Description
Stop the Dominoes is the fourth studio album by the American singer and songwriter Mark Heard, released on Home Sweet Home Records in August 1981, distributed by The Benson Company. The album was recorded February to March 1981 by Jonathan David Brown at Poiema Studios in Camarillo and at The Gold Mine in Los Angeles, California; with Mark Heard producing and arranging. Additional engineering by Mark and Janet Sue Heard. Mixed by Mark Heard at The Gold Mine in Nashville, Tennessee. All songs written by Mark Heard.
Stop the Dominoes was included in the Editors’ Choice 1981 list of CCM Magazine, a list featuring 15 albums released during 1981, before the end of November.
This album was Mark Heard’s first album on Chris Christian’s Home Sweet Home label. Rapidly maturing as a songwriter, Heard here develops two of the themes that dominated both his work and his life: a feeling of alienation from both the dominant American culture and the Christian subculture (“I’m Crying Again”, “Stuck in the Middle”) and a hope and longing for truth and God’s presence (“To See Your Face”).
Mark Heard did actually sign with Home Sweet Home because he was promised – first and foremost – mainstream release, distribution, and promotion. Unfortunately, that did not happen. Never the less, releasing five studio albums in as many years the Home Sweet Home years were some of Heard’s most productive in terms of output, but he felt increasingly stifled by the pressure to make what he perceived as artistic compromises.
I just heard this album, you won’t believe. It’s woven with sounds like Jackson Browne, the early Byrds, James Taylor, 1930’s blues, the Rolling Stones, the Everly Brothers and early Paul Simon. O.K., maybe that is a tall order, but, well, I think I’m in love.
But it took a while. On the first hearing, Stop The Dominoes (Home Sweet Home, R2101) didn’t exactly overwhelm me. I liked the rock rhythms, but I neglected to listen to the lyrics – too busy, as usual. When I did, the meanings banged by head against that wall of tears and fears and perplexities born of living in the world. They reminded me how my Christian walk depends so much on being continually reminded of my ineffectuality, undependability, self-deception and generally imperfect nature. (Yes friend, saved but not sinless.)
Mark Heard’s rock reflects reality with irony, simplicity and poignancy. He touches the heart and hooks the memory. He knows how to use minor keys, bluenotes, changeups and soulful harmonies. He wrote, produced an arranged the album. His wife Janet took the cover photos. Larry Norman, Randy Stonehill, Leslie Phillips, Little Bobby Emmons and Dave de Coup Crank assisted with backup harmonies. Sans strings (oh thank you, thank you), the album is with sax and fiddle and steel guitar, as well as a plethora of electric guitars, Tom Howard on keyboards and Alex MacDougall on percussion.
But it’s lyrics! In closing, let me lay some lines on you: “Heaven help a timid child in a trendy tide…” “Very quietly, the world loses blood overnight, without a fight…” “The masses ride their passions with throttle in their hands…” “The criminal in my skin lets out a sigh. He’d like to think he’s innocent…” “Half the world prays like the preacher, the other half don’t even pray…” “I’m too sacred for the sinners, and the saints wish I would leave…”
(Best cuts: Give me a break, will ya? I told you I’m in love.) [CCM, October 1981]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/stop-the-dominoes/266167781)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “One Of The Dominoes” – 4:23
A2. “Stranded At The Station” – 3:30
A3. “You Could Lie To Me” – 4:02
A4. “One Night Stand” – 2:52
A5. “I’m Crying Again” – 3:29
Side Two
B1. “Stuck In The Middle” – 4:39
B2. “Call Me The Fool” – 3:11
B3. “I’m In Chains” – 3:25
B4. “Lonely One” – 4:35
B5. “To See Your Face” – 3:31
Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by Home Sweet Home Records. Later re-issued on CD.
CREDITS. Written, produced, and arranged by Mark Heard. Primary Engineer: Jonathan David Brown. Additional Engineers: Mark Heard, Janet Sue Heard. Recorded February-March, 1981 at Poiema Studio, Camarillo, California and at The Gold Mine, Los Angeles, CA. Mixed by Mark Heard at The Gold Mine, Nashville, TN. Album design by Mark Heard. Photographs by Janet Sue Heard. Graphics Director: Dave de Coup Crank
Musicians: Mark Heard (Lead Vocals, Electric Guitar, Electric Lead and Slide Guitars, Keyboards), Tom Howard (Keyboards), Tony Eisenbarger (Electric Guitar), John Patitucci (Bass), Keith Edwards (Drums), Alex MacDougall (Percussion). Sonny Garrish (Pedal Steel), Buddy Spicher (Fiddle), Karl Denson (Saxophone). Background Vocals: Mark Heard, Larry Norman, Randy Stonehill, Leslie Phillips, Little Bobby Emmons, Dave De Coup Crank.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.