Description
Welcome Back is an album by the American folk-rock band Love Song, released on Word Maranatha in 1994, a division of Word Records. The album was recorded in 1994 and co-produced by Love Song members Tommy Coomes and Chuck Girard. Mixed by Bill Schnee. Featuring special guests such as Phil Keaggy, Alex Acuna, Hadley Hockensmith, John Patitucci, Alan Pasqua, and John Barbour, among others.
In the early 70s Love Song were Christian music pioneers, saved in the middle of the Jesus Revolution. They became one of the most influential groups of their day, giving a young Phil Keaggy his first opportunity to play in a Christian band. Now 25 years later, they have reformed to re-record some of their best loved songs from their three 70s albums. But don’t worry! There are no techno dance remixes here, only those lush harmony vocals, still wonderfully intact. Their singing sounds as fine as ever. You get updated versions of classics like «A Love Song», «Little Country Church» and «Front Seat, Back Seat» that prove a good song is still a good song even all these years later. These songs sound more than comfortable breathing again in the digital 90s and looking at the list of musos guesting, it’s hardly surprising – Hadley Hockensmith, Alex Acuna and Phil Keaggy all contribute. Back in the 70s this was out on the edge pushing back the borders of Christian music. These days it sits firmly in the middle of the road. These are classic songs, totally free of the annoying tweeness that spoils so much soft pop. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, August 1995]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/welcome-back/306214214)
CD tracklist:
01. A Love Song – 2:38
02. Little Country Church – 2:46
03. Let Us Be One – 3:45
04. Little Pilgrim – 4:59
05. Two Hands – 3:52
06. Freedom – 3:45
07. Take No Chances – 7:17
08. Feel the Love – 5:14
09. Changes – 2:21
10. Front Seat, Back Seat – 3:04
11. The Cossack Song – 3:43
12. And the Wind Was Low – 3:35
13. Welcome Back – 4:45
14. Jesus Puts the Song In Our Hearts – 6:02
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Maranatha! Music. Re-issued in 2006 by Whole World Media Group, this time entitled Reunion and featuring new cover art.
A full-page advertisement for Love Song’s Welcome Back was featured in the December 1994 issue of CCM Magazine.
Tommy Coomes had been on staff with Maranatha! Music for many years, and brought up the idea to re-record the original songs as faithfully as possible to release them on the Maranatha! label. Many artists such as Roy Orbison and Little Richard had already successfully done this, giving their classic songs the benefit of modern technology. It was agreed to pursue this, and early planning began. An album of brand new songs was suggested but the amount of work that would have been involved became too daunting, and that idea was also jettisoned. What did seem possible however, were new versions of the classic songs. The boys considered rethinking the songs themselves, but they felt that no matter how creative they might become, there would not be enough difference in their new versions to make the album stand out.
Finally the idea came about to hire some of the best studio players in LA to spin off the musical tracks, with the boys doing more complex versions of their famous vocal sounds. This plan seemed like a winner, and old friend Bill Schnee was hired to provide his studio and engineering expertise.
LA session veterans were hired to play on the tracking sessions. Ron Tutt, who was Elvis’ drummer for many years was booked. Another old friend and former member of the Chuck Girard Band, John Patitucci agreed to play bass. Rounded out by Hadley Hockensmith and Tim Pierce on guitars, and Alan Pasqua on keyboards, the boys had a stellar band to take their songs to the next level. The tracking dates went superbly, with everyone bringing something unique to the table. It was clear that this would not be a tired retread of old material, but a fresh and vibrant take on these iconic songs, without losing the original heart and soul of these very personal musical statements.
After tracking, work began in a studio in the Hollywood Hills on the most important vocal backgrounds and lead vocals. Stan Endicott was hired to help the boys put together some unique and different vocal treatments, again keeping in mind the original emotions of the earlier versions. After recording was finished, Bill Schnee mixed the very special album.
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