Description
Don’t Hide Your Heart is the fifth album by the British singer Sheila Walsh, released on Sparrow Records in 1985. The album was recorded and mixed between November 1984 and February 1985 by Keith Bessey at Gallery Studios in Surrey, England; with Craig Pruess and Bessey producing (except “We’re All One”, which was recorded in the US – engineered and mixed by John Guess at Lion Share Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California; with Michael Omartian producing).
Most of the tracks feature producer Craig Pruess on keyboards (and electronics), as well as the British session musicians Rick Fenn of 10cc fame on guitar and Graham Jarvis on drums, with Dave Mattacks of Fairport Convention fame providing cymbals on a few tracks. Backing vocals provided by Annie McCaig and Mo Turner of Nutshell fame, Chris Eaton and Mark Williamson of the Mark Williamson Band fame, as well as Cliff Richard. “Alpha Omega” features London Community Gospel Choir.
The album features four covers: “We’re All One”, a song written by Bryn Haworth and originally recorded on his 1978-album Grand Arrival; “Jesus Call Your Lambs”, a song written by Teri DeSario and originally recorded on her 1983-album A Call To Us All; “Thief In the Night”, a song written by Paul Field and originally recorded by his group Nutshell on their 1979-album Believe It Or Not; as well as “Light Across The World” co-written by Field and Dave Cooke of Dave & Judy fame, originally recorded by Field on his 1984-album Building Bridges. Also featuring three songs written by Graham Kendrick (“Don’t Hide Your Heart”, “It’s All For You”, and “Not Guilty” – the latter originally recorded by Kendrick on his cassette-only album Nightwatch released in 1983); two songs written by Chris Eaton (“Alpha Omega” and “You’ll Never Be The Same”); as well as “Under The Gun” co-written by Jim Rushing and J.D. Martin, a track featuring prominent background vocals by Cliff Richard (who would later record the song as well, featured as the flip-side of the 12-inch version of his 1987-single My Pretty One).
I still have vivid memories of a trip to a Christian bookstore in 1985 to buy this album and Charlie Peacock’s ‘Lie Down In The Grass‘ followed by a lengthy listening session at my pastor’s house afterwards! At the time Sheila Walsh was presenting the Rock Gospel Show on BBC TV and interest in the Scottish-singer-turned-TV-presenter was growing in America. This album follows the pattern established on ‘Triumph In The Air‘ released the previous year with dramatic synth-driven pop and well crafted ballads, all topped with Sheila’s distinctive soprano. There are plenty of highlights here. Her buoyant cover of Bryn Haworth‘s «We’re All One» simply strides along and there’s a lovely duet with Cliff Richard called «Jesus Call Your Lambs» and a thumping political message song «Under The Gun». The album closes with a pair of fantastic songs. The Craig Pruess production on «Not Guilty» is astoundingly good mixing dramatic synth sounds with lyrical sax and her version of Paul Field‘s «Thief In the Night» lets the album conclude on an absolute high. 25 years later, this still has the power to arrest the listener! [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, May 2010]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Don’t Hide Your Heart” – 4:04
A2. “Under The Gun” – 3:58
A3. “Jesus Call Your Lambs” – 4:05
A4. “Alpha Omega” – 3:20
A5. “You’ll Never Be The Same” – 4:22
Side Two
B1. “Light Across The World” – 3:27
B2. “We’re All One” – 3:28
B3. “It’s All For You” – 4:44
B4. “Not Guilty” – 4:55
B5. “Thief In The Night” – 4:19
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Sparrow Records. The European edition features slightly different cover artwork (a different header – colored blue – is used on the front cover, and album credits are included on the back cover). “Send Me”, a non-album track recorded during the same sessions, was included on the multi-artist sampler The Strait Tapes, Volume II, independently released in 1985.
CREDITS. Produced by Craig Pruess and Keith Bessey. Rhythm, Orchestral and Electronic by Pruess. Recorded and mixed by Bessey at Gallery Studios, Surrey, England; between November 1984 and February 1985 (except track B2 engineered and mixed by John Guess assisted by Larry Fergusson at Lion Share Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California; with Michael Omartian producing). Mastered by Herb Melton and Steve Hall at Future Disc in Los Angeles, California.
Musicians: Craig Pruess (Keyboards – tracks: A1 to A5, B1, B3 to B5, Brass & Percussion – track B4), Trevor Smith (Strings – track B4), Michael Omartian (Keyboards – track B2), Gary Herbig (Saxophone – track B2), Mel Collins (Saxophone – track B4), Michael Landau (Guitar – track B2), Phil Manzanera (Guitar – track A2), Rick Fenn (Guitar – tracks: A1, A4 to B1, B4), Abraham Laboriel (Bass – track B2), Andy Pask (Bass – track A1), Graham Jarvis (Drums – tracks: A1, A5, B3 to B5), Paul Leim (Drums – track B2), Dave Mattacks (Percussion – tracks: A2, A3, B1). Backing Vocals: Annie McCaig (tracks: A4, B1), Chris Eaton (tracks: A1, A4, B1), Cliff Richard (tracks: A2, A4 to B1, B3), Joe Chemay (tracks: B2), Kin Bassey (tracks: B2), London Community Gospel Choir (tracks: A4), Mark Williamson (tracks: A1, A4, B1), Michael Omartian (tracks: B2), Mo Turner (tracks: A4, B1), Sheila Walsh (tracks: B4), Terry Williams (tracks: B2).
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