Growing

Description

Growing is an album by the American folk/soft-rock duo Gospel Seed (Gary Luttrell and Mike Moore), released on Myrrh Records in 1977, a division of Word. (The duo did also release a custom cassette tape in 1975.) A Limited Edition version of the album was issued with a promotional second disc – a sampler LP entitled Bringin’ A New Song. The album was produced and recorded by Buddy King for Pure Joy Productions at Buddy King Studios in Huntington Beach, California. Mixed by King and Richard Riccio. Basic tracks arranged by Jim Stipech with strings arranged Bill Baker. All songs co-written by Gary Luttrell and Mike Moore except track A3 written by Joseph A. Castro.

Gospel Seed is the duo of Gary Luttrell and Mike Moore who play acoustic guitar and autoharp respectively on this orchestrated-to-the-hilt folky pop/soft-rock production. Those string arrangements can tend to schmaltzify the whole affair, but other than that there are actually some fairly decent Seals & Crofts-like tunes in here. Titles like «The Singer’s Song», «The Fool», «A Colorful Little Tune» and «Count The Cost» all emerge more or less unscathed, pleasantly draped in the gentle jangly ambience of 12-string guitar. «Lines» is a decent rock track that includes snarling electric guitar and wah-wah. «Top Ten» pulls a Bob Larson move by pointing the finger at secular artist like Bob Dylan, The Beatles, CSN and Three Dog Night (apparently the prophet Jeremiah was not a bullfrog). Includes assistance from Don Gerber, Bill Batstone and Alex MacDougall. The guys also had two songs on the 1975 Jesus Loves You compilation, including an earlier version of «Lines». [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “The Singer’s Song” – 4:30
A2. “The Fool” – 3:40
A3. “Salvador” – 3:16
A4. “Top Ten” – 3:15
A5. “To The Father” – 4:20

Side Two
B1. “Lines” – 3:20
B2. “A Colorful Little Tune” – 2:00
B3. “The Vow” – 4:05
B4. “Count The Cost” – 2:40
B5. “The Last Song (We Ever Sing)” – 3:30

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Myrrh Records.

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CREDITS. Produced by Buddy King for Pure Joy Productions. Recorded by Buddy King at Buddy King Studios in Huntington Beach, CA. Mixed by Buddy King and Richard Riccio. Basic tracks arranged by Jim Stipech. Strings arranged by Bill Baker. Album Concept by Gary Luttrell and Mike Moore. Cover Illustration by David McCall Johnson. Photography by Ray Westbrook. All songs composed by Gary Luttrell and Mike Moore except track A3 written by Joseph A. Castro.

Musicians: Gospel Seed – Gary Luttrell (Vocals and Acoustic Guitar), Michael Moore (Vocals and Autoharp). Dave Garland (Acoustic Piano, Fender Rhodes Electric Piano, Clavinet, Wurlitzer, Organ), Jim Stipech (Piano), Marshall Otwell (Synthesizer), Don Gerber (Acoustic Guitar), Virgil Beckham (Electric Guitar), Bill Batstone (Bass), Colin Cameron (Bass), Alex MacDougall (Drums and Percussion).