Description
I Predict 1990 is the fourth studio album by the American singer, songwriter, and producer Steve Taylor, released on Myrrh Records in October 1987, a division of Word. (Taylor actually started recording the album for Sparrow Records, and then after six months it changed hands to Myrrh Records who released the album when it was finished.) Also manufactured and distributed by A&M Records. The album was recorded by David Schober and Dave Perkins at Music Grinder Studios in Hollywood and at Wayne Cook Studios in Glendale, California; and as well at Reelsound Bus in Nashville, Tennessee; and at CBS Studios in London, England; with The Beaufort Twins producing (a.k.a. Dave Perkins and Steve Taylor). Mixed by Schober, Perkins, Malcolm Harper and Steve Taylor in the 48 Track Reelsound Truck in Austin, Texas. All songs written by Steve Taylor except “Babylon” co-written with Dave Perkins.
The most effective album review would probably read as follows: “Sounds great. Buy it.” Or “It stinks. Save your dough.” And, for a lot of records out today, that would suffice. But not for Steve Taylor’s Myrrh Records debut. Producer Dave Perkins has mentioned “raising the ceiling of excellence,” in reference to some of the Christian clients he’s worked with, Taylor included. Steve’s vocals throughout the album are gruffer and less coy than previous efforts, and Perkins’ “Cinemascopic” production makes this Steve’s finest-sounding effort.
I Predict 1990, while far from humorless, is indeed more serious than any of Taylor’s past LPs. Steve’s satirical wit and sometimes cynical world view are now woven into the lyrics, rather than dominating the words at the story’s expense.
If there’s an overall theme to the record, it’s “the end don’t justify the means anytime,” something mentioned by one of the characters in the lead-off track, «I Blew Up the Clinic Real Good». Expressing moral outrage is one thing; punctuating it with plastic explosives is another. You’ve heard the expression “You can’t take it with you?” Well, the protagonist of «What Is the Measure of Your Success?» intends to do just that… until he realizes, too late, that “you can’t buy time or a good name.” On the heels of Wall Street’s woes this past fall, that tune couldn’t be more timely. Or could «Since I Gave Up Hope, I Feel a Lot Better», which is chock-full o’ yuks in the manner of past Taylor tunes.
You can just see Steve-o cocking his famous eyebrows toward OIlie North when he sings, “Good guys defect, ‘I can’t precisely recollect.'” «Jim Morrison’s Grave» is a straight-ahead rocker with some tasty guitar and synth in the foreground. This plaintive tune, about the enormously talented leader of the Doors, questions the myth of rock ‘n’ roll that some musicians erect, or allow to be erected around them.
The triumvirate of tracks that conclude the album’s second side are among the most compassionate and unabashedly optimistic songs Taylor has ever written. «Innocence Lost» is a death-row allegory that details how we all allow our innocence to be chipped away, some reclaiming it at the eleventh hour, some not. After exposing an album’s worth of the exploits of extremely un-principled men, Taylor asks, “Are you the one taking (up) your cross – are you ‘A Principled Man?'”
An unusual musical setting – operatic background voice and chamber orchestra – sets off the closer, «Harder to Believe Than Not To». The difficulty of living a Christian life in modern times is perfectly expressed with the phrase “you know by now why the chosen are few.”
Producer Perkins has helped Taylor to stretch on I Predict without orchestrating a drastic turnaround that would alienate his audience. Taylor is, by no means, a great vocalist, but as with other gifted songwriters, such as Dylan and Costello, he knows how to tell a story. That’s something money can’t buy. But money can buy Predict 1990. Do it! [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, January 1988]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-predict-1990/1167719409)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Blew Up The Clinic Real Good” – 4:11
A2. “What Is The Measure Of Your Success?” – 4:38
A3. “Since I Gave Up Hope I Feel A Lot Better” – 3:25
A4. “Babylon” – 4:48
A5. “Jim Morrison’s Grave” – 4:29
Side Two
B1. “Svengali” – 4:28
B2. “Jung And The Restless” – 4:32
B3. “Innocence Lost” – 5:02
B4. “A Principled Man” – 3:26
B5. “Harder To Believe Than Not To” – 4:31
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Myrrh Records.
The January 1988 issue of CCM Magazine featured a cover story on Steve Taylor.
‘I Predictionary‘ featured in Steve Taylor’s Clone Club newsletter, Winter ’88.
I Predict 1990: The Video Album. Songs featured: 1. What is the Measure of Your Success / 2. I Blew Up the Clinic Real Good / 3. A Principled Man / 4. Jim Morrison’ Grave / 5. Babylon / 6. Svengali / 7. Since I Gave Up Hope I Feel A Lot Better / 8. Harder to Believe Than Not To.
Steve Taylor – Live at Creation 1988
Snippet from Myrrh Records’ 1988 multi-artist sampler, Shake: Christian Artists Face the Music.
CREDITS. Produced by The Beaufort Twins. Recorded at Music Grinder, Los Angeles; Reelsound Bus, Nashville; Wayne Cook Studios, Los Angeles; CBS Studios, London. Mixed in the 48 Track Reelsound Truck, Austin. Engineered by David Schober and Dave Perkins. Mixed by David Schober, Dave Perkins, Malcolm Harper and Steve Taylor. Assistant Engineer: Robert Wartinbee. “Harder To Believe” engineered by Michael Ross. Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Masterdisk, New York. “Harder To Believe Than Not To” was orchestrated by Del Newman. Original Cover Concept and Design by Debbie Taylor. Art Direction and Design by Michael Hodgson. Illustration by Andy Engel. Photography by Victoria Pearson. Songs written by Steve Taylor. The musical introduction and bridge to “Babylon” were written by Dave Perkins. The ending theme of “Jim Morrison’s Grave” was borrowed from Claude Debussy. The introduction to “Harder To Believe” was stolen from Sergei Rachmanioff.
Musicians: Steve Taylor & Some Band – Steve Taylor (Vocals), Steve Goomas (Keyboards), Dave Thrush (Saxophones), Jeff Stone (Guitar), Gym Nicholson (Guitar), Glen Holmen (Bass), Jack Kelly (Drums). With Special Guests: Dave Perkins (Additional Guitar Tracks on all songs except “Jim Morrison’s Grave” and “Harder To Believe”), Greg Husted (Assorted Keyboard Tracks and Accordion), Papa John Creach (Fiddle), Ashley Cleveland (Vocal Stylings on “Jim Morrison’s Grave”, “Svengali”, and “Babylon”), Annie McCaig (Backing Vocals on “Success” and “A Principled Man”), Nathan East (Bass on “Clinic”), Gary Lunn (Bass on “Hope”), Lisa Cates (Percussion), Mike Mead (More Percussion), Mary Bates (Operatic Vocal on “Harder To Believe”), Jim Horn (Tenor Sax on “Clinic”), Ross Holmen (French Horn), John Schreiner (Synth Bass on “Svengali”), Jant Croninger (“Jung” Woman), Fred Travalena (“Jung” Doctor).
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