Surrender

Description

Surrender is an album by the American singer Debby Boone, released on Lamb & Lion Records in ‎1983, distributed by Sparrow Records. The album was recorded by Jack Joseph Puig with Brown Bannister producing.

Debby Boone has been in the news quite a bit lately, mostly because of the birth of her twin daughters. ‘Surrender’, her first album in three years, will keep her in the news – for awhile anyway.

The album is pretty smooth sailing, mixing soft pop ballads, country ditties, and worship songs. Debby’s vocals are voiced well on most cuts, and the overall production is quite standard for Brown Bannister. But despite the pleasantness of the complete package, most tunes individually lack the magical quality that liftet Debby to stardom with 1977’s «You Light Up My Life». Unfortunately, everything she does will be measured by that one song. We’ve been spolied.

Borrowing from the Jennifer Warnes/Joe Cocker school of girl/boy duets, satin-voiced Debby teams up with gravel-throated Phil Driscoll for a worshipful «Keep the Fire Burning». Artfully written, without melodic gimmicks common to contemporary Christian music, Debby performs a style that sounds natural to her than anything else on the disc.

Other worship songs include «O Holy One», similar in style to a Broadway show tune; «Surrender», a soft ballad, steeped with misty imagery; and «O Come All Ye Faithful», where Debby’s voice sounds a bit strained.

Reba Rambo and Dony McGuire‘s «Wounded Soldier» sums up the theory that Christians are the only creatures known to bury their wounded. Mercy and love instead of judgmental finger-pointing are suggested: “Our comrades are suffering/ Come let us meet them at their needs/ Don’t let another wounded soldier die.” Another tune, «Find a Hurt and Heal It», could by a follow up to «Wounded Soldier», except for its poor lyrical/musical synchronization.

In 1982 Laurie Boone and her husband Harry Browning recorded Harry’s «Keep Rollin’ On», a tune reminiscent of Jackson Browne’s early work. It contained great fiddle, mandolin, banjo, and steel guitar, in addition to Laurie’s smooth country vocal. Debby includes the same tune here, but with typical Bannister arrangements only. Nothing special. Except for slight inflections and tempo changes, Debby and Laurie’s vocal track could be exchanged. Laurie and Harry even sing background vocals here.

«Lift Him Up» is a song that met its fate in the studio before its time. It opens with an exciting orchestral intro, promising a hot rock number, only to bow down to a dull, countrified main verse. After two stanzas of this rolling boredom – just when you’re ready to hit the fast-forward button – a dynamic chorus breaks in, saving the song from an early grave. But the sing-song verse rises up one more time. To her credit, Debby adds some of her gutsiest vocals in the chorus close.

It’s been a long time coming, but Debby’s new album is now here. With three young children on her hands and a busy performance schedule, don’t be surprised if it takes another three years before her next release. ‘Surrender’ can certainly be enjoyed in the meantime. [Caroline Amedea, CCM, January 1984]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/surrender/293682110)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “O Come All Ye Faithful” – 4:05
A2. “Keep The Flame Burning” – 4:42
A3. “Can You Reach My Friend” – 4:09
A4. “Lift Him Up” – 4:23
A5. “Wounded Soldier” – 4:59

Side Two
B1. “Surrender” – 3:35
B2. “Keep Rollin’ On” – 4:05
B3. “Find A Hurt And Heal It” – 2:38
B4. “O Holy One” – 4:12
B5. “Blessing” – 3:05

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Lamb & Lion Records. Later re-issued on CD. (According to the December 29, 1984 CashBox issue, Meltdown, Sparrow distribution will be releasing three of its current top gospel albums as compact discs for the contemporary Christian marketplace… Initial entries chosen for this format are Debby Boone’s “Surrender,” Steve Taylor’s “Meltdown” and “Hymns Triumphant, Vol. II… first account deliveries will be made shortly after the new year.”)

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