beckham (Electric Guitar), Billy Batstone (Bass), Alex MacDougall (Drums, Percussion). Backing Vocals: Shirley Ayala (tracks: A1 to A5, B1 to B4), Robin Buck Choral (tracks: B5). Brass by Darrel Gardner Quintet. Strings by T. B. Stringalongs.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.