Crank It Up

Description

Crank It Up is the seventh and final studio album by the American rock band Mylon LeFevre & Broken Heart, released on StarSong Records in 1990, distributed by Sparrow/Star Song. The album was digitally recorded by Joe Hardy at Ardent Recording (a.k.a. Ardent Studios) in Memphis, Tennessee; with Hardy, Mylon LeFevre, and Scott Allen producing (and as well Cheryl Rogers on track 6). Re-recording done at Twelve Oaks Studios in Smyrna, Georgia, as well as Southern Tracks, Doppler Studios, and Southern Living At It’s Finest in Atlanta, Georgia. Additional engineering by Sonny Lallerstedt, Russ Fowler, Ricky Keller, Larry Rust, Joe Neal, Kurt Bush, Jeff Brugger, and Tag George.

Broken Heart is Mylon LeFevre on vocals, Marshall Pratt on keyboards and vocals, Scott Allen and Trent Argante on guitar and vocals, Kenneth Bentley on bass and vocals, and Ben Hewitt on digital drums. The album also features Joe Hardy (guitar, bass, percussion, keyboard programming), Oliver Wells (keyboards), Cheryl Rogers (keyboards, programming), Sonny Lallerstedt of The Pat Terry Group fame (guitar), John Hampton (percussion), Scott Meeder (drum programming), Stutz Wimmer (saxophone on track 4), Todd Nystrom (saxophone on track 6), and Michael Gleason (background vocals courtesy of Pakaderm Records).

Crank It Up won a Grammy Award for Best Rock/Contemporary Gospel Album at the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards.

Mylon’s latest, ‘Crank it Up’ opens with the sound of a car engine starting, and for a split-second I was afraid that Star Song had mistakenly sent me a cassette copy of one of those Sears Diehard battery commercials. It gives me great pleasure to report that this year’s model shows few signs of any car trouble. Instead, Mylon & Broken Heart get the motor in gear, and waste little time looking back. ‘Crank it Up’ is comprised of the kind of boogie-rock that may not change the world as we know it, but if done correctly, it goes down smoothly like a well cooked Southern meal.

The best of the bunch is «New Attitude», which starts in with a lone guitar riff, then is joined by a churchy tamborine, before Mylon’s preacher-styled vocals climb this musical pulpit to remind the congregation to leave its bad attitudes at the sanctuary door. «Heaven» and «World Changer» are also standouts in this same musical mode. Mylon tends to go astray whenever he tries to leave this road he knows so well. «Denomination Demolition», and «Dancing in the Light», experiment with quirky and awkward tempos, along with obtrusive keyboard noodlings, which end up taking away from the effectiveness of the song’s statements. Only Mylon’s soulful singing can save these songs from the scrap heap.

The slower tempo songs fare less well than the rockers do on this album. They include the cover of James Taylor’s «Shower the People», and the obligatory AC single «Give it Away». But there is also the beautiful «Going Home» to recommend.

If I had my way, Mylon would lock himself in a room with only Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Outlaws records to listen to, and not come out until he’s made the kind of southern rock record which would make Ronnie Van Zant applaud in his grave. Until then, I’ll keep myself satisfied with the healthy portions of the real stuff included on this album, and just crank it up. [Dan MacIntosh, CCM, August 1990]

Promo, Girder Music 2024 Remastered Re-issue (CD/LP)

This iconic album, originally released in 1990 on Star Song, has undergone a breathtaking remastering process to bring you an unparalleled audio experience. Every note and every beat, has been carefully enhanced to deliver a superior listening experience. First Time on Vinyl in the USA, the vinyl was only ever released in the UK and Europe, back in 1989, and never been released in the U.S. until now. This vinyl comes pressed on Blue/Red lava vinyl and included 2 sided printed jacket. If you like over the top ripping guitar work and huge 80’s keyboards, then this is an album you need. This is true AOR hard rock masterpiece and one of those albums that have been requested over and over again by fans.

Released in 1990, Crank It Up is Mylon’s seventh Christian studio album. The album opens with two infectious, authentic rockers the title track and «Denomination Demolition». The album also yielded three radio hits: «Give it Away» (#8 in 1990), «Letter from the Front» (#3 in 1991) and album highlight «Shower the People» (#4 in 1991), which was a cover of the James Taylor classic hit and made into a music video. The album ends with the contemplative «Going Home».

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/crank-it-up/715594331)

CD tracklist:

01. Crank It Up – 3:44
02. Denomination Demolition – 3:18
03. New Attitude – 3:53
04. Letter From The Front – 4:51
05. Give It Away – 4:27
06. Shower The People – 4:03
07. Dancing In The Light – 3:05
08. Heaven – 4:06
09. World Changer – 3:39
10. Going Home – 4:41

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by StarSong Records.

The July 1990 issue of CCM Magazine featured a cover story on Mylon LeFevre.