Building Bridges

Description

Building Bridges is an album by the British singer and songwriter Paul Field, released in the UK on Myrrh Records in 1984, a division of Word. Also released in the US by Myrrh the following year. The album was recorded February-April 1984 by Laurence Burrage at Cloud Nine in Surrey, England; with Paul Field, Dave Cooke, and Burrage producing. All songs co-written by Paul Field and Dave Cooke except track A3 co-written by Paul Field and Roy Martin, and tracks B2 and B5 written by Field only.

As always, Field delivers a well-produced, well-crafted album. Most of the tunes are pleasant, if sometimes dated, ’70s rock. The problem here isn’t one of talent – first-rate cuts like «Rescued for a Reason» and the black gospel «Keep Your Eyes on Jesus» are proof of that. It is, I believe, one of budgetary constraints.

What happens is that too much of the material sounds tentative and detached. When Field does open up, as he does on the live-sound «Light Across the World», the music takes on a whole new feel. It’s more emphatic, more energetic and, ultimately, more believable. I’ll take “raw” over “slick” any day.

Finally, on the two power ballads, «Return to Love» and especially «Sing a New Song», Field is able to channel a definite melodic gift into impressive, majestic vehicles. Those two are just enough to tip the scales slightly in ‘Building Bridges’ favor. [Bob Darden, CCM, July 1985]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Rescued For A Reason” – 5:18
A2. “Building Bridges” – 3:56
A3. “Return To Love” – 4:28
A4. “Light Across The World” – 4:05

Side Two
B1. “Heartbeat Of The Night” – 3:15
B2. “Song For A Stranger” – 4:20
B3. “Dangerous Game” – 4:05
B4. “Keep Your Eyes On Jesus” – 4:07 (feat. Mark Williamson and Marylin David)
B5. “Sing A New Song” – 4:17

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Myrrh Records. Available at Bandcamp: http://paulfield.bandcamp.com/album/building-bridges

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CREDITS. Produced by Paul Field, Dave Cooke, and Laurence Burrage. Recorded February-April 1984 by Laurence Burrage at Cloud Nine in Surrey, England. All songs co-written by Paul Field and Dave Cooke except track A3 co-written by Paul Field and Roy Martin, and tracks B2 and B5 written by Field only.

Musicians: Paul Field (Lead Vocals, Acoustic Piano on track B5); Dave Cooke (Piano, Oberheim and Yamaha Keyboards, Drumulator Programmes, Simmons Drums, and “odd bits” of vocal, bass, and percussion); Nick Pentelow (Saxophones); John Clarke (Guitars); Paul Westwood (Bass). (Laurence Burrage played Simmons Drums whenever he got the chance.) Background Vocals: Mark Williamson, Chris Eaton, Marylin David, Paul Field. (Mark Williamson and Marylin David share the lead vocals on track B4).