Nori Kelley – Breaking Point

Description

Breaking Point is the sophomore album by the American singer and songwriter Nori Kelley, independently released on Alliance Records in 1983.The album was recorded by Noah White and George Vinson at Spectrum Recording Services in Birmingham, Alabama; mainly during June and July 1983, and was produced and arranged by Nori Kelley. Mixed by Kelley and White.

Breaking Point was my second album, recorded in 1983. By this time, I had a little studio time under my belt, having done sessions for about 4 years. I was trying to go for something a little more commercial than Spring Rain, although compared to what was coming out in those days, it wasn’t very commercial at all!

I was joined primarily by my close friends (then and now!) Jim Pollard and George Vinson, although drummer John Susswell (Diana Ross, and husband of singer Candy Staton) played on some tracks, keyboardist Randy Harper (Ricky Skaggs Band) contributed, and lots of friends sang harmonies, including Debbie Handy, Barry Goss and the great guitarist Will McFarlane. Again, engineer Noah White manned the board and put up with all my stuff. This time around, I took the finished product up to Nashville for mastering at Masterphonics by mastering legend Ken Perry (Abbey Road, Pet Sounds!) [Nori Kelley]

Breaking Point by Nori Kelley is one of only three albums released so far on the non-profit Alliance Records, but unlike many efforts of small labels, it’s impressive and charming. Even the jacket shows originality and imagination.

Kelley’s singing has a rough, young quality like Roger McGuinn’s. His guitar playing stuns; on the closing After All it resembles the flowing, lyrical style of Dire Straits’ Mark Knopfler. Kelley, like Phil Keaggy, remains just as interesting on acoustic guitar.

Enough of comparisons. Kelley stands on his own and shows promise as a voice of wisdom. Here’s a Kelley dissection (co-written by Margaret Carpenter) of the “prosperity” doctrines so abundant in the church: “I placed myself above the call/ But is a servant greater than his master?/ This trap was just a license for my greed/ …Just to think I was rich and had no need.”

Will McFarlane of Muscle Shoals sings in the back-up chorus on three songs – a final, noteworthy recommendation. [Doug LeBlanc, CCM, March 1984]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “It’s Good to Know” – 3:48
A2. “Nothing Else to Do” – 5:54
A3. “(Love You) With My Life” – 3:57
A4. “Catrina’s Song” – 4:41
A5. “Prosperity” – 5:58

Side Two
B1. “The Jealous One”
B2. “The Story of Stories”
B3. “Not My Will, But Thine”
B4. “After All”

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