Description
To God be the Glory is the debut album by the German-Canadian pop band Deliverance, released in Canada on the gospel label Image VII in 1976, distributed by Word. The album was recorded by John Dueck at Janz Team Studio in Lörrach, Germany; with band members Paul Janz and Vern Giesbrecht producing. Arranged by Paul Janz and the band. It’s basically an album of cover songs (featuring songs written be artists such as Andrae Crouch, Barry McGuire, Love Song, The Way, Sonlight, as well as Bill and Gloria Gaither) with only a couple of songs written by band members (track A6 written by Nils Kjellstöm and track B2 written by Paul Janz)
Deliverance features brothers Ken, Danny, and Paul Janz on vocals, as well as Vern Giesbrecht (with Paul Janz also playing keyboards), with Paul Barnard on bass and Herb Remple on bongos and percussion (as well as vocals). Also featuring guest musicians Wayne Quiring on guitars and Bo Sandal on drums.
The Christian Worship/Rock/AOR group Deliverance was an offshoot of the ministry of the evangelical missions and outreach of The Janz Team. The Janz Team started as three Canadian brothers Leo, Adolph, and Hildor, who formed a Quartet (obviously with a fourth member) and took their show on the road. That show led to the formation of The Janz Team, who led evangelical rallies in Europe in the style of Billy Graham meetings, and produced worship music LP’s as follow-up ministry.
Also as a side-ministry, the Janz Team started a school for their children with a Canadian curriculum. Along side their kids were the other children of Janz Team members, and before long, anyone who wanted to pay them to to school their children in this Canadian school in The Black Forest, Germany. Black Forest Academy (BFA) was started as a school for the kids who became Deliverance. They got involved in the Janz Team music themselves, and added to the Janz Team’s music library as The Janz Team Singers, Danny Paul and Wayne, and just Danny and Paul. Naturally as their talent and personal mission evolved, so did their music. Between 1976 and 1979, Deliverance, which was an amalgam of The Janz Team Singers, and Danny Paul and Wayne, made four albums. While the group members changed over time, Danny, Paul, and Ken Janz remained the backbone of the group. [deliverance1976.wordpress.com]
To God be the Glory is probably the least known of the four Deliverance albums, being the first one and a lower volume edition. Groups typically record at ImageVII because there is no entry requirement – any mom and pop family group could record at ImageVII and pay for any number of LPs to be pressed. Some of the earlier Danny & Paul LPs were also recorded at ImageVII.
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “My Tribute” – 4:12
A2. “Give Them All To Jesus” – 2:40
A3. “Come On Down” – 2:49
A4. “Praise The Lord” – 3:50
A5. “Through It All” – 3:19
A6. “He’ll Lift You Up” – 2:55
Side Two
B1. “Give Thanks” – 4:40
B2. “Since I Opened Up The Door” – 2:48
B3. “In Remembrance” – 4:24
B4. “Love Is” – 3:10
B5. “Bethlehem…Galilee…Gethsemane” / “Because He Lives” – 3:34
Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape and 12-inch vinyl LP by Image VII.
Singer and songwriter Paul Janz was born in Three Hills, Alberta, Canada, but moved to Balen, Switzerland with his family when only four years old. The son of a Mennonite Minister, his earliest musical influences were naturally gospel and choir. By age ten he was an established singer in the church choir and was already dabbling in writing gospel arrangements. His first instrument was the trumpet and by age 13 was performing with the local chapter of The Salvation Army. By the time he was out of high school, he’d also taught himself to play guitar and drums. By then he was also studying opera with the Basel Conservatory of Music, which led to conducting and arranging assignments with the Basel Symphony.
He started his first group while still at the Conservatory, called Deliverance. A mix of his gospel-music upbringing with his passion for roots rock such as Elvis and Perkins, the band recorded three albums over the course of 10 years, topping the charts in Germany and reaching #56 on Billboard with 1979’s «Leaving LA». Amid financial difficulties, Janz left the group and returned to Canada the next year.
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