Hear the Cryin’

Description

Hear the Cryin’ is an album by the American singer and songwriter Ray Repp, released on Myrrh Records in 1972, a division of Word. Also released in the UK. The album was recorded by Rod McBrien with Billy Ray Hearn producing. Hear The Cryin’ (catalog number MST-6509-LP) was the tenth album released on Myrrh Records, Word’s first – and at the time brand new – contemporary music label. All songs written by Ray Repp.

Featuring an ace session band including Kenny Asher on keyboards, Dave Spinozza, Sal DiTroia and Don Thomas on guitars, and a rhythm section consisting of Russell George on bass and Rick Marotta on drums, as well as Mike Mineri and Specs Powell on percussion (these were session musicians who had played on iconic albums by artists like Paul Simon, John Lennon, Billy Joel, James Taylor, Don McLean, and Van Morrison).

Ray Repp Rides – On College Circuit

Ray Repp, now on the college circuit, is new to Myrrh, but not to those involved in the music industry. Ray gained universal recognition in 1963 with his composition ‘Mass for Young Americans‘ He was one of the daring young to introduce the guitar mass to the Catholic Church. Since that time music has poured from his soul bringing songs like «Allelu», «To Be Alive», «Look Out Your Window» and many more. His career has led him to a variety of places. In 1968 he spent several months overseas with a concert tour and he then spent two years working and studying in Vienna, Austria. He is now living in New York where he is working full time on concert appearances and composing new material. [Billboard Magazine, October 14, 1972 (BILLBOARD SPOTLIGHTS Word, Incorporated.)]

After a brief hiatus Repp appeared with an album on of all places the Myrrh label. Hear The Cryin’ shows a more mature songwriter and lyricist expanding to a fuller folk-rock format that includes electric guitar and organ, while not abandoning the folk and pop style introduced on 1969’s Time Has Not Come True. The greater production values of the Myrrh label certainly don’t hurt either. Social and political concerns begin to take the spotlight on several songs, including «People Talkin’», «Go Find Yourself Another Poor Man», «The Typewriter Song» and the title track. «Tomorrow’s Sunshine» has a simple electric guitar solo enhancing its wistful folk/pop melody. Still some simple acoustic moods, as on the recorder-backed «Without You». Produced by Billy Ray Hearn. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Hear The Cryin'” – 3:03
A2. “Easy Like Mountains” – 3:50
A3. “People Talkin'” – 3:06
A4. “Tomorrow’s Sunshine” – 3:46
A5. “Never Be The Same Without You” – 3:39

Side Two
B1. “Go Find Yourself Another Poor Man”
B2. “Can’t Find Your Song”
B3. “The Typewriter Song”
B4. “Don’t Look Now”
B5. “Is That All The Wine?”