Description
True Believer is the fifteenth solo album by the American singer, songwriter, and guitarist Phil Keaggy, released on Sparrow Records in 1995. The album was recorded by Todd Robbins at various studios in Nashville, Tennessee – Downstage Studio, OmniSound Studios, and Quad Studio – and was produced, arranged, and programmed by the English producer Alan Shacklock (a founding member of the ’70s art-rock act Babe Ruth). Mixed by Tom Laune and Alan Shacklock at Saltmine Studio in Nashville.
If there’s one criticism that’s dogged Phil Keaggy throughout his solo career, it’s been his seeming fixation on Paul McCartney and The Beatles. But I tend to think that, rather than being a slavish imitator of the Fab Four, what Phil has become masterful at achieving is making disparate musical elements gel in the context of an album in the same way The Beatles did. Although ‘Crimson & Blue‘ (heralded as a return to Keaggy’s rock roots) deviated slightly from this formula, most of Phil’s albums have contained a little something for everyone – and ‘True Beliver’ is no exception.
It’s a much more lush and intricately produced album than Phil has made in several years. Much of this is probably due to the fact that producer Alan Shacklock wrote or co-wrote four of the 10 songs; in addition, he adds all manner of keyboard and synth exotica, drum programming, orchestra bells, percussion and background vocals. He’s a one-man band, but Keaggy gives him a wide berth, and the record doesn’t seem to suffer for it. Also in the core ensemble are bassist Wade Jaynes, percussionist Eric Darken and organist Phil Madeira. So, where’s Keaggy in all this? Surprisingly, not buried. He wrote or co-wrote five songs, and they mesh very well with the other tracks. A a lyricist, Phil has usually been very plain-spoken and let his marvelous voice and peerless guitar embellish his simple tales. Restraint and sophistication are the by-words here; there’s loads of Phil’s trademark E-bow noodling, lush acoustic strumming and a few tasty Les Paul and Strat solos. There’s also one out-and-out-rocker («Have Mercy Lord») and what you might call a “Celtic tribal version” of «Be Thou My Vision», which brings together nearly all of Keaggy’s influences for five glorious minutes. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, June 1995]
It is incredible that Phil Keaggy isn’t a household name. His recording career spans 23 years and he is regarded by many as one of the greatest living rock guitarists. In this new album his guitar virtuosity takes something of a back seat and there isn’t quite the same jam feel as on his last but one ‘Crimson And Blue‘ but instead the strength of this album is in the material, beautifully produced by Alan Shacklock, and a perfect showcase for Phil’s abundant talents. Ten stunning tracks, mostly new songs, and while they are totally contemporary they are so firmly rooted in Phil’s musical heritage that they have a strange familiarity about them. Particularly worth a mention are «Only You Can Wash My Sins Away», «Don’t Let Go Of My Heart», «And On That Day» (a gorgeous song about the annunciation) and «Be Thou My Vision», a driving Celtic rock version of this classic Irish hymn. This is a brilliant record. Buy it. [Peter Smith, Cross Rhythms, August 1995]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/true-believer/723806384)
CD tracklist:
01. The True Believers – 4:36
02. Wild Heart – 5:01
03. Only You (Can Wash My Sins Away) – 4:31
04. Salvation Army Band – 4:09
05. Don’t Let Go Of My Heart – 4:09
06. Son Of Man – 4:38
07. And On That Day (feat. Susan Ashton) – 5:05
08. Be Thou My Vision – 4:51
09. Have Mercy Lord – 4:01
10. The Survivor – 7:30
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Sparrow Records. Available at Bandcamp along with a Deluxe Bonus Disc: https://philkeaggy.bandcamp.com/album/true-believer
https://philkeaggy.bandcamp.com/album/true-believer-deluxe-bonus-disc
The July 1995 issue of CCM Magazine featured a cover story on Phil Keaggy.
A full-page advertisement for Phil Keaggy’s True Believer was featured in the June and July 1995 issues of CCM Magazine.
Phil Keaggy performing his classic “Salvation Army Band” live from Two Old Hippies in Nashville, TN. (From the DVD, Phil Keaggy – “On The Ph’lip Side”.)
CREDITS. Producer, Arranged, and Programmed by Alan Shacklock. Executive Producer: Peter York. Recorded by Todd Robbins at Downstage Studio, Nashville, TN; at Omnisound, Nashville, TN; and at Quad Studio, Nashville, TN. Todd’s Assistants: Michael Griffith at Downstage Studio, Aaron Swihart at Omnisound, Paul Skaise and Kevin B. Hipp at Quad Studio. Pre-production at Trigger Happy Studio, Atlanta, GA, and at Kegworth Studio, Nashville, TN. Mixed by Tom Laune and Alan Shacklock at Saltmine Studio, Nashville, TN, assisted by Greg Parker. Mastered by Ken Love at MasterMix, Nashville, TN. Production Coordinator: Tom Barfield. Creative direction by Karen Philpott. Design by Disciple Design, Memphis, TN. Photography by Ron Keith. Stylist: Jamie Kearney. Makeup: Lori Turk. Phil Keaggy plays Langejans acoustic guitars, James Olson acoustic guitars, Gibson guitars, Zion guitars, and uses DR Strings.
Musicians: Phil Keaggy (Vocals, Electric Guitars on all tracks, Acoustic Guitar – tracks: 5, 6, 10, E-Bow on track 7 and 8, Bass on track 6), Cheryl Becker (Vocals on track 4), Susan Ashton (Guest Vocals on track 7), Alan Shacklock (Track 1: Grand Piano, Rhythm Guitar, Drum Programming, Additional Keyboards; Track 2: Keyboards, Sub-Kick, Flute and Drum Programming; Track 3: Grand Piano, Wah-Wah Strat Guitar, Tube Bells, Programming; Track 4: Keyboards, Brass Ensemble, Tube Bells, Drum Programming; Track 5: Strings and Additional Keyboards; Track 6: Drum Programming, Strings and Additional Keyboards; Track 7: Keyboards, Church Organ, Pretend Strings, Side-Kick, Tube Bell and Programming; Track 8: War Pipes Orchestration, Drum Programming; Track 9: Riff Guitar, Brass and Drum Programming; Track 10: Keyboards, F/X, French Pipe Organ, Drum Programming), Phil Madeira (B-3 Hammond Organ – tracks: 1,3,4,5,6,9), Norman Miller (Celtic Ambience on track 8), Gordon Kennedy (Gretsch Tennessean Guitar on track 2), Wade Jaynes (Bass – tracks: 1,2,3,4,8,9), Jimmie Lee Sloas (Bass on track 5), Steve Brewster (Drums – tracks: 5,6,8,9, Drum Brushes on track 7), Eric Darken (Percussion – tracks: 2,3,4,8, Timpani – tracks: 1,4, Tambourine – tracks: 1,3,4), Ian Keaggy (Heartbeat on track 10). Backing Vocals: Randy Holland, Gordon Kennedy (track 2), Phil Keaggy and Alan Shacklock (track 4), Phil Keaggy and Jimmie Lee Sloas (track 5), Phil Keaggy (track 6 and 7).
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