Description
No Frills is the sophomore solo album by former Imperials lead vocalist Paul Smith, released on DaySpring Records in 1987, a division of Word Records. The album was recorded by Jeff Balding, Billy Whittington, JB, Bill Deaton, and Richard Headen at Gold Mine Studio, OmniSound Studios, and Center Stage Studio in Nashville, Tennessee; with Keith Thomas and Tom Hemby producing and arranging (tracks). Mixed at OmniSound Studios and Center Stage Studio.
Paul Smith goes for a lean, muscular sound on his second solo album since serving a stint with the Imperials. ‘No Frills’ is by no means a plain-sounding effort. With help from co-producers Thomas and Hemby, Smith dished up more than enough riffs to get the Reeboks rockin’.
The title is drawn from the album’s lead-off track, «Faithful», a mid-tempo ballad in the Imperials style. The simple lyrics seems ready-made for radio play; Smith invests the tune with a fresh twist or two: “So I bring my heart before You/ No frills – no alibis/ Coming home to my first love/ For the last time.” Good enough for gospel work! Thomas and Hemby wrap it in lush orchestration, while Mark Douthit pokes around in the mix with a soprano sax solo in the style of Kenny G.
Most of the album is in a rockier vein, however. «Dancing Too Close» rails against the seduction of peer pressure and roars off the vinyl in the best fire-and-brimstone tradition. Brother Smith levels a stern glance and demands an account: “After the fun/ And the damage is done/ Whose soul is left on the line?”
The writing is generally top-notch, displaying the best efforts of writers like Billy Crockett, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Claire Cloninger, Bob Farrell, and David Martin, among others.
The least effective track is «Celebration (I Want to Be There)». Thanks to Kool & The Gang and CBS Sports, “Celebration” has become the very definition of an overworked song title, and this number confirms all suspicions even before the second chorus: “So grab your King James and your diddy-bop shades/ Hop down in your Chevy/ Come ready to praise.” Lyrics like these make a strong case for stricter dress code at Bible studies.
Besides listing the many musicians who contributed instrumental sounds, the album credits include this note: “Singing birds, thunder and rain: GOD, OUR FATHER.” Nice touch. [Mark Eischer, CCM, December 1987]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/no-frills/1167803796)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Faithful” – 4:02
A2. “Dancing Too Close” – 4:20
A3. “Walls” – 5:07
A4. “The Right Thing” – 4:00
A5. “I Will Be There For You” – 4:51
Side Two
B1. “Something Better” – 4:39
B2. “Cantabile” – 4:24
B3. “Celebration (I Wanna Be There)” – 5:20
B4. “When Love Comes Home” – 4:44
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by DaySpring Records. Digitally mastered analog recording.
A full-page advertisement for Paul Smith’s No Frills was featured on the back cover of the September 1987 issue of CCM Magazine.
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