Description
Can’t Buy a Miracle is the tenth studio album by the American singer and songwriter Randy Stonehill, released on Myrrh Records in 1988, a division of Word. Also manufactured and distributed by A&M Records. The album was recorded – mostly live – by Malcolm Harper and Dave Perkins in the basement of Randy’s Rock Bunker in Brentwood, Tennessee; with Perkins producing. Mixed by Perkins and Harper at The Reelsound Truck in Austin, Texas. All songs written by Randy Stonehill with half of the tracks co-written with Dave Perkins.
Featuring Randy Stonehill on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, backed by a session band dubbed “The Subterraneans” – Greg Husted on keyboards, Dave Perkins on electric guitars, and a rhythm section consisting of bassist Rick Cua and drummer Mike Mead, as well as Lisa Cates on percussion. (Can’t Buy a Miracle shares quite some similarities with The Innocence, producer Dave Perkins’ solo album released the previous year, featuring the same session musicians.) Background vocals provided by Gary Chapman (“Brighter Day”), Phil Keaggy (“Don’t Break Down”) Glenn and Wendi Kaiser of Rez Band (“Cold Rock The Groove”), Russ Taff (“Awfully Loud World”), and Dave Perkins (“Miracle” and “Awfully Loud World”).
On Randy’s previous LP, The Wild Frontier, producer Dave Perkins coaxed, cajoled, and connived our boy into delivering his best album since Welcome to Paradise, with Can’t Buy a Miracle, Stonehill tries for something he’s never been able to achieve – consistency. That’s two – two – two great albums in a row. And he and his latest band of co-conspirators (dubbed “The Subterraneans” this time) deliver the goods.
These are serious days we live in, and Randy wastes no time telling us so. The album opener, «It’s Now», blasts home a message of repentance. Rand is supported by impassioned vocals from Phil Keaggy on «Don’t Break Down», an encouragement not to be overwhelmed by misfortune. «Brighter Day», which finds Stonehill backed by Gary Chapman, reinforces the notion that better times are there for those who seek them.
Another theme which weaves its way through several tunes concerns recent compromises by fallen religious leaders that have adversely affected the faith of many believers. Without naming names, Stonehill vents his spleen with lines like, “If there ever was a time to confess our crimes,” “Been a little housecleanin’,” “O How the Mighty Have Fallen,” and (best for last), “Foolish pride is a gun in your hand.” Far from being an indescriminate rock thrower, Stonehill’s harshest criticisms are usually self-directed. But as he says in «Beyond the Veil», “I’ll stay on my knees until my answer comes at last.” Staying with the stripped-down, no-frills approach of his last LP leaves plenty of room for Randy’s wit and compassion to ring through on Miracle. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, July 1988]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/cant-buy-a-miracle/1167814545)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “It’s Now” – 4:03
A2. “Don’t Break Down” – 3:04
A3. “Coming Back Soon” – 4:46
A4. “O How The Mighty Have Fallen” – 4:10
A5. “Brighter Day” – 4:05
Side Two
B1. “Awfully Loud World” – 3:02
B2. “Cold Rock The Groove” – 4:05
B3. “Beyond The Veil” – 4:55
B4. “Can’t Buy A Miracle” – 3:49
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Myrrh Records. (The mainstream market issue utilized the back cover of the CCM market release as the front cover.) Available at Bandcamp: https://randystonehill.bandcamp.com/album/cant-buy-a-miracle
CREDITS. Produced by Dave Perkins. Engineered by Malcolm Harper and Dave Perkins. Recorded entirely, and mostly live, in the basement of Randy’s Rock Bunker, 9014 Karen Court, Brentwood, TN. Mixed by Perkins and Harper at The Reelsound Truck, Austin, TX. Additional engineering by Dave Shirley and Lynn Fuston. Art by Michael Hodgson. Photos by Peter Nash. Executive-Producers: Ray Ware and Tom Willett. Management: Ray Ware Artist Management. All songs written by Randy Stonehill except track A1, A4, B1, B3, and B4, co-written with Dave Perkins, and B2 co-written with Perkins and Greg Husted.
Musicians: Randy (Life O’Reilly, Randall The Vandall) Stonehill (Flat Top Guitars), Greg (Lord Louie, Greg, Atticus, Finch) Husted (Keyboards), Dave (Atilla The Lung, Tweakmeister Rex) Perkins (Electric Guitars), Rick (Wrap Around, Magnum Vibrato, How Ya Doin’) Cua (Bass), Mike (Mosquito, Twinkie Shrapnel, Monkey Boy) Mead (Drums), Lisa (Lisa, Lisa, Lisa, Lisa, Lisa) Cates (Percussion). Backing Vocals: Dave (Ronnie) Perkins (tracks: B1, B4), Gary Chapman (tracks: A5), Phil Keaggy (tracks: A2), Rez (tracks: B2), Russ Taff (tracks: B1).
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