Description
Love Broke Thru is the sophomore solo album by the American singer, songwriter, and guitarist Phil Keaggy of Glass Harp fame, released on NewSong Records in October 1976, through the Jubilation Group distribution arm of Myrrh Records, a division of Word. The album was produced and recorded during May and June 1976 by Buck Herring at Sunwest Studios in Hollywood and Frog Shoes in Burbank, California. String arrangements by Michael Omartian.
Featuring Phil Keaggy on lead vocals and guitars, backed by an ace session band with Larry Knechtel on piano and organ, Michael Omartian on Aarpvark, and a rhythm section consisting of Lee Sklar on bass and Jim Gordon on drums. Background vocals provided by Mylon LeFevre, as well as Matthew Ward and Annie Herring of 2nd Chapter of Acts.
All music written by Phil Keaggy, except “Abraham” written by Buck and Annie Herring, and “Your Love Broke Through” written by Keith Green, Todd Fishkind, and Randy Stonehill. (Keaggy was actually the first one to record the latter song. It was recorded by Green as well the following year and included on his solo debut album, the classic For Him Who Has Ears to Hear.) “As the Ruin Falls” features words from a poem by C.S. Lewis, “Disappointment” features words from a poem by Edith Lillian Young, and “Portrait” features words from a poem by Beatrice Clelland.
To many an old Jesus freak this remains the definitive Phil Keaggy album. Whereas most of the instruments on the relatively shoe-string What A Day were played by Keaggy, Love Broke Thru enlisted several musicians to provide more rock backing, especially in the keyboard department (courtesy of Larry Knechtel and Michael Omartian). Background vocalists include Matthew Ward and Annie Herring from 2nd Chapter of Acts along with Mylon LeFevre. Moods range from the orchestrated pop ballad title song (written by Keith Green and Randy Stonehill) to the 6:47 classic rock masterpiece «Time» to the delicate acoustic «As The Rain Falls», a C.S. Lewis poem set to music with lovely flute accompaniment. Re-issued on CD as two-fer with What A Day. A classic! [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th Edition]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Your Love Broke Through” – 3:30
A2. “Take Me Closer” – 4:57
A3. “As the Ruin Falls” – 4:31
A4. “Wild Horse” – 4:16
A5. “Disappointment” – 2:39
Side Two
B1. “Time” – 6:47
B2. “Portrait” – 2:03
B3. “Just the Same” – 3:43
B4. “Things I Will Do” – 3:14
B5. “Abraham” – 3:32
Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by NewSong Records. Love Broke Thru was digitally remastered by Word in 1990 and re-issued together with Keaggy’s previous effort What a Day on both cassette and CD. Remastered and re-issued in 2025 as Love Broke Thru: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition. (This remastered and expanded edition includes 2 LPs – the re-mastered original album as well as the best of the bonus material – and 4 CDs of bonus tracks in a custom tri-fold package with a 20-page booklet featuring rare photos & liners, all inside a hinged box.) Available at Bandcamp: https://pk-deluxestudiovocalalbums.bandcamp.com/album/love-broke-thru-remastered
https://pk-deluxestudiovocalalbums.bandcamp.com/album/love-broke-thru-50th-anniversary-deluxe-edition
A full-page advertisement for the CD-reissue of the classic Phil Keaggy albums What a Day and Love Broke Thru was featured in the December 1990 issue of CCM Magazine.
The vol.1, no.6, 1976 issue of Harmony Magazine featured a cover story on Phil Keaggy.
2nd Chapter of Acts with Phil Keaggy and “a band called David” – How the West Was One (Myrrh, 1977)
Phil Keaggy & Rex Paul – Time, Live in Studio, August 2019
Ragamuffin Archive, July 31, 2025. Love Broke Thru 50th Anniversary with Phil Keaggy.
“Love Broke Thru” 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Kickstarter Campaign, 2025.
CREDITS. Produced and engineered by Buck Herring. Recorded at Sunwest Studios, Hollywood, CA and Frog Shoes, Burbank, CA. String arrangements by Michael Omartian. George Poole: String Contractor.
Musicians: Phil Keaggy (Guitars, Vocals, Percussion), Larry Knechtel (Piano, Fender Rhodes, Organ), Michael Omartian (Aarpvark), Leland Sklar (Bass), Jim Gordon (Drums), Buck Herring (Percussion), Peter Hopper (Percussion). Don Menza (Flute), Marshall Cyr and Bill Baker (Horns). Background vocals: Mylon LeFevre, Matthew Ward, Anne Herring.
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