Description
Written on the Wind is the third solo album by the American singer and songwriter Chuck Girard of Love Song fame, released on Good News Records in 1977, distributed by Myrrh Records. The album was recorded and mixed by Joe Bellamy at Mama Jo’s Recording Studio in North Hollywood, California; with Chuck Girard producing. Strings, French horns, bells and timpani arranged by Jimmie Haskell and recorded at Devonshire Studios in North Hollywood. All songs written by Chuck Girard except track B5 featuring music co-written with Terry Clark.
No rock & rollers on this one as Chuck decides to mellow out with an albumful of string-orchestrated MOR ballads. Very mellow in fact. Don’t let that scare you off though, as Written On The Wind also happens to contain some of Girard’s most compelling song-writing. The best songs create dreamy peaceful angelic worshipful moods that whisk you away, especially «Spirit Wind», «Peace In The Valley» and near seven-minute «The Warrior». «Harvest Time» contains an attractive violin duet. «Plain Ol’ Joe» is certainly one of the saddest times I’ve ever heard – a suicide story and reminder of the hurt and emptiness that can lie behind a facade. Includes assistance from Jon Linn and Terry Clark. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition].
Recorded in 1977, ‘Written On The Wind’ was Chuck Girard’s third solo album and saw him broadening his songwriting. No longer content to simply pen songs that reflected his own spiritual experiences or inspired listeners to connect more deeply with God, Girard confesses that this is his “artsy” album. Backed by a bunch of fab west coast sessioners including Plastic Ono Band bassist Klaus Voorman, the album contains all the elements that made Girard such a compelling artist at the time. From the distinctive voice to the inspired songwriting, it’s all here but this time out, Girard is observing the struggles and faith of others on tracks like «Mary’s Song» and «Plain Ol’ Joe» which sounds like a follow up to «Old Dan Cotton» from his previous album. Musically these songs are painted in lighter poppier shades and whilst songs like «Fool For Jesus» and «Thank You Jesus» contain both gritty faith and personal devotion. Once again, it is the closing songs that are the most superbly transcendent. «Hear The Angels Sing» takes the listener through the gates of heaven into eternity with some fabulous vocal arrangements. «Peace In the Valley» is another visionary song which continues the listener’s journey through descriptions of the throne of God and eternal worship. Finally the album ends with a song which brings the listener back down to earth to the place where heaven and earth met, the cross. «The Warrior» is a powerful musical presentation of the events on Golgotha. The song depicts Christ’s crucifixion with poetic lyrics and dramatic moody music. It’s a moving close to the album and possibly the finest song he’s ever recorded. He manages to give the listener a broader perspective whilst not losing the focus on Christ’s suffering. Musically the swirling strings and orchestral arrangement and mixture of rock and classical is reminiscent of Adrian Snell’s 1980 album ‘The Passion‘. Powerful stuff to close a fine album. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, January 2007]
“Written on the Wind” It was a planned departure from my previous work. My previous albums consisted of more subjective, evangelistically oriented songs. These earlier songs were what I call “Christian propaganda” (no slam intended.) Songs which had a direct evangelistic message and reflected the details of my personal experiences in the Lord. With “Written On The Wind,” I wanted to create an album which reflected my message in a more artistic way. I had been writing some songs which had taken a look at some important events in the Bible, and reflected on them from an outside perspective: the agony and ecstasy it must have been to be the mother of Jesus, the Crucifixion and Resurrection of the Lord, the future as reported in the book of Revelations. I had written a song about a loser type guy (Plain Ol’ Joe,) and then a song about the harvest of souls (Harvest Time,) and all of these songs seemed to mesh together to create quite a different album for me. So different in fact, that when the album was first released, sales were dramatically slow, and I thought that I had my first “bomb” on my hands. But as time went on, I guess the buzz was good, as sales picked up. Eventually the album sold as well as my others.
The production on this album was a bit different than my previous work. I leaned more toward some more “epic” sounding arrangements, which I felt celebrated the grandeur of a few of the songs. One reason I feel that people liked this album so much is that I played my own piano. I am not the greatest player on earth, but I have a feel for my own songs that is unique. For that reason, I feel that this album is the most “me” of any of my previous work. Through the years, this album has emerged as my most sought after. [Chuck Girard]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/written-on-the-wind/362433536)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Spirit Wind” – 3:37
A2. “Mary’s Song” – 3:51
A3. “Thank You Lord” – 3:26
A4. “Plain Ol’ Joe” – 4:50
A5. “Harvest Time” – 3:40
Side Two
B1. “Fool For Jesus” – 2:40
B2. “Hear The Angels Sing” – 3:26
B3. “Peace In The Valley” – 4:26
B4. “The Warrior” – 6:45
Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by Good News Records.
Chuck Girard Band performing the songs “Spirit Wind” and “The Warrior” Live at Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California, circa 1979. Personnel: Chuck Girard (Lead Vocals, Piano), Terry Clark (Keyboards, BGV), Jon Linn (Lead Guitar), Larry Myers (Rhythm Guitar, BGV), Jay Truax (Bass, BGV), Mark Walker (Drums).
CREDITS. Produced Chuck Girard. Recorded and mixed by Joe Bellamy at Mama Jo’s Recording Studio in North Hollywood, CA. Strings, French horns, bells and timpani arranged by Jimmie Haskell and recorded at Devonshire Studios in North Hollywood.
Musicians: Chuck Girard (Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Piano, Electric Piano, Keyboards), Herb Jimmerson (Keyboards), Kit Alderson (Autoharp), Dan Ferguson (Acoustic Guitar), Jon Linn (Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar), Mark Levine (Bass), Jim Keltner (Drums). Backing Vocals: Chuck Girard, Jay Truax, Larry Myers, Terry Clark.
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