Description
Change of Heart is the third album by the American R&B/soul singer and songwriter Jon Gibson, released on Frontline Records in 1988, distributed by The Benson Company. Licensed and distributed in Europe by Kingsway. The album was recorded and mixed by Dave Jahnsen at Asylomar in Huntington Beach, California; and was produced by Bill Baumgart with Tim Heintz and Jon Gibson co-producing. Keyboards and drum programming by Gibson, Heintz, and Tony Patler. All songs written by Jon Gibson except track A2 featuring lyrics co-written with M.C. Hammer, track A5 co-written by Bill Baumgart (music) and Stephen Crumbächer of Crumbächer fame (lyrics), as well as track A1; the Contemporary R&B classic “Yah Mo Be There”.
“The Wall” and “Lost Inside You” feature guest vocals by M.C. Hammer and Crystal Lewis, respectively. The track “Friend In You” entered the CCM charts in March 1988, peaked at No. 1 and stayed on the charts for sixteen weeks. “Yah Mo Be There”, “Lost Inside You” and “Technology Man” entered the charts as well.
Trivia: Before Stanley Kirk Burrell’s – a.k.a. M.C. Hammer – successful music career, Burrell formed a Christian rap group with singer and musician Jon Gibson known as the Holy Ghost Boy(s). Hammer and Tramaine Hawkins performed with Gibson’s band, in concerts at various venues such as the Beverly Theatre in Beverly Hills (Hawkins would later show up on Hammer’s 1992 single, the traditional hymn “Do Not Pass Me By”). Some early songs produced were “Word”, “B-Boy Chill” and “Stupid Def Yal” (1987). Hammer also produced “Son of the King” during this time, releasing it on his debut album Feel My Power (1986), as well as the re-released version Let’s Get It Started (1988). Additionally, “The Wall” featured Hammer (a song Burrell originally identified himself as MC Hammer), which was later released on Gibson’s album Change of Heart (1988). This was CCM’s first rap hit by a blue-eyed soul singer and/or duo. In 1991, Hammer was featured on the single “The Blood” from the BeBe & CeCe Winans album, Different Lifestyles.
Jon Gibson’s Constellation Records debut in 1983, ‘Standing on the One‘, and ’86’s ‘On the Run‘ seemed to call for a gender switch in the title of Julie Brown’s dance hit «Trapped in the Body of a White Girl», with a strong case to be made that the man trapped in Jon Gibson was Stevie Wonder. Gibson’s song structures and vocalizations were just too close for comfort, too imitative to be much more than a novelty impersonation of Sir Stevie, even with all the apparent talent Gibson displayed.
‘Change of Heart’ still makes a musical nod toward the author of ‘Songs in the Key of Life’, but Gibson finds his own water legs and is not diminished by observations of the occasional Wonder-ism. Gibson stretches out, gives us his own voice, and nine urban contemporary songs with his own ‘Key’ in mind. In an inspired move, ‘Change of Heart’ opens with the Michael McDonald/James Ingram hit «Ya Mo B There», with Gibson filling in all the spiritual references that the original only implied.
«The Wall», with rapmaster M.C. Hammer, is the grittiest, most streetwise rap to show up on a Christian label, which when followed with the acoustic guitar ballad «Friend in You», makes it clear that Gibson is a multifaceted talent. Most of the rest fall into a warm R&B groove, with «Lost Inside You», a duet with labelmate Crystal Lewis, «Child Without a Name», and «Too Tough» the real standouts. Following more in Wonder’s tradition of creative exploration rather than a limiting mimickry, Gibson finds his own sound, and ‘Change of Heart’ is all the better for it. After all, that’s what friends are for. [Brian Quincy Newcomb, CCM, April 1988]
Jon Gibson’s second Christian music release continued to see him develop his funky blue eyed soul music and, in the process, begin to break onto American Christian radio. Vocal comparisons to Stevie Wonder abound on this 1988 album but don’t tell the whole story. Gibson was no simple copyist but one of the true originators in Christian music with the ability to work in many different styles. Standout tracks here include the opening cover of «Yah Mo B There» and the closing atmospheric «Technology Man» which sounds beautifully of its time. «Friend In You» is one of the finest ballads that Gibson ever recorded with a moving story and strong vocal performance. «The Wall» is a landmark recording in Christian music. It was the first rap song to ever chart in American Christian music. It was also the first recorded appearance of MC Hammer but I’m not sure we should thank JG for that! Overall, this is classy soul gospel from one of the most underrated talents in the whole CCM scene. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, August 2010]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/change-of-heart/387058441)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Yah Mo Be There” – 4:29
A2. “The Wall” – 4:38
A3. “Friend In You” – 3:58
A4. “Change Of Heart” – 4:28
A5. “Lost Inside You” – 4:39
Side Two
B1. “Man Overboard” – 4:01
B2. “Child Without A Name” – 4:15
B3. “Too Tough” – 4:15
B4. “Technology Man” – 4:45
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Frontline Records with the CD edition featuring a bonus track; “Change Of Heart” (Extended Version). Two 7-inch promo singles were released by Frontline featuring “Yah Mo Be There” (catalogue number S19032) and “Technology Man” (catalogue number SI9032-4), respectively.
“The Wall” (feat. M.C. Hammer)
CREDITS. Produced by Bill Baumgart. Co-produced by Jon Gibson and Tim Heintz. Recorded and mixed at Asylomar Productions in Huntington Beach, CA. Engineered by Dave Jahnsen. Photography by Bob Rowe. Creative and Art Direction by Ed McTaggart. Styling & Make-up by Les Lee. Jon Gibson wardrobe courtesy of Brian Kay. Litho Prep by Gershwin Graphics.
Musicians: Jon Gibson (Lead and Background Vocals, Keyboards), Bill Baumgart (Background Vocals), Tim Heintz (Keyboards), Tony Patler (Keyboards, Guitar), Eric Marienthal (Saxophone), Bob Somma (Guitar, Lead Guitar). “Lost Inside Of You”: Duet with Crystal Lewis. “The Wall”: Rap by M.C. Hammer and Jon Gibson.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.