Transition

Description

Transition is the sole album by the American folk trio Bill, Dave and Mary, self-released on Bridge Productions in 1970. The album was recorded by Larry Benson at Benson Sound Studio in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and was produced, written, and arranged by band member Bill Landers.

The trio features Bill Landers (guitar, harpsicord, piano, organ, and bass), Dave Smith (percussion and harmonica) and Mary Mauldin. Two new members joined in 1971 and the group was renamed Dove. Billy Ray Hearn of Word Records heard the group and signed them to Myrrh, a brand new Word label at the time, and Dove’s self-titled debut album was released in 1972.

From the cover you might guess this trio to be a traditional ‘60s folk outfit, but Bill Landers, Dave Smith and Mary Mauldin have a sound that points more toward your classic ‘70s Jesus folk-rock period. And if they sound in particular a lot like the early Myrrh group Dove, that could be because all three members would later go on to form that group. Transition is a nice introduction their welcome blend of jangly upbeat folk-rock, light rock and moody ballads. The acoustic guitar framework and friendly guy/gal harmonies are enhanced with such instruments as organ, piano, soft electric guitar, bass and percussion. «Stop And Look Around», «Why Do You Hesitate», «That’s Alotta Love», «The Wrong Thing», «There’s Gotta Be More», four more. Custom project out of Oklahoma (no relation to the California Bridge label). [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th Edition]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “The Beginning” – 3:14
A2. “Stop and Look Around” – 2:39
A3. “All of My Life” – 3:04
A4. “Why Do You Hesitate” – 1:55
A5. “That’s Alotta Love” – 3:37

Side Two
B1. “Now or Never” – 5:56
B2. “The Wrong Thing” – 2:45
B3. “There’s Gotta Be More” – 3:11
B4. “I Cannot Deny It” – 2:50

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[youtube_sc url=”qckbt96qEpg” title=”Bill, Dave and Mary – Transition (Full Album)” autohide=”1″ rel=”0″]

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My name is David Smith and I was a member of this group. The group started out as Bill and Dave and then later formed into Bill, Dave, and Mary after we started traveling with an evangelist named Richard Hogue.

Bill and I knew each other before we were saved. I received Christ in 1967. I was at the service when Bill met Christ in 1968 and from that point he and I began doing music together. We ended up performing in numerous Christian Coffee Houses around Oklahoma City and joined Richard to go into full time evangelism in October 1969. Shortly after that… Mary, who was along helping Richard and Marilyn with their personal needs on the road… was included in some of the songs we were doing at the Crusades at night. Eventually we changed the name to include Mary.

“Transition” was the first LP we produced. It was released in 1970-71. Bill and I actually had two 45s we released in 1969.

Two new members were found in Atlanta and they joined the group in 1971. That’s when we became Dove. While on the road… Billy Ray Hearn came to hear us in Jackson Mississippi and later we signed with Word’s new label Myrrh and released the first Dove album in 1972.

Last year we had a Dove reunion with 9 couples to reminisce about those wonderful days on the road. I am currently serving as the Executive Senior Pastor at Gateway Church based in Southlake Texas.

[David Smith said… a note on the internet, 2012]