Description
The Pledge is the ninth studio album by the American rock combo DeGarmo & Key Band, released on Power Discs in 1989, distributed by The Benson Company. Also released in the UK on Myrrh Records, a division of Word. The album was recorded by Bill Whittington and Ron W. Griffin at Ardent Studios in Memphis and at Omnisound Studios in Nashville, Tennessee; with Griffin producing for The ForeFront Communications Group. Mixed by Whittington at The Castle Recording Studios in Franklin, at Masterfonics in Nashville, and at Kiva Recording Studio in Memphis; Tennessee. All songs written by Eddie DeGarmo and Dana Key.
Ed DeGarmo and Dana Key strike a new balance, reconciling the hard-charging rock assault of recent efforts with the pop anthems that gained for them their greatest commercial acceptance. Gone for now are the paint-peeling rockers of ‘Streetlight‘ and ‘D&K‘, but absent, too, are the computer-driven keyboard textures of their middle-period albums, beginning with ’84’s ‘Mission of Mercy‘.
‘The Pledge’ achieves a hybrid sound – organic, human, up-to-date and well-crafted. Eddie and Dana reportedly had written 35 songs in preparation for this album; the 10 that finally made it reflect a sober concern for the creeping darkenss of our times.
«Boycott Hell» sets the tone with a call to militant witness, although one imagines it would be rather warm on the picket line! «Let’s Get Upset» echoes the alarm. «Aliens and Strangers» puts a fresh twist on the “heaven is my home” theme, as Dana looks around at his church and realizes, “My closest friends/ are aliens and strangers/ travelers here, living with danger.” D&K revisits «All the Losers Win» in the song «I’m Accepted», which comforts with the encouragement that, “I’m accepted by the One who matters most.”
“He died for me/ I’ll live for Him” is «The Pledge» these songs are based upon. «Life in the New Age» and «Who Will» rail against the devaluation of human life, whether through abortion or “bad karma.” «If God Is For Us (Who Can Be Against Us)» puts a positive spin on the record – a happy ending, although musically it seems like a throwback to earlier albums like ‘Commander Sozo‘ or ‘Communcation‘. That aside, ‘The Pledge’ is a solid effort, cross my heart. [Mark Eischer, CCM, August 1989]
With eleven albums in thirteen years, Christian rockers DeGarmo & Key are obviously a band who know their way around the recording studio and concert stage.
Their latest effort, The Pledge, is a musical and lyrical progression of sorts for this veteran band. Keyboard oriented of late, The Pledge features a more balanced guitar/keyboard attack backed by the propulsive drumming of Chuck Reynolds. This should please their longtime fans who’ll get a chance to hear more of Dana Key’s blistering guitar licks that were so prominent on their early albums.
DeGarmo & Key sound like a cross between Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald with Key, one of rock’s truly unique voices, giving the band their own distinctive sound.
The Pledge is a mellow album by this band’s standards. Key’s passionate, fiery vocals wring every ounce of emotion out of several fine ballads on this release. The rockers are largely confined to side two but the opening cut, «Boycott Hell», is an impressive uptempo number. “Don’t let your neighbour go/ Form a holy picket line/ We’ve gotta let them know/ Hey don’t you think it’s time to/ Boycott Hell.”
As always DeGarmo & Key’s lyrics are straight-forward without being preachy. The liner notes detail a mini Bible study for each song for those who wish to discover where the inspiration for the lyrics come from.
Christian rock doesn’t get much better than DeGarmo & Key. The Pledge is one their strongest efforts of late. [Lloyd Kirton, October 1990]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-pledge/716547790)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Boycott Hell”
A2. “Aliens And Strangers”
A3. “I’m Accepted”
A4. “Hand In Hand”
A5. “The Pledge”
Side Two
B1. “Life In The New Age”
B2. “Let’s Get Upset”
B3. “Who Will”
B4. “Right On Track”
B5. “If God Is For Us (Who Can Be Against Us)”
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD. Also issued by Myrrh Records in Europe. Remastered by Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound and re-issued on CD in 2022 by Girder Music, housed in a jewel case with expanded booklet featuring photos and lyrics.
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