Description
Cool Age is the debut album by the Canadian singer and songwriter Geri Baird (a.k.a. Geraldine “Geri” Karlstrom; August 19, 1952 – January 10, 2025), released on the Canadian gospel label New Born Records in 1980, a division of Praise Industries Corp. The album was engineered by Donnie Gossett of Salvation Air Force fame assisted by Geri Baird at The Gossett Brothers Studio in Blaine, Washington; during the Summer of 1980; with Gossett producing and arranging.
Geri Baird is featured on lead and backup vocals as well as rhythm guitar, and is backed by session musicians Gary Schellenberg on acoustic piano, electric piano (Fender Rhodes), and strings; Garth Kent on saxophone; Rick Adams on bass; Ken Schellenberg on drums; Ron Stelting on drums and congos; as well as producer Donnie Gossett on electric piano, echo piano, strings, synthesizer, rhythm and lead guitars, bass, drums, and backup vocals. Also featuring Judy Gossett (percussion, backup vocals and backup vocal arrangement on track B2) and Michael Leon Gossett (bass on track A1).
Cool indeed. New wave poprockin’ femme with a somewhat radical look – like she’d have no problem hangin’ with Blondie, Joan Jett and Pat Benatar. Musically she’s like a more subdued version of the latter yet still a far cry from wimpy female ccm. Note that cool electric guitar she’s got strapped on. «Super Heroes», «Taking My Baby For A Ride» and the title track are all fun crusin’ along with a cool beat and happy rock-and-roll vibes. «Backside Of The Desert» has a mysterious mood carried along by dreamy harmonies and hypnotic bass riff ala Fleetwood Mac. Decent electric guitar moves on «Living On Broken Hearts» and «Somebody Loves Me» (check out the weird synths on the latter). «Family» and «Visions» are quieter ballad expressions. All ten songs written by Geri. Up there with Shelia Walsh’s Future Eyes. Did I mention she’s cool? [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]
Finally, a genuine female rocker – and a 1958-1964 to boot!
Geri Baird has recorded what may be the most unique album in contemporary Christian music – Shu-Be-Doo-Wah, Wah, Wah. And she gets away with it.
This is not the pop-rock-funk sound now copycatted throughout contemporary Christian musicdom. It is, rather, soft, mostly minor-keyed, full-on big beat rock cuts riddled with innovative lyrics buried in, and extracted from, everyday reality. Baird employs the traditional rock’n’roll subjects of broken hearts, cars, being cool, stardom, hero worship, television, radio, and, of course, love; and her theme is walking with Jesus (or without him) and what that’s all about. Her lyrics suffer not at all from the triteness so common til Christian pop. She never avoids the name of Jesus, and nor does she repeat it into mushy meaninglessness.
A decent soprano rocker with acoustic guitar, Baird has a vocal style unusual for a female Christian artist (most of whom are imprisoned in the “patient Griselde” routine). Forced into comparisons, one might mention Deborah Harry or, better yet, Lesley Gore (remember? No? Well, some 20 years ago…)
(Best cuts: «Super Heroes», «Backside of the Desert», «Cool Age», «Living on Broken Hearts», «Visions».) [Karen Marie Platt, CCM, July 1981]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Super Heroes”
A2. “Backside Of The Desert”
A3. “Cool Age”
A4. “Somebody Loves Me”
A5. “Family”
Side Two
B1. “Taking Baby For A Ride”
B2. “Living On Broken Hearts”
B3. “Visions”
B4. “Just A Heart”
B5. “I Know”
Backside of the Desert (2021 Version)
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