All I Am is What You See…

Description

All I Am is What You See… is the sophomore album by the American singer and songwriter Randy Matthews, released on Myrrh Records in 1972, a division of Word. Like his debut, this album was as well produced by Billy Ray Hearn. All songs written by Randy Matthews.

Word Records would launch their first contemporary label, Myrrh Records, late 1971 to provide a platform for the new “Jesus Rock” that was beginning to break through in the US. The new label would release 11 albums during its first year. All I Am Is What You See… was Myrrh’s third release (Catalog Number MST-6502-LP), Larry Hubbell and the Mission Band‘s Save a Soul (Catalog Number MST-6500-LP) and Vonda Kay Van Dyke‘s Day By Day (Catalog Number MST-6501-LP) being the first and second, respectively. Matthews would be seen as the “rockiest” with more blues influenced music and his rough Joe Cocker like vocals. Matthews is considered one the premier rock vocalists of the Jesus rock era, alongside artists like Larry Norman and Randy Stonehill.

One of the first LPs to be issued on the brand new Myrrh label. His hair’s a bit longer and it appears that permission was given to be more radical in the music (note the fuzz guitar solo in the opener «Revolutionary Cause»). Much more satisfying than Wish We ’d All Been Ready, still overall pretty light, sporadically softened with strings. Some memorable ballads in «Johnny» and «Time To Pray». In the acoustic category are the excellent title track, the spoken-word «Important Things», and «Flesh Of My Flesh» which has a mysterious Eastern flavor to it. Power horns work okay on rockers like «Power Through You, People» and «Leader Liberator». Closes with the CCR-ish concert favorite «Country Faith». All Randy-written songs this time. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/all-i-am-is-what-you-see-single/1781494686)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Revolutionary Cause” – 3:02
A2. “All I Am Is What You See (Self Portrait)” – 2:20
A3. “Johnny” – 3:30
A4. “Power Through You, People” – 3:02
A5. “Time To Pray” – 3:29

Side Two
B1. “Sunny Day” – 2:59
B2. “Leader Liberator” – 2:25
B3. “Flesh Of My Flesh” – 3:10
B4. “Important Things” – 2:05
B5. “Country Faith” – 2:10

Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by Myrrh Records. The album tracks “Country Faith” and “Sunny Day” (b/w) were released as a two-sided 45 RPM 7-inch vinyl single by Myrrh Records in 1972.

---

---

---

---

An advertisement featuring various albums released on Myrrh Records and Light Records was published in the October 14, 1972 issue of Billboard Magazine. The ad includes some of the first albums released on Myrrh Records, Word’s brand new contemporary Christian music label, like Larry Hubbell and the Mission Band‘s Save a Soul (Catalog Number MST-6500-LP), Randy Matthew‘s All I Am Is What You See… (Catalog Number MST-6502-LP), as well as the self-titled debut albums by bands like The Crimson Bridge (catalog number MST-6503-LP), Dust (catalog number MST-6504-LP), First Gear (catalog number MST-6505-LP), and Ron Salsbury & The J.C. Power Outlet (catalog number MST-6511-LP). Keep on Singin’ and Soulfully, two albums by Andraé Crouch & The Disciples released on Light Records, were also included in the ad.

This issue of Billboard Magazine featured “Billboard spotlights: Word, Incorporated” (which included articles about various Word, Inc. labels like Word Records, Canaan Records, Myrrh Records, and Light Records). Word hits $10 Million; Keeps breaking into new areas after 22 years.