Wake Up…

Description

Wake Up is the second gospel album by the American singer, songwriter, and guitarist Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad fame, released on Frontline Records in 1989. The album was recorded by Bradley Jones with Dave Jahnsen and Don Pushies at Alliance Recording Co., with Mark Farner producing. Mixed at The Mixing Lab, Garden Grove, California.

You’ve got to respect a guy who finds a winning sound and stays with it. And there are millions of Grand Funk fans, not to mention hundred of “classic” rock stations who think that Mark Farner has a great sound. ‘Wake Up’, modeled after 1987’s Frontline Records debut, ‘Just Another Injustice‘, takes the clean hooks and memorable guitar-oriented pop rock that worked so well for Farner in his mainstream heyday and tacks on standard issue Jesus lyrics.

One could take issue with the sometimes comically simple lyrics and rhyme schemes (“If it wasn’t for Grace/ I just might be in their place/ And if it wasn’t for Love/ The love that only comes from the Lord above”) or the use of high brow theological terms in a pop song (“Jesus came for the remission of sins”), but Petra took the cake on both accounts in their 1983 song «Not By Sight» when they rhymed “justification” with “tribulation”. The bottom line is that Farner’s lyrics are no more sappy than the things he wrote for Gran Funk, and here they carry the message of God’s love in Christ Jesus, springing from a sincere desire to reach non-believers. Clearly Farner has the best of intentions.

The key to Mark Farner’s current ministry and career focus is the continued interest in his former band, which gives him a few songs in his live set of hits and oldies to share his experience of salvation. His guitar still ring true, and when he connects the right licks to the right chorus and comes up with a classic sound combination as in «Love Power», one tends to pass over the weaknesses for the sheer joy of its strengths. [Brian Quincy Newcomb, CCM, November 1989]

Some of the rules for being a feisty rock critic is to glance at the cover (peeled orange in the shape of the United States on the globe, wish I had an orange right now), listen to a song or two («Wake Up…», simplistic lyrics and a simple arrangement of guitars, bass, and drums that has no discernable melody; «Come To Me», boring Top 40 single that lacks punch and power), write review. Hey! I thought I’d already done that.

With all fairness to Mark Farner and his latest release ‘Wake Up…’ , I’d listened to the whole platter.

I’ve heard better crunching guitars and more excitement on old Grand Funk albums.

‘Wake Up…’ may seem to be an improvement over Farner’s debut ‘Just Another Injustice‘ since he himself has produced the disc, replacing the pop-schmaltz man Bill Baumgart, but Famer has no drive and his songs speak of the usual subjects found on most ccm records. Fill in your own lyrics to such tunes as «Wake Up…», «Come To Me», «If It Wasn’t For Grace», «Like I Was Before», and don’t forget to rhyme. The songs on ‘Wake Up…’ are either trite or the typical testimony tune. No originality here.

It’s pretty funny how Christian record companies grab any former secular artist that’s gotten his or her self saved. Farner needs to improve his musicianship to the point that the songs can grab the listener’s attention even if his lyrics are bad. Maybe Farner, along with Rick Cua and Joe English can form a band and each deal with the “former so-so secular artist that’s shoved into the limelight after becoming a Chnstian” syndrome.

I’m sorry, but ‘Wake Up…’ is bland, uncreative, and ill-contrived. There aren’t even moments that peak. Since Farner is basically a newcomer to the Christian market, he really has no potential to live up to, unless you compare his Christian stuff to old songs like «American Band» and «I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home)». Here’s hoping that Mr. Farner can live up to past successes. [Steve Greenfield, Harvest Rock Syndicate, No. 4, 1989 (Volume 4)]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/wake-up/386805682)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Wake Up…” – 4:23
A2. “Into The Light” – 3:59
A3. “New Age” – 3:22
A4. “Come To Me” – 3:58
A5. “In Your Sight” – 5:23

Side Two
B1. “Upright Man” – 3:30
B2. “Rocco” – 3:48
B3. “If It Wasn’t For Grace” – 3:53
B4. “Love Power” – 4:00
B5. “Role Model” – 5:54
B6. “Like I Was Before” – 3:52

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Frontline Records. Mark Farner’s solo albums Wake Up… and Closer to Home were later re-issued on one CD as a part of KMG’s Classic Archives Music Value Pak series.

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