Description
The Statue Makers of Hollywood is the third and final studio album by the American rock combo The Alpha Band, released on Arista Records in 1978. The album was recorded by Larry Hirsch and band member T-Bone Burnett at Wally Heider Recording Studio and Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, California; with Hirsch and the band producing. Background vocals and choir arranged by Andraé Crouch. Horns arranged by Darrell Leonard.
The Alpha Band features three members; T-Bone Burnett, Steven Soles, and David Mansfield. Additional core musicians on this album are David Miner on bass and Bill Maxwell (later of Koinonia fame) on drums, who Burnett had known since teenage. Featuring background vocals by Andraé Crouch, Bili Thedford, James Felix, Jessy Dixon, and Perry Morgan. When The Alpha Band disbanded in 1979, all three members began producing albums for other artists.
The Statue Makers of Hollywood, The Alpha Band – Arista AB 4179.
With their two previous LPs, the Alpha Band has become favorites of FM programmers and their latest set should be no disappointment. The group’s sound is difficult to categorize with its Indian and exotic influences but «Rich Man» should grab some attention. [Record World, May 13, 1978 (Record World Album Picks)]
In 1978, two years and two albums after being touted as the next big thing by Clive Davis, the Alpha Band was in its final days. For its swansong, the Christian leanings of Spark in the Dark, which was “humbly offered in the light of the triune God,” became more overt, while their sound became more eccentric. And with a pair of commercial flops under their belt, there was little chance that the group’s idiosyncrasies and pious rants were going to reverse the trend this time out. But, this band – especially T-Bone Burnett – was seemingly on a mission, both musically and philosophically. The opener, the Old Testament synopsis «Tick Tock», sets the stage, with its tales of temptation, sinners, false idols, wrath, and even mercy. The condemnation of this «Perverse Generation» (a song title) that follows over the next three tracks may appear overly moralistic and harsh, but in the context of cuts like «Tick Tock», the repentant «Back in My Baby’s Arms Again», and Hank Williams’ joyful «Thank God», it seems merely overzealous. Lyrical content aside, this may be the band’s most interesting, challenging, and eclectic music yet. «Rich Man» is awash in percussion, horns, and gospel voices, with David Mansfield’s mandolin darting in and out, while Steven Soles’ «Two Sisters» has the feel of a Middle Eastern folk dance, and the two songs that close the album are rooted in Memphis and Nashville. The unifying factor throughout is Mansfield, whose violin, mandolin, dobro, and guitar bring a surprising cohesiveness to Statue Makers. the Alpha Band seemed to know that this would be their last hurrah, and figured that they might as well make some noise on the way out. This is the sound of a band stretching its creative legs for the last time. [Brett Hartenbach, AMG]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-statue-makers-of-hollywood/1309301893)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Tick Tock” – 8:03
A2. “Rich Man” – 7:05
A3. “Mighty Man” – 5:11
Side Two
B1. “Perverse Generation” – 4:34
B2. “Two Sisters” – 3:38
B3. “Two People In The Modern World” – 3:59
B4. “Back In My Baby’s Arms Again” – 4:05
B5. “Thank God” – 3:34
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Arista Records. Re-issued by Acadia in 2005 as a part of the 2CD The Arista Albums.
CREDITS. Produced by Larry Hirsch and The Alpha Band.
Musicians: Steven Soles (Piano, Vocals), J.H. Burnett (Guitar, Vocals), David Mansfield (Guitar, Resonator Guitar [Dobro], Mandolin, Organ, Violin), Jim Gordon (Baritone Saxophone), David Miner (Bass), Billy Maxwell (Drums), Everett Bryson (Percussion), Lee Pastora (Congas, Percussion). French Horn: Alan Robinson, David Duke, Gale Robinson. Harmony Vocals: Cindy Bullens. Backing Vocals: André Crouch, Bill Thedford, James Felix, Jessy Dixon, Perry Morgan. Choir: Christ Memorial Church Of God In Christ Radio Choir.
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