Beyond the Charade

Description

Beyond the Charade is the solo debut album by the American singer and songwriter Crystal Lewis, released on Frontline Records in 1987, distributed by The Benson Company. The album was producer and recorded by Bill Baumgart. Mixed by Dave Jahnsen.

Is it just me, or are there two dozen new female singers in contemporary Christian music every year vying to fill in the slack between releases by Amy Grant, Sandi Patti, and Leslie Phillips? In company this large it takes a special talent, songs that really touch Christian listeners, a sound that works, and a personality that connect to get even a second listen. Crystal Lewis, the waif-like vocalist who debuted at age 16 last year in Wild Blue Yonder (the pseudo-cowpunk-cum-’50s rockabilly band that misfired out of the gate), has just such a special talent. Opting for a funky Motown slant on straight-ahead pop sounds. ‘Beyond the Charade’ showcases Lewis’ soulful voice a la current pop wondergirl Whitney Houston.

Perky, bold, intuitive, and emotional, Lewis sings with an authority and comfortability that belies her youthfulness. On punchy tracks, «Frustrated», «Runnin’», and «Breakdown», she lets loose but never loses control, and that ease is maintained on ballads like «One More Heart» and the worshipful rendition of «Precious Lord».

Producer Bill Baumgart keeps the instrumentation on the money but unobtrusive, with solos reflecting emotional playing, not just the passage of time. Admittedly, it would be a kick to hear Lewis cop a groove more on the urban street beat and let go over something like Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis’s work with Janet Jackson and others. Here, however, Baumgart allows Crystal Lewis to stand on her own (with the exception of two less-than-satisfying duets), and stand up she does. ‘Beyond the Charade’ is the kind of solid work that should start a whole new wave of female vocalists trying to fill the space between her future releases. Although I’m sure he wasn’t thinking of her, Jackson Browne said it: “That girl could sing.” [Brian Quincy Newcomb, CCM, December 1987]

> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/beyond-the-charade/1607909508)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Frustrated” – 3:34
A2. “Precious Lord” – 3:37
A3. “Without You” – 4:21
A4. “Runnin'” – 4:34
A5. “Turn Your Heart Around” – 3:33

Side Two
B1. “Breakdown” – 3:53
B2. “One More Heart” – 3:46
B3. “Special Love” – 3:57
B4. “Let Them Know” – 4:15
B5. “Tonight” – 4:06

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Frontline Records. Re-issued on CD by Metro One Recordings ‎in 1997 as a part of the label’s Classic Crystal series, featuring new cover artwork, distributed by Word.

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