Description
In His Majesty’s Service is a live album by the Swedish hard rock band Jerusalem, released on the Swedish label World Record Music in 1985, a Royal Music Production. Also released on Refuge Records in the US, distributed by The Benson Company. The live album was produced by Dave Perkins and the band and was recorded in Shreveport and Dallas during a more than two months long tour in 1985 that took the band all over the USA and Canada. Recorded by Real Sound Mobile with Malcolm Harper engineering. House sound by Göran Buller.
The live album features old classics as well as new material never before put to tape with all songs written by the band’s lead singer/guitarist Ulf Christiansson. Peo Andersson, a secular rock critic of Göteborgs-Posten (the largest newspaper in Gothenburg, the second largest city in Sweden and the residence of Jerusalem), stated in his review that “In His Majesty’s Service is indispensable. After repeated listening, I am convinced that this is the Swedish hard rock album of the year!”
Jerusalem features Ulf Christiansson on guitar and vocals, Dan Tibell on keyboards, Peter Carlsohn on bass and backing vocals, and Michael Ulvsgärd on drums and backing vocals.
Jerusalem – Live In The USA: In His Majesty’s Service (Legends Remastered), 2018
Retroactive Records have over the years come to the rescue of 1980s rock fans struggling to listen to some of their favourite recordings on stretched audio cassettes. This reissue is one such recording that features pioneering Swedish rock legends Jerusalem on their 1985 tour of the USA. For those unfamiliar with the band, they produce a classic rock, close to metal sound that is characterised by layers of keys and Ulf Christiansson’s mid-range, accented but warm vocals. Sitting closer to a ’70s hard rock sound than the hair metal of the ’80s we are treated to a range of their best known cuts with the added energy of a live recording. The title track opens the proceedings with racing guitars and a strong, pulsing bass. There are times when I am reminded of Europe, but others, such as in «Tides», an early U2 can be heard in the keyboard intro. Quieter moments are to be found in between the more standard rock strains. «Read Between The Lines» is one such slower keyboard-led ballad. The versatility of the band can be heard in the range of dynamics and tempo but all tracks feature an up-front gospel message. At times brooding, at others haunting, this recording maintains a sense of urgency until it climaxes with the military style rock of «Man Of The World» and culminates with Ulf’s exaltation to “Wake Up Mr Christian.” Rob Colwell has made a good job of breathing fresh life into a recording that I always remember as being a little dead and flat in its original state. The only down side to the recording is how the track running order. At times the flow of the music seems a little disjointed, but generally this does not detract from what is a vibrant collection that showcases some of this veteran rock outfit’s classic tracks. [Ian Webber, Cross Rhythms, June 2018]
Jag är överväldigad. Jerusalem har tidigare gått mig totalt förbi, avfärdade som “kristen musik”.
Faktum är att Jerusalem är Sveriges bästa hårdrockband. Denna live-upptagningen från USA är alltigenom suverän. Gruppen är ruggigt samspelt, alla musiker håller hög klass, men särskilt värd en eloge är organisten Dan Tibell, vars hammondorgel ger mig samma kalla kårar som endast Jon Lord och Hasse Ohlsson lyckats med tidligare.
In His Majesty’s Service är oumbärlig. Jag blir efter varje genomlyssning alltmer övertygad: Detta är årets svenska hårdrocksalbum! [Peo Andersson, Göteborgs-Posten]
> Apple Music (Jerusalem Classics 3: https://music.apple.com/us/album/jerusalem-classics-3/458416232)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “In His Majesty’s Service” – 4:17
A2. “From The Bottom Of Our Heart” – 3:27
A3. “I’m Waiting For You” – 4:08
A4. “Read Between The Lines” – 5:17
A5. “The Tide” – 6:00
Side Two
B1. “Ashes In Our Hands” – 3:43
B2. “Can’t Stop Us Now” – 3:40
B3. “Time” – 6:00
B4. “Man Of The World” – 4:05
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP. Remastered by Rob Colwell and re-issued on CD by Retroactive Records in June 2018, entitled In His Majesty’s Service: Live in the USA (Legends Remastered). The CD comes in a jewel case featuring a 12-page booklet with lyrics and band pics.
Jerusalem – Live at Cornerstone Festival 1985
JERUSALEM – In His Majesty’s Service (Legends Remastered)
Live In U.S.A.
By 1985, Jerusalem’s sound had changed. The classic/progressive 70’s rock from the early years had transitioned into a more melodic/pop direction with 1983’s Can’t Stop Us Now. By the mid-decade they were a full-on arena rock band. Furthermore, with every studio release the band had endured a shake-up in the line-up. But in 1985, after years of touring in Europe, Jerusalem would finally lavish the U.S. with the fruits of all that live experience at the hands of a seasoned unit of Christian rockers. The Christiansson/Tibell/Carlsohn/Ulvsgard line-up was dynamic and powerful, and all of those qualities were displayed with splendor on this recording.
Live In U.S.A. – In His Majesty’s Service – is special in many regards. It was the only live performance the band ever recorded on U.S. soil, and it was the band’s only release that was never released with a Swedish version (unlike all of the studio albums up to this point). More importantly, 4 of the songs appearing here were never released on any of the band’s studio releases! («Live In His Majesty’s Service», «From The Bottom Of Our Heart», «The Tide» and «Time».) Finally, this performance has never been properly released with all of the original tracks included (mid 90’s Fruit Records version left off 2 tracks). Retroactive Records, as part of the Legends Remastered series, have delivered a great sounding version here with a nice low-end bass fullness and plenty of punch. Like the others released in this series, the CD (album cover photo on the disc) comes in clear case with a nicely reconfigured 12-page booklet with photos and credits.
The opening intro sets the stage for the show that is to follow as the boys rip right into «In His Majesty’s Service» a fast and hard tune with lots of vocal intensity. The second track has more of a late 80’s vibe ala Dancing On the Head of the Serpent, but still retains a lot of busy drumming and those very audible keys. There is a nice breakout section in the middle where the bass line carries the band under Ulf’s vocals and then this flows into a nice guitar solo. You can hardly tell this is live because the band just sounds so tight and clean. «I’m Waiting For You» (originally «The Waiting») is next up, and I have to say this version is much more powerful than the studio version of the song – the aggressive tempo and jam session during the “ride-out” section very impressive. Things then slow down for «Read Between the Lines» – one of the better songs from Can’t Stop Us Now. The interplay between the keys and the guitar in the middle section is nicely done and creates a very emotional ambiance. «The Tide» is an excellent mid-tempo rocker with a very Euro sounding chorus section. It’s not the same song as «High Tide» from the debut album, but does share some lyrical themes.
“Some ships sails under a false flag/ A closer look can always tell/ But in my heart I recognize/ There is no darkness when there’s light…” – «The Tide»
«Ashes In Our Hands» has always had that huge big-tent church vibe, but the song comes even more to life in this live setting. This is followed by a ripping version of «Can’t Stop Us Now», which sounds way more powerful than the studio version. «Time» has a very metal sounding intro with some very heavy bass and excellent keyboard work – probably my favorite of the 4 “new” tracks presented here. I love the breakout section and spoken/sung words by Ulf, a trademark of Jerusalem’s style. The recording closes out with a great version of «Man of the World» which sounds as if it is played as an encore. Who can forget the charismatic “wake-up call” Ulf delivers at the end of the set…
“Mr. Christian, there’s not much time, Mr. Christian, there’s not much time. There’s not much time… What are you doing Mr. Christian…?”
If you have never previously heard this recording, then you don’t want to miss out now – this contains some of the band’s best songs ever, and it is arguably the best sounding mix in the Jerusalem series up to this point (although I do like those analog sounding/organic tones on the first on Volumes I & II.) Fans shouldn’t hesitate to pick this up for the sound quality and the completeness make it an essential piece of Christian rock history.
[Jonathan "Doc" Swank, HM Magazine, June 2018]
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