Description
The American multi-artist soundtrack from HiTops (“a contemporary, upbeat musical designed for “churched” teens/young college age”) was released on Maranatha! Music in 1985, distributed by Word Records. The album was engineered by Chris Taylor assisted by Bobby Salcedo at Whitefield Studios in Santa Ana, California; with Ernie Rettino & Debby Kerner Rettino producing. Mix produced by C. Barny Robertson. Arranged by C. Barny Robertson. Script written by Ernie Rettino, Debby Kerner Rettino, C. Barny Robertson, Robb Rigg, and Valerie Rigg. Music written by Ernie Rettino, Debby Kerner Rettino, and C. Barny Robertson. Cover art design by Kernie Erickson. Featuring “Father of Lights” with Lisa Walker.
The cast features Maria Andrade, Dave Avanzino, Chris Brigandi, David Michael Carrillo, Jeff Carter, Cheryl Dieda, Michael Eidenmuller, Ben Goodner, John Hernandez, Jennine Jones, Beverly Kennedy, Crystal Lewis, Melissa Ludolph, Chris Marsh, Tiffany Schwab, Angel Smythe, Lisa Walker, and Danny Walters.
(After the HiTops soundtrack was finished, Chris Brigandi’s rockabilly combo The Lifters merged into Wild Blue Yonder who released a self-titled album featuring Crystal Lewis on lead vocals.)
We are all running a race. We’re running either to God or from Him. The hitops on the album cover are a symbol of running the race we have set before us and going for God’s best for our lives… reaching up to measure ourselves and live by God’s highest standards.
HITOPS is set in a high school. The director of the group “HITOPS” invites the students to audition for the group. As the kids prepare for this audition we meet Tony and Heather (boyfriend and girlfriend), Norman J. Pitz (a “nerd” by popular vote) and Ginny Alexander (a girl with such a low sense of self esteem she tries to lash out and hurt others before they have a chance to hurt her).
Meanwhile, in Heaven three angels are searching through the Heavenly Archives to try to understand why humans are constantly changing the style of their clothes. They come across a definition: FADS: a passing fashion imposed upon groups, nurtured and fortified by peer pressure. Peer pressure…what’s that? The angels are sent on a mission to find out about peer pressure for themselves. They are assigned to infiltrate a high school campus and impart some heavenly wisdom as needed. To help them fit in they are transformed into Twin Fin (a punker angel with twin mohawks), Lily from the valley (who arrives and discovers “‘Vals’ just aren’t ‘in’ anymore’), and Amazing Grace (a female nerd, and klutz, as well). While on earth, the angels encounter Lewy (AKA Lucifer) who is bent on making trouble and has a particular interest in destroying Ginny Alexander.
The entertaining and imaginative story and songs deal with some of the provocative issues facing teenagers today…peer pressure, lonliness, fear of rejection, cheating, sexuality, drug and alcohol abuse and suicide. HITOPS takes a look inside a kid’s heart and helps us to see what’s really going on in there and then attempts to offer an answer.
This is a contemporary, upbeat musical designed for “churched” teens/young college age.
The album contains an insert with a complete synopsis of the story.
The full script with musical score, choreography and staging suggestions is also available. [Liner notes featured on the back of the LP sleeve]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Father Of Lights” – 3:46
A2. “The Fight Song” – 2:45
A3. “Hi Tops” – 2:20
A4. “Fads” – 4:14
A5. “Don’t Think About The Consequences” – 3:08
Side Two
B1. “Love Song for Two Nerds” (The Nerd’s Love Song) – 3:38
B2. “Stand Back” – 2:53
B3. “I Wanna Be In The Band” – 6:15
B4. “Nobody Knows What It’s Like To Be Alone” – 2:55
B5. “I Wanna Be In The Band” (Reprise) – 0:52
B6. “Take Off Your Mask” – 3:37
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Maranatha! Music. The album contains an insert with a complete synopsis of the story. The full script with musical score, choreography and staging suggestions us also available. Back track tape and video/film also available.
CREDITS. Produced by Ernie Rettino and Debby Kerner Rettino. Engineered by Chris Taylor assisted by Bobby Salcedo at Whitefield Studios in Santa Ana, CA. Mix produced by C. Barny Robertson. Arranged by C. Barny Robertson. Script written by Ernie Rettino, Debby Kerner Rettino, C. Barny Robertson, Robb Rigg, and Valerie Rigg. Cover Art Design by Kernie Erickson. Cover layout by Gary Delacy. Sleeve layout by Ed McTaggart. Art Coordination by Alex MacDougall.
Musicians: C. Barny Robertson (Keyboards), Jay Leach (Guitar), David Coy (Bass), George Green (Drum Overdubs).
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