Revelation

Description

Revelation is the fourth album by the American rock combo Darrell Mansfield Band, released on the Maranatha! Music related label Broken Records in August 1985. The album was recorded and mixed by Wally Grant at 3-D Studios in Costa Mesa, California; and was produced by Doug Doyle with band members Darrell Mansfield and Eric Turner. Almost all the songs were co-written by Darrell Mansfield and Eric Turner (the latter of Fortress fame). Revelation delivers as promised a blues heavy hard rock sound that at times borders on metal. Featuring cover artwork by Rick Griffin.

Featuring Darrell Mansfield on lead vocals and harmonica, Eric Turner on guitar and backing vocals, Jeff Nicholson on bass and backing vocals, and Terl Bryant on drums and percussion. Additional backing vocals by Ken Samuels of Common Bond fame. Lead guitar on tracks A2 and B1 by Paul Gilbert. Harmonica on track B3 by Rod Piazza.

With heavy metal ever on the rise, it is only fitting that Darrell Mansfield return to the rock ‘n’ boogie that filled his greatest effort, the 1980 Polydor release ‘Get Ready‘. ‘Revelation’, however, comes down the pike a mixed blessing at best. When Mansfield and band embrace the inherent limitations of the form and bust loose with the kind of energetic performances the genre demands, it works. But, sadly, this doesn’t happen often enough.

«Jesus Will Reign», with its blazing guitars, aggressive yet restrained arrangement, and Mansfield’s bluesy voice in full blossom, possesses a quality which one hopes would be consistent throughout. Too often, however, we are left with the kinds of highly derivative songs which drift out from under garage doors around America when Mom and Dad are out shopping and Junior decides to start his first band.

«Tokyo», «Runnin’», and «Thunder ‘N Lightnig» succeed after a fashion. «Give it Up», however, bites the dust with the first anachronistic harmonica-riff, and not even the last-minute key change at the end of «After the Storm» can save it from its all too slow pace. «Bible Study» and «Don’t Let Them Stand in Your Way» both turn out to be surprisingly appealing while «Waiting’s» tasteful avoidance of excesses is subtly endearing.

Criticisms aside (and ignoring as best I can the dated and tacky cover), ‘Revelation’ has a few real drawing cards in Mansfield’s impeccable voice and guitarist Eric Turner’s graceful awareness of melody and feeling as well as his penchant for flash and bravado. Also, for what it’s worth, ‘Revelation’ is superior to the current wave of “heavenly metal” from the likes of Saint and Messiah Prophet. I can’t help but believe, though, that Mansfield, talented veteran that he is, could produce a work of greater consistency and relevance than we have here. [Brian Quincy Newcomb, CCM, February 1986]

> Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/album/4qCGOs3FAQ9cHAzteHf8yy)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Thunder ‘N Lightning” – 4:46
A2. “After The Storm” – 4:42
A3. “Runnin'” – 2:57
A4. “Give It Up” – 3:41
A5. “Bible Study” – 4:21

Side Two
B1. “Jesus Will Reign” – 4:29
B2. “Tokyo” – 3:46
B3. “Don’t Let Them Stand In Your Way” – 3:46
B4. “Waiting” – 6:02

Note: The album was re-issued on CD in 1997 by Mansfield’s Son Records label. A second re-issue (an “Expanded Edition” also on Son Records) from 2013 features seven live bonus tracks (“Revelation Live”) recorded 1988 at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, California.

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“Jesus Will Reign” (MUSIC VIDEO)

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CREDITS. Co-producer by Darrell Mansfield, Eric Turner and Doug Doyle. Recorded and mixed at 3-D Studios, Costa Mesa, California. Mastered at Motown, Hollywood, California. Front cover painting by Rick Griffin.

Musicians: Darrell Mansfield (Lead Vocals, Harmonica), Eric Turner (Guitars, Backing Vocals), Jeff Nicholson (Bass, Backing Vocals), Terl Bryant (Drums, Percussion), Paul Gilbert (Lead Guitar – Track A2 & B1), Kenny Samuels (Additional Backing Vocals), Rod Piazza (Harmonica – Track B3).