Take Me to Your Leader

Description

Take Me to Your Leader is the sixth full-length studio album by the Australian established but US based pop/rock band Newsboys, released on StarSong Records in February 1996, distributed by Chordant Distribution Group. The album was recorded at The Sanctuary and The Carport in Nashville, Tennessee; at Eldorado Recording Studio in Hollywood, California; at Steve’s Studio in Stillwater, Oklahoma; and at Walls Have Ears in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; with Steve Taylor and band member Peter Furler producing. “Aussie Funk & Retro Rock…”

Trivia: During their Take Me to Your Leader tour the band dressed up in blue space suits, decorated the stage to look like the planet Mars, and entered the stage riding space ships while the theme to 2001: A Space Odyssey blasted over the speakers.

Have Newsboys become News-Men? Judging from the musical maturity and spiritual depth of Leader, the answer would have to be an unqualified “yessir!”

Once among the favorite whipping boys of many critics (including this one, frequently), the ‘Boys took a great step toward credibility on Not Ashamed with the addition of Steve Taylor to the production and writing team. Of course, then, we were eager to punch holes in the band’s musical façade, and ascribe all the best moments on that album and its fine follow-up, Going Public, to the wacky Taylor.

The fact is, over the past four years, Newsboys has shorn up whatever leaks may have existed in its songwriting boat. While Taylor unquestionably continues to bring a great deal to the table, the six ‘Boys, notably main composer Peter Furler, have grafted some of Taylor’s “nutty professor” vibe onto some very well-written songs. It’s a seamless fit, making it impossible to tell where Taylor’s influence ends and Furler’s imagination begins.

And that imagination extends to the music as well. Besides John James’ expected excellence on vocals, Leader is brimming with aggressive guitar work by Jody Davis, solid contributions from rhythm section of Furler and bassist Phil Urry, and solid sound layering by keyboardist Jeff Frankenstein and percussionist Duncan Phillips. It’s also worth noting that Furler and Urry handle some lead vocals and that (according to the liner notes), “This album contains no sequencing or loops.”

Because of Furler’s affinity for crafting catchy keyboard and guitar hooks, you’re often bopping along to the beat, when you find yourself confronted with lyrics like “And would I wash my hands again?/ Would I deny my savior when He hung inside the public square?” Or how about “This bitterness you hide/ It seeps into your soul/ And it steals your joy/ ‘Til it’s all you know…”

However, even the most challenging tracks on Leader are not without their hilarious moments – what else would you expect from Furler and his mentor? For instance, in «God is Not a Secret», crossover music gets a back-handed swipe with the line “I’ve heard that positive pop you dig/ I’d rather be buried in wet concrete.” The tale of prodigal son gets a seriocomic update with «Reality», as the wayward child finds himself working in a circus, asking his folks to send money (naturally) and to please “find a better photo for the milk carton backs.” After tiring of selling his blood for cash and “shoveling elephant dung,” the prodigal learns that, “It’s His reality that welcomes us back.”

Even a song which seems just plain silly, like «Breakfast» (“Oh rise up, Fruit Loop lovers/ Sing out sweet & low…”) makes a silent point – “We don’t mourn like those who have no hope.” Even the few pretty ballads mixed into the stew on Leader seem to have more backbone than several of the ‘Boys previous efforts. The au courant feel of the alternative “grunge lite” on Leader seems less like a band copying a trend than getting comfortable in its own musical skin. And that’s a real good thing. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, February 1996]

‘Not Ashamed‘ made us sit up and pay attention, ‘Going Public‘ convinced us that here was a MAJOR CCM band and now ‘Take Me To Your Leader’ proclaims it to the world, the Newsboys are today one of the finest pop rock bands in the world. Honing and refining their particular brand of snappy, socking music often built on Jody Davis’ grungy guitar riffs and the solid, layered keyboards of Jeff Frankenstein, it’s the infectiousness of those hooks and those witty and insightful lyrics courtesy of production wiz Steve Taylor which bring it all together. With so many solid rock grooves the listener is soon dancing round the room before the lyrics reach out and grab you. What about “And would I wash my hands again?/ Would I deny my Saviour when he hung inside the public square?” Or how about “This bitterness you hide/ It seeps into your soul/ And it steals your joy/ Til it’s all you know…” But of course it’s their surreal imagery to make their spiritual points which sets the Newsboys apart. What about their swipe at the compromise inherent in crossover on «God Is Not A Secret»: “I’ve heard that positive pop you dig/ I’d rather be buried in wet concrete”. Or «Reality», where the tale of the Prodigal Son gets updated with the son working in a circus asking his folks to send money. After tiring of “shovelling elephant dung” the prodigal learns that “It’s His reality that welcomes us back.” An album brimming over with good songs, you’ll be playing this for ages. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, April 1996]

Girder Music Promo, 2026

Take Me To Your Leader was released 30 years ago in 1996 and contained two of the band’s biggest hits “Take Me to Your Leader” and “Breakfast.” With nearly 9 million Spotify plays, Breakfast was the anthem of a generation that made Christian music fun without losing the message of hope that everyone in the world needs to hear. Anyone that saw the Newsboys back in the day remember how alive and relevant this band was.

The album was nominated for Rock Recorded Song of the Year for “God Is Not A Secret” and Short Form Music Video of the year for “Take Me To Your Leader.” The album was even given a nod for a Grammy Nomination™ for Best Rock Gospel album. In fact, every track from Take Me to Your Leader became a top ten hit on at least one of CCM Magazine’s Christian charts.

This 30th Anniversary edition vinyl is limited to just 350. It comes in 140 gram XPAK 400 Red. The XPAK 400 was the actual floating car (spaceship) on the front cover. Includes 2 sided printed inner sleeve and audio sourced from the original files thanks to Capitol Records for coming through on this. You’re the best Peter.

It contains all the hits and the 30th Anniversary Edition comes complete with air ride cushion suspension, leather bucket seats, and a tin foil hat.

Any real Newsboys fan knows that the era that Newsboys fans care about most, is the era with original founding member Peter Furler later joined by John James, Phil Joel, Duncan Phillips and Jody Davis with Steve Taylor joining in as the producer, engineer, and songwriter. It was a force to be reckoned with and a line-up that produced great albums like Not Ashamed, Going Public and this album, Take Me To Your Leader. Sure, there were many other great albums such as Step Up To the Microphone, Love Liberty Disco, Thrive, Go and others, but this release was special. It was creative, fun, and full of mysterious lyrics that needed to be decoded with a special transmitter beamed back to earth from the space-station. I’m sure we can all thank none other than Steve Taylor for that.

Very few bands in Christian music were doing something that was fun, clever, or with double meanings. It felt like if you didn’t have a cross on the cover, mention Jesus in every verse, or use the word “Praise” in at least 1 song title, that it wasn’t going to be taken as a serious Christian album. But thankfully, the Newsboys (or record label’s) marketing team knew exactly what fans wanted and how to get your attention and it worked. Even the cover caused you to wonder “what in the 3rd-dimension” is this album.

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/take-me-to-your-leader/724509148)

CD tracklist:

01. God Is Not A Secret – 3:09
02. Take Me To Your Leader – 2:58
03. Breathe – 3:15
04. Reality – 3:09
05. Breakfast – 3:40
06. Let It Go – 3:38
07. Cup O’ Tea – 2:41
08. It’s All Who You Know – 3:12
09. Miracle Child – 3:11
10. Lost The Plot – 4:56
11. Breathe (Benediction) – 3:15

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by StarSong Records. Re-issued as a 12-inch vinyl double LP by SMLXL Vinyl in 2021 pressed on Coke Bottle Clear vinyl (marketed and distributed by Capitol CMG). Remastered for vinyl and re-issued as a Limited Edition 12-inch vinyl LP by Girder Music in 2026, pressed on Rocket Red Vinyl. (Released through Limited Run Vinyl/Limited Run Music, limited to 350 copies worldwide. Officially licensed from Star Song/Capitol CMG.)