Description
Windborne is the debut album by the American husband-and-wife soft-rock duo Bob & Joy Cull, released on Chalace Music in 1979. The album was recorded by Dan Willard assisted by Thom Roy with Jim Stipech producing. Strings and horns arranged and conducted by Bob Cull. All songs written by Bob except “Your Way” and “Canticle” written by Joy, “The Good Ship” written by Chuck Butler of Parable and Country Faith fame, as well as “There’s a Harbor” written by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel (a songwriting team probably best known for their hit song “Killing Me Softly With His Song”).
Singer/songwriter Bob Cull released two solo albums prior to the Windborne album; an autobiographical debut album entitled Welcome to the Family, self-released on Armchair Music in 1972 (re-issued by Maranatha! Music in 1975); and Remember…, released on Maranatha! Music in 1974.
In the beginning of the 1970s, before marrying Bob Cull, Joy Strange was a part of a Maranatha! Music related duo called Selah. Though Selah never recorded an album of their own they recorded a song featured on the very first Maranatha! effort, the multi-artist compilation The Everlastin’ Living Jesus Music Concert. (Joy also recorded the song “Open Our Eyes” featured on the Maranatha! Music album Praise 2, a song actually written by Bob.) Later on Joy shared lead vocals with Chuck Butler on More Than Words, the debut album by the country rock band Parable, an album released on Maranatha! Music in 1975. Joy left Parable to marry Bob before the band’s second album was recorded. Bob & Joy lived on a boat in Washington State and so their two albums, Windborne and the 1984 release Last Horizon, are about sailing and being at sea.
It’s been quite a while since we’ve heard from Bob Cull, and, as can be expected, there have been some changes in his life. Bob is now married to Joy Strange, former vocalist for the group Parable. Though they make their home in Washington, the Culls returned to southern California to record their new album, ‘Windborne’.
The record is a concept album of sorts, the songs revolving around nautical themes with titles like «Sail Away», «Treasure Island», «The Good Ship», «There’s a Harbor» and the title song. If this all sounds a bit corny, be assured that it is a true expression of Bob’s personality. In fact it should be stated that this is his finest album to date. Though his two earlier releases contained some fine compositions, the production left at lot to be desired, sounding more like good demos than finished products.
This time around the Culls have chosen Jim Stipech as producer, and he has succeeded in recreating Maranatha! Music’s classic “sound” of a few years ago on this record. As usual Bob arranged and conducted the orchestrations for strings and horns with good results. But the biggest treat is hearing some new songs from the pen and voice of Joy Cull. Her unique voice has a soft, airy quality somewhat comparable to Steve Nicks’, which works well on her jazzy tune, «Your Way». Above all, ‘Windborne’ is a refreshing a listening experience as the wind and the water Bob & Joy Cull sing about. Slap on the headphones and sail away. [CCM, January 1980]
Soft acoustic easy listening with rich orchestra swells and nautically-themed titles like «Sail Away», «Treasure Island», «The Good Ship» and «There’s A Harbor». If you’re one of the people responsible for putting John Denver’s «Calypso» on the charts, well then here’s a whole album of like-minded songs for you. Kelly Willard on background vocals. Foldout cover. [Ken Scott, The Archivist]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Sail Away” – 3:50
A2. “The Good Ship” – 3:37
A3. “Windborne” – 4:24
A4. “Blindman” – 4:00
A5. “Your Way” – 3:10
Side Two
B1. “Treasure Island” – 3:49
B2. “Only The Beginning” – 3:34
B3. “Theophilos” – 3:31
B4. “Canticle” – 2:55
B5. “There’s A Harbor” – 4:35
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Chalace Music, with the LP housed in a gatefold sleeve.
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