Earfull

Description

Earfull is a multi-artist compilation released in the UK by Buzz in 1979. (Buzz was the premier British gospel music magazine back in the day.) The next year, the album was followed-up by a sampler simply entitled Another Earfull.

32-song double-LP British compilation featuring selections from labels such as Grapevine, Pilgrim, Kingsway, Myrrh and others. Good way to see all the cover art and sample artists like Face To Face, Bill Mason Band, Faith, Stewart & Kyle, Mark Williamson, Steve Goddard and others. Includes a non-LP track from Meet Jesus Music: a different version of «Just One Touch» off a 12-inch Sticky Records single (unfortunately it sounds more like easy listening and lacks the charm of their earlier recordings). Comes in a gatefold cover with an adorable photo of a lamb wearing headphones. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]

Originally released in 1979, Earfull is a fascinating double-LP compilation of contemporary Christian music, issued in the UK on the independent Buzz Magazine label. Spread across four sides, the collection brings together 32 tracks from a remarkably diverse group of British and American Christian artists, reflecting the breadth of the late-1970s Jesus Music and contemporary Christian music scene.

The first two sides mix Christian folk, singer-songwriter material, gospel and more contemporary pop and rock sounds. Malcolm Wild’s «Love Is You», Stewart & Kyle’s «Open Boat», Mark Williamson’s «Hold On Me» and Marilyn Baker’s «I Am The Way» establish an intimate, melodic side, while Gary S. Paxton’s «(I’m) Anchored In The Rock Of Ages» brings a more traditional gospel influence. Len Magee, Willy Hanssen, John Pantry and Adrian Snell further demonstrate the variety of approaches represented on the compilation.

The collection also moves firmly into Christian rock and contemporary pop, with tracks such as Bill Mason Band’s «Out On The Streets», «Jesus On The Airways» by John Pantry, «He Loves You» by Faith and «Give Them All To Jesus» by Robert Newey. There is a particularly strong British presence throughout the album, making Earfull an interesting document of the UK’s developing Christian music scene during the late 1970s. The track listing is confirmed as the original four-side, 32-track sequence.

The third and fourth sides broaden the picture further. Bryn Haworth’s «Standing On The Rock», Wall Bros Band’s «Givin’ It Up», Face To Face’s «Love Like An Ocean» and Andrus, Blackwood & Co’s «You Are My Everything» sit alongside the more gospel-oriented material, while American artists including Dan Peek, Leon Patillo, Chuck Girard, Kelly Willard and The Maranatha Singers give the compilation an important US contemporary-Christian dimension.

Of particular interest to collectors is the appearance of Dan Peek, formerly of America, with «All Things Are Possible», alongside Leon Patillo, who would become associated with pioneering Christian electronic and funk music, and Chuck Girard, a key figure in the early Jesus Music movement. The closing «Lord Be Glorified» by The Maranatha Singers provides a suitably devotional finale.

With its mixture of Christian folk, gospel, soft rock, singer-songwriter material, contemporary pop and Christian rock, Earfull offers a useful snapshot of the music being created for the rapidly developing contemporary Christian audience of the 1970s. It should appeal not only to collectors of Christian music but also to anyone interested in obscure British independent compilations, private-label recordings and the history of the Jesus Music movement.

2LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. Malcolm Wild – “Love Is You” (from Broken Chains, Grapevine 1979)
A2. Stewart & Kyle – “Open Boat” (from Isn’t It Strange, Grapevine 1978)
A3. Mark Williamson – “Hold On Me” (from So Far So Good, Grapevine 1979)
A4. Marilyn Baker – “I Am The Way”
A5. Bill Davidson – “Turn, Turn America” (from I Belong to You…., Grapevine 1979)
A6. Gary S. Paxton – “(I’m) Anchored In The Rock Of Ages” (from Terminally Weird/But Godly Right, NewPax 1978)
A7. Len Magee – “Dreaming Your Life Away” (from Love Is The Answer, Pilgrim 1978)
A8. Willy Hanssen – “Lost Without Your Love”

Side Two
B1. Bill Mason Band – “Out On The Streets” (from No Sham!, Kingsway 1979)
B2. John Pantry – “Jesus On The Airways” (from Nothing is Impossible, Kingsway 1979)
B3. Faith – “He Loves You”
B4. Robert Newey – “Give Them All To Jesus”
B5. Robin Hawkins – “The Joy Of My Salvation”
B6. Steve Goddard – “Maybe Lady” (from Waiting for Goddard, Kingsway 1979)
B7. Adrian Snell – “Windsong” (from Something New Under The Sun, Dove 1979)
B8. Barry Compton – “The Rock” (from Ready To Fly, Kingsway 1979)

Side Three
C1. Bryn Haworth – “Standing On The Rock” (from Keep The Ball Rolling, A&M 1979)
C2. Wall Bros. Band – “Givin’ It Up” (from Start All Over Again, Greentree 1978)
C3. Face To Face – “Love Like An Ocean” (from Turning to You, Acorn 1978)
C4. Sharalee – “What Have You Done With My Son” (from Daughter of Music, Greentree 1978)
C5. Aleksander John – “Bittersweet Song” (from Bittersweet Songs, Glenmore 1978)
C6. Tim Sheppard – “The Serf And The King” (from Inside My Room, Greentree 1977)
C7. Meet Jesus Music – “Just One Touch” (non-album track, a different version of «Just One Touch» off a 12-inch Sticky single)
C8. Andrus, Blackwood & Co – “You Are My Everything” (from Grand Opening, Greentree 1977)

Side Four
D1. Eric Nelson – “Fairest Lord Jesus (Beautiful Saviour)” (from the multi-artist project Hosanna, Maranatha! Music 1979. As well recorded on Picking Up The Pieces, Maranatha! Music 1979)
D2. Dan Peek – “All Things Are Possible” (from All Things Are Possible, Lamb & Lion 1978)
D3. Leon Patillo – “Dance Children Dance” (from Dance Children Dance, Maranatha! Music 1979)
D4. Sweet Comfort Band – “Got To Believe” (from Breakin’ The Ice, Light 1978)
D5. Nutshell – “Empty Page” (from Believe It Or Not, Myrrh 1979)
D6. Chuck Girard – “Love Is Alive” (from Take It Easy, Good News 1979)
D7. Kelly Willard – “Blame It On The One I Love” (from Blame It On The One I Love!, Maranatha! Music 1978)
D8. The Maranatha Singers – “Lord Be Glorified” (from Praise III, Maranatha! Music 1979)

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Gatefold Cover Artwork

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