The Artist

Description

The Artist is the debut album by the American singer and songwriter Larry Bryant, released on Light Records in 1984. The album was recorded and mixed January 16 through July 13, 1984, by Mike Psanos at Tree International Studio in Nashville, Tennessee; with Joe Huffman producing. All songs written by Larry Bryant or co-written with his wife, Lesa.

Featuring Larry Bryant on lead vocals and keyboards, backed by a session band consisting of Michael W. Smith and Shane Keister on additional keyboards, Jon Goin and Greg Jennings on guitars, Mike Brignardello on bass, and Mark Hammond on drums. Background vocals provided by Bonnie Keen, Rich Mullins, Jackie Cusick, Wayne Gurley, Nan Gurley, and Larry Bryant. (As the album was recorded by the same engineer and at the same studio as Michael W. Smith Project – an album released the year before the recording of The Artist – and as well features the same session musicians, it has quite a lot in common with Michael W. Smith’s classic 1983 debut album.)

Tivia: Larry Bryant began his music career in the early 80’s as a songwriter, penning tunes-including a dozen top ten hits-for pop icons Glen Campbell and Frankie Valens as well as Christian artists Sandi Patty, Michael English, Avalon, Dallas Holm, Wayne Watson, Mark Lowry, Alicia Williamson, Sheila Walsh, Terri Gibbs, The Gaither Vocal Band, Babbie Mason, Scott Wesley Brown, Truth, Gary McSpadden, Lulu Roman and others. He also ventured into children’s music, writing songs for all six of Sony Wonder’s original Beginners Bible videos. Larry and wife/co-writer Lesa each earned gold records for their song “Unto Us (Isaiah 9)” which was featured on Sandi Patty’s Grammy-winning album Another Time, Another Place.

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “That’s When the Angels Rejoice” – 3:12
A2. “The Artist” – 4:03
A3. “Shopping List” – 3:21
A4. “Shadows” – 2:48
A5. “Crown Of Thorns” – 3:42

Side Two
B1. “Father of Lights” – 4:26
B2. “Note In A Bottle” – 3:58
B3. “Take A Chance” – 3:30
B4. “Never Say Never” – 2:59
B5. “Thankful On My Knees” – 3:52

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Light Records. Available at: http://www.larrybryant.com/downloads/the_artist_downloads.html

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Many radio stations refused to play “Shopping List”, a track co-written by Larry and Lesa Bryant, thinking it was literal. (Rich Mullins did indeed sing in the Shopping List choir (mostly bass), and the voice at the start of “Shopping List” is Michael W. Smith (‘The red light’s on!’).) Lulu Roman (Hee-Haw) covered the song on her 1985 Word album entitled Take Me There; Larry and Lesa appeared in her video.

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CREDITS. Produced by Joe Huffman for Meadowgreen/Tree Productions. Recorded at Tree Studios, Nashville, TN, January 16 through July 13, 1984. Engineered and re-mixed by by Michael Psanos. Vocal overdubs egineered by Joe Huffman at Center Stage, Nashville, TN. Mastered by Hank Williams at Master Mix, Nashville, TN. Photos by Mark Tucker. Graphic Design by Rhonda Jesson.

Musicians: Larry Bryant (Vocals, Keyboards), Michael W. Smith (Keyboards), Shane Keister (Keyboards), Jon Goin (Guitars), Greg Jennings (Guitars), Mike Brignardello (Bass), Mark Hammond (Drums). Vocals (track A3, A5, and B1): Melodie Tunney, Jackie Cusic, Bonnie Keen, Sarah Griffith, Marty McCall, Rich Mullins.