Description
The Wild Frontier is the ninth studio album by the American singer and songwriter Randy Stonehill, released on Myrrh Records in November 1986, a division of Word. The album was recorded by Dave Schober and Dave Perkins at various studios in California – The Music Grinder and Bill Schnee Studio in Los Angeles; Asaph Studios in Anaheim; and Whitefield Studios in Costa Mesa – as well as at “Rock-Bus-O-Doom” Reelsound Bus in Nashville, Tennessee; with Perkins producing. Mixed by Schober, Perkins, and Stonehill at Mama Jo’s Recordings Studio in North Hollywood, California. Background vocals provided by Dave Perkins, Gary Chapman, Chris Harris, Jerry Chamberlain of Daniel Amos fame, Tonio K., Peter Case, and Peter Noone (the latter of the 1960’s pop group Herman’s Hermits).
A solo acoustic version of the album track “The Hope of Glory” is featured on Stonehill’s compilation album Stories released in 1993.
‘The Wild Frontier’, Stonehill’s eighth release (that’s counting his early ‘Born Twice‘, a bootleg-quality collector’s item, and not counting the “import only” five-song EP simply titled ‘Stonehill‘), delivers on all the serious rock ‘n’ rollmanship suggested by songs like «One True Love», «Givin’ It Up for Love», «Hide Them in Your Love» as well as by his irregular band tours. Both his tendency to be associated with songs about «American Fast Food» and a certain hotel chain and the laid-back production of his most recent albums have left many wanting more. That wild and crazy guy, Uncle Rand, was great for parties and, by golly, he can burp with the best of them, but if you have to wade through silly tracks to get to his tender reflections on life and love and his poignant insight into God’s grace, then maybe this guy should release two completely differnt kind of records…
‘The Wild Frontier’ is the serious rock record that Stonehill has needed to make, but hey, it’s still fun. With Perkins‘ iron grip holding him on course, Stonehill wrote some of the best songs of a prolific career, but the big news is the intensity and emotional depth of his vocal delivery. From the full-throated, Springsteen-like belting of the title track to the brokenhearted rendering of the album’s one ballad, «Evangeline», Stonehill handles each mood and nuance with inspiring feeling and integrity.
The Big Country-influenced «Here Come the Big Guitars» tells part of the story as Perkins, Jerry McPherson, and ex-DA cohort Jerry Chamberlain lay down guitar parts that sears and scream off the vinyl. The rest of the story is in the big drums of Mike Mead and bass of Rick Cua that kicks the hot rock songs right out into the dance floor. What few cracks are left are filled by Reese Wynans’ keyboards, Rob Watson and Tom Howard add synth parts, Alex McDougall and Keith Edwards take turns with percussion, and background vocal chores are divided between Chris Harris, Jerry Chamberlain, Peter Case, Tonio K., and Peter Noone (“Herman” in a former Hermit’s day).
Songs like «Dying Breed» and «Defender» suggest a continuation of the theme of «Angry Young Men» from Stonehill’s last record, ‘Love Beyond Reason‘. This militancy and strength of Christian conviction move Stonehill to excitement over the grand adventure of life in the title track, «Big Guitars», «What Do You Want from Life», and his fine cover of the Youngbloods’ hit «Get Together». With its hymn-like structure and Salvation-Army-horns ending, «Hope of Glory» closes the record with one of contemporary Christian music’s clearest expressions of the meaning of the gospel of Christ. [Brian Quincy Newcomb, CCM, January 1987]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/wild-frontier/1165982140)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “The Wild Frontier” – 4:07
A2. “Here Come the Big Guitars” – 3:41
A3. “The Dying Breed” – 4:15
A4. “Words on the Wind” – 5:44
A5. “What’s My Line” – 3:47
Side Two
B1. “What Do You Want from Life” – 3:48
B2. “Get Together” – 3:50
B3. “Defender” – 3:01
B4. “Evangeline” – 5:38
B5. “The Hope of Glory” – 4:48
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Myrrh Records. Available at Bandcamp: https://randystonehill.bandcamp.com/album/the-wild-frontier
Gatefold Cover Artwork
Gatefold Cover, Inside
Modern management: Changing tactics to guide artists through crossover minefield
by Moira McCormick, Billboard Magazine October 11, 1986, G-19“There’s a necessity for Christian artists to have their personality come out via their stage presence,” agrees Ray Ware of Pasadena-based Ray Ware Artist Management, who handles Randy Stonehill, Bryan Duncan and the Allies. “It’s almost demanded of Christian artists that they share the fact that they’re vulnerable and real.”
Ware understands that to sell a Christian artist to a secular audience means that the overtly religious aspect needs to be downplayed – but not the message and the spirit. “As a Christian,” he says, “my belief is that if it’s real, it should be recognized by anyone. I work with artists who want to influence society as a whole, not just a little subculture of church-going Christian people.”
Ware’s client Randy Stonehill is the best known of his roster, a seven-album veteran who specializes in a Southern California style rock. His latest Myrrh Records release, “The Wild Frontier,” is a bold departure for Stonehill, in that “there’s probably not one Christian single on the album,” according to Ware.
“My artists wrestle with the church, which says, “Give us a sermon, catch phrases we all know.” Randy’s new album is a calculated move which is dangerous – putting out a record without any Christian radio hits. We may not get as much attention from the subculture, – let’s not lose our vision of speaking to society as a whole.”
Ware is stepping up his campaign to pitch major labels on Stonehill and his other artists, by giving them something commercially viable. “The Capitol and A&M deals were not out of warm feelings,” he reminds, “but out of economic reasons. Record company and radio people are taking a harder look at Christian artists…(but) we need to explode the Christian stereotype.”
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