Description
Shallow Water is the debut album by the Canadian rock band Servant, released on Tunesmith Records in 1979, a division of Canadian Praise Industries Corp. (Tunesmith Records was a newly established independent label releasing superlative – and often cutting edge – albums by Christian artists, Shallow Water being their first release, Catalog Number TS 6000.) Perseverance and hard work eventually paid off and in 1979 Servant, now a little more weathered, was offered a recording contract, and became the first artist on the fledgling Canadian label Tunesmith Records. The recording experience was a critical turning point for the roughly unshaped band, and under the very capable hands of Bob Rock (later of Metallica fame) things finally took on substance. The album was engineered by Bob Rock with Bob Brooks producing.
Featuring covers of the Dogwood classic “Water Grave”, a song written by Steve Chapman and recorded on Dogwood’s 1975 debut album After the Flood, Before the Fire (a song also covered by The Imperials on their 1977-album Sail On, featuring a young Russ Taff on lead vocals), and a cover of “Rejoice”, a song written by Joe Grier and David Eden of E Band (an early Christian rock group that featured Greg X Volz, later of Petra fame) and first featured on the rock musical Lonesome Stone staged at London’s Rainbow Theatre in 1973.
Servant was cutting edge – probably the first Christian band with an extensive light show, the first to use lasers, and the band that gave Petra their start as an opening act. The DeGarmo & Key Band opened for Servant as well. Servant had a reputation as probably the touring-est band ever in the history of Contemporary Christian Music. There was a couple of years where the band did over 250 concerts in a single year, and the band never cancelled any concert.
Fun facts: The album’s memorable cover is an illustration of the title track. On the front cover the band members appear to be enjoying their wine and cheese in shallow ocean water. When you open the gatefold cover, you find a photo of the band being wiped out by ocean waves – tables, food and all.
Straight-forward hard-edged rock is what the Tunesmith label’s debut is all about. Not as radical as say Resurrection Band or Barnabas which is one reason I initially let this one go, but after reacquiring it later I’ve come to realize it’s good stuff. No real hints of their later new wave direction as Shallow Water seems more in line with ‘70s classic rock. Sandie Brock and Bob Hardy share the lead vocal spotlight while Bruce Wright lays down the guitar riffs. The title track, «Here Comes David», «Jesus Star» and «Fly Away» all deliver solid driving up-tempo rock-n-roll action, while «Holy Roller Blues» churns along slow, hard and bluesy. Also a heavy cover of Dogwood’s «Watergrave». Softens a tad for «Rejoice» (a track also found on Because I Am and Lonesome Stone), «Cup Of Water» and a cover Sammy Hagar’s «Rich Man». Some fitting organ and synthesizer complementing the sound here and there. Pointed lyrics endorsing commitment and simple lifestyles. The group was part of the Highway Missionary Society and was managed by Jim Palosaari. Gate-fold cover. Some copies on red vinyl. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]
Hold on to your hats! Servant wins this month’s decibel award (for having the most) and kudos overall for an exceptionally fine debut effort.
Although released on Canada’s new Tunesmith label, Servant calls Oregon home. This six-piece group has come up with a package that is first-rate from the cover to the label. The cover, by the way, is best understood in the context of the title song.
Musically, ‘Shallow Water’ is not unlike DeGarmo & Key’s ‘Straight On‘ except that the empasis is on guitars rather than keyboards. Vocally, it is softer than either DeGarmo & Key or the Resurrection Band, with the exception of Bruce Wright’s scalding delivery on «Holy Roller Blues».
‘Shallow Water’ is full of creativity and energy. It’s obvious that much time and effort went into the project. The album is solid musically and skillfully produced by Bob Brooks. Righteous roack and roll! [CCM, January 1980]
Shallow Water, Retroactive Records re-issue, 2006
It’s hard to appreciate now just how little Christian music there was in the late ’70s. At least, just how little was available here in the UK, particularly if back then you were almost exclusively into the loudest rock on the planet. A year after I was saved ‘Shallow Water’ was released in 1979 and in an era where apart from Petra and Resurrection Band, there wasn’t a huge amount of rock music ending up in my local Christian bookshop, this album was a refreshing change. With a mix of female and male lead vocals from Sandie Brock and Bob Hardy and with a bluesy background, the band were reminiscent at times of early Rez Band though not quite as heavy. Now with the 2006 re-release Servant’s classic debut album is once more available. It all sounds so ’70s now! From the title cut with its rockin’ attack on spiritual complacency through the Sammy Hagar tune «Rich Man» to the brilliant twin guitar attack of «Jesus Star» whose message is sadly just as relevant right now as it was back then! Other highlights include the more soulful «Cup Of Water» with its sweet harmonies and the fabulous bluesy «Holy Roller Blues» which allows guitarist Bruce Wright to shine. With its memorable cover pictures and uncompromising songs, it just reminds me that what I loved about Christian rock back in the day is that there was never any doubt it was Christian! [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, July 2006]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/shallow-water/1761833923)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Shallow Water” – 5:05
A2. “Rich Man” – 3:45
A3. “Here Comes David” – 3:34
A4. “Rejoice” – 4:22
A5. “Jesus Star” – 3:32
Side Two
B1. “Water Grave” – 4:52
B2. “Cup Of Water” – 4:52
B3. “Holy Roller Blues” – 3:32
B4. “Fly Away” – 3:52
Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP (the first 5,000 copies were pressed on red vinyl) by Tunesmith Records. Remastered and re-issued as a Limited Edition CD by Retroactive Records in 2006.
Gatefold Cover Artwork
Gatefold Cover, Inside
A full-page advertisement for various new releases on Retroactive Records, including reissues of Servant’s Shallow Water and Rockin’ Revival, was featured in the February/March 2006 (#62) issue of Heaven’s Metal.
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