Description
The self-titled, sole album by the American country-rock outfit Bethlehem was released on Maranatha! Music in 1978. The album was recorded during March and April 1978 by Peter Gregg, Jonathan David Brown, and Al Perkins at various studios in California – Buddy King Studios in Huntington Beach, Sound Castle Studio in Hollywood, and Maranatha! Studios in Santa Ana – and as well at North Star Studios in Boulder, Colorado; with Tom Stipe and Perkins producing. Mixed by Perkins and Jonathan David Brown at Maranatha! Studios. All songs written by Danny Daniels except “No Good Excuse” and “Just a Prayer Away” written by Dom Franco.
“Desert Song” features background vocals by Richie Furay, “No Good Excuses” features background vocals by Jerry Chamberlain of Daniel Amos, and the last track, “Pilgrims”, features background vocals by numerous Marantaha! Music associated artists including Kelly Willard, Bob Bennett, Tommy Coomes of Love Song fame, Gary Arthur and John Wickham of The Way, and Lewis McVay of Mustard Seed Faith.
Bethlehem was included among CCM Magazine‘s Top 10 Albums of the Year.
“Bright And Shining Son”, a non-album track and the first recording by Bethlehem, actually appeared on a multi-artist sampler released on the Maranatha! Music label in 1976, entitled Maranatha! 5 . Two album tracks, “Desert Songs” and “Think It Over”, were included on the compilations Maranatha! Six: A Family Portrait (1977) and Maranatha! Current (1979), respectively. When the band folded, lead singer Danny Daniels continued as solo artist, releasing his solo debut album Sons of Thunder on the Maranatha! Music imprint MRC Records in 1982.
Palatable countrified rock that more or less defines Maranatha’s rural Jesus Music sound. Members include Danny Daniels (guitars, lead vocals) Dom Franco (steel guitar, dobro), Dan McCleery (drums), John Falcone (bass) and Randy Rigby (lead guitar, keyboards). Many of their songs are of the mellow Eagles variety, including «Think It Over», «Lover», «No Good Excuses» and «Desert Song», the latter carbon copied from «Peaceful Easy Feeling». «Night Rider» and «Pilgrims» have good lead electric guitar adding some bite, as does «Dead Reckoning» which has the honour of helping to reverse radio Bob Larson’s stance on Christian rock (according to Paul Baker’s book Contemporary Christian Music). Lots of Steel guitar throughout, joining forces with banjo on «This Road». Some bluesy acoustic picking on «Holy Ghost Blues». Produced by Al Perkins and Tom Stipe. Includes a large open-out lyric/photo insert. See also Maranatha 5. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th Edition]
…Bob [Larson] also said he had picked up a copy of an album by Maranatha Jesus-music group Bethlehem, and was especially impressed by a song entitled «Dead Reckoning», one of the hardest rock selections on their album. “There’s an example of a song that musically I don’t feel comfortable with, not totally. I can understand why that sort of hard, raunchy style had to be used, because the sort of spiritual sarcasm they’re using in speaking to the old man does fit it. I agree that the whole mood created is necessary to an extent. But if it had been me producing the album, I would have laid it back. But I think the song does prove a point. In other words, musically it doesn’t fit into my frame of reference. But the message is so deep, it has to be genuinely born of the Holy Spirit.”
Bob then cited instances when certain Jesus-music songs had been instrumental in even his work with people. He cited the Pat Terry Group‘s song, «I Feel Free» as an example. The lyrics of the song helped in Bob’s ministry with a woman heavily into witchcraft. He recounted with joy the anointing that song carried.
In another instance, he remembered how «Abraham», a song written by Buck and Annie Herring and recorded by Phil Keaggy on the album Love Broke Thru, likewise ministered to a person with whom Bob was counseling. “That particular individual had been involved in the occult. The Lord used the song in a supernatural way to show us the steps we needed to take in our counseling procedure.” [http://www.ccel.us/CCM.ch15.html]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/bethlehem/716180725)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Think It Over” – 3:52
A2. “Lover” – 4:04
A3. “Desert Song (Cloud By Day)” – 3:40
A4. “Holy Ghost Blues” – 2:40
A5. “Dead Reckoning” – 3:48
Side Two
B1. “Night Rider” – 3:05
B2. “This Road” – 3:16
B3. “No Good Excuse” – 4:01
B4. “Just a Prayer Away” – 3:56
B5. “Pilgrims” – 4:42
Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by Maranatha! Music.
Bethlehem, Maranatha Live Concert, 1977.
CREDITS. Produced by Al Perkins and Tom Stipe. Recorded during March and April 1978 at North Star Studios, Boulder, CO, Buddy King Studio, Huntington Beach, CA, Sound Castle Studio, Hollywood, CA, and Maranatha! Studios, Santa Ana, CA. Engineered by Peter Gregg, Jonathan David Brown, and Al Perkins. Mixed by Al Perkins and Jonathan David Brown at Maranatha! Studios. Mastered by Bob Carbone at A&M Records. Album Design, Art Direction, and Layout by Neal Buchanan. Leather Tooling by Al Dugas. Photography by Sam Emerson. Insert Photos by Mike Shoup. Photo Tinting by Neal. All songs written by Danny Daniels except track B3 and B4 written by Dom Franco.
Musicians: Bethlehem – Danny Daniels (Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Vocals), Randy Rigby (Keyboards, Lead Guitar, Vocals), Dom Franco (Steel Guitar, Dobro, Vocals), John Falcone (Bass, Vocals), Dan McCleery (Drums, Percussion, Vocals). Background Vocals: Tom Coomes, Sharon McLaughlin, Julie Paulsen, Danny, Dom, John and Dan (track A1), Danny (track A2), Richie Furay, Danny, John (track A3), Danny, backporch congregation: The Maranatha! Singers (track A4), Danny, John and John (track A5), Danny and Dom (track B1), Jerry Chamberlain, Dom and Danny (track B3), Danny, Dom, John and Dan (track B4), Tom Coomes, Gary Arthur, John Wickham, Lisa Irwin, Kelly Willard, Sharon McLaughlin, Julie Paulsen, Cindy Simmons, Perry Hildebrant, Bob Bennett, Lewis McVay & Bethlehem (track B5). Additional Musicians: Frank Loomis (Harmonica on track A4), Al Perkins (Pull-String Guitar on track B3).
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