Candle in the Rain

Description

Candle in the Rain is the eighth studio album by the American singer, songwriter, and keyboardist David Meece, released on Myrrh Records in 1987, a division of Word. The album was produced by Gino and Joe Vannelli (tracks A1-A4, B1), Brown Bannister (track B2), Brian Tankersley and Rhett Lawrence (tracks B3, B4), and Jonathan David Brown (track B5).

With some reservations, I can safely say that ‘Candle in the Rain’ is David Meece’s best album to date. Meece teams up with producers Brown Bannister, Jonathan David Brown, Brian Tankersley, and the Vannelli brothers, Joe and Gino, to deliver a highly-polished, multilayered pop album of great sonic quality, combining elements of Phil Collins, Scritti Politti, and, not surprisingly, Gino Vannelli. The album achieves a consistent sound, although the lengthy producer credits suggest the control room had a revolving door.

Meece adopts an admirable strategy. Side one presents songs of faith and optimism on a grand scale; side two hints that Christ is somehow the source of that hope. In one sense, however, ‘Candle in the Rain’ expresses few distinctly Christian thoughts. Rather, we find eloquent, epic odes to spiritual struggle, hope, and generic faith. “Just keep believing,” Meece sings in «All ls God’s Creation», but it’s unclear whether the listener should believe in one’s self, Jesus, Mary, Buddha, Joseph Smith, or Peter Pan.

The lyrics of «The Water Is Fine» don’t seem to differentiate between John the Baptist and Christ. A man in a camel-hair shirt (clue) says he is “the voice crying in the wilderness” (clue two), but then inexplicably the lyric says, “I’ve come to wipe your slate clean.” The chorus asks, “What kind of man is this?” I give up. You tell me. For a second opinion, see the Gospel of John, first chapter.

Gino Vannelli has obviously taught Meece a thing or two about singing with conviction and passion. The vocals are powerful and convincing – Meece has never sounded better. If only the lyrics were as much on target. «God Only Knows» opens with a Pentecostal reference to “a wind from another world/ That blows through my mind.” From there, however, it’s “I Did It My Way” in spiritual garb as Meece sings, “I don’t care how far heaven lies/ I stake my life/ On this road I chose/ God only knows.”

Perhaps Meece thinks he’s climbing Jacob’s Ladder along with Huey Lewis, in which case Meece probably sees himself a few rungs ahead. After all, Lewis at least admitted to being a “fallen angel.” No such mention of sin or the need for repentance is evident on ‘Candle in the Rain’. [Mark Eischer, CCM, July 1987]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/candle-in-the-rain/1167799254)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “All Is God’s Creation” – 3:42
A2. “Nothing To Forgive” – 4:27
A3. “God Only Knows” – 4:53
A4. “The Water Is Fine” – 5:40

Side Two
B1. “His Love Was Reaching” – 3:29
B2. “Amor Conquesta Todo (Love Conquers All)” – 4:24
B3. “Higher Ground” – 3:40
B4. “Candle In The Rain” – 4:16
B5. “Hold On” – 3:54

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Myrrh Records.