Description
Way to My Heart is the debut album by the American all-female pop/rock band Rachel Rachel, released on DaySpring Records in 1991, a division of Word. Also manufactured and distributed by Epic, a division of Sony Music. The album tracks were recorded by Ronnie Brookshire at The Bennett House in Franklin, Tennessee; with Billy Smiley of White Heart fame producing. Mixed by Jeff Balding at Mama Jo’s Recording Studio in North Hollywood, California (except track 4 mixed by Lee Groitzsch at OmniSound Studios in Nashville, Tennessee). Featuring a cover of “Carry On Wayward Son”, a song written by Kerry Livgren and originally recorded by his band Kansas.
Rachel Rachel, Christian music’s first all-girl rock band, makes a good first impression with its debut album. While some female-fronted bands seem to take too much of a hard rock/metal bite, and other drift into the land of light and fluffy “adult contemporary” pop, this band takes a wiser approach by finding a good middle ground. Another good reason why this band may endure is the quality mix and production. The mark of a good producer is that he or she brings out the artist’s strong points, and Rachel Rachel’s greatest strength lies in its vocals. The lead and vocal harmonies recorded here are downright beautiful.
The musicianship is exceptional as well. You’ll hear some acoustic picking («Outside Looking In»), some killer drum sounds, and even some great fretless bass («Papa Can You Hear Me?» and «In The River»). The big surprise on the album is a well-done version of the Kansas classic «Carry On Wayward Son». Another rocker, «Long Lost Love», maintains a beefy low-end groove, accented by some very tasteful lead guitar work.
The lyrics are soulful, honest, and many times directed to the Lord. “The heart of the Father rejoices when/ He uses our hands to reach out to them/ Father, oh use us again, again.” («Outside Looking In») Like its DaySpring label-mates Allies, this band suffers a bit from spreading its sound too wide. The rockers groove well, and the ballads are done tastefully, but the sugary-polished production of pop tunes like «I Will Stand By You» are drastic departures and extremes that keep the album from being a cohesive whole. Even with this criticism, it’s those fantastic vocal harmonies that keep bringing me back to this album for more. [Doug Van Pelt, CCM, June 1991]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/way-to-my-heart/1167863112)
CD tracklist:
01. There Ain’t Enough Love – 3:54
02. Carry On Wayward Son – 4:41
03. Outside Looking In – 3:31
04. In The River – 5:15
05. Something Of You – 4:32
06. The Way To My Heart – 4:18
07. Long Lost Love – 4:45
08. I Will Stand By You – 4:45
09. David’s Dance (The Shim Sham) – 3:46
10. Papa Can You Hear Me? – 5:16
11. Rain On Me – 5:40
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by DaySpring Records.
A full-page advertisement for Rachel Rachel’s debut album Way to My Heart was featured on the back cover of the April 1991 issue of CCM Magazine.
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