Cut It Away

Description

Cut It Away is the solo debut album by the American singer and songwriter Rob Frazier, released on Light Records in June 1984. The album was recorded by Wally Grant at Weddington Studios in North Hollywood, Redwing Studio in Tarzana, and Mama Jo’s Recording Studio in North Hollywood, California; with Steve Camp producing. Mixed by Bill Schnee at Bill Schnee Studio in North Hollywood, California. All songs co-written by Rob Frazier and Steve Camp.

The Philadelphia born singer and songwriter Rob Frazier moved to Nashville in 1978 and joined the seminal Petra. Frazier sang lead on the number one single, “Why Should The Father Bother?” featured on their third album Washes Whiter Than. In 1980 Frazier decided to strike out on his own and concentrate on his writing. He wrote for the Welk Publishing Group and various other secular houses. At the same time he was playing with a local band. It was during this time that Frazier co-wrote “Play The Game Tonight” for rock heavyweight, Kansas, recorded on their 1982-album Vinyl Confessions (a song that peaked at No. 4 on Billboard‘s Rock chart).

This is the same guy who wrote «Why Should the Father Bother» for Petra, «Play the Game Tonight» for Kansas, and half of Steve Camp’s ‘Fire and Ice‘, one of 1984’s best albums. Camp returns the favor on ‘Cut It Away’ by co-writing many of the tunes and producing. The result is synthesizer-based pop with straight-forward lyrics that call for – no, demand – Christian activism.

The album is at its best when Frazier adds a strong dash of Philadelphia rhythm and blues to the proceedings. On songs like «Come On Elaine» and «You Know What’s Right», he melds a non-stop synthesized beat and ragged r&b emotionalism, much like the best of Hall & Oates. Alas, too many of the remaining tunes are pedestrian rockers spiced mainly by uniformly incisive lyrics.

‘Cut it Away’s highlight is a dazzling, frightening tune based on the coming of the Beast, «666». Over a haunting sax line and a sinister, metallic chorus that intones the title, «666» is a chilling vision of the end of the world. And friends, it packs a mean wallop. [Bob Darden, CCM, March 1985]

> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/cut-it-away/1554754808)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Cut It Away” – 4:55
A2. “Come On Elaine” – 2:50
A3. “He Is All You Need” – 4:12
A4. “Stolen Love” – 3:22
A5. “You Know What’s Right” – 2:51

Side Two
B1. “Tonight” – 3:48
B2. “Weight Of The World” – 4:10
B3. “Train Up A Child” – 4:58
B4. “666” – 5:17

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Light Records. Remastered by Rob Colwell and re-issued on CD by Girder Records in 2021 (GR1087), as a part of the label’s Legends of Rock Series.

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CREDITS. Produced by Steve Camp. Engineered by Wally Grant. Additional engineering by Larry Hinds. Recorded at Weddington Studios, North Hollywood, CA; Redwing Studio, Tarzana, CA and Mama Jo’s Recording Studio, North Hollywood, CA. Mixed by Bill Schnee at Bill Schnee Studio, North Hollywood, CA. Mastered by Steve Hall at Future Disc Systems, North Hollywood, CA. Drum machine programming by Jack Kelly. Graphic Design by Rhonda Jesson. Photography by Aaron Rapoport. Executive producer: Steven Wyer. All songs co-written by Rob Frazier and Steve Camp, except A1 and A5 co-written by Rob Frazier, Steve Camp, and Carol Buckley Frazier.

Musicians: Rob Frazier (Lead vocals, background vocals, guitar, organ), Smitty Price (Keyboards), Marty Walsh (Guitar), Dave Mansfield (Guitar), Bill Batstone (Bass), Scott ‘Cactus’ Moser (Drums). Background Vocals: Rosemary Butler, Steve Camp, Carol Buckley Frazier, Sherry Larson.