Description
Growing Pains is the sophomore album by the American singer and songwriter Jamie Owens, released on Light Records in 1975. The album was recorded by Jonathan David Brown and Wally Duguid at Mama Jo’s Recording Studio in North Hollywood, California; with Al Perkins producing. (Background vocals by Jamie Ownes and the Talbot Brothers – Terry and John Michael – were recorded at Buck Herring’s studio in Northern California, affectionately called Papa Buck’s at the time.) Mixed by Lanky Linstrot at Mama Jo’s.
It was the first gospel album singer, songwriter, and keyboardist Keith Green played on once he became a believer. The album includes the original recording of Jamie Owens’ “The Victor”, a song later covered by Green on his 1978-album, No Compromise.
In the early ’70s, one of the pioneers of contemporary Christian music was Jimmy Owens who wrote church musicals that signalled the first acceptance of Christian pop music in the wider church. Jamie is his daughter and this album from 1975 was her second and features what is probably her most famous song, «The Victor» which was also cut by Keith Green. Jamie’s clear voice has the purity of a folk singer and before the arrival of Amy Grant she could lay claim to the status as Christendom’s best loved female singer. ‘Growing Pains’ is very much of its time with a production and instrumentation akin to the recordings of Keith Green in that era. Standouts include «My Jesus I Love Thee» and «I’ve Never Had To Go This Far Before», with the latter sounding like a prototype of the sound that Green would create on his early albums. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms]
The Al Perkins produced Growing Pains enlisted the talents of John Michael Talbot, Terry Talbot, Keith Green, Michael Omartian and David Diggs among others. The album also includes what is perhaps her most recognized song «The Victor», made popular on Keith Green’s No Compromise. Features several of Jamie’s own songs, such as «Hard Times», «The Father’s Song» and «Fly Away With Me». Also titles co-written with Matthew Ward («Singin’ Hallelujah») and Terry Talbot («New Jerusalem»). More or less the same string-orchestrated light-rock-and-ballads format as Laughter In Your Soul, maybe a bit lighter overall, modernized slightly on the couple occasions when Omartian’s synthesizers join in. Sometimes sounds a little like early Olivia Newton John. Steel guitar brings a country edge to a few songs. Gate-fold cover. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]
A few years ago, I was given an album entitled ‘Laughter In Your Soul‘ by Jamie Owens. It was the first Christian recording which made any impact or impression on my way of viewing things. It was a very simple record, but it proved to me, none the less, that man could be and was meant to be satisfied.
Now Jamie comes to us, a little further down the pike, a more matured and tempered songwriter in an album aptly titled ‘Growing Pains’. This endeavor is not only a reflection on but an encouragement to all of us as we strive to be like Jesus. «Hard Times», the opener, raises the question: “Is the rain falling from the sky keeping you from singing?” This is a direct challenge to anyone to take a good healty look at their attitudes concerning circumstances and trials. The lyrical content of the entire album consistently flows back to the theme of our struggle to grow.
Jamie was not alone in extending her writing abilities on this album; we also hear from Terry Talbot, Matthew Ward, Buch and Anne Herring and parents Jimmy and Carol Owens. Musically, this effort takes on a different direction from Jamie’s last, employing a country-rock feel very similar to that of Joni Micthell or Melanie – I imagine Terry and John Talbot had a lot to do with this factor. In the credits we find a highly seasoned group of musicians with Mike Omartian again being very tasteful and distinctive on the keyboards while the bottom is provided by precision bassist Leland Sklar, whose name appears on scores of other artist’s albums. The background vocals were provided by the Talbots while Al Perkins, an ace musician in his own right, did a fine job producing.
‘Growing Pains’ is a solid and positive form of ministry by a dedicated Jamie Owens. [Mike Watson, Harmony, Vol. 1, No. 6, March/April 1976]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/growing-pains/767634929)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Hard Times” – 2:55
A2. “I’ve Never Had To Go This Far Before” – 2:31
A3. “The Father’s Song” – 2:01
A4. “Singin’ Hallelujah” – 2:49
A5. “New Jerusalem” – 3:58
Side Two
B1. “The Victor” – 3:44
B2. “Fly Away With Me” – 3:04
B3. “My Prayer For You” – 3:24
B4. “Many Times” – 3:29
B5. “My Jesus, I Love Thee” – 2:50
Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by Light Records. Re-issued on CD in 1999 by NewPort Records, distributed by Diamante. The CD features both Laughter In Your Soul and Growing Pains along with two bonus tracks, “Strong Arm” and “I’m Yours”.
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