Description
The self-titled debut album by the American arena rock band Idle Cure was released on Frontline Records in October 1986, distributed by The Benson Company. The album was engineered by Bill Baumgart assisted by Dave Jahnsen and Kirt Shearer at Asylomar Studios in Huntington Beach, California; with Baumgart producing.
The band was one of the early success stories for Frontline Records. Mark Ambrose and Steve Shannon played together for several years in the Christian band Sojourn. It was herein the seeds were planted for Idle Cure, actually a name selected from a name search contest conducted by their label. (Prior to recording with Idle Cure, Steve Shannon had contributed lead vocalist for a band called Eden, a track featured on the 1983 sampler album Back to the Rock #2. Eden also featured guitarist Chuck King, later of Shout fame, who actually also contribute guitar on Idle Cure’s debut effort.) In 1986, Idle Cure launched their initial self titled album on the then newly formed Frontline Records. The response was both remarkable, and immediate. «Breakaway» was a runaway hit on major Christian Rock radio stations, and «Take It» was a number one ballad almost nationwide.
By 1990 Idle Cure was dominating rock radio and «Pray» was the No. 1 song for the entire year. In spite of the fact that the band never did any major tours, the radio success on several fronts created a steady sub-culture of fans in the industry. Idle Cure went on to produce five studio projects, and a compilation disc.
Christian music should be better than mainstream music because Christians are tapped into the love of the Creator. At least that’s how the argument is usually presented. That said, the presenter of the argument usually goes on to claim the superior quality of today’s Christian music or to complain about the same. While in the last few years we have made great strides to lessen the “quality gap,” it is in the genre of rock ‘n’ roll that Christian music falls short in terms of talent, production, and even intent.
The debut release from Idle Cure, a hard-rocking quartet in the model of Night Ranger and Bon Jovi, sets a new standard which meets mainstream rock’s best head on. High production values, first-class AOR compositions (strong on melody and punchy guitars, but with none of the excesses of metal), and Steven Shannon’s distinctive vocals set Idle Cure apart from the current stable of fresh new rock talent. Idle Cure, with a tip of the hat to producer Bill Baumgart, is an aggressive and invigorating – if not particularly innovative – introduction to this fine band.
Rich, highly appealing, and commercially accessible, Idle Cure is sure to attract fans of Petra, Allies, and Stryper – and for good reasons. ‘Idle Cure’ delivers. [Brian Quincy Newcomb, CCM, February 1987]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/idle-cure/387309727)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Breakaway” – 4:00
A2. “Silent Hope” – 4:05
A3. “Take It” – 4:15
A4. “Feeling The Heat” – 4:08
Side Two
B1. “Come Back To Me” – 4:00
B2. “Overdrive” – 4:15
B3. “From The Heart” – 4:45
B4. “Come Alive” – 4:15
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Frontline Records. The album tracks “Take It” and “Breakaway” were released as a two-sided 7-inch 45RPM vinyl promo single, with the AC/CHR (Top 40) track on side A (the former track) and the Rock track on side B (the latter track). Remastered and re-issued on CD by Girder Records in 2019, under license from Frontline Records, as a part of the label’s Legends of Rock Series. (Packaged in a jewel case with 6 panel fold-out featuring lyrics and photos.)
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.