Description
Unfit for Swine is the sophomore solo album by the American singer and songwriter John Schlitt of Petra fame, released on Word Records in 1996. Also manufactured and distributed by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music. The album was recorded by Joe Baldridge at Dark Horse Recording in Franklin, Tennessee; with Dann Huff, David Huff, and Mark Heimermann producing. Mixed by Baldridge at Sixteenth Avenue Sound in Nashville, Tennessee.
If you think singing is not an athletic event, especially the way veteran Petra frontman John Schlitt sings, think again. Yet with ‘Unfit for Swine’, his second solo outing, Schlitt proves he hasn’t lost a step and has even added a few items to his bag of tricks.
Even in this setting, one of the supposed musical spotlights shining on him alone, Schlitt proves he’s a team player, weaving his trademark vocals into a game plan built with his dream team trio of seasoned producers: Mark Heimermann, Dann Huff and David Huff, all of whom return from Schlitt’s 1994 solo debut, ‘Shake‘.
The impressive thing is that Schlitt has seemingly not lost any of his vocal power, and has even gone so far as to fine-tune his control, letting loose with his familiar vocal assault on the lead track «Save Me» then reining it in noticeably for the next tune, «God is Too Big», a fun tune that youth directors with a six-string and ambition will be introducing to their groups over a campfire come fall.
Dann, the guitar-wielding Huff brother, plays point guard for his team, dishing out some of the tastiest guitar parts Schlitt has ever converted into a slam dunk. This is not to disparage Schlitt’s work with Petra guitarist Bob Hartman… it’s kinda like trading Magic Johnson for John Stockton, you’re in great assist shape either way.
Sonically, the producers put Schlitt and his voice in some situations we haven’t heard before, but being the consummate player he is, Schlitt evades the pressure and scores with ease and flair. Lyrically, the shots range from the easy-to-convert layup of «God is Too Big» to the potentially risky, but ultimately rewarding «I Killed a Man» and all manner of scoring opportunities in between, such as «Need I Remind You», «Helping Hand» and «Don’t Have to Take It».
It’s been 10 years (!!!) since John Schlitt joined this league of Christian music, and his presence both as a voice and a leader has been a welcome one. ‘Unfit for Swine’ only serves to further the impressive career of a man singing for the one true All-Star. [Lucas W. Hendrickson, CCM, July 1996]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/unfit-for-swine/1167775264)
CD tracklist:
01. Save Me – 3:37
02. God Is Too Big – 3:42
03. Can’t Get Away – 4:17
04. We Worship You – 4:12
05. Need I Remind You – 4:14
06. Take You On – 3:53
07. Helping Hand – 4:49
08. There Is Someone – 3:45
09. I Killed A Man – 3:56
10. Don’t Have To Take It – 3:48
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Word Records. Available at Bandcamp: https://johnschlitt.bandcamp.com/album/unfit-for-swine
Can’t Get Away (MUSIC VIDEO)
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