Description
Hand to the Plow is the fifth studio album by the American singer and songwriter Paul Clark, released on Clark’s own label Seed Records in 1977, distributed by Myrrh Records, a division of Word. (According to a note published in the April 2, 1977 issue of Billboard Magazine, “Paul Clark’s new album, ‘Hand to the Plow’, has been released on the Seed label through the Jubilation Group distribution arm of Myrrh Records.”) Released as Hand to the Plough in the UK by Myrrh Records the following year, featuring new cover artwork (a black and white photo of Clark and his grandfather, actually the same photo that appears on the flip-side of the lyric sheet enclosed with the US edition of the album). The album was recorded August 1976 by Bob Cotton with Paul Clark producing. All songs written by Clark except “Spring of Life” featuring music co-written with Phil Keaggy. Includes “Woman/The Man That I Love”, a duet with Kelly Willard.
Paul Clark’s propensity to explore new music genres brought a close to Paul Clark & Friends, whose strong community and sonic signatures had established him as a veteran voice in the growing CCM scene. Unafraid of change, Clark set his plow into the rich soil of his childhood R&B roots. Moving his compositional skills away from guitar and to the piano for farming the new “Jazz/R&B sound field,” Clark joined forces with fellow Kansas City native, guitarist Curt Bartlett, and a handful of Oklahoma City musicians; Hadley Hockensmith (guitar and bass), Harlan Rogers (piano, Hammond B3 organ and synthesizers), Jim Hochanadel (saxophone and harmonica), and Lanny Hansen (drums). Paul Clark had met Hockensmith and Rogers – as well as drummer Bill Maxwell – years earlier in Oklahoma City, as the 3rd Street Rhythm and Blues Band, and knew they would be instrumental in his desired musical change. (Hockensmith, Rogers, Maxwell, as well as Fletch Wiley – a quartet known as Sonlight; had toured as backup band for Andrae Crouch during the ’70s. In the beginning of the ’80s they would go on to form the instrumental jazz-rock/fusion band Koinonia.)
Beyond the muscle bound title track, which included an unprecedented seven-minute plus jam session, and the other infectious grooves, Clark unveiled an orchestral side to his multifaceted songwriting expertise. With the Oklahoma City Philharmonic musicians playing the lush arrangements of conductor David Powell, Clark’s powerful wedding songs, “Woman/The Man That I Love,” (a duet with the at that point undiscovered Kelly Willard), and “Now And Forevermore,” quickly became two more classic wedding songs of the Jesus Movement generation. The album also features “Spring of Life” co-written with Phil Keaggy. Engineered and mixed by Bobby Cotton and mastered by Hollywood Mastering Lab genius, Doug Sax, this project is a landmark record classic firmly established in the foundation of CCM history.
For his next phase Paul Clark surprised us with a trio of records that signaled a complete change in direction. With piano directed to the forefront and the help of Harlan Rogers and Hadley Hockensmith, later of the jazz group Koinonia, Clark dabbled with a progressive fusion of jazz, rock and pop which at its most sophisticated is not unlike Steely Dan’s The Royal Scam, particularly on the opening seven-minute title track with its extended instrumental jamming. Sleeker production was joined by heavy guitar solos, slick saxophone leads, brass section, synthesizers, organ, funky keyboards and ladies on bgvs. With the change also came a few orchestrated adult contemporary ballads, but on the whole it’s a successful transition. «Help Me To See» and the funk-edged «All I Need» are both strong rockers empowered with lengthy electric guitar workouts. «Shipwreck» is an effective song that deals with the subject of doubt and resolution. Ballads take over for all of side two, the standout being «Spring Of Life» with its lyrical classical guitar accompaniment (the music was co-written by Phil Keaggy). Kelly Willard guests on lead vocals for «Woman/The Man That I Love». Released in the UK on the Myrrh label with the spelling variation Hand To The Plough, the front cover replaced with a black and white photo of Clark and his grandfather (the same photo that appears on the lyric sleeve of the US version). [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th Edition]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/hand-to-the-plow/306871455)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Hand To The Plow” – 6:58
A2. “Help Me To See” – 4:40
A3. “All I Need” – 4:06
A4. “Shipwreck” – 5:00
Side Two
B1. “Love You So” – 4:02
B2. “Spring Of Life” – 2:00
B3. “Medley: Woman & The Man That I Love” – 6:09
B4. “Now And Forevermore” – 4:52
B5. “One Final Word” – 1:39
Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by Myrrh Records UK in 1978. Re-issued on CD by Seed Records in 1990, as a part of the 2CD compilation Minstrel’s Voyage, Vol. II: 1975-1979 – Digital Reissue Collector’s Edition. As well released as a double cassette.
Hand to the Plow, US Edition (Seed Records, 1977)
Hand to the Plough, UK Edition (Myrrh Records, 1978)
Hand to the Plough, UK Edition
CREDITS. Produced by Paul Clark. Engineered by Bobby Cotton. Ochestral Arrangements by David Powell. All songs written by Paul Clark except track B2 featuring music co-written with Phil Keaggy. Design by Ted Stone. Photography by Dana Crick.
Musicians: Paul Clark (Lead and Backup Vocals, Acoustic and Classical Guitars, Piano, Drums, Synthesizer and Special Effects), Harlan Rogers (Piano, Organ, Fender Rhodes, Synthesizer), Jim Hochanadel (Saxophone, Harmonica), Curt Bartlett (Electric and Rhythm Guitars), Hadley Hockensmith (Bass, Lead Guitar on track A2), Lanny Hansen (Drums). Backing Vocals: Judy Cotton, Sandy Judkins, Rhenda Edwards, Kelly Willard (Lead Vocals on track B3).
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