Description
Circle Slide is the sixth studio album by the American alternative rock band The Choir, released on Myrrh Records in November 1990, a division of Word. Also manufactured and distributed by Epic, a division of Sony Music. The album was recorded by Dave Hackbarth at Neverland Studios in Los Alamitos, California; and was produced and written by band members Derri Daugherty and Steve Hindalong with Hackbarth co-producing. Mixed by Steve Griffith of Vector fame. Background vocals provided by Steve Griffith on “A Sentimental Song”, by Mark Heard on “About Love”, and by Jerry Chamberlain and Sharon McCall on “Merciful Eyes”.
Circle Slide is the last album of what is considered The Choir’s “atmospheric trilogy” (Chase the Kangaroo and Wide-Eyed Wonder being the first and the second installments, respectively). During the band’s first decade in action – the 80s – their record label marketed The Choir aggressively as a CCM band, but the mainstream didn’t bite and Christian radio didn’t give them airplay either. By the end of 1990, the outlook was so bleak the band were thinking disbanding. When they went into the studio to record the last album on their contract, they approached it like they were approaching the final recording of its career. Since they weren’t having any kind of commercial success and at this point had nothing to lose, the band decided to simply make something that they wanted to make.
Circle Slide veers away from The Choir’s previous work thematically, because religion isn’t the focus. Some spiritual ideas and a couple Christian references appear, like the atmospheric title track that relays the songwriter’s (lyricist Steve Hindalong) childhood vision of heaven, but it doesn’t proselytize like some of their earlier work. The songs on the album are driven by romance and tragedy, and reflect a reality that, just like life, could be drenched in moments of perpetual melancholy. Circle Slide did resonate with people more than any of their previous releases and ended up winning multiple awards: Artist of the Year by Harvest Rock Syndicate, Favorite Alternative Band by CCM Magazine, as well as Album of the Year by Campus Life. Many consider the group the start of mainstream crossover, and the foundation for some of the genre’s biggest names, including Jars of Clay and Switchfoot.
Circle Slide also marks the first time that lyricist Steve Hindalong uses allusions to and actual lyrical snippets from his previous work. The title track refers to “children of time,” a song from Chase the Kangaroo, while “Blue Skies” alludes to both “Happy Fool” and “Robin Had A Dream” from Wide-Eyed Wonder. Hindalong would continue this trend on almost every subsequent release by The Choir.
In 1991 The Choir’s saxophonist/Lyriconist Dan Michaels released a solo album entitled Reveal.
John Smeby: How did the name and concept for Circle Slide come about?
Steve Hindalong: Circle Slide is an image of eternal joy. When I was 10 years old these gigantic slide parks opened. You would use a gunny sack and ride down this huge slide. We’d usually go with a youth group and at that time it was the greatest thrill of my life. You had to climb the stairs all the way up this huge slide – that was the hard part. I remember thinking if there was any way the slide could continue forever, it would be the greatest experience, so this was an image of continual joy for me. We like to contrast idealism and realism back to back in our songs. As Christian’s, we have the highest ideals, but we don’t live in heaven yet, we live here on earth. So the first song refers to the hope we have. The second song is a song about living here on earth and trying to understand perfect love. We try to reconcile the conflict of the idealism and the realistic life we live. «Laugh Loop» is an instrumental song, but I think it captures the tension of what I was trying to say with words. We were going to title it «Heaven and Earth». [The Rock, 1991, Vol 8, Issue 4]
The Choir’s music emerges on Circle Slide as a mature, and utterly authentic response to the music of the times – it’s hip but not trendy, atmospheric yet grounded in earthly rhythms, alternative yet locked into good songs, aggressive but rather than in your face, we’re invited along for a ride. Circle Slide is an artful expression of the pursuit of the American Dream, where a family longs for a home with a yard where children are safe to play and tire swing is a “circle slide” into eternity. It takes seriously human frailty and the prayer to “restore my soul,” asserting that grace meets us where we are. It stands as a classic in that the music matches the lyrics with haunting tones and timeless melodies, perfect for such a “sentimental song.” [Brian Q. Newcomb]
The Choir’s strongest effort and the last release of their so-called “atmospheric” period. They are at their most experimental here, with rich textures and lots of noise. «If I Had a Yard» features saxophonist Dan Michaels playing through a wah-wah pedal manipulated by Steve Hindalong as part of his drum kit. The title track is a brooding number with dense textures and a haunting one-minute instrumental interlude full of feedback and spacy sax lines. «About Love» examines the pain and awareness that comes with relationships and intimacy…the only thing wrong with this recording is that there is simply not enough of it. Clocking in at under 40 minutes, the music leaves the listener hungry for more. Lyrics are stronger than ever, often taking analytical or introspective examinations of ordinary subjects; a perfect libretto for this dark soundtrack. [Mark W. B. Allender, AMG]
With two long and vibrant pieces, The Choir opens its fourth Myrrh album, Circle Slide, establishing a unique and important perspective to which all previous efforts pointed and all future efforts will be judged. The title track opens with its lyrics of eternal release and freedom anchored by the ticking rhythms of time in Steve Hindalong’s superb precussive mix. “Children of time no more,” sings Derri Daugherty with thick harmonies, “Come on let’s ride the circle slide.” It’s an image of childhood play and endless bliss, a realization that the end of our lives in this mortal coil is really just the beginning.
«If I had a Yard» recognizes the current realities in which this band, still living from check to check, tour to tour, seeks to care for its growing families, with little security and no room for a swing set. Just as the first track juxtaposed buoyant lyrics with darker textures, here the starker realities are lifted by images of playing croquet and hosing down the kids, while the music rocks with an unrelenting determination. Strong drum and bass lines dominate, while Dan Michael’s weird sax, run through a wah-wah pedal, suggests the laughter of children and the crying of old age, or vica versa.
Daugherty’s vocals are strong and comfortable, while his guitar playing has developed into a second voice – unique and powerful – which in tone and delivery either supports or adds subtle nuance to the lyrics of Hindalong. «Sentimental Song» is some of Daugherty’s most direct playing, and it is a gentle and affirming love song. «About Love», with it’s re-covenanting marriage vow in «Tear For Tear» as an opening, is the band’s best pop/rock song ever – an undeniable hook and a straight-forward lyric of both the divine and human implictions of that complicated emotion.
«Merciful Eyes» and the closing «Restore My Soul» give the record its spiritual core, each asking God to return humanity to a state of wholeness and relationship. These lyrics link and give depth to the other tracks. But finally, it is the stripped back «Blue Skies» that is the most memorable and moving. Daugherty sings over only a simple drum beat and a gentle harmonica, as one hoping for the “Circle Slide” but unable to give his kids a yard to play in, asks God to be real and present – something akin to Elijah on the mountain top wondering if God will be heard in the still small voice.
The Choir’s music emerges on Circle Slide as a mature, and utterly authentic response to the music of the times – it’s hip but not trendy, atmospheric yet grounded in earthly rhythms, alternative yet locked into good songs, aggressive but rather than in your face, we’re invited along for a ride. This is the best record yet, from a truly significant band of artists. [Brian Q. Newcomb, CCM, November 1990]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/circle-slide/1507703343)
CD tracklist:
01. Circle Slide – 7:23
02. If I Had A Yard – 4:16
03. A Sentimental Song – 5:01
04. Merciful Eyes – 4:55
05. Tear For Tear – 1:22
06. About Love – 4:04
07. Blue Skies – 4:05
08. Laugh Loop – 1:45
09. Restore My Soul – 6:23
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Myrrh Records. Remastered and re-issued as a 25th Anniversary Edition by Galaxy21 Music in April 2015, including a commentary disc. A newly mastered version of Circle Slide was released on vinyl for the first time by Galaxy21 Music in June 2016, Kickstarter-funded (pressed on 180 gram Blue & White Swirl vinyl, housed in a gatefold jacket).
Circle Slide, Vinyl Edition Gatefold Cover Artwork, Galaxy21 Music 2016
Gatefold Cover, Inside
Blue & White Swirl vinyl
CREDITS. Produced by Derri Daugherty and Steven Hindalong. Co-produced by David Hackbarth. Recorded by Hackbarth at Neverland Studios, Los Alamitos, CA. Mixed by Steve Griffith for Clear Mix, except track 5, 7 and 8 mixed by Hackbarth. Mastered by Steve Hall at Future Disc, North Hollywood, CA. Art Direction and Design by John Flynn for F2 Design. Photography by Susan Goines. Associate Art Director: Roz. Management: Snyder & Emery. Executive Producer: Tom Willett. Lyrics by Steve Hindalong. Music by Derri Daugherty and Steve Hindalong.
Musicians: Track 01 – Derri Daugherty (Vocals, Guitars, Bass), Steve Hindalong (Drums, Percussion, Vocals), Dan Michaels (Saxophone). Track 02 – Derri Daugherty (Vocals, Guitars), Robin Spurs (Bass, Vocals), Dan Michaels (Wah Wah Saxophone), Steve Hindalong (Drums, Percussion, Wah Wah Pedal), Nancy said, “and purple flowers”, Emily laughed. Track 03 – Derri Daugherty (Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards), Steve Hindalong (Drums, Tambourine, Voice Keys), Dan Michaels (Lyricon), Steve Griffith (Vocals). Track 04 – Derri Daugherty (Vocals, Guitars), Robin Spurs (Bass), Steve Hindalong (Drums, Percussion, Vocals), Dan Michaels (Lyricon, Saxophone), Jerry Chamberlain and Sharon McCall (Vocals). Track 05 – Derri Daugherty (Vocals, Guitar). Track 06 – Derri Daugherty (Vocals, Guitars), Robin Spurs (Bass), Steve Hindalong (Drums, Tambourine), Dan Michaels (Saxophone), Mark Heard (Vocals). Track 07 – Derri Daugherty (Vocals, E-Bow, Acoustic Guitar), David Miner (Acoustic Bass), Steve Hindalong (Floor Toms, Harmonica), Robin Spurs (Vocals). Track 08 – Derri Daugherty (Guitars), Steve Hindalong (Motorcycle), Emily laughed. Track 09 – Derri Daugherty (Vocals, Guitars), Mike Sauerbrey (Bass), Steve Hindalong (Drums, Percussion), Dan Michaels (Lyricon), Robin Spurs (Vocals).
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