Water to Wine

Description

Water to Wine is a multi-artist sampler album released on MRC Records in 1982, a sub-label of Maranatha! Music, distributed by Word. Cover illustration and artwork by Rick Griffin.

The Ministry Resource Center’s latest compilation album, ‘Water to Wine’ (MRC17), proves that the Maranatha! Music outreach center is bearing good fruit. The 10 songs are all written and performed by beginning – or unrecorded – artists ranging in style from sheer pop to funk and even blues rock.

Quite notable on this particular compilation are a few strong female vocal numbers. The opening cut, «Let it Flow» by Anne Duff, successfully combines the aforementioned blues rock with lyrics that tightly fit the melody, making this cut probably the best on the LP. Anne’s voice, similar in style to Maria Muldaur‘s, still sounds quite individual. The flip side offers two more female leads, opening with «I Don’t Have to Guess» by Kathy Herivel and closing with «You Gave Me a Song» by Martha Hendrickson. Sandwiched in between are two male/female duets: «I Want to Know You!» by Gary Garcia, with a feminine voice not credited on the album sleeve, and «Don’t Lose the Fire», a rousing funk piece written and sung by Danny Cruz with Mary Ann Peluso.

The remaining songs are no less notable, particularly «Come Back Jesus» by David Siegal. Here Siegal has blended lyrics, ordinarily considered overused, into a steamy blues base. «Watch & Pray» by Joel Wade stands as a mainstream pop tune with a catchy chorus, followed by Philip Wagner’s «Circle of Love». «When I Think of Jesus» by Leo Giovinetti contains a great chorus hook, while «You Are My Life» by George Nasif combines tight production with fine vocals.

The tendency to write about the same old subjects plagues most inexperienced songwriters. Most songs on ‘Water to Wine’ are examples of fine musical composition, executed well, but unfortunately suffering from lyrical sameness.

Because of the sincerity shining through the compositions, ‘Water to Wine’ offers inspiration and a promise of greater offerings from these fine artists. [C.A. Burns, CCM, April 1983]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. Anne Duff – “Let It Flow” – 3:34
A2. Joel Wade – “Watch And Pray” – 3:34
A3. Philip Wagner – “Circle Of Love” – 2:38
A4. Leo Geovinetti – “When I Think Of Jesus” – 3:00
A5. David Seigal – “Come Back Jesus” – 3:51

Side Two
B1. Kathy Herivel – “I Don’t Have To Guess” – 3:45
B2. Gary Garcia – “I Want To Know You” – 3:25
B3. Danny Cruz – “Don’t Lose The Fire” – 3:38
B4. George Nasif – “You Are My Life” – 2:55
B5. Martha Hendrickson – “You Gave Me A Song” – 3:57