Description
You Oughta Know by Now is the sophomore and final album by the American all-female pop/rock band Rachel Rachel, released on DaySpring Records in 1993, a division of Word. The album was produced by Billy Smiley of White Heart fame.
On its sophomore effort, Rachel Rachel completes the metamorphosis begun on its Billy Smiley-produced debut by becoming the distaff version of White Heart; not surprising, since Smiley, one of the chief architects of the White Heart sound, returns at the production helm. The similarities to that band include: multiple lead vocalists (Cheryl Jewel and guitarist Heli Sterner), razor-sharp harmonies (courtesy Jewel, Sterner and keyboardist Brynn Beltran), Sterner’s crunchy guitar sound (which, laced with acoustic rhythms, stops just short of hard rock) and the lock-step performances of bassist Jennifer York and drummer Sparky (aren’t drummers always called something like Sparky?) which propel without overpowering the band. ‘You Oughta Know By Now’ sports no high profile cover song like Kansas‘ «Carry On, Wayward Son», but Rachel Rachel rises to the occasion, doing a fin job writing or co-writing nine of the 10 tunes.
The kick-off track, «Somebody to Love Me», displays the vulnerability and transparency which are a hallmark of Rachel Rachel’s lyrics. With a disarming catch in her throat, Jewel sings “I am the lonely one… I’ve such fragile heart… my desire burns like a raging fire.” Of course, the band doesn’t advocate giving in to those raging hormones; rather, Jewel and Co., confidently states “Lord, I know you hear my plea/and I know Your are gonna find somebody to love me.” Next up, it’s «Dust to Diamonds», one of the album’s better rockers, which bears more than a little resemblance to vintage Heart. Rachel Rachel pounds out the story of a soul that’s adrift in the desert, until the Lord begins to shape those grains of sand into diamonds. The atmospheric title track follows, giving Heli Sterner a chance to shine on vocals as well as guitar. Even though it’s the sole non-original tune, it dovetails with the themes of submission and rededication which are woven throughout the album.
The album’s first genuinely pretty moment comes on the “unplugged” «Only Heaven Knows». The subtle mandolin and percussion rhythms perfectly complement the lovely harmonies and the gentle reminder that there is someone who has experienced (and paid for) each of our hurts and sorrow. Dann Huff then uncorks a couple of brilliant solos on «In Your Arms», which is, oddly enough, the only track on which Sterner sings lead. Huff’s agitated fretwork not only over shadows Sterner’s playing, it provides one of the album’s musical high points; not a good sign when you’re trying to establish a rep as a self-contained unit.
Rachel Rachel veers dangerously toward the sweet side of pop on «You’ll Never Know»; only the fact that it’s one of Beltran’s best lyrics keeps the song from slowing the album’s momentum. But one is more than willing to overlook that faux pas as the show-stopping «Lay Down Your Head» comes blasting in. The results of extensive roadwork are most evident on this tune, which features perhaps the best overall arrangement on the album – a seamless vocal blend, an insistent York/Sparky groove, a soulful Beltran organ part and a scorching Sterner guitar solo. «You are Always There» follows, sporting another semi-unplugged arrangement. Again, spot-on harmony vocals are prominently featured, along with one of the album’s most perceptive lyrics – “It’s hard to see that pain has a purpose/When you’re imprisoned by the walls of this life.” The band then gets its licks in on one last rocker, «You Comfort Me», which features Sterner on a lyrical, Neal Schon-styled solo. That song or «You are Always There» would’ve nicely wrapped up the album; instead, what is possibly the weakest tune, «Time (I Will Still Love You)» is put in the clean-up spot. Though Jewel has developed impressively as a songwriter and vocalist, she doesn’t give herself much of a text to deliver. For all the positive similarities Rachel Rachel bears to road mates White Heart, this track reveals the key weakness both bands share – in trying to be both a rock and pop band, the continuity of the album suffers (somewhat correctable by a programmable CD player). These ladies are capable of excelling at either style; perhaps they should consider concentrating their skills in a specific area. [Bruce A. Brown, March 1993]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/you-oughta-know-by-now/1167850908)
CD tracklist:
01. Somebody to Love Me – 3:48
02. Dust to Diamonds – 4:43
03. You Oughta Know By Now – 5:18
04. Only Heaven Knows – 4:32
05. In Your Arms – 4:43
06. You’ll Never Know – 4:08
07. Lay Down Your Head – 4:33
08. You Are Always There – 4:02
09. You Comfort Me – 3:08
10. Time (I Will Still Love You) – 4:24
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by DaySpring Records.
A full-page advertisement for Rachel Rachel’s You Oughta Know By Now was featured on the back cover of the March 1993 issue of CCM Magazine.
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