Carrier

Description

Carrier is the solo debut album by the American singer, songwriter, and guitarist Billy Crockett, released on DaySpring Records in 1984, a division of Word. The album tracks were recorded at Bee Jay Recording Studios in Orlando, Florida; with overdubs recorded at Hummingbird Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. Additional recording at Bullet Recording in Nashville. Recorded by JB Baird – assisted by Andy DeGanahl, Bill Vermillion, Lynn Fuston, Randy Garmon, and Chris Hammond – with Neal Joseph producing. Mixed by JB, assisted by Phil Dihel, at MasterMix in Nashville. All songs co-written by Billy Crockett and Kenny Wood except track B2 co-written by Crockett and Niles Borop and track B5 co-written by Crockett and Claire Cloninger.

This genial album gets my nod as best newcomer of the year. Crockett is an accomplished guitarist (he’s an endorser for Yamaha Acoustics) and an imaginative songwriter. Long-time friend Kenny Wood provides most of the introspective lyrics. Crockett is fairly adventuresome within the confines of soft pop, and the results are never less than listenable.

«He Is the Wind» is a variation of the majestic «Genesis Hymn» and betrays a sure understanding of musical nuance and understatement. «The Way» is a multifaceted duet with the incomparable Teri DeSario, filled with lovely chord progressions and a delightful lack of cliches in a high church setting. The more pop-oriented tunes, especially «Love Waiting», «Stand and Fight», «Time to Begin Again» and «Like a Thief» all have hit potential.

But my favorite cut us the heavily Latin-flavored «Rhythm of God». Crockett once toured with Latin star Jose Luis Rodriguez, and his influence shows. The tune is a poly-rhythmic delight, in a milieu all but untapped in contemporary Christian music. Bravo! Let’s hear more of it. Let’s hear more of Billy Crockett while we’re at it. [Bob Darden, CCM, February 1985]

> Apple Music (part of the Portraits compilation)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Love Waiting” – 2:54
A2. “Stand And Fight” – 4:03
A3. “Time To Begin Again” – 4:18
A4. “Carrier” – 3:26
A5. “Say Hello” – 5:36

Side Two
B1. “Like A Thief” – 4:14
B2. “You’re So Special To Him” – 3:17
B3. “The Way” (feat. Teri DeSario) – 4:44
B4. “Rhythm Of God” – 2:57
B5. “He Is The Wind” – 4:49

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