Voices

Description

Voices is the fifth studio album by the American pop/rock duo Harvest (Jerry Williams and Ed Kerr), released on Milk & Honey Records in 1985. The album was produced by Wayne Watson.

Featuring a session band consisting of John Andrew Schreiner on acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, and synthesizers (Oberheim, Ob-8, Yamaha Dx-7, Roland Jx-3p, Roland Jp-6); Paul Mills on synthesizers (Synclavier, Roland Jp-6); Jon Goin on acoustic and electric guitars; Brian Tankersley and John Scudder on bass, Mark Hammond on drums; and Russell Dunlap on percussion; as well as Kirk Whalum on soprano and temor saxophone, Bruce Kenny on French Horn, and Fletch Wiley on trumpet.

‘Voices’ is Harvest’s most aggressive, most musically diverse album to date. The album’s heart and soul is the title track, which combines the best of the duo’s passionate, caring lyrics and impassioned performance.

Best known for soft pop tunes and lyric ballads, the duo offers strong cuts that are rockers – «The Battle Is the Lord’s» and «Get Me to the River» – which are filled with punchy horn charts, a throbbing bass line, and more uncompromising calls for Christian activism.

Main shortcoming of ‘Voices’ is a tendency toward sameness on the piano ballads. «One Thing I Ask», «The Name of Jesus», «Burn Me with Your Love», and the acoustic guitar ballad, «Creator’s Song», have eloquent words, but predictable music.

Still, you can’t ask for more committed, heartfelt company than Harvest, and ‘Voices’ deserves to be heard by a wide audience. [Bob Darden, CCM, April 1985]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “The Battle Is The Lord’s” – 2:50
A2. “Burn Me With Your Love” – 3:30
A3. “The Court Of The Gentiles” – 6:10
A4. “On The Water” – 3:20
A5. “Creator’s Song” – 3:35

Side Two
B1. “Get Me To The River” – 3:03
B2. “One Thing I Ask” – 3:20
B3. “The Name Of Jesus” – 2:45
B4. “Know That I Am God” – 4:55
B5. “Voices” – 4:30

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Milk & Honey Records. Re-issued on CD by Benson in 1988, piggybacked with Harvest’s 1986-album Only the Overcomers.

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