Description
Sail on Sailor is the debut album by the American soft-rock group Mustard Seed Faith, released on Maranatha! Music in 1975, distributed by Word. The album was recorded by Buddy King at Buddy King Studios in Huntington Beach, California; with Tommy Coomes of Love Song fame producing. Mixed by Coomes, Al Perkins and Jonathan David Brown at Mama Jo’s Recording Studio in North Hollywood, California. Orchestration arrangements by David Diggs. All songs written by Oden Fong except the title track written by Lewis McVay. Featuring cover artwork by Rick Griffin.
Mustard Seed Faith led by singer-songwriter Oden Fong (guitar, vocals) and featuring Wade Link (guitar, vocals), Pedro Buford (keyboards, flute, vocals) and Lewis McVay (drums, vocals), was one of the favorite Southern California Christian pop/rock groups back in the early to mid-seventies, during the heighth of the Jesus Movement. Listeners were caught by the classic tones, the mix of soft rock, old country and style ballads just carried along.
The band’s first recordings were tracks featured on various multi-artist compilations released on the Maranatha! Music label. Their first two recorded songs, “Happy in Jesus” and “Rest”, were included on Maranatha! Three released in 1973, and a third track, “All I Know”, was featured on Maranatha! Four released the following year. The band was as well featured with “Sidney The Pirate” on Maranatha! Five released in 1976.
After a few appearances on the Maranatha samplers, the trio of Oden Fong, Lewis McVay, and Pedro Buford entered Jesus music history with this highly respected full-length outing which also happens to sport a spectacular cover by rock artist Rick Griffin. As with Love Song, the music is mostly soft rock with an appealing atmospheric quality courtesy of Oden’s smooth soothing vocals and Buford’s drifty flute passages. Subdued synths, electric piano, some orchestration here and there. A melodic winner from Maranatha’s heyday. Despite all the hooplah about the band this was the only album they did, though both Oden and Lewis went on to do solo projects for the label (the band did re-unite in the early 80’s to record the inferior Limited Edition). One of the few classic LPs to be re-issued on CD. [Ken Scott, The Archivist]
From the album cover on, Mustard Seed Faith’s new album, ‘Sail on Sailor’, exhibits an uncommon sense of artistry. In a medium associated with second choices, their album stands out as an exception.
Rick Griffin’s fabulous cover artwork is worth the price of the record itself. Much credit is due to Maranatha! Music for putting aside some traditional rules of commercial jacket design and allowing such an aesthetically pleasing jacket (front and back) to be presented.
Oden Fong, Pedro Buford and Lewis McVay make up the group with Fong as composer of all the tunes except McVay’s «Sail on Sailor». Their style is a mellow folk country rock. MSF’s instruments are well played and spiced correctly with mostly good people in back-up positions. Al Perkins and Jay Truax make their guest appearances. All three members do an excellent job vocalizing sensitively and with feeling. Their voice ranges allow for very interesting melodies and their vocal styles are exceptionally unique. Buford’s haunting flute makes the album truly great in many places. Keyboards and simple guitar are the main instruments with the usual seasoning of drums, bass, banjo, synthesizer, and strings. «Let Go» is one of the best cuts.
Production of the album is generally good. The mix could be better in places. The group’s only weakness, if any, lies in the lyrics department. There is some leaning on cliche and vague phrasing.
All in all, ‘Sail on Sailor’ is a fine bouquet of head sticker songs. The album holds together as a complete work artistically and is sure to be frequently heard and seen in the future. [Blue Samuel Flying (a.k.a. Ron Moore), Harmony, Vol. 1, No. 6, March/April 1976]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/sail-on-sailor/716143173)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “The Question” – 3:02
A2. “Let Go” – 2:57
A3. “Can’t Work Your Way To Heaven” – 3:51
A4. “Once I Had A Dream” – 2:37
A5. “Dried Up Well” – 3:57
Side Two
B1. “Sail On Sailor” – 3:02
B2. “Lighter Side Of Darkness” – 3:06
B3. “Sweet Jesus Morning” – 3:07
B4. “More Than The Sunlight” – 4:14
B5. “Back Home” – 5:06
Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by Maranatha! Music. Later re-issued on CD by Maranatha, distributed by The Benson Company.
CREDITS. Produced by Tommy Coomes. Orchestration Arrangements by David Diggs except track B4 by Bob Cull. Recorded at Buddy King Studios, Huntington Beach, CA. Engineered by Buddy King. Mixed by Coomes, Al Perkins and Jonathan David Brown at Mama Jo’s Recording Studio, North Hollywood, CA. Mastered by Bernie Grundman at A&M Studios, Los Angeles, CA. Cover Design, Art, Logo and Lettering by Rick Griffin. Lyric Calligraphy by Sally Jo Withrow. Photography by Tom Stipe. All songs written by Preston Fong except track B1 by Lewis McVay.
Musicians: Mustard Seed Faith – Oden Fong (Lead and Background Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Guitar), Pedro Buford (Flute, Piano, Lead Vocals on track A4), Lewis McVay (Drums, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals on track A2 and B1). Additional Musicians: Bill Sprouse (Electric Piano, Clavinet, Synthesizer, Organ), Fred Field (Mandolin, Violin), Al Perkins (Banjo), Bryan Shaw (Trumpet), Darrel Gardner (Piccalo Trumpet), Jay Truax (Bass, Vocals on track B1 and B3), Alex MacDougall (Percussion, Drums on track B1, Handclaps), Erick Nelson (Handclaps and Inspiration).
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.