Description
Like a River is the fourth album by the American singer and songwriter Morgan Cryar, released on Reunion Records in 1989, manufactured and distributed by Word. The album was produced by Brian Tankersley.
Morgan Cryar’s third release finds him joining many of his new Reunion stable-mates in the John Cougar Mellencamp school of grass roots Americana. Regardless of your opinion of acoustic guitars and simple melodies, you have to admit that this stuff can get infectious at times.
Cryar captures that feel on most of ‘Cry Like a River’, and the result is a nice amalgamation of blues, R&B and Cajun-influenced tunes (Cryar hails from Louisiana) mixed, unfortunately, with three pop ballads of lesser merit.
First the good. Cryar’s upbeat offerings prove that he was born to sing these Katie-bar-the-door, let-‘er-rip-type songs. He soars on the opener, «Holy Hands», which sets the stage for the other nine cuts with Tankersley’s exquisitely reserved production. Cryar swings in the black gospel-styled «Name Above all Names», which sounds like something off any Rev. James Cleveland album. «I’m Still Dangerous» borrows liberally from Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top, and Cryar does justice to the Southern fried boogie vocals. «Dust Man» (“Satan, you’re going to have to eat my dust”), with its Ry Cooderian slide guitar, recalls Jim Stafford’s eerie «Black Bayou». Cryar sounds great on all of these, and it’s hard to imagine another Christian music artist doing as well.
Now the bad. The three pop ballads – including «The Voice of Experience», yet another tastefully done tune (see recent releases of Buddy Greene and Paul Smith among others) warning of the temptation and the dangers of pre-marital sex – simply don’t ascend to the heights of the rowdier tunes. Neither does Cryar’s voice, which seems best suited for a group like the mid-’80s Chicago, in which he could be Bill Champlin to someone else’s Peter Cetera. Until that time comes, Cryar’s ballads will play second fiddle to his foot stompers.
Nevertheless, ‘Like a River’ may become an album of note if Christian music listeners will embrace a collection that sounds like it could be the soundtrack for The Big Easy. Here’s hoping they do. [Warren Anderson, CCM, August 1989]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Holy Hand”
A2. “Stand Up And Shout”
A3. “I Can Feel His Love”
A4. “Name Above All Names”
A5. “Reason Enough”
Side Two
B1. “World To Turn” – 3:30
B2. “The Voice Of Experience” – 4:09
B3. “I’m Still Dangerous” – 3:33
B4. “Dust Man” – 3:54
B5. “Yes, Yes” – 3:22
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Reunion Records.
CREDITS. Produced by Brian Tankersley. Recorded at Ocean Way Recording, Los Angeles, CA, at Wayne Cook Studios, Los Angeles, CA, at GBT Studio, Nashville, TN, and at Gold Mine Studio, Nashville, TN. Mastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering. Drum Programming by Brian Tankersley and Morgan Cryar. Photography by Darryl Estrine. Executive-Producer: Terry Hemmings.
Musicians: Morgan Cryar (Lead Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar, Drums), John Andrew Schreiner (Keyboards), Rob Watson (Keyboards), Marty Walsh (Guitar), Michael Hodge (Guitar), Tom Hemby (Guitar), Spencer Campbell (Bass), Brian Tankersley (Bass, Drums). Backing Vocals: Alfie Silas, Brian Tankersley, Jean McRath, Joan Tankersley, Morgan Cryar, Pam Dwinell, Vonciele Faggette. Horns: Dave Woodford, Garrett Adkins, Lee Thornburg. Saxophone Solos by Dave Woodford.
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