Spark to a Flame

Description

Spark to a Flame, sub-titled Songs for themes, occasions and seasons of the worshipping church, is a praise & worship album by the British singer and songwriter Graham Kendrick, released on Megaphone Records in 1993, marketed and distributed by Nelson Word UK. The album was recorded and mixed by Martin Smith at ICC Studios, Westpark Studio, St. Paul’s PCC, Martin Smith Mobile Studio, with Steve Thompson producing and arranging for Megaphone Records. This was the first Kendrick album to be produced by Steve Thompson, and as well the first time that Graham worked with Martin Smith who would later form Delirious?

I have written these new songs with a clear purpose in mind, to provide much needed material for specific themes, occasions and seasons in the life of the Church. The appropiate category is listed, as a guide, with each song lyric contained in this recording. [Note printed on the back of the CD]

A new label (though it still goes through Nelson Word); a rumour (erroneous) that this is a ‘contemporary’ (ie, performance-orientated) album rather than a praise and worship album; and Steve Thompson in charge of production. ‘Spark To A Flame’ is written for congregational worship, this time with the angle of “songs for themes, occasions and seasons of the worshipping church” and not, thankfully, another March For Jesus album. It has to be said that the folk issuing Graham Kendrick material have rather swamped the market in recent years and so it’s hard to feel the sense of significance a new album by Britain’s greatest hymn writer once brought us. But giving the production chores to the exceedingly gifted Mr Thompson was a good move, for the funky keyboard man brings some very nice touches, with more bite in the rhythm arrangements, while still retaining the congregational worship dynamic. I particularly liked the arrangement for «Jesus Let Me Meet You In Your Word» and Velveta Thompson’s solo on «Here Is Bread». The songs have extensive notes for the uses to which they can be put, though I’m a tad disappointed that despite all the songwriting craft and solid musicianship it still feels a bit formulaic. But maybe we’ll have to look to a new wave of ‘alternative worship’ songwriters for something really fresh. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, October 1993]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/spark-to-a-flame/1541981318)

CD tracklist:

01. God Is Great – 4:41
02. Yes I Believe – 4:29
03. Our Eyes Are On You (Humbly We Gather Together) – 5:51
04. Jesus, Let Me Meet You In Your Word (Now In Reverence And Awe) – 4:46
05. Jesus Restore To Us Again – 5:17
06. Sing A New Song (Psalm 149) – 4:39
07. Beauty For Brokenness (God Of The Poor) – 5:40
08. We Shall Declare His Praise – 3:01
09. Here Is Bread – 4:27
10. Three Part Harmony (On This Day Of Happiness) – 4:27
11. Teach Me To Dance – 5:20

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Megaphone Records.