Mansion Builder

Description

Mansion Builder is the third studio album by the American vocal trio 2nd Chapter of Acts, released on Sparrow Records in 1978 as their first for the Sparrow label. The album was produced, recorded and mixed by Buck Herring at Buckskin Studio in Northridge, California. Strings and horns arranged by Michael Omartian.

Most of the tracks feature members of 2nd Chapter’s touring band known as “a band called David” (keyboardist Richard Souther, guitarist Peter York, bassist Herb Melton, and drummer Gene Gunnels), who also played on 2nd Chapter’s live albums To the Bride (a double album featuring Barry McGuire, released on Myrrh Records in 1975) and How the West Was One (a triple album featuring Phil Keaggy, released on Myrrh Records in 1977). Album tracks A4, A6, B1, and B3 featuring session players Michael Omartian on piano, Jay Graydon on guitar, Abraham Laboriel on bass, and Bill Maxwell on drums, as well as 2nd Chapter of Acts member Annie Herring on piano.

The album features “Make my Life a Prayer to You” by Melody Green, the wife of Keith Green. The final track on the LP, “Daydreamer Dream” – a song written by 2nd Chapter of Acts’ Annie Herring – was covered by The Brothers Johnson on their 1981-album, Winners, featuring Herring on acoustic piano.

Although they left out hard rock and refined some of the rough edges, Mansion Builder ultimately emerges as another fine album from the threesome. It doesn’t seem to have quite the innocence or energy of their earlier works, plus there’s a lot of string orchestration. Still plenty of strong songs: «Rod And Staff», «Gold In The Clouds», «Well, Haven’t You Heard», «Lightning Flash» and «Starlight, Starbright» to name a few. Includes another Matthew solo in «Psalm 93», again co-written with Richard Souther. Also a cover of Melody Green’s «Make My Life A Prayer To You». Musicianship this time is provided by “a band called David”, the same guys that backed the trio on How The West Was One. Omartian also returns on keyboards and brass/string arrangements. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/mansion-builder/724076458)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Rod and Staff” – 2:55
A2. “Mansion Builder” – 3:02
A3. “Psalms 93” – 2:32
A4. “Gold in the Clouds” – 2:18
A5. “I’ll Give my Life Away” – 2:20
A6. “Rainbow” – 2:34

Side Two
B1. “Well, Haven’t You Heard” – 3:50
B2. “Lightning Flash” – 2:45
B3. “Starlight, Starbright” – 2:00
B4. “Make my Life a Prayer to You” – 3:02
B5. “Daydreamer” – 3:26

Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by Myrrh Records. Re-issued by Live Oak Records in 1985, distributed by Word. Re-issued on CD by Sparrow Records in 1991.

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CREDITS. Produced and engineered by Buck Herring. Recorded and mixed at Buckskin Studio in Northridge, California. String and horn arrangements by Michael Omartian. Photography by Johanna Van Zant Wyk.

Musicians: Annie Herring (Vocals, Piano), Nelly Greisen (Vocals), Matthew Ward (Vocals), Michael Omartian (Piano, ARPVAAK, Pecussion), Richard Souther (Piano, Keyboards, Clavinet, Organ, Mini-moog), Peter York (Guitar), Jay Graydon (Guitar), Herb Melton (Bass), Abraham Laboriel (Bass), Bill Maxwell (Drums), Gene Gunnels (Drums).