A Call to Us All

Description

A Call to Us All is the gospel debut album by the American singer and songwriter Teri DeSario, released on DaySpring Records in 1983, a division of Word. (Also re-issued on Word’s contemporary label Myrrh Records the following year.) The album was recorded and mixed by Kevin Clark assisted by Steve Ford at Mama Jo’s Recording Studio in North Hollywood, California; with Bill Purse producing and arranging. All songs co-written by Teri DeSario and husband Bill Purse (except track A2 co-written by DeSario, Purse, and Don Cason). The album track “Jesus, Call Your Lambs” was later covered by Sheila Walsh on her 1985-album, Don’t Hide Your Heart.

Pop music fans, get ready for the sound of Teri DeSario. This girl’s got potential – with a voice near the brightness an excitement of Sheena Easton. Although a newcomer to contemporary Christian music, DeSario is no stranger in the music industry. ‘A Call To Us All’ is actually her fourth album. Three albums preceeded on Casablanca Records, including her duet with KC (of KC & the Sunshine Band). «Yes I’m Ready» hit number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in 1978.

Songwriting team DeSario and husband/producer Bill Purse fill ‘A Call’ with songs from the heart. Lyrically, most tunes cross between challenging evangelism and inspiring edification. Setting the pace for the LP’s progressive cuts, «(Lord I Really Wanna) Thank You» opens the album with punchy, synthesized pop. The well-written cut «Battleline», already receiving widespread airplay, stands out as the strongest song on the disc and should have been the title cut. «Jesus, Call Your Lambs» calls on the Lord to heal broken marriages. The lively, driving beat and singalong melody of «Dig a Little Deeper» falls into the pop category, while «All I Need» is funky new wave. If Easton were to record the cut, the two recordings could be indistinguishable.

Although Purse’s production is slick, the album does have its flaws. On «I Dedicate All My Love to You» and «I’ll Carry On» DeSario fails to include vocal variety, remaining repeatedly tiresome in high range and failing to meet the lyrical impact of the songs. Traditionally, the title cut of an album sets the tone of the whole project. The message of «A Call to Us All» – the Lord has called us all to love one another and serve in His army – is clearly the message of the disc. However, the instrumentation on the title cut – majestic snare drums and patriotic sounds – fails to flow with the rest of the album.

All in all, Teri DeSario is a powerful vocalist well worth our attention. [Victorya Michaels, CCM, January 1984]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Thank You” – 3:30
A2. “Battleline” – 3:40
A3. “I Dedicate All My Love To You” – 4:57
A4. “Dig A Little Deeper” – 4:00
A5. “Clouds Without Water” – 5:30

Side Two
B1. “All I Need” – 4:30
B2. “Jesus, Call Your Lambs” – 4:10
B3. “I’ll Carry On” – 4:54
B4. “A Call To Us All” – 7:25

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by DaySpring Records. (Later as well re-released by Myrrh Records.)

---

---

---

CREDITS. Producer and Arranged by Bill Purse. Recorded and Mixed by Kevin Clark at Mama Jo’s with asistance from Steve Ford. Strings recorded at Baby-O Recorders, Hollywood. Concertmaster: Doug Cameron. Mastered by Bernie Grundman at A&M Studios. Art Direction and Design by Paul Gross. Inner Sleeve Design by Steve Elowe. Photography by Harry Langdon. Written by Bill Purse and Teri Desario Purse, except track A2 written by Don Cason.

Musicians: Bill Purse (Piano, Synthesizer), Rosalina R. Sackstein (Flute), William Alsup (French Horn), Dave Boruff (Saxophone), Amy Shulman (Harp), Dan Ratkovich (Sitar), Ron Wagner (Tabla, Percussion), Michael Fisher (Berimbau, Kalimba, Caxixi), John Chiodini (Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin), Kevin Clark (Guitar), Carlos Vega (Drums), Tony Lewis (Drums). Backing Vocals: Bill Purse, David Roitstein, Kelly Koehr, Kim Fox, Nicole Ann Kujala, Rosalina R. Sackstein, Stephen R. Kujala, Teri Desario Purse.