Shine Like America

Description

Shine Like America is an album by the British folk-pop duo Phil & John (Phil Baggaley and John Hartley), released on What? Records in the UK in 1991, and on DaySpring Records in the US, re-titled Reunion of the Heart. The album was recorded and mixed by Neil Costello at The Music Shed in Derbyshire, England; with Chris Eaton and Costello producing.

Once our humble Derby musical troubadours seemed all set to conquer America’s lucrative CCM scene. Their ‘Lonely Dancer‘ was a small success thanks to Californian Christian radio play and the Steve Taylor-produced ‘Hallelujah Boys‘ should have been the album which really established them Stateside. In fact the Americans heartily rejected Mr Taylor’s ‘Lonely Dancer’s’ smooth, synth-pop sound in favour of eccentric 60s throwback sound, while the lads’ subsequent live album was too eccentrically English even to gain a US release. But at last the two working class heros have done the business and produced the album that America wants (or wanted). They’ve even got America into the title. My tip for the big US Christian radio hit is «Reunion Of The Heart», a classic Mal Pope song I’ve loved since One To One first recorded it, though the fluid «My Potential» opener and the lilting «Jennifer Jones» both have the sound of success about them. Producers Chris Easton and Neil Costello do a fine job of putting those haunting synths and slinky drum programmes at just the right focus to bring out the strange quivering poignancy of the Phil and John’s adenoidal harmonies. Quality pop gospel. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, June 1991]

CD tracklist:

01. My Potential
02. Wait Patiently For Me
03. Reunion Of The Heart
04. Jennifer Jones
05. Fire Of Ambition
06. Quiet Storm
07. Every Little Step I Take
08. Don’t “Shoot Them Down” In Flames
09. Sweet Rose Tuesday
10. Shine Like America
11. April Rain

Note: Simultaneously released on 12-inch vinyl LP and CD by What? Records in the UK. Released on cassette and CD by DaySpring Records in the US.

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A full-page advertisement for Phil and John’s Reunion of the Heart was featured on the back cover of the September 1991 issue of CCM Magazine.

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CREDITS. Producer by Neil Costello and Chris Eaton. Engineered and Mixed by Neil Costello at The Music Shed, UK. Edited by Dave Aston at The Digital Audio Co., North Yorkshire, UK. Photography by Simon Anderson. Design by James Kessell. Executive-Producer: David Bruce.

Musicians: John Hartley (Vocals), Phil Baggaley (Vocals), Miriam Stockley (Backing Vocals on track 5 and 8), Chris Eaton (Keyboards, Drum Programming, Backing Vocals), Martin Green (Saxophone on track 3 and 10), Neil Costello (Acoustic and Electric Guitar).