Description
The Passion, sub-titled Adrian Snell with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, is the fifth studio album by the British singer, songwriter and keyboardist Adrian Snell, released on Kingsway Music in 1980. (Kingsway Music was a new company emerging out of MGO, Musical Gospel Outreach. The UK gospel label Key Records was established by MGO in the late ’60s, renamed Dovetail Records in 1973, before it became Dove Records in 1976. In 1979 Dove merged into Kingsway Music.) The album was recorded by Roger T. Wake at Redan Recorders in London, England; with Jon Miller, Rod Edwards, and Roger hand producing and arranging. All music composed by Adrian Snell. Lyrics by Snell, Beth Colebrook, and Miriam Lowde.
Adrian Snell (featured on acoustic piano and keyboards) is supported by ace studio musicians – David “Dzal” Martin on electric guitar with Kevin Peake and Gordon Giltrap on acoustic guitars, and a rhythm section consisting of bassist John G. Perry and drummer Simon Phillips. The cast consists of Adrian Snell as Jesus, Mark Williamson as Judas, Geoff Turton as Peter, Shirlie Roden as Mary, Richard Barnes as Pilate, and Debi Doss as Mary Magdalene.
Again a Triumvirate Production, this time featuring The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Harry Rubinowitz, The English Chamber Singers led by Guy Protheroe, as well as the The London Welsh Male Voice Choir. The Passion is a symphonic rock opera that has it’s musical roots in Snell’s first recordings, and has remained an audience favourite throughout the years.
I was almost dragged into ‘The Passion’ as the least convinced. I’d been working with this original version of ‘The Passion’, which had been recorded on the second side of Fireflake five songs – piano, voice and string quartet – that was entirely a solo, a very intimate performance lasting about 25 minutes. The response to that in concert was terrific, very deep. Many times with audiences I felt we’d gone somewhere very special together, I wanted to protect that. But suddenly I began to have this excitement both from Triumvirate and from Kingsway suggesting a re-recording of ‘The Passion’ and it was Triumvirate, under John Miller’s direction, who was saying, don’t just re-record ‘The Passion’ but expand it and lets go the whole route and make it a rock oratorio – invite personalities to sing the songs and all the rest of it. [Adrian Snell, 1990]
The Passion is a symphonic rock opera that features backing from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Five of the songs can be found on side two of Fireflake, but this is an entirely new recording with twelve titles spanning the period that begins with the Last Supper and builds to the Resurrection. Six vocalists, including Snell in the role of Jesus and Mark Williamson as Judas. The English Chamber Singers and the London Welsh Male Voice Choir also appear on certain songs. Musicians include Snell on keyboards, Kevin Peek and Gordon Giltrap on acoustic guitars, plus others on drums, bass and electric guitar. Ranges from mellow ballads and soft orchestral passages to dynamic progressive themes and electrifying hard-rock sections (there’s actually quite a bit of heavy electric guitar on here). A very powerful work that effectively depicts the culmination of Christ’s last days on earth. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]
45th Anniversary Edition Promo
Sometimes a particular work from an artist proves to be timeless and it enjoys enduring popularity for decades. Such is certainly the case with ’The Passion’, arguably Adrian Snell’s best known work. What began as half of his debut lp ’Fireflake’ and included songs that aimed to picture the unique and deep love of Christ in His walk and sacrifice on Earth, ultimately turned into a full work that has been deemed a mixture of progressive rock, choral and pop elements. A groundbreaking work that features the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with some of the worlds finest rock musicians: Simon Phillips (drums), John Perry (bass), Dzal Martin, Kevin Peake, and Gordon Giltrap (guitars).
Originally released in 1980, ’The Passion’ has now been remixed by Jamie Snell, whose mixing credits include Ellie Goulding, Dua Lipa and Paloma Faith. The new mix was mastered at Metropolis Studios by Matt Colton (Peter Gabriel & Coldplay). With the anniversary of the genesis of these songs and the 45th anniversary of the original album on the horizon, the time is right for a refreshed, remixed and mastered edition of ’The Passion’!
Experience ’the Passion anew with stunning new mixes! Thanks to the discovery of the original master recordings, the project has been lovingly refreshed to sound better than ever. And in good time: original editions of ’The Passion’, both on vinyl and CD are out of print.
The new ’Anniversary Edition’ of ’The Passion’ will be released on CD and high quality 180 gram vinyl, acccompanied by a 20 page booklet (the CD will include a 25 page booklet). Included with the album (both formats) is a bonus download! (Catalogue no SMCD38)
Next to the new release, Adrian Snell will tour ’The Passion’ once again in Europe.
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-passion-anniversary-edition/1728816527)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Long Live The King” – 2:36
A2. “The Last Supper” – 2:02
A3. “Gethsemane” – 3:56
A4. “Betrayal” – 4:28
A5. “Son Of The World” – 3:38
A6. “The Trial” – 4:12
A7. “Judas’ Song” – 3:25
Side Two
B1. “Simon Carry My Cross” – 4:10
B2. “Golgotha” (Instrumental) – 3:18
B3. “Song For John” – 5:29
B4. “Jesus Alive!” – 8:23
B5. “Peace Be With You” – 1:12
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Kingsway Music. Re-issued on CD by Kingsway in 1987. A remixed and remastered 45th Anniversary Edition was released on both CD and 180 g 12-inch vinyl LP by Adrian Snell in February 2024. (The original 24 track analogue master tapes have been fully digitalized enabling a completely new mix and digital remastering. Remixed by Adrian’s son Jamie Snell and mastered at Metropolis Studios by Matt Colton.)
A 1982 TV broadcast from the Netherlands. The Passion feat. The Adrian Snell Band and cast members Mark Williamson (Judas), Barry Crompton (Peter), Shirlie Roden (Mary), Richard Barnes (Pilate), Debi Doss (Mary Magdalene), backed by the Metropole Orkest conducted by Rogier van Otterloo.
The Passion with Adrian Snell – LIVE together with band and the All Souls Orchestra, March 30, 2024.
“I was almost dragged into ‘The Passion’ as the least convinced” remembers Adrian. “I’d been working with this original version of ‘The Passion’, which had been recorded on the second side of ‘Fireflake’ five songs – piano, voice and string quartet – that was entirely a solo, a very intimate performance lasting about 25 minutes. The response to that in concert was terrific, very deep. Many times with audiences I felt we’d gone somewhere very special together, I wanted to protect that. But suddenly I began to have this excitement both from Triumvirate and from Kingsway suggesting a re-recording of ‘The Passion’ and it was Triumvirate, under John Miller’s direction, who was saying, don’t just re-record ‘The Passion’ but expand it and lets go the whole route and make it a rock oratorio – invite personalities to sing the songs and all the rest of it.”
What, of course, was to take the fledgling rock oratorio into the heights of Big Time was the choice of orchestra.
“Triumvirate said, ‘let’s get a top orchestra,” recalls Adrian, “I remember some of the conversations in the office of the studio – John Miller said ‘I think we should approach the Royal Philharmonic’. My heart leapt. For an artist with a classical rock background this was fantasy language and I certainly didn’t think it would happen. But then I thought, if anybody could pull it off, with his contacts this guy could. It all moved very fast. I did piano and voice demos. John Miller sent the material to one of the managers of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. And eventually they came back and said for this sum we could provide this number of the orchestra. Suddenly there it was on paper, we could do it.”
Working with one of the world’s best rhythm sections also had a devastating impact on the classically trained musician.
“Some of the steps we took with ‘The Passion’ album changed forever my concepts of exploring the possibilities of the rock/classical blend, especially working with Simon Phillips the drummer. I’d heard a lot about him from John, Simon had played with Stanley Clarke and Jeff Beck and a lot more people. John used to say, ‘when we’ve got Simon with us then we’ll know what direction we are going in’. And I used to think ‘why’s he putting so much store on…well…a drummer’. Then came the day Simon walked into the studio. This slight guy, only 18 years old yet already rated one of the world’s top five drummers. They played my piano tracks for John Perry (bass) and Simon. I remember watching Simon listening to this very rough piano/voice demo and watching him move his hands and working out rhythms within rhythms. And then we went into the studio and started to work with it. If ever the phrase mind-blown applied to a musician it applied to me. I sat in there with the cans on, Simon in the drum booth and John Perry next to me, recording pieces like «Judas’ Song» and «Golgotha» and being absolutely devastated by what I heard going on around me. I remember coming back into the control room and listening back to it and being staggered. Without being arrogant, only a musician could really appreciate some of what this rhythm section was doing. But it wasn’t just clever. It was profoundly expressive and was increasing the power of this music to communicate something. We finished the rhythm recording and we began to work with Dave Denzil Martin on guitars and by the time we got this excellent stuff down we had a much clearer idea of what we wanted the orchestra to do.”
Will Malone, a widely respected arranger who’d worked with the likes of Rick Wakeman did the charts for the Royal Philharmonic. Adrian anxiously counted off the days to the recording session. “Then came the great day. It was one of the most precious moments of my musical life being in the Olympic Studios, London, up in the control room looking down upon members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra playing my music. It was a wonderful day. Harry Rabinovitz was the conductor, he was absolutely brilliant and even the fact that half of the orchestra were reading the daily newspaper in between takes didn’t worry me too much!
It was one of the world’s best orchestras adding rich things to the music. It gave me a new confidence in my music, that people believed enough in what I was doing to go to that effort.”
Coinciding with the albums’ release, in March 1980 ‘The Passion’ had its world premiere at Eastbourne Winter Gardens. The following month BBC Radio One broadcast ‘The Passion’ to an audience of millions. It could have elevated Adrian to the status of superstar. But factors of time and finance meant the album was only released on Kingsway Records with none of the promotional and marketing resources available to major secular labels. So no crossover to the secular market was even attempted. ‘The Passion’ began a British and European tour. Within the Christian music sphere however the work was rightly heralded as a classic and audience reaction was enthusiastic. The album too enjoyed consistent sales down the years (particularly following its emergence on CD) ensuring that it has today finally drawn close to recouping its huge recording costs.
In August 1980, Adrian’s first son Jamie was born. But by then the singer was inveigled in unexpected controversy. The tour of ‘The Passion’ had suddenly met stiff evangelical opposition when it was discovered that some of the cast were not in fact Christians. Fuelled by rumour, stern denouncements were made by conservative evangelicals and some concerts were cancelled. At the time Adrian was deeply hurt but today he is more philosophical.
“In evangelicalism there is a protectiveness which tends to be very exclusive and often can’t see the extent to which God wants us Christians to discover the creativity and the part of a persons’ life which may not stem consciously from being a follower of Christ but has great value. There is a point of contact which can happen between non-Christian artist and Christian audience which will enrich both lives without there being a massive compromise.” [Excerpt from an interview with Adrian Snell featured in Cross Rhythms Magazine #2, July 1990]
CREDITS. Produced and Arranged by Jon Miller, Rod Edwards, and Roger Hand. (A Triumvirate Production.) Orchestral arrangements by Wil Malone except tracks A1, A6, and A7 by Edwards and Hand, and tracks A5 and B4 by Malone, Edwards, and Hand. The English Chamber Singers arranged by Malone. Engineered by Roger T. Wake at Rendan Recorders, London, England. Cover and booklet illustrations by Eugene Press. Graphics by Peter Wagstaff. All music composed by Adrian Snell. Lyrics by Adrian Snell, Beth Harrison, and Miriam Lowde.
The Cast: Adrian Snell (Jesus), Mark Williamson (Judas), Geoff Turton (Peter), Shirlie Roden (Mary, Mother of Jesus), Richard Barnes (Pilate), and Debi Doss (Mary Magdalene).
Musicians: Adrian Snell (Piano, Keyboards), Gordon Giltrap (Acoustic Guitar), Kevin Peek (Acoustic Guitar), David (Dzal) Martin (Electric Guitar), John G. Perry (Bass), Simon Phillips (Drums).
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Harry Rabinowitz. The English Chamber Singers led by Guy Protheroe. The London Welsh Male Voice Choir. Additional backing vocals by Shirlie Roden, Rod Edwards, Roger Hand, Mark Williamson, Richard Barnes, Annie McCaig, Mo McCafferty, and Debi Doss.
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