Description
The self-titled solo debut album by the American singer and songwriter David Edwards of Ron Salsbury & The J.C. Power Outlet fame, was released on Myrrh Records in April 1981, a division of Word. The album was recorded and mixed by Bill Bottrell, David Marquette and Mitch Gibson at the SoundCastle in Hollywood, California; with Buddy King producing for Pure Joy Productions. Arranged by Barry Kaye and David Edwards. All songs written by David Edwards except “The Tongue is a Fire” co-written with Bill Elfstrom (a former bandmate from The Churchgoers, a punk rock combo which released a single in 1978), and “Kicks”, a Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil penned tune best known as a 1966 hit for American rock band Paul Revere & the Raiders.
David Edwards was included in the Editors’ Choice 1981 list of CCM Magazine, a list featuring 15 albums released during 1981, before the end of November. The album also topped Campus Life Magazine as one of the best releases of the year.
On his debut album David Edwards is backed by Ira Ingber on electric guitar and sitar (a former member of Captain Beefheart’s Magic Band), and a rhythm section consisting of Eric Nelson on bass and Craig Krampf on drums, who were fresh of recording with Kim Carnes (that album actually was nominated for the 1981 Album of the Year Grammy Award). The album also features keyboardist Barry Kaye and guitarist Dan Jacob, both members of Kid Brother, a band that did release a self-titled album on MCA Records in 1979. (Barry Kaye would actually go on to produce the next album by David Edwards, Get the Picture, an album featuring the “Kid Brother rhythm section.” Kaye would as well produce two albums by Randy Stonehill in the mid-’80s, Celebrate This Heartbeat and Love Beyond Reason, which also feature Kid Brother members Dan Jacob and Rick Geragi.)
Edwards’ debut album is considered to be the first new wave album by an American artist signed to a major US CCM label. David Edwards is an odd combination of Elvis Costello and Billy Joel bringing together the best elements of both in a quirky mix of power pop and singer/songwriter sensibilities. From the opening track’s surf music on speed style organ solo to the soft confessional style of the last track, “Song Of Wholeness”, this album is eclectic and satisfying. It’s an album loaded with pop melodies, new wave kitsch as well as a killer cover of the anti-drug song “Kicks”, a Paul Revere and the Raiders single that was a number one hit in Canada in 1966, and reached number four in the US as well. Most lyrical subject matter leans toward more serious spiritual-social concerns making the strange juxtaposition of lyrics and music all the more enticing.
In the first half of the 1970s David Edwards was a member of Ron Salsbury & The J.C. Power Outlet, one of the first rock & roll bands signed to Myrrh Records. In the late ’70s David Edwards actually was working on a solo album tentatively to be released on Larry Norman‘s Solid Rock Records, though no record ever materialised. (Though fellow J.C. Power Outlet members John Pantano and Ron Salsbury did release an album entitled Hit the Switch on Solid Rock as the duo Pantano Salsbury.)
The album single “Not Going To Fall Away” (a song written by David Edwards and first recorded by Brush Arbor on their 1979-album, Hide Away) was later covered by Steve Taylor and Sheila Walsh on their 12-inch single entitled Trans-Atlantic Remixes released on Sparrow Records in 1985.
David Edward, David Edwards – Myrrh MSB 6647
Edwards should gain attention with this album, which carries a distinct British rock sound on most songs. Several selections are potential competitors for contemporary/pop airplay. Top cuts include «Rather Be Wrong», «Kicks» and «The Tongue Is a Fire». [Record World (Gospel Album Picks), April 25, 1981]
In 1981, David Edwards’ self-titled debut album launched him onto the Christian scene with a pile of fabulously produced post punk power pop and an equally fabulous skinny tie. His first album promised a great deal and showed that Edwards was skilled at creating short, snappy, energetic songs that drew as much on ’60s garage influences as it did from the new wave scene. Most of the songs on the debut album come in under three minutes long and it’s his brevity that somehow adds to the power of songs like «Best Friend», «Rather Be Wrong» and «Nagging Optimism». Even his cover of Paul Revere & The Raiders’ «Kicks» seems to fit in well here with its observations about the emptiness of life. The strength lyrically is that Edwards uses the songs to really say something. «Disposable Love» and «The Tongue Is A Fire» are both songs with plenty to say about contemporary culture and more than 25 years later, still speak powerfully. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, August 2008]
Is David Edwards’ self-titled album one of my favorite Jesus Music records? Nope. One of my favorite new wave records? No again. It’s one of my favorite records of all time. Along with David Edwards’ unique style of songwriting and singing, one of the things that gives this album its unmistakable sound is producer Buddy King’s emulation of Nick Lowe’s style of producing Elvis Costello. While many new wave albums from the era seem dated and overly of their time, Elvis Costello’s seem both fresh and vintage. Similarly, David Edward’s album still seems both unique and classic. I am still convicted every time. [Gord Wilson, 2019]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Best Friend” – 2:13
A2. “Rather Be Wrong” – 2:26
A3. “Commercial Suicide” – 4:26
A4. “Nagging Optimism” – 2:39
A5. “Hollywood High” – 2:54
A6. “The Getaway” – 3:36
Side Two
B1. “Kicks” – 2:44
B2. “Disposable Love” – 2:25
B3. “The Tongue Is A Fire” – 3:25
B4. “Don’t Ever Say” – 3:18
B5. “Not Going To Fall Away” – 3:11
B6. “Song Of Wholeness” – 3:24
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Myrrh Records. Later re-issued on CD by David Edwards, paired with his 1983-album Get the Picture and featuring bonus tracks. “Commercial Suicide”, b/w “Song of Wholeness”, was released as a 10-inch 33 ⅓ RPM promo single by Myrrh. (It wasn’t a typical 10″ record – it was more like a 7″ pressed on a 10″ blank.)
CREDITS. Produced by Buddy King for Pure Joy Productions. Arranged by Barry Kaye and David Edwards. Recorded and mixed at the Soundcastle, Los Angeles, CA, by Bill Bottrell, David Marquette and Mitch Gibson. Art Direction, Layout, and Design by Leo McIntire/Art Hotel, Inc. Inner Sleeve Layout and Design by Dennis Hill. All songs by David Edwards except “The Tongue is a Fire” co-written with Bill Elfstrom and “Kicks” written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil with additional lyrics by Edwards.
Musicians: David Edwards (Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion), Barry Kaye (Piano, Synthesizer), John Cross (Baritone Saxophone), Dave Garland (Hammond and Vox Organ), Dan Jacob (Electric Guitar), Ira Ingber (Electric Guitar, Electric Sitar), Eric Nelson (Bass), Craig Krampf (Drums).
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