PainFaithJoy

Description

PainFaithJoy is the sophomore album by the American singer and songwriter Judson Spence, independently released on his own label Bold Records 1995.

Judson Spence once recorded a critically acclaimed but poorly selling blue-eyed soul album for Atlantic. The implication from some of the lyrics is that Spence is returning to the limelight after a traumatic few years. The album itself is somewhat short at 33:15, but what an action-packed half hour! It holds the interest with a selection of well written songs over often sparse but always apt instrumentation, some underlaid with superb funk grooves. The non-big budget/big production is clear and refreshing. Several influences show, the most obvious one being TAFKAP (The Artist Formerly Known as Prince). In places there’s a similarity to Charlie Peacock, another Prince-influenced artist. There are occasional surprises (pleasant ones) – tijuana-style brass on «We Are Blessed», sprinklings of tapes and samples. Basically, the guy is dripping talent. This release is on an independent label and written, recorded and mostly played by Judson himself (he was formerly with US major, Atlantic). I’m not familiar with his previous stuff but I detect a desire to reinvent, have more integrity, creative control, etc. Hence, ‘Painfaithjoy’ does feel overall a bit transitionary and experimental, a flexing of the creative muscles, but it’s still excellent. The next one should be absolutely incredible. [Paul Keeble, Cross Rhythms, October 1996]

Astute liner note readers may recognize Judson Spence’s name as one of the writers of «The Power», a standout track on Amy Grant’s House of Love album.

Older, even more astute liner note readers may recognize Spence as a background vocalist on scattered projects in the mid-’80s. But count yourself among a very select group if you own (or even remember) his 1988 Atlantic debut. That self-titled release, while containing all the production slickness of the day, still had an underlying base of funkiness, positive lyrics and Spence powerhouse vocals.

Which, of course, guarantees nothing when you throw it out to a very fickle public. Judson Spence, along with Ashley Cleveland’s Big Town and the Chagall Guevara album, proved that American audience don’t know what to do with music with a spiritual edge that doesn’t originate in Dublin.

A second album, from whence Grant acquired «The Power», was recorded but shelved. Spence retreated from the music business, working through the turmoil of those experiences, spending time with his family, essentially living his life. But he kept writing songs.

Something in 1995 must have re-lit his creative fire, because those of us in touch with the Nashville music scene heard rumblings that Spence was working on a indie project, gathering most of his usual suspects (including guitarists Will Owsley and George Cocchini, bassist Spence Campbell, keyboardist Jeff Roach and pecussionist/brother Jody Spence) to record a new set of songs.

The result is PainFaithJoy, a project that showcases Spence’s resourcefulness as much as it does his talents. The songs plumb the depths of his experiences in life and love to draw the listener in with lyrics allowing one to nod in recognition and agreement as often as bobbing along with the rhythm.

Sonically, the record is in big contrast to the 1988 effort, but its simplicity is not out of place in 1996. A lot of the extra elements from the first record remain – horns, organs, percussion – but the effects and distortions this time give a texture the first album did not have, and Spence’s vocal is more prominent, right there in your ear, as opposed to buried within the instrumentation.

Overall, the record is more laid-back. Where Judson Spence was at times bombastic and frantic, PainFaithJoy is quieter, in more of a groove, but not lacking in passion, either vocally or musically.

It will be interesting to see what becomes of this fine, complete artistic statement. If Spence shops it around and somebody bites, it will serve as a fine springboard for his re-introduction to the music industry. If he doesn’t, he’ll still have a good piece of work of which he can be proud of. CDs are available by contacting Bold Records, P.O. Box 90211, Nashville, TN 37209; 615/356-6583. [Lucas W. Hendrickson, CCM, May 1996]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/pain-faith-joy/1617100510)

CD tracklist:

01. Here Come The Jud
02. Goin’ Down
03. Free
04. Do You Feel Like Me?
05. Anything Is Possible
06. Temptation
07. High Above It All
08. Like A Rolling Stone
09. To Love Is To Live
10. We Are Blessed