Description
Wonderama is a studio album by the American singer and songwriter Randy Stonehill, released on Myrrh Records in January 1992, a division of Word. The basic tracks were recorded by Gene Eugene of Adam Again fame at the Mixing Lab in Garden Grove, California; produced and directed by Terry Taylor of Daniel Amos for Stunt Productions. String and horn arrangements written and conducted by Rob Watson. Featuring a cover of “Don’t Be Sad”, a song written by Angelo Natalie and originally recorded by his band Clockwise on their 1978-album Anthem For His Majesty
The Wonderama session band features Randy Stonehill and Rick Elias on guitars, Rob Watson (of Daniel Amos fame) on piano, organ and keyboards, and a rhythm section consisting of bassist Tim Chandler (of Daniel Amos and The Choir) and drummer David Raven (David McSparran of The Swirling Eddies fame). As well featuring guest appearances by Burleigh Drummond (of the Lost Dogs and Ambrosia fame) as well as Jerry Chamberlain and Greg Flesch (both of Daniel Amos fame), among others. Backing vocals provided by Terry Taylor, Rob Watson, Linda Elias, Riki Michele, Jerry Chamberlain and Sharon McCall.
The whole idea of ‘Wonderama’ is that we can still retain some sense of innocence and childlike wonder, that as you look at life through the eyes of faith, you can see all the little miracles around you every day.
– Randy Stonehill
As a producer, I’d say that Wonderama was one of my most rewarding experiences, if not the most. We went for a variety of sounds and textures because we had a vision and we didn’t want to cheapen it or take the easy way out. I think it’s one of the great albums in contemporary Christian music history. It still hasn’t been recognized in the way it should. [Excerpt from “Taylor Made Production”, an interview with producer Terry Taylor by Bruce A. Brown, CCM 1992]
In the last few years, Randy Stonehill has appeared to falter. Although his talent as a craftsman of fine, emotionally authentic songs remained intact, his commercial appeal lessened. Work with producers Dave Perkins and Mark Heard earned critical kudos as Stonehill struggled to remain relevant, yet be true to his original motivations. Discs like The Wild Frontier and Return to Paradise lacked that element which his more populist fans adored; his wacky sense of humor. Not since Between the Glory and the Flame and Equator, both produced by Terry S. Taylor (Stonehill’s touring buddy from Daniel Amos), and his debut with Larry Norman, Welcome to Paradise has Randy Stonehill bridged all the vital elements of his unique persona – heart-rending ballads, humorous satire, and big bawdy, silly rock sing-alongs – into one work. Not until now on Wonderama and the return of Terry Taylor as producer.
Wonderama opens with the invitation to look at the world through the fresh eyes of child-like innocence: “Keep your eyes open wide/ It’s never far from view.” Picturesque and beautiful , life is expressed in storybook terms: “In the spotlight is a silhouette/ Of a dragon breathing fire/ And the battle begins…/ They were all amazed when the King laid down his life/ The sweethearts kiss on their springtime wedding day/ …Love can be that way.” The fantasy/storyland quality of the title track combines a Narnia-meets-Sgt. Pepper kind of otherworld that flows into a faith anthem «I Will Follow».
Having set the stage, Stonehill and Taylor have chosen to people this world with the real live folk of modern reality. «Great Big Stupid World» and «Barbie Nation» take broad swipes at the foibles of popular culture, much as Stonehill did with «American Fast Food», «Cosmetic Fixation» and «Big Ideas (in the Shrinking World)», on Equator. However, most of the songs reflect on the real hurts and quiet pains of individuals lost in the shuffle. Even the barbs of these more humorous efforts are a response to the pains of those who “get what you want but it’s nothing you need,” and have spent our lives filling up the void with trendy trash because “we’re feeling kind of queazy as it turns around/ …And we’re never really sure if we’re up or down.”
The strongest of these more personal observations, «Rachel De La Vorya» and «Sing in Portuguese», affirm the best inclinations of human relationships, while accepting the loss and frailty inevitable in experience. In the latter, Stonehill sings of his gentle love for his grandparents and the model of their romantic commitment. The former is a sadder story of a woman, an outsider throughout her childhood, who managed through the playing of fine music to express her pain and find fulfillment. One wonder if Stonehill doesn’t relate to both sides of this story.
To match the song’s otherwordly, timeless quality, Taylor and Stonehill have fashioned a band that lets Stonehill do what he’s always done best, play acoustic guitar and sing. The most compelling instrumental support are the live strings (honest-to-goodness violins and cellos), written and arranged by Rob Watson. A crack crew of instrumentalists – Watson on keys, Rick Elias on guitars with Stonehill, Tim Chandler on bass and Dave Raven on drums – give fine, restrained support but never overwhelm the songs. The one disappointment here (and it’s minor), is that on tracks like «Stupid World» and «Mice and Men» this fine band never opens up to really rock out to the song’s full potential.
But the thing is, Wonderama is not really meant to be a rock record, it’s more of a mood piece as exemplified on «The Lost Parade», where the weight of the world’s grief weighs on Stonehill’s tortured vocal and the suitably reflective background music is supplied by the Salvation Army Horns. Randy Stonehill has both affirmed what we have always loved about his music and moved on to make a fresh statement about what we can expect from him in the future.
Closing out with the children’s fair music of a calliope and accordion, reminiscent of The Band’s “Last Waltz,” Stonehill, with Taylor and engineer Gene Eugene, has offered up “A dreamer’s song,” with the assurance that we might follow “to the peace and the warmth inside.” Wonderama is a child-like vision of the realm of God which shines on the dark horizon like a «Lantern in the Snow». [Brian Q. Newcomb, CCM, February 1992]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/wonderama/1165959679)
CD tracklist:
01. Wonderama – 6:20
02. I Will Follow – 3:00
03. Barbie Nation – 4:57
04. Don’t Be Sad – 4:15
05. Rachel Delevoryas – 3:19
06. Intermission At the Wonderama – 1:05
07. Great Big Stupid World – 5:47
08. Sing In Portuguese – 4:05
09. Mice & Men – 3:13
10. The Lost Parade – 4:14
11. Latern In the Snow – 4:36
12. Wonderama Postlude – 0:42
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Myrrh Records. Available at Bandcamp:
https://randystonehill.bandcamp.com/album/wonderama-2025-remaster
https://randystonehill.bandcamp.com/album/wonderama
CREDITS. Produced and Directed by Terry Taylor for Stunt Productions. Executive Producers: Mark Maxwell and Ray Ware. String and horn arrangements written and conducted by Rob Watson. Recorded by Gene Eugene. Recorded at Mixing Lab A, Garden Grove, CA (Basic tracks, percussion, backing vocals, keyboards); Neverland, Cerritos, CA (Lead vocals, guitars, strings, keyboards, woodwinds, accordion); Mixing Lab B (Background vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion); MicroNote (Horns, background vocals, strings); McCrummy Music (Background vocals). Pre-production demos recorded at Jerry and Sharon’s Wax Lips Studio. Mixed at Mixing Lab A. Mastered by Steve Hall at Future Disc, North Hollywood, CA. Art Director: Roz. Concept by Terry Taylor, Tom Gulotta, and Court Patton. Artwork and Design by Court Patton and Tom Gulotta, Patton Bros. Design, El Cajon, CA. Photography by Nick Nacca, Linda Krikorian, wives, neighbors and total strangers.
Musicians: The Wonderama Band – Randy Stonehill (Lead Vocals, Guitars), Rob Watson (Keyboards, Acoustic Piano, Ballroom Piano, Organ, Celeste, Music Box, Calliope, Bells, Marimba), Rick Elias (Guitars), Tim Chandler (Bass), David Raven (Drums). Additional Musicians: Burleigh Drummond (Sleigh Bells, Glockenspiel, Cymbal Swells, Chimes, Kettle Drums, Shaker, Claves, Congas, Dream Cymbals, Percussion, Burleigh’s Madhouse, Tambourine, Second Snare, Cowbell, Bodrane, Snow Bells), Jerry Waller (Accordion), Jerry Chamberlain (Lead Guitar), Greg Flesch (Lead Guitar, EBow), Doug Webb (Clay Pipes, Ocarina, Bass Recorder, Tenor Ocarina), Omar Domkus (Stand-up Bass), Janet McTaggart (Muse of hope), Michelle Richards (Violin), Beth Falsom (Violin), Terry Glenn (Violin), Dianne Ready (Violin), Robert Martin (Cello). Horns on “The Lost Parade”: The Salvation Army Horns, Los Angeles Chapter. Backing Vocals: Terry Scott Taylor, Rob Watson, Linda Elias, Riki Michele, Jerry Chamberlain, Sharon McCall. Backing Vocals on “Sing In Portuguese”: Los Campesinos Mariachi Band – Steve Luevano, Steve Luevano Jr., Hilario Gonzalez, Antonio Gonzalez. Boy’s Choir on “Lantern In The Snow”: Nolan McSparren, Preston Geeting, Abraham Handler.
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