Description
The sophomore and self-titled album by the American rock band Vision was released on Heartland Records in 1985, distributed by The Benson Company. The album was produced and engineered by Greg McNeily.
Vision features David Jinright, Rocco Marshall, Mike Maple, Leonard Jones, as well as Billy Powell of Lynyrd Skynyrd fame.
I can’t remember a year with more promising debut albums, and now add ‘Vision’ to the 1985 list. Vision features three superior soloists: guitarist Rocco Marshall, fiddler Leonard James, and pianist Billy Powell (once of Lynyrd Skynyrd). Together they’ve created «Standing on the Rock», one of the best, most uncompromising hard rock tunes of this or any year. It’s a showcase for Marshall’s rough-edged vocals and for the band’s muscular, sinewy attack.
Nothing else on ‘Vision’ quite matches the magic of «Standing on the Rock» – although the good-time rock of «You’re the One» comes close. Still, virtually every song, especially on side two, has something to recommend it. These guys have an up-front, no-holds-barred Christian message, a savage rock attack, and the best musicians this side of Kerry Livgren and A.D. If a number of the songs lack focus and readily identifiable hooks, it’s not for lack of enthusiasm or talent. And, by itself, «Standing on the Rock» is almost woth the price of admission. [Bob Darden, CCM, December 1985]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Dynamos” – 4:10
A2. “Lord Is My Joy” – 3:45
A3. “Old Man” – 3:19
A4. “Dedicated” – 3:40
A5. “Soldier’s Song” – 3:40
Side Two
B1. “Standing On The Rock” – 4:25
B2. “Don’t Say It’s Over” – 3:54
B3. “Psalm 23” – 3:52
B4. “You Are My Only Lord” – 3:24
B5. “You’re The One” – 3:17
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Heartland Records. Re-issued on CD by Retroactive Records’ sub-label Born Twice Records in 2010.
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The band recorded their southern/progressive rock masterpiece debut Mountain In the Sky (1984) in Pat Travers’ studio. The ’84 Vision release features Lynyrd Skynyrd members, Leon Wilkeson (bass) and Billy Powell (piano), who were trying to cope with life after the tragic 1977 plan crash that killed three members of Skynyrd (and injuring the others) while the band was at the height of its popularity. Powell would tell the story of how Wilkeson had been pronounced dead at the scene when a “spirit-filled nurse laid hands on him and raised him from the dead.” Vision was where both men would find further healing, strength and help from the Almighty.
Powell would continue playing with Vision after the band signed with Heartland Records for a sophomore self-titled release in 1985. Five tracks from the debut would be completely re-recorded from the ground up, with significant differences in arrangement and production now that they were with a major label. Five other newly penned songs were also recorded, one of which was the anthemic «Standing On the Rock» which Heaven’s Metal Magazine editor Doug Van Pelt would go on to claim was, “one of the absolute best Christian rock songs of the era.” Powell’s keyboards, which made Skynyrd’s sound one of the most distinctive in rock and roll history, help Vision’s sound resonate with power and authority. Marshall’s crystal-clear rock voice (a la Steve Perry or Dennis DeYoung) brings clarity to a powerful message that continues to inspire and move people today. Vision put together all the necessities of a truly great rock band, combining elements of art rock with solid guitar-driven stadium rock. Marshall and company created a unique sound all their own that still sounds good 25+ years after it was first recorded! With prime riff-rockers from start to finish, this album is rock perfection. Steve Holland (founder of Molly Hatchett) is quoted as saying, “Vision – I don’t need no stinking Vision. I’m blind as a bat as it is…but this old bat has great hearing! And that’s all you need to know with these guys! Wow!” Beyond the tragedy, the history, the raging guitars and the killer songs, ultimately, VISION is about an indomitable will; about survival of spirit; unbowed, uniquely American and stubbornly resolute. After 10 years of reissuing Christian rock and metal classics, this long out-of-print album has consistently been one of our most requested reissues. That’s why the label is thrilled to reissue it on CD for the very first time, remastered, with exclusive and insightful liner notes and 100% rock! For fans of Kansas, Styx, Mylon LeFevre and Lynyrd Skynyrd!
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