Description
Between the Glory and the Flame is the fifth studio album by the American singer and songwriter Randy Stonehill, released on Myrrh Records in August 1981, a division of Word. The album was recorded and mixed by Thom Roy at Whitefield Studios in Santa Ana, California; and was produced by Terry Taylor of Daniel Amos fame with Randy Stonehill for Rebel Base Productions. Strings arranged by Tom Howard.
Randy Stonehill is backed by a handful of his former Solid Rock Records label mates: Tom Howard on keyboards, as well as several members of Daniel Amos – Jerry Chamberlain on guitar, Marty Dieckmeyer on bass, Ed McTaggart on drums, and Alex MacDougall on percussion. All songs written by Randy Stonehill except “Givin’ It Up For Love” and “Farther On” co-written with Tom Howard. (Trivia: “Farther On” was performed by Stonehill and Howard as a part of the Maranatha! Concert series, live at Calvary Chapel, a concert that was aired on KYMS 106.3 FM, December 30, 1978.)
Between the Glory and the Flame was included in the Editors’ Choice 1981 list of CCM Magazine, a list featuring 15 albums released during 1981, before the end of November.
Between the glory and the flame… life lived as though we were dead, robots in the streets. People reaching for truth in humanism and momentary pleasure, panning for gold in the gutters.
Perhaps the core of Randy Stonehill’s fourth LP could be called a very gentle but honest attempt to hold up an inner mirror and say, “Look! Who are you/me/us, and why are we here?” The lyric content of the disc makes this focus obvious, with a slam on TV («Christine»), a parody of the AC/DC “Highway to Hell” mentality («Die Young»), and a look at the hopelessness of man’s existence apart from God («Fifth Avenue Breakdown»).
Musically, Terry Taylor of Daniel Amos produced, and the whole DA crew pitched in to give Randy an instant “band-aid.” The disc ping-pongs from rock to acoustic and back again, and contains a few “ear-drum kicks,” such as in the song «Rainbow». Voices in reverse, drums in reverse, and choruses of apparent nonsense syllables, all let the listener know that Randy’s creativity, along with his message, is in good shape. [Jon Trott, Cornerstone Magazine, Nov./Dec. 1981 (Vol. 10, Iss. 57)]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Glory and the Flame” – 3:10
A2. “Die Young” – 3:15
A3. “Fifth Avenue Breakdown” – 2:50
A4. “Grandfather’s Song” – 3:24
A5. “Find Your Way to Me” – 3:42
Side Two
B1. “Christine” – 3:29
B2. “Rainbow” – 3:49
B3. “Givin’ It Up for Love” – 4:13
B4. “Letter to My Family” – 4:58
B5. “Farther On” – 2:56
Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by Myrrh Records. Re-issued on CD by Stonehillian Productions in 2016 (“pristine vinyl transfered to CD at a top-notch studio and a limited quantity of CDs manufactured by the studio”). Available at Bandcamp: https://randystonehill.bandcamp.com/album/between-the-glory-the-flame
Randy Stonehill pictured with Daniel Amos, the session band featured on Between the Glory and the Flame. Stonehill (center) with producer Terry Taylor on his right hand side, as well as the other band members of Daniel Amos. (Photo shot by Larry Norman July 3, 1979 during Daniel Amos’ Horrendous Disc photo session.)
“Die Young” (MUSIC VIDEO)
CREDITS. Produced by Terry Taylor with assistance from Randy Stonehill. Recorded at Mixed at Whitefield Studios. Engineered by Thom Roy. String Arrangements by Tom Howard. Painting and Artwork by Frank Ordaz. All songs written by Randy Stonehill, except track B3 and B5 co-written with Tom Howard. Daniel Amos appears courtesy of ¡ALARMA! Records.
Musicians: Randy Stonehill (Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Electric Twelve-string Guitar, Lead Guitar, Percussion), Tom Howard (Piano, Harmonium, Synthesizer), Jerry Chamberlain (Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar), Marty Dieckmeyer (Bass), Ed McTaggart (Drums, Percussion), Alex MacDougall (Percussion). Backing Vocals: Jerry Chamberlain, Randy Stonehill, Tom Howard. Terry Jonsson (Newscaster on track B1). The Whisper People (Whispers on track B2).
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