Description
From the Heart is a multi-artist compilation released on Arrival Records in April 1983, distributed by Dominion Music Corporation, a division of K-tel International Inc. (From the Heart was the first release by Arrival Records, a brand new gospel imprint of the mainstream multi-national budget record label K-Tel.)
This compilation was followed by two sampler albums released by K-tel in 1984, Soaring, Volume I (sub-titled Contemporary Christian Music – Together in Spirit) and Soaring, Volume II (sub-titled Christian Rock – Spirit in Flight).
‘From The Heart’ did very well indeed. It was a ‘best of’ sort of collection in an MOR vein and sold in excess of 100,000 copies. We supported it with tv and radio spots and achieved a great deal of success in non-traditional outlets for Christian records, like K-Mart and Wal-Mart. [Excerpt from an interview with Dave Milner, the vice president for product development of K-tel International, included in the article “K-tel Turns To New Christian Sounds” by Bob Darden, Billboard Magazine (Gospel Lectern section), June 30, 1984 (Vol. 96, No. 26)]
I’m reasonably sure that anyone reading this who was watching television in the 70s still remembers K-Tel records. They were a Canadian based record label that began releasing compilation albums which consisted of various tracks by various artists from various record labels. In short, K-Tel was the first version of what we would now call a “mix tape,” and in the 70s, their commercials inundated both radio and television constantly, every time they would release a new compilation LP. From their official incorporation in 1968 until the mid 80s, K-Tel sold millions of albums, and the reason was simple, their compilations were an economical way to obtain anywhere from 12 to 16 hit singles on one album, but pay a lot less than purchasing every song on 45 rpm singles. During their heyday, they specialized in mostly pop, rock, and country compilations, until 1982, when they waded into the waters of the emerging Contemporary Christian music genre with an album titled “From The Heart,” which is incidentally, our feature album this week on Vinyl Revival.
For several years prior to 1982, the Christian pop industry had seen steady commercial growth, and record sales were increasing each year. The record industry as a whole was beginning to take notice of CCM’s biggest acts, and since the genre was starting to become more and more popular, K-Tel decided to give Christian music a try, and they released their very first compilation of CCM songs on their Arrival Records subsidiary, with an album called “From The Heart.” The formula followed the already proven model that the label had used with mainstream music for so many years, and not surprisingly, they picked 14 of the most recognizable songs from 14 of the biggest artists in CCM at the time. Most, if not all, of the 14 artists included on “From The Heart” are considered legends today… you had, soloists, groups, bands, you had established Christian acts, and some that were just getting started, you had just about every kind of music that fell under the “CCM” moniker at the time of the album’s release. In case you’re wondering what the significant place in CCM history is, that would be the fact that this was the first compilation of Christian music ever released by a mainstream (or “secular” as we called it then) record company. This was the album that basically said that Christian music was a big enough commercial success to be recognized by a large mainstream record label, and in 1982, that was huge!! [Philip Mayabb]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. Silverwind – “A Song In The Night” (from A Song in the Night, Sparrow 1982)
A2. Imperials – “One More Song For You” (from One More Song For You, DaySpring 1979)
A3. Amy Grant – “Father’s Eyes” (from My Father’s Eyes, Myrrh 1979)
A4. Sweet Comfort Band – “You Need A Reason” (from Hearts of Fire!, Light 1981)
A5. B.J. Thomas – “Home Where I Belong” (from Home Where I Belong, Myrrh 1976)
A6. David Meece – “We Are The Reason” (from Are You Ready?, Myrrh 1980)
A7. Phil Keaggy – “Spend My Life With You” (from Ph’lip Side, Sparrow 1980)
Side Two
B1. Keith Green – “How Can They Live Without Jesus” (from No Compromise, Sparrow 1978)
B2. 2nd Chapter Of Acts – “Mansion Builder” (from Mansion Builder, Sparrow 1978)
B3. John Michael Talbot & Terry Talbot – “Behold Now The Kingdom” (from The Painter, Sparrow 1980)
B4. Dallas Holm & Praise – “Rise Again” (from Dallas Holm & Praise… Live, Greentree 1977)
B5. Evie – “Mirror” (from Mirror, Word 1977)
B6. Barry McGuire – “Cosmic Cowboy” (from Cosmic Cowboy, Sparrow 1978)
B7. Don Francisco – “He’s Alive” (from Forgiven, NewPax 1977)
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Arrival Records.
A full-page advertisement for various releases on Arrival Records, including the multi-artist compilation From the Heart, was featured in the September 29, 1984 issue of Billboard Magazine.
TV Promo
K-tel Records Enters Gospel Field With 14-Cut Package On Arrival
by Tom Roland, CashBox, April 9 , 1983 (Gospel section)NASHVILLE – Noting the huge potential audience for Contemporary Christian music and the success that the label has had in the past at moving vast amounts of compilation albums through massive television and radio advertising campaigns, K-tel Records has established a separate wing, Arrival Records, to market gospel product. The first such project, “From The Heart,” is scheduled for release in April.
The album, which contains cuts from 14 different artists who have acquired lofty stature within the realms of gospel music, was created with the cooperation of Word, Inc., Sparrow Records, Benson Co. and Lexicon Music, who all contributed at least one track to the album. Acts covered in the disc include Silverwind, The Imperials, Amy Grant, the Sweet Comfort Band, B.J. Thomas, David Meece, Phil Keaggy, Keith Green, the 2nd Chapter Of Acts, John Michael & Terry Talbot, Dallas Holm & Praise, Evie, Barry McGuire and Don Francisco.
According to Jerry Lenz, marketing managerfor K-tel’s special markets division, the project has been undertaken with the two-pronged goal of tapping a market and helping the gospel industry to expand awareness of the Contemporary Christian medium. Lenz cited a Gallup survey that states that some 90 million Americans are church members in the 36 and under age bracket which comprises Arrival’s target audience for this initial release. In spite of the country’s seeming openness to the gospel message, a mere one percent frequents the Christian bookstore, which is still the mainstay of gospel record sales.
Additionally, some 1,300 religious television and radio stations are currently in operation in the United States, and the Gallup poll indicated that one third of the population regularly tunes in to some sort of gospel programming during a one-week period.
“When you try to break it down into ‘who are these people and what are they doing,”’ commented Lenz, “you find out that they like sports, they’re watching the same TV shows. You’re talking to the same people you’d be talking to with the other products. In general, they have the same habits as anyone else, with the exception of tobacco and alcohol.”
In view of those similarities, Arrival will attempt to place its advertising into both gospel segments and regular viewing slots, but, since “From The Heart” is the label’s first test for such product, some experimenting as to the proper mixture will be conducted until an advantageous balance can be reached. While it is the company’s first foray into gospel music, the outlook is optimistic, with other future projects already being considered.
‘Building Process’
“We look at ’From The Heart’ as a building process in establishing the Arrival name and building products in that area,” noted Lenz. “We’re already looking at the possibilities of black gospel and country gospel product.”
The cooperative thrust of the Arrival label is well-illustrated by the fact that Sparrow distribution will complement K-tel’s distribution efforts on the secular side by handling the product through the gospel bookstore outlets. Arrival will utilize K-tel’s already established distribution lines that reach some 25,000 retail locations in the U.S., including K-mart, Musicland, Sears and Woolworth’s.
Handleman has completed a print and radio campaign for the K-mart chain, while Lieberman’s has produced custom spots for the 580-store Walmart web. Roundup Music in Seattle is also working with the Fred Meyer chain in the Northwest on a program that encompasses in-store displays, in addition to radio advertising to promote the “From The Heart” release.To enhance the company’s efforts at the radio and TV levels, Arrival has also developed full-color posters and an attractive glossy catalog sheet which retailers can adapt for local tie-in with a blank space at the bottom.
“(This concept) has been presented to K-tel on prior occasions,” Lenz said,” and the idea is that K-tel’s type of marketing could help to expose more people to Word, Sparrow – the labels that are in Contemporary Christian music. That’s exactly what’s happening; it gives the customers that we work with an opportunity to carry this music and attract that customer and a compilation does that (better) than a single artist. It’s the same thing as with any other K-tel compilation; it gives the consumer a chance to listen to a variety of music, and K-tel product has proven before that it does create more purchases.”
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