The Stand

Description

The Stand is the fifth solo album by the American singer and songwriter Chuck Girard of Love Song fame, released on Good News Records in 1980, distributed by Myrrh Records. The album was recorded by Bill Taylor at various studios in Los Angeles, California – Mama Jo’s Recording Studio, Salty Dog Recording, and Soundcastle – and was produced and arranged by Bob Rose with Taylor co-producing. The lyrics of the album chronicle Girard’s struggles with alcohol addiction toward the end of the 70s.

The Stand finds Chuck once again in a rocking groove, but with more sophisticated arrangements and slicker production. The end result is a cleaner more “pro” sound overall, somewhat different from his earlier albums, especially with all those soulful female backing vocals. «Border Town» and «Witness» should satisfy those who like their Chuck on the heavier rocking side, with «Soldier», «The Fold» and «Racin’ Like The Wind» right behind with dynamic electric guitar. Closes on a gentle acoustic note with «Child Come Home». [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]

With the release of his fifth solo album since the disbanding of Love Song, Chuck Girard remains one of the mainstays of contemporary Christian music. ‘The Stand’ is an even more satisfying effort than last year’s ‘Take It Easy’.

Chuck has for the first time relinquished the production reins. It was a wise move – not that he isn’t a fine producer (he is) – but producer Bob Rose has elicited Girard’s best vocals in years. Girard wrote all the tunes, although Pat Hollis co-wrote «Home For Good», «Busy Day» and «Witness». (Best cuts: «Border Town», «Home For Good», «The Stand».) [CCM, September 1980]

The Stand was my last album for the Good News record label. Most of the songs from this album were written and recorded during my downslide into the depths of the final stage of my alcohol addiction. Many of the songs were biographical, and reflected my then current struggles. I had always participated in every step of the recording process of all my albums, completely hands on. This was the first album where I did not. Bob Rose had been assigned as producer, why I don’t remember. I had always produced my own albums up until then. I was probably looking for a fresh approach. My intervention and hospitalization for my addiction happened during the final stages of this album. Bob finished up several songs without my participation, and the entire mix was done without me.

Word Records, who distributed the Good News label, hated the album because of its painful content. I remember the president of Word at the time, Stan Moser, asking me “what was I thinking?” They basically buried it, putting little to no money into promoting and marketing. Consequently, it sold only a fraction of what my previous albums had sold. All my albums had sold over 100,000 up until then, but this album peaked at about 30,000. The reason for the slow sales may have been the controversial content of the lyrics. Perhaps my audience was not ready for such painful themes in their music. My audience by now had come to know that I never put out a clone of my previous albums, so they knew I would do something different, but maybe not this different. I truly believe that this album would never have been released in today’s climate, where everything is so sanitized and safe.

The album received a glowing review from Cornerstone Magazine, published by Jesus People USA, the organization founded by Glenn Kaiser of Resurrection Band. They loved the edgy controversial lyrics and the harder rock sound. [ Chuck Girard ]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-stand/362431350)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Soldier” – 4:34
A2. “Home For Good” – 3:20
A3. “Busy Day” – 5:01
A4. “Border Town” – 3:22

Side Two
B1. “Witness” – 2:39
B2. “The Fold” – 3:56
B3. “The Stand” – 3:26
B4. “Racin’ Like The Wind” – 4:22
B5. “Child Come Home” – 2:53

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Good News Records.

---