Description
Walk on the Wild Side is the debut album by the American DJ, audio engineer, and Electronic Dance Music producer Scott Blackwell, released on Myx Records in 1992, a division of the Frontline Music Group. The album was recorded at N’SOUL Studios. Written, performed (keyboards and drum programming), produced, recorded, and mixed by Scott Blackwell. Featuring Sandra Stephens on vocals, among others.
Here it is. The first Christian rave album. The first Christian dance album that doesn’t run out of steam after the first few tracks. This is a landmark alburn. It’s as important to the development of Christian music as anything any Christian artist has ever released. Scott Blackwell has been involved in musical innovation for some time, as one of the first to bring ‘live’ playing to the top dance clubs in Miami and New York. But now he’s committed his life to Christ and produced this album of astonishing energy. As the sleeve notes say, “it’s not a question of dancing or not, it’s a matter of why”. The title track is an almost purely instrumental hardcore rave track. «My King» is a clever groove behind an astonishing sermon by Dr S M Lockridge. «Love Comes Down» kicks out a real gutsy beat and features a rap by MC Peace. And so it goes on. There are no weak tracks and there is no compromise in the proclamation of the gospel. ‘Walk On The Wild Side’ may or may not be played in the clubs and warehouses of Britian, but it is certainly a God-send to all the emerging rave worshippers in Britain’s churches. Buy this album, or miss out on the beginning of a whole new Chapter. [Karl Allison, Cross Rhythms, October 1992]
Here’s a leap in the right direction. Former radio club DJ and remixer Scott Blackwell gets prodigal to Christ and is inspired to irrevocably upping the ante in the authenticity of God-centered dance music. It’s taken a few years for “us” to catch up on the mid-’80s house music revolution, but Blackwell makes sure the wait has been worth it.
So as not to overwhelm neither the market nor our senses, Blackwell proffers a sampler album, a producer’s showcase not unlike recent sets by former DJs Jellybean Benitzer, Frankie Knuckles and Arthur Baker. Though Blackweel has been out of the game a while, ‘Walk on the Wild Side’ evinces that he’s not lost track of the pack.
Like all good samplers, there’s a bit o’ something for most every taste. At the extreme, the rap ‘n’ sample title track is effective techno/rave fare. Taking the “found vocal” concept further is some mighty preacher expounding on the nature of Jesus over a deep house groove of «My King (I Wonder of You Know Him)», accented by running acid squiggles.
And ya gotta have pop, right? As Cole and Clivilles unveiled Zelma Davis for their Music Factory, Blackwell reveals the young ‘n’ soulful Sandra & Allegra for two killer Satan disses via «I’m Not Going Back». The lasses delve deeper into New Jersey-styled R&B/house fusion on «Day by Day» and «Far Away». And instead of Freedom Williams, Freedom of Soul‘s M.C. Peace does the rhyme honors for a swinging refashioning of Evelyn King’s «Love Come Down», later reprised with sung vocals in «I Can’t Help But Love You».
Only «The Full Armor of God» fails to deliver the poetic goods, but the low end theory’s vindicated by more ruling bottom. Any way you step to it, this is one ‘Walk’ where the excitement is non-stop. Thanks, Scott. [Jamie Lee Rake, CCM, March 1992]
> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/walk-on-the-wild-side/385321378)
CD tracklist:
01. Love Come Down – 3:46
02. (Walk On The) Wild Side – 5:16
03. Not Goin’ Back – 3:44
04. My King – 5:29
05. Day By Day – 4:45
06. Here To There – 4:51
07. Keep The Fire Burning – 5:13
08. Love Come Down (Leroy’s Love Mix) – 4:14
09. Not Goin’ Back (Fast Forward Mix) – 6:05
10. Keep The Fire Burning (Heaping Coals Mix) – 4:51
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Myx Records.
A full-page advertisement for Scott Blackwell’s Walk On The Wild Side was featured in the April 1992 issue of CCM Magazine.
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