Description
Stride for Stride is the sophomore studio album by the American formed – and later British based – rock band Liberation Suite, released in the UK on Chapel Lane in 1981, marketed and distributed by Word Records. Also released on StarSong Records in the US the same year. (Chapel Lane was a newly established independent British label releasing superlative – and mostly cutting edge – albums by Christian artists, Stride for Stride being their second release, Catalog Number CLS 8002.) The album was recorded June 1980 by Paul Cobbold at Chapel Lane Studios in Hereford, England; and was produced by Roger Hand of Triumvirate fame for Chapel Lane Productions.
Barry Bynum, one of the founding members of Liberation Suite, released his first solo album in 1995, entitled Stickin’ Your Neck Out.
1980 found Lib Suite modernizing their sound significantly. Note, for example, the ’80s AOR direction on cuts like the spacey prog-rock instrumental «Listen» or the Asia-like «How Do I Get To You», both with big synths, big guitars and a big ’80s sound. They’ve still got one foot in their old brass rock roots, as heard on songs like «Lay Your Sadness Down», «Somehow I’m Changing» and the title cut – a style that no one did better than this band. A number of slow songs makes this record not as consistent as their debut, but it’s still worth owning. Released the following year in the US on the Star Song label. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th Edition]
What do you do if you’ve got this really great Christian rock band from San Marcos, Texas and nobody in U.S. Christendom thinks the market is ready for you? Well, first you work in a “tent” ministry and then you head for England where you find all kinds of work waiting for you and you have an opportunity to reach out to all kinds of people – like Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland and audiences at the Royal Albert Hall. Then you sign with this new English label called Chapel Lane and make an album. Of course somebody mixes back the music and files the rough edges off the rock when you’re out of the studio, figuring no one in the U.S. will distribute it otherwise. And then you come back to L.A. with your LP under your arms and everybody thinks you are an English band. In fact, no matter how many people you tell about your southwestern origins, they just don’t listen. So you finally decide to move back to Texas. The nearby Christian record company, Star Song, finally decides to distribute your new album. (By this time, a whole year has passed since you recorded it, but, luckily, you were far enough ahead of the U.S. Christian music scene that it really doesn’t matter. And besides, you have a sound all your own.)
Anyway, Barry Bynum has this wonderful voice and writes these beautiful songs. And Jim Hazel can play lead guitar. And Howard Lyon also has a great voice and plays, get this, rock trombone. And Randy Hill does beat dem drums. And Fred Perez (who decided to stay in L.A.) plays an Ampegpatch 2000 bass guitar synthesizer and sings. Sometimes they all sound a little like Chicago or Boston or New Orleans or Kansas, but maybe that’s just because they’re from Texas via Los Angeles via London. Anyway, they believe in the Lord and play majestic rock. [Karen Marie Platt, CCM, July 1981]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/stride-for-stride/260638675)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Lay Your Sadness Down” – 4:41
A2. “Stride For Stride” – 5:00
A3. “Listen” (instrumental) – 2:10
A4. “How Do I Get To You” – 3:59
A5. “Heal The Broken Hearted” – 4:19
Side Two
B1. “Somehow I’m Changing” – 2:35
B2. “All I Wanna Do” – 4:25
B3. “You Are Worthy” – 6:03
B4. “Where My Home Is” – 4:37
B5. “Song Of Heaven” – 2:30
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Chapel Lane. Later digitally remastered and re-issued as a Limited Edition CD.
CREDITS. Produced by Roger Hand. Engineered by Paul Cobbold. Recorded at Chapel Lane Studios, Hereford, England, during June 1980.
Musicians: Howard Lyon (Lead Vocals), Barry Bynum (Lead Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards), Jim Hazel (Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals), Howard Lyon (Trombone), Fred Perez (Bass, Vocals), Randy Hill (Drums, Vocals).
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