Description
Playing for Keeps is the third album by the American pop/rock band One Truth, released on Greentree Records in 1980. The album was recorded by Bob Clark, Phil Johnson, and Smitty Price at Great Circle Sound in Nashville, Tennessee; and at Hollywood Central in Hollywood, California; with Phil Johnson producing. Mixed by Bob Clark, Warren Peterson, and Brent King at Great Circle Sound and Sound Stage Studios in Nashville.
One Truth is Randall Butler on guitar and lead vocals; Dave Etzen on guitar and lead vocals; Terry Butler on keyboards and background vocals; Smitty Price on keyboards and background vocals; Andy Osbrink on bass and background vocals; and Bill Dragoo on drums.
The album got the following write-up in the October 1980 issue of Contemporary Keyboard, a mainstream music magazine: “A slow-tempo, Eagles style is essayed by One Truth on their ‘Playing for Keeps’. Terry Butler and Smitty Price are the main keyboardists, and there’s lots of poly synth backing for the guitar riffs.”
One Turth later changed their name to Ipso Facto and self-published and distributed an EP under the new band name.
Solid album of ballads and mid-rocking stuff, basically as good as anything Sweet Comfort Band or Liberation Suite ever did. Dynamic synth, piano and electric guitar join forces with a strong nod to ‘80s AOR on cuts like «I’ll Have Enough», «Rock Or Sand», «I’ve Never Been There Before», «Teach Us To Forgive», «Don’t Be Deceived» and «Satisfied», suitable for enabling listeners to unleash the dormant Toto within. No strings or horns to be found! Dig the baseball card photos of the band members on the back cover. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]
One Truth is a fairly young band from southern California, and Playing For Keeps is the group’s third album. They display strong songwriting and musical talent, though the former is a bit sophomoric at times (I’m so thankful Lord/ For all you’ve given to me/ Oh, you have provided/ Just so many things/ But if you took away all those things/ I would still have great praises to sing/ For you my Lord).
Phil Johnson produced the group this time, and the results may lead one to believe that rock & roll is not Phil’s strong suit. The vocals are way out front, the guitars generally mixed toward the back, with the whole thing just sort of enveloped in glossy production. It seems that One Truth needs a harder sound for this to become a more interesting product. On a positive note, the group has a great deal of potential, more of which will be realized when they get a few more years under their belts. In the meantime, they’ve got a decent record with a more than decent cover. [CCM, May 1980]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “I’ll Have Enough” – 4:01
A2. “Rock Or Sand” – 5:12
A3. “I’ve Never Been There Before” – 2:47
A4. “Teach Us To Forgive” – 6:25
Side Two
B1. “Don’t Be Decieved” – 3:40
B2. “Satisfied” – 3:22
B3. “Lord My Desire” – 4:17
B4. “Seventh Inning Stretch” – 0:49
B5. “Gonna Run” – 3:43
B6. “Jesus Wants To Know Each One” – 3:15
Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by Greentree Records.
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