Description
This Side of Heaven is the sole album by the American singer, songwriter, and session guitarist Beau MacDougall (a.k.a. David MacDougall), released on Milk & Honey in early 1982, a division of Zondervan Corporation, distributed by The Benson Company. The album was recorded by Thom Roy at Whitefield Studios in Santa Ana, California; by Jonathan David Brown at Rivendell Studio in Pasadena, Texas; and by Greg Thompson at MartinSound Studios in Alhambra, California. Mixed by Jonathan David Brown at Rivendell. Arranged by Richard Souther and produced by The MacDougall Brothers (Beau and his brother, percussionist Alex MacDougall of Daniel Amos fame). All songs written by Beau MacDougall except “‘Cause I Fell In Love” co-written with Andrae Crouch. The track “Good News” was actually covered by Steve Camp on his debut album Sayin’ It With Love, released in 1978.
The album features Beau MacDougall on lead vocals and guitars, Tom Howard on OB-X and Moog synthesizers, Richard Souther on piano and organ, numerous bass players including David McKay, Billy Batstone and Daniel Amos member Marty Dieckmeyer, as well as brother Alex MacDougall on drums and percussion. Other veterans like Fletch Wiley (flugelhorn), Hadley Hockensmith of Koinonia (guitar), and Al Perkins (pedal steel guitar) also make appearance. Includes duets with three guest vocalists: James Dewar of Robin Trower Band, Pauline Wilson of Seawind, and Richie Furay of Buffalo Springfield and Poco fame. Background vocals provided by various artists including Bob Farrell (of Farrell & Farrell fame), Brian Tankersley, Rick Crawford, and Daniel Amos member Jerry Chamberlain.
It’s always a pleasure when a top rate album, unheralded at its time of release, gets remastered and reissued. In the ’70s and ’80s MacDougall was a fine guitarist who played lots of sessions for Larry Norman‘s Solid Rock outfit (and played with Larry when he visited Greenbelt in 1980) and who in 1981 released this thoroughly engaging mixture of pop and rock, all with that smooth West Coast sound. The album, though Grammy nominated, never picked up the big sales it deserved. Now, MacDougall himself has reissued ‘This Side Of Heaven’ and wherever you look and listen you’ll hear good things, be it Beau and Richie Furay duetting on «Father» or Tom Howard‘s piano and Hadley Hockensmith’s guitar adding a mellow underlay to Beau’s cover of Andrae Crouch‘s «Cause I Fell In Love». Years back Cross Rhythms’ Mike Rimmer reviewed the vinyl enthusing, “From the impact of the opening title cut and the bouncy power pop of «Smile» through the modern reworking of Proverbs 31 on «Virtuous Woman» to the funky groove of «Good News» this album is packed with fine songs and production.” Beau has thoughtfully added some nice pics to the CD package and the only thing that could have improved the release is a vinyl issue. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, February 2017]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “This Side Of Heaven”
A2. “Smile”
A3. “Just Goes To Show”
A4. “Virtuous Woman”
A5. “Father” (feat. vocals by Beau MacDougall and Richie Furay)
Side Two
B1. “Cry Of The Warrior”
B2. “Take Another Look”
B3. “Good News”
B4. “He’s The Same” (feat. vocals by Beau MacDougall and James Dewar)
B5. “‘Cause I Fell In Love” (feat. vocals by Beau MacDougall and Pauline Wilson)
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Milk & Honey. Re-issued on CD by Beau MacDougall in 2016, digitally remastered and remixed from the original 24 track master tape.
The Beau MacDougall Interview | CCM LegacyCAST | Look back. Lean In. Leave Behind. November 18, 2023.
CREDITS. Produced by The MacDougall Brothers (Beau & Alex). Arranged by Richard Souther. Recorded at Whitefield Studios by Thom Roy, at Rivendell Studio by Jonathan David Brown, and at Martin Sound by Greg Thompson. Mixed at Rivendell by Jonathan David Brown, except for “Good News” mixed by Thom Roy. Mastered by Larry Nix at Ardent Studios.
Musicians: Beau MacDougall (Lead Vocals on all tracks, Electric Guitars – tracks: A1, A2, A3, B1, B3, Acoustic Guitar – tracks: A4, A5, B2, B4, Lead Guitar on track B2), Richie Furay (Lead Vocals on track A5), James Dewar (Lead Vocals on track A5), Pauline Wilson (Lead Vocals on track A5), Tom Howard (OB-X Synthesizer – tracks: A1, A3, A5, B3, Moog Synthesizer on track A5, Piano & Synthesizer on track B5), Richard Souther (Hammond Organ – tracks: A2, B1, B3, Piano on track A3 and B1, Rhodes Piano on track A4 and B5, Keyboards on track B4), Tommy Morgan (Chromatic Harmonica on track B5), Fletch Wiley (Flugelhorn Solo on track A4), Hadley Hockensmith (Guitar on track A4 and B5, Rhythm Guitar on track B2), Eric Brenton (Rhythm Guitar on track B2), Al Perkins (Pedal Steel Guitar on track A4, B2), David McKay (Bass – tracks: A3, A4, B2, B5), Billy Batstone (Bass on track A1 and B4), Marty Dieckmeyer (Bass on track A2 and B1), Steve Kenoley (Bass on track B3), Maurice Love (Bass on track B3), Alex MacDougall (Drums – tracks: A1, A2, B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, Percussion – tracks: A3, A4, B5, Maracas on track B1, Tambourine track B3), James Kehn (Drums on track A3 and A4). Background Vocals: Richie Furay, Billy Batstone and Beau MacDougall (A1), Sammy Allen, Jerry Chamberlain and Tom Howard (A2), Rick Crawford, Brian Tankersley and Beau MacDougall (A3 and B1), Richie Furay and Beau MacDougall (B2), Stephanie Boosahda, Bob Farrell and Beau MacDougall (B3).
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