Description
Beggar’s Paradise is the debut album by the American singer, songwriter, and session guitarist Chris Rodriguez, released on Word Records in March 1999. Also distributed by Sony Music. The album was recorded at The Bennett House and at Dark Horse Recording in Franklin, Tennessee; with Brent Bourgeois and Chris Rodriguez producing. Strings arranged and conducted by Tom Howard. All songs written, or co-written, by Chris Rodriguez.
The non-album track “Sanctuary” was included on the multi-artist project Streams released by Word Records the same year.
For those who obsessively read CD sleeve small print, the name Chris Rodriguez will be as familiar as Mark Heinemann or Wayne Kirkpatrick or any of the other Nashville seasoned heavyweights with sufficient gift and reputation to perform backup duties with most of the major names of CCM and quite an impressive smattering of pop luminaries as well. So though it’s taken Mr Rodriguez many years to record this, his debut album, it’s hard to think of him as a newcomer, while such is the acknowledged excellence of his voice and guitar this reviewer approached ‘Beggar’s Paradise’ with the same expectation that a chocoholic enters Cadbury’s World. I was not disappointed. Fluid pop arrangements and catchy hooks overflow throughout the CD. There’s the Phil Keaggy tinged mid tempo «I’ll Stay There», the tuneful «This Time Around» and the acoustic folk tinged «Retreat». If you enjoy singer/songwriters in the Wes King/Chris Rice mould you’ll enjoy this carefully crafted album. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, June 1999]
Veteran sideman Chris Rodriguez steps into the spotlight with a collection of accessible (though decidedly not formulaic) pop tunes. Produced by Brent Bourgeois, Rodriguez – an in-demand session vocalist and guitarist – has been the talk of the Christian and general market recording circles for several years. He has backed up the likes of Amy Grant, Kenny Loggins and Michael W. Smith, and recently won a Nashville Music Award for Best Background Vocalist.
The record starts off pleasantly enough with the lyrical complexity of «I’ll Stay There»: “Whisper your heart to me/ I’ll carry on like a flower in this desert land – until I’m home.” Add to that the Eastern-inflected feel of the chorus, and it’s clear that Rodriguez has spent his years in the background of pop music refining his commitment to not paint by the numbers. If the next song, «This Time Around», isn’t quite as engaging as the first, the record really comes to life with «Saved», the first of the record’s five songs penned solely by Rodriguez. The infectious bounce of this acoustic-based gem vividly communicates the joy found in the freedom of salvation.
In addition to his performing talents, Rodriguez also demonstrates his skill as a lyricist. On the beautiful «Retreat» he finds victory over a tendency to let conflict and confrontation get the better of him: “I have hurt you with a bullet from my tongue/ My eyes have fired a shot much like a gun/ I want to undo the things I’ve done, but I’m paralyzed.” «Waiting» also delicately faces the human frailty found in relationships through the lyric: “Sometimes we push these things aside ‘cause it’s easier to live with a lie/ It hurts the least and soothes the most.”
But it’s «Your Love», a powerful proclamation of God’s faithfulness, that finds Rodriguez firing on all four cylinders. From the energy of the Jimi Hendrix guitar fuzz – on two solos, no less – to the vulnerability of the lyric (“And when the rains fall down and when the dark surrounds me/ How can I be sustained?”) to the soaring vocals, this performance alone makes Beggar’s Paradise worth the ride.
Although Beggar’s Paradise doesn’t make the best use of every opportunity to showcase Rodriguez’ exemplary talents, enough spark shines through to indicate that it may not be too long before he might have to quit his day job. [Derek Wesley Selby, CCM, April 1999]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/beggars-paradise/1165946019)
CD tracklist:
01. I’ll Stay There – 4:04
02. This Time Around – 3:45
03. Saved – 4:20
04. Retreat – 4:19
05. Mercy Day – 5:31
06. Magdalene – 3:24
07. Beggar’s Paradise – 4:10
08. Your Love – 4:37
09. Turn Around – 3:30
10. Walk You To The Sun – 4:23
11. The Valley Road – 5:17
12. Waiting – 3:49
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Word Records. Word also released a Spanish version, entitled Paraíso De Un Mendigo.
Paraíso De Un Mendigo (Spanish Version)
CREDITS. Produced by Chris Rodriguez and Brent Bourgeois. Recorded by David Schober at The Bennett House and at Dark Horse Recording. Overdubbed and mixed at Dark Horse Recording. Mixed by David Schober. Engineered by David Schober with assistance by Chris Hauser, David Rand Martin, Michael Elsner, Ron Jaegger, and Shawn McClain. Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering. Strings arranged by Tom Howard. Strings Conductor: Tom Howard. Strings Contractor: Carl Gorodetzky. Art Direction by Beth Lee. All songs written, or co-written, by Chris Rodriguez.
Musicians: Chris Rodriguez (Vocals, Classical Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Slide Guitar), John Mallory (Acoustic Guitar), William Owsley (Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar), Tom Howard (Hammond Organ), Phil Madeira (Hammond B3 Organ), Brent Bourgeois (Keyboards, Loops), Jeff Bailey (Trumpet), Larry Tagg (Bass), Chris McHugh (Drums, Loops), Eric Darken (Percussion). Strings by the Nashville String Machine. Backing Vocals: Brent Bourgeois, Chris Rodriguez, Lisa Rodriguez.
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