Description
Our Recollections is a compilation album by the American singer and songwriter Randy Stonehill, released on Myrrh Records in June 1996, a division of Word. Compilation, editing and re-mastering by Garrett Hestla, David Estes and Craig Adams.
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/our-recollections/1165975072)
CD tracklist:
01. The Wild Frontier – 4:07
02. Shut de Do – 2:46
03. Who Will Save the Children? – 5:27
04. I Could Never Say Goodbye – 3:34
05. Christmas At Denny’s – 5:53
06. Great Big Stupid World – 5:47
07. Turning Thirty – 3:49
08. Faithful – 3:24
09. American Fast Food – 3:19
10. The Hope of Glory – 4:48
11. The Gods of Men – 4:12
12. China – 5:32
13. Celebrate the Heartbeat – 4:08
14. Rachel Delevoryas – 3:19
15. Coming Back Soon – 4:48
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Myrrh Records.
LINER NOTES printed in the CD insert
“The Wild Frontier”, from the album The Wild Frontier, Myrrh Records 1986 // Words and Music by Randy Stonehill
– This whole record was an exhilarating growth experience for me. It was my first project with veteran rock ‘n roller Dave Perkins producing and he challenged me both as a writer and musician to reach for new degrees of honesty and passion. I remember the feeling of joy as I sand this lead vocal. When I came into the control room to listen to the playback, I was damp with sweat and my shirt was missing a few buttons. I smiled at Dave and said, “Well, I don’t know how good this vocal is…but it sure felt real!”
“Shut De Do”, from the album Equator, Myrrh Records 1983 // Words and Music by Randy Stonehill
– I’ll never forget the trip I took to South America with Compassion International. I taught the chorus of «Shut De Do» to a room full of Ecuardorian school children who sang with abandon at the top of their lungs. I could sense God’s good pleasure with what was happening and I said to myself “This is one of the truly great moments of life”.
“Who Will Save The Children?”, from the album Celebrate This Heartbeat, Myrrh Records 1984 // Words and Music by Randy Stonehill
– My involvement with Compassion initiated the song «Who Will Save The Children?» I wanted so much to capture the plight of suffering children that I worked on writing it during a much needed vacation with my family. It was a hard and laborious song to compose and I chopped away at it day by day. At the end of our vacation, I cautiously played it for my wife, Sandi, who immediately forgave me the hours of song work and with tears in her eyes said, “This may be the best song that you will ever write”.
“I Could Never Say Goodbye”, duet with Amy Grant from the album Love Beyond Reason, Myrrh Records 1985 // Words and Music by Randy Stonehill
– In 1984 Amy Grant invited me to join her for part of her Straight Ahead Tour. One evening after the concert, I led her to the back state room of her tour bus where she looked at me like a nervous school girl and said, “Am I in trouble?” I laughed and said, “No, I’ve just always loved the way your heart shines through when you sing. You’re my friend and I want to play a song for you that I hope you will record with me.” She sat with her eyes closed, rocking back and forth as I played I Could Never Say Goodbye. When the song was over she smiled at me and said, “That’s great. I would love to record it with you.”
“Christmas At Denny’s”, from the album Return To Paradise, Myrrh Records 1989 // Words and Music by Randy Stonehill
– It was a few nights before Christmas and I was sitting in my car at a busy intersection. As I waited for the light to change I glanced over at the Denny’s restaurant on the corner. I could see lonely looking people at their separate tables, chain smoking cigarettes as they sat hunched over their “bottomless cups” of coffee. I knew that was where some of them would be spending Christmas. I wrote this song thinking about what Jesus might say or do if He was sitting with those people.
“Great Big Stupid World”, from the album Wonderama, Myrrh Records 1992 // Words and Music by Randy Stonehill & Terry Taylor
– It is indeed a world gone mad and we find ourselves called to be in it but not of it. We watch as the culture stumbles like some cosmic drunkard from one thing to the next trying to to conjure up the real meaning and hope that can only be found in Jesus. Sometimes, if you don’t laugh you cry. I shared my idea for this song with Terry Taylor over lunch one day. He and I ended up in sort of unspoken contest. Both trying to make the other one laugh harder with each new lyric line. We both ended up laughing until we cried.
“Turning Thirty”, from the album Equator, Myrrh Records 1983 // Words and Music by Randy Stonehill
– I do a lot of songwriting on airplanes. Your perspective of the world seems sharper sometimes up there at 35,000 feet. As I stared out the window on an early morning before my thirtieth birthday, I found myself counting my blessings. As I began to trace God’s handprint on my life through all the years, I couldn’t help but write this personal song of thanks to the Lord.
“Faithful”, from the album Until We Have Wings, Myrrh Records 1990 // Words and Music by Randy Stonehill & Giovanni Audiori
– I remember talking with Mark Heard about my inability to find this song. “I know what I want to say…I just don’t know how to say it!” I complained. Tucking his mobile phone under one arm like a birdwing, he looked at me with his “wise old owl from Georgia” face and answered, “Well, why don’t you just say it like a child?” We finished the lyrics together in half an hour.
“American Fast Food”, from the album Equator, Myrrh Records 1983 // Words and Music by Randy Stonehill
– Here’s a song about the fast-paced disposable mentality of our culture and also about what life on the road will do to one’s dietary habits. I must confess the irony here in that I wrote this song during a concert tour of England as I found myself craving a good ol’ American cheeseburger. Heaven help us all.
“The Hope Of Glory”, from the album The Wild Frontier, Myrrh Records 1986 // Words and Music by Randy Stonehill
– The ocean always reminds me of Jesus and I imagine His footprints in the sand by the sea of Galilee. I was jogging along the beach one afternoon and it reminded me of “running the race” as the apostle Paul wrote. As I thought about my own life’s journey with all the struggles along the way, this song started to take shape. It’s really my own personal declaration of faith and commitment set to music.
“The Gods Of Men”, from the album Love Beyond Reason, Myrrh Records 1985 // Words and Music by Randy Stonehill
– I was taking a flight to London to perform some songs for British television and as I got to thinking about the trip, I said to myself “This is amazing. I’m actually getting to live out this dream from my childhood.” But what struck me even more deeply was the realization that a loving God had not only granted my youthful wish, but He had far exceeded my highest hopes by allowing my life (and work) to have some eternal purpose for His kingdom. By the time we landed at Heathrow airport the song was finished.
“China”, from the album Equator, Myrrh Records 1983 // Words and Music by Randy Stonehill
– Terry Taylor‘s brilliant arrangement ideas really captured the heart of the song. One of my favorite memories of that recording session is Terry pressing the talk back button in the control room and telling drummer, Ed McTaggart “OK, you’ve got the part right…now put the drumsticks down and play the same thing with just the palms of your hands so it will sound more like a heartbeat.” Ed looked a bit worried. Terry said reassuringly, “Just pretend that you’re playing giant bongos!”
“Celebrate This Heartbeat”, from the album Celebrate This Heartbeat, Myrrh Records 1984 // Words and Music by Randy Stonehill
– This is a song of celebration a la The Beatles and I tightened my throat muscles trying to mimic a bit of that great John Lennon vocal style as I sang. I remember Mark Heard struggling to play a difficult lead solo on an even more difficult electric twelve string guitar. I admired his tenacity and kept cheering him on saying” Try it one more time, you’ll get it!” He did.
“Rachel Delevoryas”, from the album Wonderama, Myrrh Records 1992 // Words and Music by Randy Stonehill
– This is a true story from my childhood. The first time I sang the song Rachel Delevoryas in public I was completely unaware that Rachel’s sister was in the audience. Later that year Rachel surprised me by coming back stage after one of my concerts. I had the opportunity to share my faith with her. After she left I thought to myself: “Boy, talk about God setting someone up… what a personal savior we serve!” Reality is stranger and far more wonderful than fiction.
“Coming Back Soon”, from the album Can’t Buy A Miracle, Myrrh Records 1988 // Words and Music by Randy Stonehill
– Early one morning in 1988 as I packed my lugage for what as to be a long trip, I noticed my five-year old daughter, Heather, watching from her bedroom door. She stood there quietly in her nightgown but there was a very serious look on her sweet little face. As I picked up my suitcase and started down the stairs, I heard her hesitant voice behind me. “Now, um, Daddy..just don’t forget me.” Those simple words completely broke my heart. As I held her in my arms and explained that it was impossible for me to ever forget her, I got a fresh and profound glimpse of the father-heart of God for all His children. The song «Coming Back Soon» was the result.
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