Sphinx

Description

The self-titled album by the disco project Sphinx – written by Alec R. Costandinos – was released on Raal in 1977, distributed by Polydor and Casablanca. The album was recorded by Peter Kelsey at Trident Studios in London, England; April 1977, with Alec R. Costandinos producing (considered by many as the king of the eurodisco sound in the 1970’s). Arranged and conducted by Don Ray. A Raal Production Paris.

Featuring Alan Hawkshaw and Raymond Donnez on keyboards, Chris Rae, Ricky Hitchcock, and Slim Pezin on guitars, a rhythm section consisting of bassist Mo Foster and drummer Barry De Souza, as well as Chris Karan, Frank Ricotti, and John Dean on percussion. Vocals provided by Doreen Murray (soloist), Joanne Stone, Madeline Bell, Stephanie De-Sykes, Sue Glover, Sunny Leslie, Vicki Brown, and The Ambrosian Singers. Brass by John Watson Brass Section and strings by Pat Halling String Ensemble.

There are plenty of Christian albums out there with one or two token disco songs (and even classifying those as “disco” is iffy). Then there’s that Hallelujah Disco LP – nice r&b/gospel but miles from being the stuff of John Travolta. Then there’s this wonderful obscurity which must be heard to be believed. You wondered if it existed and here it is: the definitive bona fide Christian disco LP!!! And as far as I know it just might be the only one that rings authentic to the era of mirror balls, platform shoes, and leisure suits. Given that disco albums were huge studio productions and the genre’s sensual reputation it’s no wonder there’s slim pickins in the Christian camp. While I can’t guarantee the spirituality of all involved in this project (keep in mind it’s the same label as Kiss, Donna Summer and The Village People), there’s nothing sacrilegious in the presentation. If fact everything about it seems reverently done – even the cover painting (Giotto’s ‘Kiss Of Judas’) and the back photo of the holy land attest to that. There are only two songs, each a side-long dance-a-thon, one topically covering Judas’ betrayal of Christ (19 minutes), the other the life of Simon Peter (17 minutes). Plush orchestration, punchy strings, wah-wah guitar thwacks, power horns, soaring female choruses, persistent thump clocking in at 130 bpm – all the classic ingredients for that dated but endearing nostalgic seventies sound. Even if you hate disco you’ll get a kick out of this. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th Edition]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Judas Iscariot” – 19:16

Side Two
B1. “Simon Peter” – 17:05

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