Description
Rick Elias and The Confessions is the debut album by the American singer and songwriter Rick Elias (January 7, 1955 – April 2, 2019), released on Alarma Records in 1990, an alternative imprint of Frontline Music Group, distributed by The Benson Company. The album was recorded by Dave Jahnsen at both Mixing Lab A and B in Garden Grove, California; with Rick Elias producing. Mixed by Jahnsen and Elias.
“I came to the backside of a deadboy’s street/ With an itch in my heart and a mean bad steak.” Those words introduce this stunning debut album, and as the chorus “this is my confession of love” comes crashing in, you realize you’re hearing one of the best debut recordings ever of a contemporary Christian artist.
Rick Elias writes gritty, real-world lyrics, and delivers them with a raw intensity that’s almost difficult to listen to at times. The Confessions back Rick with a smartly-played brand of acoustic rock that’s simultaneously retro and forward-looking. Comparisons have been drawn to both David Mullen and John Mellencamp, and another frame of reference might be Russ Taff‘s latest two releases.
Elias grew up fast and furious on the tough streets of San Diego, and is a veteran of the early ’80s music biz wars in L.A. Despairing that his band would ever get a break, Elias attempted to take his own life. Miraculously surviving an overdose. Rick committed his life and talents to Christ about five years ago. All of those experiences and more are crammed into this recording.
Many of the tracks feature lean, muscular band arrangements, usually built around acoustic guitar and mandolin. Like most troubador/poets, Elias will also be compared to Dylan, but Elias borrows more from Dylan’s “Highway 61” electric sound than any early works. Best among the rough’n ready band tunes are «Before The Fall», «The World Is Love» and «Miles and Miles», which sports an instantly memorable guitar riff. The recording closes with two somber tunes. «Stones» and «Stripped». The latter track pares the music back to the essential elements of Elias’ guitar, harmonica, and Rick’s passionate voice.
‘Rick Elias and the Confessions’ will no doubt make my Top 10 of 1990. If you only buy one record this month, buy this one! Elias has only his own high standards to better on future releases. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, May 1990]
For my money, the best debut atom of the year! A singer/ songwriter who possesses a voice which sounds like his vocal chords have been pickled in brine, a sense of the dynamic which makes him whoop and holler one second and slur and drawl in Lou Reed style surrealism the next. The opener is a full tit rocker with a Stones-style chorus while the lyrics are starkly confessional though eschewing the obvious (I particularly like “I crawled into your arms with a guilty smile”). By track two the acoustic folk rock sound which is Rick’s true forte establishes itself. The Confessions are a sensational band, blending mandolins and bluesy harmonies with power chords and charged drumming. And if this isn’t enough the lyrics bite deep. “I walked the road for many miles a burden on my back/ Past every trench man and every curve, rode every twisted track”. Songs from the heart that exude new found joy poured into a world weary life. Don’t let this album pass you by. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, September 1990]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/rick-elias-and-the-confessions/386681421)
CD tracklist:
01. Confession Of Love – 4:04
02. Streets Of Rome – 4:13
03. Miles And Miles – 3:21
04. Before The Fall – 3:33
05. Someday – 6:14
06. The Word Is Love – 4:41
07. Riot (Comin’ On) – 3:20
08. Without One Word – 5:58
09. Stones – 5:13
10. Stripped – 4:00
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Alarma Records. Rick Elias’ two first albums, Rick Elias and The Confessions and Ten Stories, were re-issued by KMG Records in 1998 as a 2 CD Set containing all the songs from both albums. When this re-pressing was sold out, KMG Records opted to re-package it with new artwork rather than re-manufacture the 2 CD Set. However, to keep costs down they switched to a ‘2-for-1’ re-issue, cramming 15 of the 20 songs onto one disc, entitled Confessions of A Ragamuffin Man.
CREDITS. Produced by Rick Elias. Recorded at Mixing Lab A and B. Engineered Dave Jahnsen with additional engineering by Bill Baumgart. Mixed by Dave Jahnsen and Rick Elias. Mastered by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering. Art Direction by Ed McTaggart. Layout by Joe Potter. All songs written by Rick Elias, except tracks 3 and 6 co-written by Craig Krampf.
Musicians: Rick Elias (Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards), Linda Elias (Vocals, Keyboards, Percussion), Marc Intravaia (Mandolin, Guitars, Vocals), Danny O’Hanlon (Bass), Bob Sale (Drums, Percussion).
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