Millennium

Description

The self-titled and sole album by the American rock band Millennium was independently released on their custom label Shekinah Music in 1973. The album was produced and arranged by the band.

Millennium featured husband and wife Bob and Jayne Farrell who later founded Farrell & Farrell (this album was the first official recording the couple recorded together), as well as Bailey Dickerson (keyboards, vocals) and Larry Wallbrech (percussion). Guest musicians on the album are Sonny Lallerstedt on lead guitar and Randy Bugg on bass, both later of the Pat Terry Group.

The same year Jayne Farrell released a solo album on CAM simply entitled Jayne.

First of all this album boasts one of the coolest covers around with a colorful celestial hourglass above the clouds illustration. Both Bob and Jayne Farrell were members of this Texas foursome. And if you pass on this because of the pop/ccm they went on to deliver in the ‘70s/’80s then you lose, cuz on this one they rocked ‘70s style with a lotta organ, piano, and guest guitarist Sonny Lallerstedt’s (Pat Terry Group) loudest performance on record («Freedom» sizzles in a mega way). Nothing folky about this one – closest comparison would be the second Dove LP (on which Bob also played) but this is far superior. Gentle sounds also permeate, balance, and enhance – «Because Of Me», «Restored», and «How Can You Say No» all have a healthy dose of mystical mellotron sounds. Nice compositional mix plus more progressive than most ‘70s Christian rock. Embark now to unearth one of the 1500 or so copies that were pressed. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th Edition]

CD re-issue

Jayne and I became born again in the Spring of 1971, in Houston. Within a week of becoming a Christian I wrote my first song about my new Lord and new life. Within a couple of months, we began performing (quite innocently) in coffeehouses and backyard Bible studies. When we had to assume a name – we chose One Man Band.

That group was my acoustic guitar, with three vocalists – and it eventually evolved into a foursome, with drums, keyboards/keybass and guitar. The name changed as well, becoming Millennium.

In 1973, we made our first offical recording, self-titled ‘Millennium’. On the album tracks, we were assisted greatly by two musicians and friends from Atlanta, Randy Bugg (bass) and Sonny Lallerstedt (lead guitar), who were members of Dove, the first Christian group to record on Myrrh Records.

The Millennium album was never distributed (other than through our performances), so most people have never had a chance to own it or even hear it.

I decided to re-release ‘Millennium’ on CD and give the people an opportunity to hear some pre-Farrell & Farrell. Bear in mind that the album was recorded in a matter of hours, not weeks. But to this day, I believe it contains a ‘live-ness’ and ‘rawness’ that is hard to duplicate or capture.

– Bob Farrell, farrellandfarrell.net

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Jesus” – 4:08
A2. “Because Of Me” – 5:10
A3. “Restored” – 2:51
A4. “Freedom” – 4:42

Side Two
B1. “Lullaby To A Love Generation” – 4:01
B2. “Love Song” – 3:47
B3. “Put Love In Your Life” – 3:08
B4. “How Can You Say No” – 3:56
B5. “The Challenge” – 4:41

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Shekinah Music. Later digitally remastered and re-issued on CD.

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CREDITS. Produced by Millennium. Orchestral arrangements by Millennium. Special thanks to “Dove” for Sonny Lallerstedt, lead guitar, and Randy Bugg, bass guitar. Cover design by Sandy Bolton. Tracks A1, A3, B2, and B3 written by Bob Farrell, tracks A2, A4, B4, and B5 by Bailey Dickerson, and by track B1 by Larry Wallbrech.

Musicians: Millennium – Jayne Farrell (Vocals ), Bob Farrell (Acoustic Guitar, Vocals), Bailey Dickerson (Keyboards, Mellotron, Vocals), Larry Wallbrech (Percussion). Additional Musicians: Sonny Lallerstedt (Lead Guitar), Randy Bugg (Bass), Tony Shannon (Mellotron).