Description
Thank Offering is the first collaborative praise & worship project by the British singers/songwriters Dave Pope and John Daniels, released on Chapel Lane in 1980. (Chapel Lane was a newly established independent British label releasing superlative – and mostly cutting edge – albums by Christian artists, Thank Offering being their first release, Catalog Number CLS 8001.) The album was recorded during January 1980 by Paul Cobbold at Chapel Lane Studios in Hereford, England; with John Daniels producing and arranging, assisted by Cobbold. Brass arrangements by Cliff Matthews. (“Let them sacrifice thank-offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy” Psalm 107:22)
Featuring John Daniels and Dave Morris (of Barratt Band fame) on keyboards, and an ace rhythms section consisting of Dave Plotel on bass and Rick Martinez on drums.
Trivia: Rob Andrews’ Chapel Lane Studios was founded in 1977, housed in a disused chapel in Hampton Bishop, a village near Hereford, England. It was Andrews’ vision to become a full support service for Christian music ministry, and soon after the recording of Thank Offering the Chapel Lane record label was launched, and the studio went from 16 to 24-tracks as well.
Thank Offering released on the emergent Chapel Lane label did well and quickly became the best selling Christian album in the UK. It’s blend of tender devotional balladry, classy keyboard lines and largely John Daniels originals (except “Emmanuel God Is With Us” written by Graham Kendrick, “Oh, So Wonderful” written by David Meece, as well as “Praise The Lord, He Never Changes” written by R. Harris and Stormie Omartian) found a receptive audience with the Spring Harvest throng. The following year Pope and Daniels released Love Offering on Kingsway Music that turned out to become a major sales success as well. Dave Pope was by now an omnipresent worship leader at Spring Harvest.
In the late ’70s, Dave Pope was invited to get involved in an event, formed by Buzz magazine [ later to be known as Cross Rhythms magazine ] and British Youth For Christ, which was quickly to become the biggest attended Christian event in the UK and the showcase for the emergent modern worship music. Singer/songwriter Graham Kendrick was the key figure in the movement. However, Dave Pope was to get involved in the memorable worship sessions at Spring Harvest’s Big Top. “I was invited to get involved with developing an event that would bring Christians together from all over the country, namely Spring Harvest. And I guess because of my musical associations I was invited to get involved in the worship. It happened one night in Prestatyn when Graham Kendrick developed laryngitis and they said, ‘Dave, would you step in?’ I’m a Methodist so worship for me, remember mid-’70s, was the hymn, prayer, hymn, reading, hymn sandwich. And someone said, ‘You’ve got 40 minutes to lead worship.’ [Excerpt from an article entitled “Dave Pope: The Jesus Music, Spring Harvest, Saltmine Trust veteran” by Tony Cummings, published in Cross Rhythms Magazine, February 9, 2014]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Sing To The Lord” – 3:08
A2. “Praise The Lord, He Never Changes” – 4:12
A3. “Come On In And Praise The Lord” – 3:38
A4. “Thy Kingdom Come” – 3:16
A5. “As We Are Gathered” – 3:16
A6. “Oh, So Wonderful” – 3:05
A7. “I Will Sing The Wondrous Story” – 3:36
Side Two
B1. “Medley: We Have Come Into This Place/Jesus, Name Above All Names/Thou Art Worthy” – 7:53
B2. “Seek Ye The Lord” – 4:10
B3. “Emmanuel, God is With Us” – 3:50
B4. “Lord, Touch My Life” – 3:27
B5. “He’s Coming Back” – 3:14
B6. “He’s Coming Back (Reprise)” – 1:45
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Chapel Lane Records.
CREDITS. Produced and arranged by John Daniels. Engineered by Paul Cobbold. Recorded at Chapel Lane Studios in Hereford, England. Brass arrangements by Cliff Matthews.
Musicians: Dave Pope (Vocals, Guitar), John Daniels (Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards), Rob Marshall (Vocals, Guitar), Dave Morris (Keyboards), Dave Plotel (Bass, Guitar), Rick Martinez (Drums).
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