Description
Here in America is a compilation album by the late American singer and songwriter Rich Mullins (October 21, 1955 – September 19, 1997), posthumously released on Reunion Records in May 2003.
Here in America is a CD compilation of early songwriting demos and rare live recordings of concert performances given by Rich Mullins as he toured across America in 1986-1987 with song collaborator Steve Cudworth (vocals/guitar) and Kyle Stevens (drums/vocals). Released posthumously six years after his death, Here In America allows listeners to enjoy excerpts from Rich Mullins concerts prior to the release of “Awesome God” in 1988, which inevitably propelled him, as a recording artist, to a higher level of recognition by the CCM industry. The album comes with a Bonus DVD with two parts – “Live at Studio B”, a 1997 concert with a Ragamuffin Band; and “12 Short Stories”, which was recorded in February 1994 (although the DVD misidentifies it as 1993) during a two-day seminar led by Rich Mullins and Beaker at LeSEA Broadcasting Studios in South Bend, Indiana.
Just when you thought that there was nothing more to be said about Rich Mullins, lo and behold, a CD and a DVD of rarities, demos and live recordings. The live cuts are a fascinating snapshot of the humour of the man, particularly «Praise Ye The Lord», entreating part of the audience to sing some rather guttural (and probably fairly damp!) Hebrew syllables; and what according to the sleevenotes is the very first outing anywhere in the world for «Awesome God», with Rich struggling to get his audience’s collective heads around the words and music. There are also some more serious words from the man, especially as an intro into «None Are Stronger», as he rams home his favourite message that true strength is not having bigger and better things – true strength is yielding everything to the Lord. Very welcome for me are some high quality studio demos of four previously unreleased songs, although I have a recording by Debby Boone from 1983 of «O Come All Ye Faithful» (not the familiar carol, but the message is more or less the same, albeit not nearly so Christmassy). The DVD features live cuts of some of Rich’s best songs, along with a dozen short stories on a variety of topics, including Perfection Is Boring, Temptation In Germany and Driving Without Headlights. [Trevor Kirk, Cross Rhythms, November 2003]
CD tracklist:
01. Here In America (Songwriting Demo) – 3:01
02. Teaching Awesome God (Live) – 2:31
03. Verge Of A Miracle (Live) – 4:36
04. Be With You (Live) – 5:21
05. O Come All Ye Faithful (Songwriting Demo) – 4:33
06. What Trouble Are Giants (Live) – 3:04
07. Praise Ye The Lord (Live) – 4:15
08. Hello Old Friends (Live) – 2:31
09. It Don’t Do (Live) – 4:41
10. Screen Door (Live) – 3:04
11. Never Heard The Music (Songwriting Demo) – 3:39
12. None Are Stronger (Live) – 5:17
13. The Lord’s Prayer (Songwriting Demo) – 2:02
13.5 Untitled – 5:01
DVD
Live From Studio B:
01. I Will Sing
02. Sing Your Praise to the Lord
03. If I Stand
04. Calling Out Your Name
05. Elijah
06. Awesome God
07. We Are Not As Strong as We Think We Are
08. Let Mercy Lead
09. Boy Like Me – Man Like You
10. F Major Invention (J.S. Bach)
11. Screen Door
12. Hold Me Jesus
13. Sometimes By Step
14. Creed
12 Short Stories:
01. Sex and Self-Confidence
02. Perfection Is Boring
03. Be Assertive
04. Killing Philistines
05. Sensationalism
06. Worship Buzz
07. A Reason To Party
08. Life Is Good
09. Women & Tragedy
10. I Never Intended
11. Temptation In Germany
12. Driving Without Headlights
Rich Mullins – Live From Studio B (Part 1 and 2). On March 14, 1997, Rich Mullins & A Ragamuffin Band played a live television concert at LeSEA Broadcasting (currently Family Broadcasting Corporation) in South Bend, Indiana. Following the live show, they taped an additional set of songs.
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