Description
Songs from the Earth is an album by the British pop/rock outfit Lyrix, released in the US on StarSong Records in 1982, in co-operation with Larry Norman‘s label Solid Rock Records; “A Chapel Lane – Solid Rock Production, manufactured by StarSong Records.” (It’s actually a reworked version of Get the Drift? by Mark Williamson Band, an album originally released in the UK by Chapel Lane in 1980.) Songs from the Earth was produced, arranged, and mixed by Larry Norman, Mark Williamson, and Paul Cobbold. (The original 10-track version – Get the Drift? – was produced, recorded, and mixed during May, June, and July, 1980 by Paul Cobbold at Chapel Lane Studios in Hereford, England; with band member Mark Williamson co-producing.) The track “Don’t Turn Your Back” was later covered by Sheila Walsh on her 1984-album Triumph in the Air.
The British are coming. They haven’t totally arrived, but at least they are on their way. Songs From the Earth (Star Song SSR-0039) by Lyrix is a healthy collection of diverse tunes that range from very mellow to new-wave. This English group is true to its name on two particular tunes. «Midnight Diamond» plants a seed of the returning Christ without all the overused, cliched terminology ccm is riddled with. «Rising» is a mellow, very perceptive view of the roller coaster ride many Christians experience:
Slowly we rise
quickly we fall
how often we say we’ve
learned from it all
how often we promise
we’ll never look back
how quickly we fall
slowly we rise.«Don’t Turn Your Back On Jesus» says it with power and simplicity in the only true new-wave selection on the LP. Other hard-driving material on this disc could be considered power pop in the same general feel of the first David Edwards album.
«Susanne» is an effective call to witness reminding us all not to pass up the opportunity to share the gospel no matter what the cost. On the other side of the coin is «Somebody Told Me» that not only tells us that it takes someone to tell us about Christ, but that we need to let go and want to know Him.
Musically, this album is quite strong. However, the synthesizer openings on some of the songs are a bit overdone and unnecessary. The obvious strong point to this album is in the group’s name. The words are not trite or overused. The potential is here in this foursome from the British Isles. It’s well worth a listen, and one to share with others. [Jim Coye, CCM, September 1982]
In England the band were known as the Mark Williamson Band and this album was their debut, ‘Get The Drift’. In the USA, Larry Norman took them under his wing and released this album after he remixed it and gave it an American makeover so there are a few bells and whistles added here and there. Unfortunately, it feels like this mix is a little more clumsy than the original British version so that rather than adding, it detracts from the other version. The band itself highlights the songwriting and twin vocals of Williamson and a very young Chris Eaton. This is Christian pop rock ’80s style and there are a few classics on here. «Don’t Turn Your Back On Jesus» which opens things was always a live hit and Sheila Walsh later covered it. «Midnight Diamond» is another favourite and it highlights all that was good with the Chapel Lane studio in the early ’80s where the label’s artists had the opportunity to put together polished pop. A lot of the songs highlight the band’s twin vocal arrangements with Williamson and Eaton doing a great job trying to out-funk each other! This also features «Susanne», a soulful love song that was originally only released on a Chapel Lane compilation but one of the highlights is Williamson’s vocals on «Somebody Told Me» which just remind the listener that he was one of the most gifted blue eyed soul singers of his generation. Having said that, I have to say that overall, this version of the band’s debut album doesn’t improve the ‘Get The Drift’ release, which is a shame. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, September 2008]
Admirable album of AOR, pop-rock, new wave and ballads from British band consisting of Mark Williamson, Chris Eaton, Rob Marshall and Mark Millin. Crunchy guitars join Eaton’s prominent synthesizers for a dynamic ‘80s sound, sometimes reminiscent of fellow countrymen After The Fire or Barratt Band. Contains ten original songs, seven of which appeared on a modified 1982 US Star Song release in a different cover called Songs From The Earth, where the band’s name was changed to Lyrix. «Junior», «So Far So Good» and «Feeling Alright» appear only on this UK release, while the track «Susanne» on the US LP is missing here. Saxophone jazzing up a few songs, including the disco «(It Makes Me Wanna) Dance». The ATF comparisons are most noticeable on «Midnight Diamond», «Junior» and «Don’t Turn Your Back». Cool ethereal vocal effects on the closing «I Would Have Listened», a convicting song about how we can tend to keep our witness silent among friends. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Don’t Turn Your Back On Jesus” – 3:37
A2. “Midnight Diamond” – 4:00
A3. “All Very Well” – 4:52
A4. “Susanne” – 5:23
Side Two
B1. “Dance” – 3:15
B2. “Rising” – 4:04
B3. “Somebody Told Me” – 4:45
B4. “I Would Have Listened” – 5:31
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by StarSong Records.
Lyrix – Songs from the Earth
Mark Williamson Band, Get the Drift?
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