Description
Stories is a compilation album by the American singer and songwriter Randy Stonehill, released on Myrrh Records in May 1993, a division of Word. The compilation also includes two new songs, “I Thirst For You” and “Charlie the Weather Man”, as well as an acoustic version of “Hope of Glory“, all featuring Stonehill backed by the Lost Dogs, recorded by Gene Eugene at The Green Room in Huntington Beach, California; with Terry Taylor of Daniel Amos fame producing. “This record is dedicated with love to the memory of John Mark Heard, who always told the true story.”
Essence of Stonehill. The sheer beauty of the man’s best acoustic songs, collected from albums dated 1981-92. Two new songs «I Thirst For You» and «Charlie The Weatherman», plus an acoustic version of «Hope Of Glory» are more gems to squeeze into the already crowded cluster. This is art, a rare ability to express profound, deeply felt realities by using simple words beautifully constructed and set to rich melodies. Take a song like «Rachel Delevoryas» from the great Wonderama album, with its Beatle-like delicate touch and moving storyline. Or you hear «Sing In Portuguese» and think that, if these New Country guys are so smart how come they haven’t snapped it up? I’d love to hear Nanci Griffith tackle it, though I doubt she could do a better job than Randy. On and on it goes, «Starlings», «Letter To My Family», «Turning Thirty», all so sensitively sculptured and polished. «Christmas At Denny’s» another cracker he wrote with Mark Heard, one of the few in the same class as a brilliant singer/songwriter. Sheer genius. [Tony May, Cross Rhythms, October 1993]
Few of the veteran artists who gave up their art – and sometimes their families and livelihood – to forge this new thing called Christian pop or rock music have touched people the way Randy Stonehill does. Persistently heart-on-his-sleeve honest and off-the-wall funny, at times to a fault, Stonehill’s works exhibit strong songcraft, lasting melodic depth, tasty guitar fills, and lyrics that suggest genuine compassion and understanding of what it is to be human and to know the grace of God. These attributes drip through this collection of serious songwriting successes from Stonehill’s most recent efforts.
Two winning new tracks assure that not only has Stonehill not lost his grip on what makes a great song, but here on «I Thirst For You» and «Charlie the Weather Man» Stonehill has again matched, if not bettered his strongest works of days past. Recorded with the Lost Dogs backing him up, Stonehill exhibits his strength as a story-teller, whose tales offer a deeper, more compelling meaning as they grapple with the real lives of real people.
And, while it may be time in Stonehill’s career for a “best of” effort, I for one am grateful that this effort aims that high rather than becoming just a “greatest hits” package. Anyone who appreciates real songcraft and life-relevant art knows that for the most part Stonehill’s weakest pablum has been what worked best on Christian radio. Two satisfying exceptions to that rule are «Still Small Voice» and «Coming Back Soon», which are here, and hopefully «I Thirst For You» will find similar acceptance. It deserves it.
What really connects with this reviewer, however, is Stonehill’s capacity to delve into his life-story and the lives of others and pull meaningful life-truths to the surface. Such is the case with «Rachel Delevoryas», «Weight of the Sky», «Sing in Portuguese», «Turning Thirty» and «Letter to my Family». Two most powerfull works, «Christmas at Denny’s» and «Starlings», come from Stonehill’s monumental return to the songwriter approach, the Mark Heard produced Return to Paradise.
The album’s closing song, one of my favorite Christian pop/hymns, has been re-recorded. With just “Uncle Rand”‘s guitar and voice, «Hope of Glory» addresses honest spiritual questions with realistic Christian dogma and encouraging support. Randy Stonehill has been offering real faith in good songs for a long time, and Stories is a testament that he still has a significant gift to share. [Brian Q. Newcomb, Syndicate, Volume 8 Issue 4, July/August 1993]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/stories/1165976006)
CD tracklist:
01. I Thirst For You – 5:49
02. Still, Small Voice – 4:06
03. Rachel Delevoryas – 3:19
04. Bells – 4:15
05. Starlings – 5:01
06. Turning Thirty – 3:46
07. Coming Back Soon – 4:46
08. Charlie The Weatherman – 5:54
09. Sing In Portuguese – 4:05
10. Weight Of The Sky – 3:28
11. Letter To My Family – 4:35
12. Christmas At Denny’s – 5:53
13. Hope Of Glory (Acoustic Version) – 4:22
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Myrrh Records.
The original album, as well as a Radio Special, are available at Bandcamp:
https://randystonehill.bandcamp.com/album/stories
https://randystonehill.bandcamp.com/album/stories-radio-special
An advertisement for Randy Stonehill’s Stories was featured in the July/August 1993 issue of Syndicate Magazine.
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