Keeper

Description

Keeper is the fifth studio album by the American singer and songwriter Pam Mark Hall, released on Reunion Records in 1986, manufactured and distributed by Word. The album was recorded by John Wiles at Ten Thirty Studio in Nashville, Tennessee; with Wendy Waldman producing. Mixed by Wiles and Waldman at Ten Thirty Studio. All songs written or co-written by Pam Mark Hall.

Pam Mark Hall is backed by a session band featuring Gary Primm on keyboards, Kenny Greenberg on guitar, Michael Rhodes on bass, and Harry Stinson on drums and percussion, with Jim Horn sitting in on saxophone and recorder.

‘Keeper’ finds Pam Mark Hall writing honestly about all of life’s experiences without compromising her firm faith in Christ. Sort of holistic songwriting, if you will. That unique concept is even more exciting because of the street-level rock base over which most of here outstanding lyrics are sung.

Hall takes a dynamic vocal stance on ‘Keeper’ that approaches the throaty warble of Leslie Phillips but stops short of the raspy bark of Kim Carnes. And you’ve gotta admire anyone who begins an album with the lines, “I am hanging on, but just by a thread” and “Do I have to walk over the weak to survive?” We’ve all been there, right? «Jesus in the Street» updates the Lord’s “least of these” parable as a cutting-edge rocker complete with a wailing sax solo by the legendary Jim Horn.

Among the several other scorchers on ‘Keeper’ is «Never Trade My Love» where Hall trades in her manners for an aggressive rock vocal that is prodded by Kenny Greenburg’s smoldering guitar. And then there are the cuts «What Can I Do» and «Determined» which find Hall conjuring up a bluesy delivery a la Bonnie Raitt. At times – such as on «Unexpected Places» and «Keeper of the Vision» – Hall’s vocals are a bit too mannered and proper. But these tunes serves as important points of reflection on the disc. After all, you wouldn’t want a blustery vocal to obscure a powerful lyric such as “Sometimes you still wonder what it was that you were put here for,” would you?

In light of the more direct nature of Hall’s other lyrics, «Love Conquers Everything» may seem a pat and naive conclusion to the album. That simple statement, however, is a fitting summation of her message. And even though parts of ‘Keeper’ don’t seem tremendously distinctive from many other recent albums, the quality and reality of Hall’s lyrics, the carefully crafted arrangements, and the dynamic musicianship make all the difference. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, November 1986]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “This Is A Test” – 3:19
A2. “Jesus In The Street” – 3:48
A3. “Unexpected Places” – 2:50
A4. “Never Trade My Love” – 4:13
A5. “Keeper Of The Vision” – 4:40

Side Two
B1. “What Can I Do” – 3:30
B2. “Jordan” – 3:49
B3. “Determined” – 3:09
B4. “The Longing” – 4:24
B5. “Love Conquers Everything” – 3:45

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Reunion Records. Later re-issued on CD by Pam Mark Hall.

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