Description
Vital Signs is the sophomore album by the American pop/rock band White Heart, released on Home Sweet Home Records in 1984, distributed by Myrrh Records, a division of Word. Also manufactured and distributed by A&M Records. The album was recorded by Jeff Balding at Gold Mine Studio East in Brentwood, Tennessee; with the band producing for Home Sweet Home. Mixed by Jack Joseph Puig at Gold Mine Studio West in Beverly Hills, California.
White Heart is Scott Douglas (vocals), Billy Smiley (piano, acoustic guitar, vocals), Mark Gersmehl (piano, synthesizer, and vocals), Dann Huff (vocals, acoustic, rhythm, and lead guitar), Gary Lunn (bass), and David Huff (drums and percussion).
‘Vital Signs’, White Heart’s second release of high energy pop-rock, continues the tradition of its first album – steaming guitar work, strong, gutsy lead vocals combined with tight, soaring harmonies, and sincere ballads.
Every cut features superb musicianship. «Sing unto the Lamb» opens the album with a supercharged burst of sound that carries the listener to thoughts of praise and thanksgiving. Breathtaking harmonies glide through «Carried Away (Safe on the Wings of the Lord)». Billy Smiley and Mark Gersmehl’s «Quiet Love» is a tender acoustic tune that speaks of a “quiet love that needs no reason to show it cares.”
The production on this self-produced album shimmers. The strings on «Let Your First Thought Be Love» add a nice touch. «Draw the Line», «Undercover», and «Following the King» offer good examples of White Heart at its rocking best, while «Walking in the Light» moves into Toto’s musical territory with its soulful vocal and r&b arrangement.
But let’s discuss White Heart’s one weakness: shallow lyrics. Without being overly critical, most of the tunes on ‘Vital Signs’ contain rehashes of tried and true Christian cliches. The music and production are so powerful that they overshadow the words. Yet, this shouldn’t be the case if the group wants to continue calling itself the “band of the ’80s.” A contemporary group should deal with contemporary issues using the vernacular of the day.
Lyrics notwithstanding, ‘Vital Signs’ deserves many listenings. Fans of Toto, Kenny Loggins, Glad, or Joe English would do well to give the disc a careful examination. [Steve Ledesma, CCM, June 1984]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/gb/album/vital-signs/4261859)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Sing Unto The Lamb” – 3:15
A2. “Draw The Line” – 4:38
A3. “Walking In The Light” – 3:56
A4. “Carried Away (Safe On The Wings Of The Lord)” – 4:19
A5. “Quiet Love” – 3:52
Side Two
B1. “Following The King” – 4:05
B2. “Let Your First Thought Be Love” – 3:51
B3. “Undercover” – 3:54
B4. “Vital Signs” – 3:50
B5. “We Are His Hands” – 4:13
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Home Sweet Home Records. Later re-issued on CD.
“Vital Signs” (MUSIC VIDEO)
CREDITS. Produced by White Heart for Home Sweet Home Records, Inc. Recorded by Jeff Balding, assisted by Doug Sarrett, at Gold Mine Studio East in Brentwood, TN. Additional engineering by Bill Deaton, Brent King, and Mike Psanos. Mixed by Jack Joseph Puig at Gold Mine Studio West in Beverly Hills, CA. Mastered by Doug Sax at The Mastering Lab in Los Angeles, CA and at Sheffield Lab Matrix in Santa Monica, CA. Arranged by Billy Smiley, Dann Huff, and Mark Gersmehl. String Arrangements by Ronn Huff. Cover Concept by Bill Brunt and Mark Tucker. Vital Signs Concept by Kent Hunter. Vital Signs Logo by Ken Wolgemuth. White Heart Logo by Ellen Hodnett. Photography by Mark Tucker. Art Direction and Design by Bill Brunt. Executive-Producer: Chris Christian.
Musicians: White Heart – Scott Douglas (vocals), Billy Smiley (piano, acoustic guitar, vocals), Mark Gersmehl (piano, synthesizer, and vocals), Dann Huff (vocals, acoustic, rhythm, and lead guitar), Gary Lunn (bass), and David Huff (drums and percussion). Additional musicians: Dennis Holt (Simmons Drums – tracks: A2, B1 and B3), Phil Naish (keyboards on track B5). Strings by The Nashville String Machine (track A5): Carl Gorodetzky, Craig Nelson, Dennis Molchan, Gary Vanosdale, John David Boyle, Pamela Vanosdale, Phyllis E. Hiltz, Roy Christensen, Walter Schwede. We Are His Hands Choir (track B5): Amy Grant, Billy Smiley, Bob Bailey, Bob Farrell, Chris Christian, David Meece, Debi Smiley, Jovonne Douglas, Kathy Troccoli, Russ Taff, Scott Douglas, Scott Wesley Brown, Steve Green, and Tricia Walker.
An interview with session guitarist Dann Huff, one of the founding members of White Heart, was featured in the January 1987 issue of CCM Magazine, as part of their ongoing Christian Musician Series.
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