Saviour

Description

Saviour is the debut album by the American singer and songwriter Phil McHugh, originally independently released on Tri-Art in 1974. Re-issued on Jesus Folk Records in 1976, re-titled All Glory to You and featuring new cover artwork. The album was engineered by Bill Townsend at Tri Art Productions in Bismarck, North Dakota. All songs written by Phil McHugh.

Phil McHugh has one of those immediately striking voices, perfect for his soothing blend of country folk and acoustic rock. His custom debut Saviour (later released on the Jesus Folk label as All Glory To You) is a very moving collection of songs, simply arranged with only a few musicians assisting. A couple tracks have only guitar backing, like the blues/boogie-strummin’ «Backslider Blues» and «Sometimes», the latter a piece that’d be right at home on Phil Keaggy’s What A Day. Other tracks add such instruments as electric piano, piano, harmonica, steel guitar, bass and drums. Sometimes a gentle rural flow that stirs up a few Talbot Brothers memories, as on «Jesus Stood By The Water», «The Prince», «There’s A River» and «We Are Free». At other times I was reminded of Don McLean, particularly on the piano-backed ballads. «All Glory To You» is a beautiful minor-key ballad, with electric piano and silvery acoustic guitar projecting an air of mystery. Makes me feel like I’ve been blessed or something. This original custom release is extremely scarce and features entirely different cover art (a painting of Christ on the cross).

Phil’s custom debut Saviour was given greater distribution by the Jesus Folk label (also home to Jesus Folk One and Glenn Garrett’s Home Is Where You Are) where it was re-titled All Glory To You. Same songs and recordings, but with different cover art front and back. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th Edition]

Phil McHugh writes songs with a bit more insight into scripture and the Christian walk than many have shown. There’s nothing on this album that will blow you away theologically, mind you, but his songs all serve as timely reminders for day-to-day living.

The music is adequate, and the same goes for the instrumentation, and it flows well because of a nicely balanced mix. The finest sound on the LP though, without a doubt, has to be Phil’s voice. Golly, it’s smooth! He reminds me of John Denver or Noel Paul Stookey or even a little of Joni Mitchell… not only in the sound of his voice, but the delivery of his message as well. He has that “I really mean what I’m saying” quality to his lyrics much like the aforementioned artists.

The selections are, for the most part, short in length, but that’s because they deal with one specific topic apiece. Perhaps some instrumental breaks would have added some extra flavor. Outstanding songs include «Morning For the Whole World»; «Backslider Blues» (to be applied by the listener after mild spells of apathy); «There’s a River» (bubbling and flowing through us in the form of the Holy Spirit) and «All Glory To You», which has the most vivid description of the tragedy at Calvary in Jesus music.

Phil McHugh’s ‘All Glory To You’ is one of those albums to be played when you are occupied with other things. It’s not one to demand much of you, but it’s pleasing nonetheless, especially that voice! [Mark Hollingsworth, Harmony, Vol. 1, No. 6, March/April 1976]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Jesus Stood by the Water” – 2:50
A2. “The Prince” – 3:33
A3. “Morning for the Whole World” – 2:55
A4. “The Last Generation” – 2:31
A5. “Saviour” – 2:39
A6. “Backslider Blues” – 2:13

Side Two
B1. “There’s a River” – 2:45
B2. “Children of the Promise” – 2:51
B3. “All Glory to You” – 4:25
B4. “Sometimes” – 1:59
B5. “We Are Free” – 3:06

Note: Re-issued on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by Jesus Folk Records in 1976 (Copyright Windy Music 1975). Windy Music/Jesus Folk Records as well released two album tracks on a 7-inch vinyl single: “There’s A River”, b/w “We Are Free”.

Phil McHugh, All Glory to You, Jesus Folk Records 1976