Description
The Way Home is the fourth studio album by the American singer and songwriter Russ Taff, released on Myrrh Records in 1989, a division of Word. Also manufactured and distributed by Epic, a division of Sony Music. The album was recorded by Tim Crich at various studios – Digital Recorders, Downstage Studio, and Gold Mine Studio in Nashville and The Bennett House in Franklin, Tennessee; and as well at Wayne Cook Studios in Glendale and Hollywood Sound Recorders in Los Angeles, California – with James Hollihan Jr. and Russ Taff producing. Mixed by Pete Coleman at Mama Jo’s Recording Studio in North Hollywood, California. Featuring a cover of “I Need You”, a song written by Michael Anderson and originally recorded on his debut album Sound Alarm released on A&M Records in 1988.
There was never any doubt that Russ Taff was a terrific vocalist. His tenure in front of The Imperials proved that. His first two solo projects, ‘Walls of Glass‘ and ‘Medals‘ revealed Russ and wife Tori to be a pretty fair songwriting team as well. But few fans (or critics, for that matter) were prepared for the stark honesty of ’87s ‘Russ Taff‘ album. Not only did Russ graphically describe his inner turmoil (“all that can shake is gonna shake”), but he proved equally adept at picking outside material that reflected his state of mind («Down in the Lowlands», «I Still Believe»).
Whatever brought on Taff’s long, “dark night of the soul,” he seems to have come through it and grown from the experience. Musically, ‘The Way Home’ builds on the same rock foundation as his ’87 LP, so it appears that Russ’ flirtation with “blue-eyed” soul is behind him. Lyrically, Russ begins the album by reassuring himself and fans that “I’ve never gone so far that I’ve forgotten my way home” and “I’ve held onto my life, I kept my dream alive/ but the dream ain’t over.” The crunchy guitars that introduce «It Was Love» set the stage for a man whose frustrations with life find him looking everywhere for answers until “(I) finally looked up.” «Farther On» is a gentle ballad that finds Russ addressing the Lord directly – “I hear you have a soft spot for fools and little children” and admitting, “I’m glad, ’cause I’ve been both of those.” «I Cry», the Taff/Taff/James Hollihan composition that ends the first side, contains one of the session’s most sensitive lyrics. The track is nearly sunk by mawkish string arrangement, but an unexpectedly tender vocal from Taff saves it.
Side two opens with «I Need You», a mid-tempo folk/rocker in a Springsteen mold. Taff’s vocals soar into the bridge, giving way to a stinging Hollihan guitar solo. As Russ scats and moans “I need you” over the final chorus, you better believe it! «Go On» is a soulful, gospel-tinged rocker, encouraging the listener that even if “your courage has been swallowed up by shame, you’re gonna feel such freedom when you start shakin’ up them bones.” Chuck Leavell’s frisky piano solo motivates you to do just that. A brief interlude of the gospel standard «Ain’t No Grave» gives way to a Clapton-esque blues number, «Guiding Light», and then the booming ballad, «Take My Hand». Taff laments having drifted apart from former friends, and cries out for help to stand through hard times. «Table in the Wilderness» close the album. It’s a folk-oriented ballad that again displays the guitar prowess of Hollihan. The strings merely propel the song rather than overpower it. But center of the mix is the impassioned delivery of Taff. He reminds us to return to that table “where you found your life” and you can find “living water, peace and rest.”
If there’s an overall theme to the project, it seems to be encouragement. Life is tough, and there are no guarantees, but if you cry out to God, He will answer. ‘The Way Home’ is not as much of an artistic stretch for Russ as his ’87 album, but neither is it mere retrenchment or marking time. It displays a superior writer and singer still willing to concede his faults and still willing to take chances. That’s true faith in my book. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, September 1989]
Russ Taff has the best voice in Christian rock today. He really didn’t have a chance to prove that until his self-title release last year, his third solo album, after leaving the Imperials. ‘Russ Taff‘ as a heavily orchestrated disc of power and force that blew the listener away, while avoiding the triumphalism of his previous effort, ‘Medals‘. Taffs newest release, ‘The Way Home’ isn’t as over-produced, but delivers a power and force of its own, with a touch of gentleness.
In the tradition of John Cougar Mellencamp, or even the Rolling Stones, ‘The Way Home’ has that Mid-Western rock ‘n’ blues feel, down to the incisive guitar licks, mandolin, sax and horns, with good piano and organ touches from former Allman Brother Chuck Leavell. Besides co-producing and co-writing with Taff, James Hollihan plays the heck out of his guitar, making it as much his record as Taffs. Taff, incidentally, plays guitar on tape here for the first time.
Covers this time around are Michael Anderson’s «I Need You», which Taff pulls off with passion, and the traditional blues of «Ain’t No Grave», which unfortunately clocks in at a mere 1:19. Other songs speak of love, faith, trials, the usual material we expect Taff to cover, but Taff invests each song, no matter how familiar the theme, with his own unique feeling. When he sings a worship song, it comes from the heart, not the lyric sheet. When he laments the struggles of fellow brother and sisters, he has compassion and empathy. Many speak of U2‘s Bono as a deep and compassionate singer. Taff heard here could give him a few pointers on conviction and strength. The background singers are many, but the one that is distinctive is Rebecca Sparks, her voice is nearly as strong as Taff’s.
‘The Way Home’ is powerful, but not overwhelming. Smooth and polished it is, but not so much so that the raw and poor in heart cannot relate. Thanks to the efforts and talent of Hollihan and Taff, ‘The Way Home’ is a pleasure to the heart and soul, and rocker in us all. [Steve Greenfield, Harvest Rock Syndicate, Issue 3, 1989 (Volume 4)]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-way-home/1578367572)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Winds Of Change” – 4:17
A2. “It Was Love” – 4:26
A3. “Farther On” – 3:49
A4. “The River Unbroken” – 4:24
A5. “He Came Through” – 3:10
A6. “I Cry” – 4:07
Side Two
B1. “I Need You” – 4:36
B2. “Go On” – 4:22
B3. “Ain’t No Grave” – 1:19
B4. “Guiding Light” – 4:13
B5. “Take My Hand” – 4:35
B6. “Table In The Wilderness” – 4:15
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Myrrh Records.
“Winds of Change” (MUSIC VIDEO)
“I Cry” (MUSIC VIDEO)
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