Description
Far Away Places is the eighth and final studio album of original material by the American vocal trio 2nd Chapter of Acts, released on Live Oak Records in 1987, manufactured and distributed by Word. The album was engineered by Buck Herring and Greg Hunt at Easter Song Studios in Garden Valley and Rosewood Studio in Tyler, Texas; with Herring producing. Instrumental arrangements by Smitty Price and John Andrew Schreiner.
Sensational sibling sonority, long the salient sound of success for the 2nd Chapter of Acts, says, “So long” and sets sail for ‘Far Away Places’ on the latest release from the Family Ward. Don’t get me wrong. When Annie (Herring), Nellie (Greisen), and Matthew join forces, the result is as acoustically awe-inspiring as it ever has been. Let’s just say that the lack of group singing on ‘Far Away Places’ creates a triadic famine for this harmony-hungry reviewer.
Putting personal particulars aside, this is a great album. Continuing the trend which grew out of the ‘Hymns‘ album, Matthew takes the lead on six of the 10 cuts, his soaring tenor ever resilient but showing just the faintest sign of vocal fatigue on occasion (unless he’s trying to get a little of that LeFevrean gravel), as if 15 years of singing in the ionosphere is finally beginning to chink the sweatsuit of Christian music’s premier vocal gymnast. Annie sings three of the remaining four tunes – ballads all – with the same warm, honest, “I’ve been there, too” approach that made «Make My Life a Prayer to You» and «What to Do with My Heart» so credible on albums of yore. And (surprise!) Nellie takes over on the reflective «Sing Over Me», displaying a throatier (but no less pleasing) voice than her big sister.
Musically, 2nd Chapter cover the spectrum (as per usual), proving once again to be one of the few pop/rock bands with something to please everyone. Adding his name to the list of previous guest keyboard phenoms (Michael Omartian, Kerry Livgren), Smitty Price adds licks to the rocking «It’s No Masquerade», the driving «Fallin’ In On You», and the worshipful «You Are All in All». John Andrew Schreiner, instruments arranger for ‘Hymns’, does the same (and plays keys) for the bouncy «I Reach Out» and the expressive «A Tender Heart».
Lyrically, Annie’s writing predominates (again per usual) – all or partial credit on nine tracks – but gets considerable help from Matthew and Jim Tenneboe, 2nd Chapter’s concert keyboardist, whose presence seems to lend a commercialism not found in some of Annie’s early writing (no ending on the subdominant on these tracks!). Of special note are «Take It to All the World», a modernization of the Great Commission, «Humble Yourself», and the title track, a moving look toward Home reminiscent of their classic «The Son Comes Over the Hill».
Buck Herring’s consummate production (a “sonic feast,” as a friend of mine described it while comparing it to that of ‘Toto IV’) adds the final touches to ‘Far Away Places’. Perhaps overlooked in the past, Herring’s influence has been instrumental in bringing the 2nd Chapter of Acts to this point of prominence in the contemporary Christian music scene. Now if he could just get them to sing together a little more often. [Warren Anderson, CCM, December 1987]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/far-away-places/724376682)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Humble Yourself” – 3:57
A2. “It’s No Masquerade” – 3:30
A3. “Sing Over Me” – 4:05
A4. “You Are All In All” – 4:59
A5. “A Tender Heart” – 2:21
Side Two
B1. “I Reach Out” – 3:43
B2. “Fallin’ In On You” – 4:25
B3. “Maybe Some Other Day” – 3:45
B4. “Take It to All the World” – 3:03
B5. “Far Away Places” – 3:44
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Live Oak Records. Re-issued by Sparrow Records in 1991.
CREDITS: Produced by Buck Herring. Recorded at Easter Song Studios in Garden Valley and Rosewood Studio in Tyler, TX. Engineered by Buck Herring and Greg Hunt. Instrumental arrangements by Smitty Price and John Andrew Schreiner. Cover concept by Buddy Owens and Bradley Grose. Photography by Mark Engbrecht. Set direction and design by Buddy Owens. Art direction and design by Bradley Grose.
Musicians: Vocals by Annie Herring, Nelly Greisen, and Matthew Ward. Smitty Price (Keyboards), John Andrew Schreiner (Keyboards on tracks A5 and B1), Marty Walsh (Guitar), Michael Thompson (Guitar on tracks A5 and B1), Dann Huff (Guitar on track A4), Leon Gaer (Bass), Lee Jones (Bass on track A1), Michael Baird (Drums), Jack Kelly (Drums on tracks A5 and B1), Michael Celenza (Drums on track A1), Charlie Barnett (Percussion on track A1 and A3).
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