Description
Thirst is a studio album by the American singer and songwriter Randy Stonehill, released on Brentwood Records in 1998, manufactured and distributed in the US by Provident Music Distribution. The album was produced by Rick Elias and arranged by Tom Howard. All songs written by Randy Stonehill, except “Little Rose” and “Everything You Know (Is Incorrect)” which were co-written with David Edwards, “Sleeping” co-written with Phil Madeira, and “Fire” co-written with Jimmy Abegg of Vector fame. “Hand Of God” features guest musician Stuart Adamson of Big Country fame on guitar.
One of the great ironies in life is the fact that we humans rarely acknowledge true beauty or greatness. Either we’re too rushed to notice, or we’re too consumed with mediocrity to recognize anything that defies it. A long list of artists, writers, scientists, humanitarians, ministers and just plain folk have embodied excellence never to be recognized in their lifetime. Van Gogh couldn’t give his paintings away. Abraham Lincoln was considered a failure as a president by his contemporaries. And don’t even get me started on how Billy Graham was originally overlooked for Time magazine’s “Most Important People of the 20th Century” nominee list. We miss more of the greats than we recognize.
But with Randy Stonehill, it’s not too late. Thirty years and 16 albums have come and gone, and he’s still here, cranking it out with excellence, compassion and a big dose of wit. His first album in almost four years, ‘Thirst’, is a fine follow-up to ‘Lazarus Heart‘ (1994) and convincing evidence that Stonehill is not only a living legend in Christian music, but a thriving one as well.
‘Thirst’ is a milestone because Stonehill’s lyrics stand up straight and refuse to flinch. No rehashing the oldies, no formulaic pop drivel, no dried up Christian cliches. «Hand of God» brings God’s providence to the table with all the honesty of a saint who knows firsthand what the providence of God looks like: “Can you embrace your sadness/ Taste the salt of your tears/ Start laughing when you cry/ ‘Cause it means that you’re alive/ And thank God you’re standing here”
Two songs, «Sleeping» and «Little Rose», written specifically for Compassion International (Stonehill has been a Compassion sponsor for 15 years), shout, “wake up, the world is hungry, and we’ve got the food!” These, like every cut on the album, get to the heart of the matter – who we are as humans, who we are in Christ and how Christ in us should impact others. Stonehill is a mesmerizing storyteller. He goes the extra mile lyrically to challenge the humorless toward an understanding of such deep theological concepts as clown-phobia and bear keeping. It’s all a wonderama with him.
Thirst is creatively produced by Rick Elias and boasts a bevy of incredible musicians: Tom Howard, Jerry McPherson, Phil Madeira and Stuart Adamson (from the Scottish band, Big Country), among other greats. The whole project oozes an organically smooth sound and rich, telling textures. And Stonehill’s lilting tenor has never sounded better. So, here’s your next best chance at a brush with greatness. Don’t wait for Stonehill to show up in some The History of Christian Music, written by a snotty-nosed music critic who thinks he knows it all. Gather ye rosebuds while ye may… [Melissa Riddle, CCM, May 1998]
Welcome back to one of Christian music’s pioneers and major songwriting talents! This album has been long overdue, from making ‘Born Twice‘, Randy Stonehill’s Jesus rock debut in 1971, through to this release, Stonehill has made some great records in his career and also been responsible for some real stinkers. Thankfully ‘Thirst’ has all the hallmarks of a GREAT Stonehill album. A huge organic rootsy production from Rick Elias. which allows Stonehill to rock out and then express his sensitive side. The album opens with the stonking «Hand Of God» featuring some wonderful trademark big country style bagpipe guitar from Stuart Adamson – absolutely awesome! «Fire» creates an intense vibe with Stonehill singing spiritual poetry over an almost eastern sounding string thing combined with some edgy rootsy instrumentation, «Sleeping» is warm and whimsical built on Stonehill’s acoustic guitar, some splendid Phil Madeira organ and Tom Howard‘s wonderful piano and delicate siring arrangement. Lyrically, it’s a gentle whispered wake up to stir a sleeping soul to reach out to make a difference in the world. Beautiful and sad. «Father Of Lights» and «Baby Hates Clowns» both have that trademark Stonehill rockin’ groove rifforama thang. Lyrically the former is a compelling celebration of being alive and the latter? Well, where would we be on a classic Stonehill recording if there wasn’t one song which brought a smile to your face? «Angels Wings» however is one of the key songs on the album juxtaposing the freedom and grace God brings with the accusations of Satan echoing the eternal internal battle we all face. But there is an understated power when Stonehill sings the line. “And though Satan was shouting/ He could never make a sound.” A familiar Stonehill theme appears in «Every Heartbeat Is A Prayer» where Randy encourages us once more to seize every second and turn it into a significant moment before God. «Lonely House» is a heartbreaking description of a fragile marriage relationship where communication has ceased. Sung over Tom Howard’s piano and strings. Randy pulls out every nuance of emotion from the lyrics in a moving solo vocal. Closing the album. «Little Rose» is a touching song based on Randy’s work with Compassion and featuring some Madeira accordion and «Everything You Know (Is Incorrect)» is a rock’n’roll slide guitar test to end the album on the up! Unless of course you count Stonehill’s impromptu cabaret style hilarious rendition of «Keeper Of The Bear». I laughed out loud! I’ve waxed long and lyrical but simply put, this is the best Stonehill album in more than a decade. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, June 1998]
CD tracklist:
01. Hand Of God – 4:15
02. Fire – 5:52
03. Sleeping – 4:11
04. Father Of Lights – 4:11
05. Angel’s Wings – 5:24
06. Baby Hates Clowns – 4:03
07. Every Heartbeat Is A Prayer – 5:03
08. Lonely House – 3:32
09. Little Rose – 5:17
10.1 Everything You Know (Is Incorrect) – 3:23
10.2 Untitled
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Brentwood Records. Track 10 contains a hidden track at the end, “Keeper of the Bear”. Available at Bandcamp: https://randystonehill.bandcamp.com/album/thirst
I should probably preface this with a little background to give you an idea of where this review is coming from. I heard my first Randy Stonehill song sometime around 1972 when he was featured in the World Wide Pictures film Time to Run. After my begging, my parents relented and bought me the 7-inch EP from the film. Years later, when I discovered Christian music in college, I recognized Stonehill’s voice and have loved his music ever since.
Having said that, let me assure you that I’m not a “blind” fan. While I tend to find something on each record that I really like, some albums have definitely been weaker than others. Some were great when released and stood the test of time; others sounded great upon release but sound dated today. Most hold a dear place in my collection, though. One thing I find consistent is his songwriting, his ability to put aspects of life and love into words and lovely melodies.
One of Stonehill’s well-known tunes is «Turning Thirty». Interestingly, now that several years have passed since writing that one, his musical career is close to turning thirty. Few artists last this long, and those that do tend to lapse into a sort of comatose adult contemporary wasteland. Not Randy Stonehill. Thirst (his 18th release, including two compilations) finds his writing as sharp as ever.
Stonehill recently remarked that this album could have been released a year or so earlier, but that he wanted it to be the best it could be. He and manager Ray Ware decided he would continue writing in order to record only the best songs. The result is Thirst, an album worth the nearly four year wait.
On The Wild Frontier, Uncle Rand gave us just a hint that he liked the band Big Country. Now, on Thirst, we find his admiration of the band continues. The album kicks off with Celtic rocker a la Randy, «Hand of God», complete with guitar solos from Big Country’s Stuart Adamson. Turns out producer Rick Elias knew Adamson and asked him to play on the record. Stonehill tells the story with nearly the excitement of a teenage girl swooning over Hanson.
Snaring Adamson isn’t the only talent Elias brought to the record. He’s garnered quite the acclaim for his own albums and for his work on the film That Thing You Do, and in character, his production here is crisp and clean, letting the artist shine through without putting a producer’s stamp on the music.
Elias doesn’t just create a wall of sound here, but allows the talents of individual players to color the mix, adding their signature touches. Tammy Rogers (violin), Phil Madeira (organ and accordion), and Tom Howard (piano) all subtly add their own special touch to the record. These sonic nuances make repeated listening a pleasure.
The production here is reminiscent of Stonehill’s last studio release, Lazarus Heart, just not as smooth. Pardon my Martha Stewart-ism, but that’s a good thing. The idea was to take the sound of Lazarus Heart, which proved to be radio-successful, and add a fan-satisfying edge. The result is not a hard-rocking album nor an acoustic record either – more of an organic rock album with a little sheen. It’s like a cross between Lazarus Heart and The Wild Frontier, with a bit of Wonderama thrown in for good measure.
Of the ten songs (not including the bonus Uncle Rand tune «Keeper of the Bear»), only one didn’t grab me, and maybe that one just goes over my head. Or maybe it’s just that I find the phrase “Everything you know is incorrect” to be awkward. The lyrics seem clever enough, hearkening back to «Teen King», but something about the song just doesn’t work for me.
Ahhh, but the other songs… they work great for me, including the Elvis Costello-esque «Baby Hates Clowns». If you’re looking for deep spiritual insight, this isn’t the song to dissect, but if you like fun tunes and Stonehill’s lyrical turns, this is the one.
Two songs are inspired by Uncle Rand’s work with Compassion International. Co-written with Phil Madeira, who adds haunting organ work to the song, «Sleeping» is a beautiful wake-up call to the Church:
I see the world as a perfect place
No tears, no fears, no dizzy fall from grace
No hungry mouths
No one in pain
No naked orphans in the rain
But I was only sleeping…If I don’t wake up, who will? «Little Rose», co-written by David Edwards, relates the story of a little girl Stonehill sponsored and met through Compassion. He relates his fatherly feelings toward her and how sponsoring her changed not only her life but his as well.
Upon my first listening, I was struck by the song «Lonely Hours». Musically, it’s reminiscent of Amy Grant’s recording of «If These Walls Could Speak». Lyrically, it’s a hymn of relational confession between a man and his wife longing for communication. It’s almost heartbreaking to listen to:
Here we are in the lonely house
We can’t talk about it
Because the anger might come out
Here we stay crying hidden tears
Days turn into years
In the lonely houseThere’s almost a longing theme to the record, a gentle ache in the heart maybe. Thirst is not a sad album, but there is a thirst evident. These are the songs of a man who knows his home is not here, that his destination is somewhere so much greater. He thirsts for this Destination. In «Fire», Stonehill sings “I did not know my savage thirst until You lead (sic) me to Your well.” «Angel’s Wings» is a song about the great day when we do get home.
Even in the thirst though, there is an assurance that he’s not left here alone. «Every Heartbeat is a Prayer», «Fire», and «Hand of God» remind us that God is faithful to complete the work begun in us. They encourage us that even in the trials and longings, God is present. «Father of Light» is a song of thanksgiving for all the good gifts that come from God.
Still longing for the Paradise he sang of more than twenty years ago, Randy Stonehill continues to make my own journey a little brighter. Old fans will find much to savor here, and hopefully new fans will find someone who thirsts just as they do. [Ed Rock, The Phantom Tollbooth, 1998]
CREDITS. Produced by Rick Elias. Recorded at The Whitehouse, at The Carport, at Buya Studio, and at Sound Stage Studios, by Russ Long, assisted by Chris Grainger and Tara Wilson. Additional engineering by Gregg Jampol. Mixed by J.R. McNeely at Sound Kitchen, assisted by Mat5t and Todd Gunnerson. Mastered by Hank Williams at MasterMix. Strings Arranged by Tom Howard. Design by Shawn Stewart (For Provident Music Group). Art Direction by Jimmy Abegg and Scott Hughes. Illustration by Jimmy Abegg. Photography by Ben Pearson. Executive-Producers: Dean Diehl and Ray Ware.
Musicians: Randy Stonehill (Vocals, Guitar), Tom Howard (Piano), Phil Madeira (B3 Organ, Accordion), Tammy Rogers (Violin), Jerry McPherson (Guitar, Banjo, Dulcimer – Indian Lap, Omnichord – Portachord), Rick Elias (Guitar), Stuart Adamson (Guitar on track 01), Jackie Street (Bass), Matt Pierson (Bass), Bob Sale (Drums), Chris McHugh (Drums), Russ Long (Percussion). Backing Vocals: Linda Elias, Rick Elias, Tom Howard. Strings by Nashville String Machine.
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