Firewind

Description

Firewind – a musical featuring a multi-artist lineup – was released on Sparrow Records in 1976. (“A contemporary dramatic musical depicting the times after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as recorded in Acts 1-4.”) The script was written by Terry Talbot while the songs of the musical were written by both Terry and his brother John Michael, with Jamie Owens contributing two songs. The album was recorded by a young Jonathan David Brown at Mama Jo’s Recording Studio in North Hollywood, California; with Terry Talbot and Al Perkins producing. Mixed by Perkins at Frog Shoes in Burbank, California.

Firewind features vocals by a multi-artist lineup including Barry McGuire, Keith Green, John Michael and Terry Talbot (a.k.a. The Talbot Brothers), as well as 2nd Chapter of Acts (Annie Herring, Nelly Ward, and Matthew Ward).

Jamie Owens wrote two tracks (“The Victor” and “New Jerusalem”, the latter co-written with Terry Talbot), though did not sing on the album since she at the time was an AFTRA member (The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) and this was a non-union album.

This early Sparrow release is a dramatic musical written by Terry Talbot together with John Michael Talbot and Jamie Owens, topically depicting the events in Acts 1-4. Between the brief narrations you’ll find performances by The Talbots, Barry McGuire, Keith Green and 2nd Chapter Of Acts. If you’re a fan of any of these folks then you should enjoy this album, as the musical style is very similar to their solo works. You might recognize some of these songs from other early Sparrow albums; John Michael Talbot’s «Would You Crucify Him» is basically the same as the original, while others like Matthew Ward’s performance of «The Victor» or Barry McGuire on «See The Vision» are obviously different. Of particular note is Keith Green’s introduction to the Jesus music scene on the gospel-energized «Walk And Talk». [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. Narration
A2. “New Jerusalem” – 3:24
A3. Narration
A4. “Make Me Worthy” – 3:24
A5. Narration (Wind & Fire)
A6. “Recitative” – 0:27
A7. “See The Vision” – 2:50
A8. Narration
A9. “The Victor” – 3:41

Side Two
B1. Narration
B1. “Would You Crucify Him” – 4:46
B1. Narration
B2. “Vision Reprise” – 0:57
B3. Narration
B4. “Sharing” – 3:36
B5. Narration
B6. “Walk And Talk” – 2:35
B7. Narration
B8. “Die For My Jesus” – 5:06
B9. “Reprise” – 1:19

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Sparrow Records. The first issue of the album did not feature all the artists’ names listed on the front cover as the re-issued version did.

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CREDITS. Produced by Al Perkins and Terry Talbot. Recorded at Mama Jo’s Recording Studio, North Hollywood, California, and engineered by Jonathan David Brown. Remixed by Al Perkins at Frog Shoes. Script written by Terry Talbot. Cover Art by Dan Clapp.

Musicians: Keith Green (Piano), Gabriel Katona (Organ, Synthesizer), Rick Vito (1st Lead Guitar), Al Perkins (2nd Lead Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar), Jim Fielder (Bass), David Diggs (Drums). Vocals by Anne Herring, Barry McGuire, John Michael Talbot, Keith Green, Matthew Ward, Nelly Ward, Terry Talbot. Narrator: David Young.