Description
Limelight is the first live album by the American singer, songwriter, and producer Steve Taylor, released on Sparrow Records in 1986. The album was recorded August 26, 1985, live at the Greenbelt Festival in Castle Ashby, England. Engineered by Keith Bessey using the RAK Mobile and Gallery Studios, England, with Bessey and Steve Taylor producing. Mixed at Weddington Studios in North Hollywood, California.
Featuring Steve Taylor on lead vocals backed by Some Band: Steve Peters on keyboards and background vocals, Dave Thrush on saxophone and background vocals, Jeff Stone on guitar, Glen Holmen on bass and background vocals, and Terl Bryant on drums.
Steve Taylor’s newest vinyl adventure comes to us recorded live from the Greenbelt Festival, Castle Ashby, England in the tradition of U2‘s Under a Blood Red Sky. A short but economically-priced eight-song LP and a veritable “best of” collection, Limelight serves to initiate the novice to Taylor’s zany world. It chronicles the energy, the ministry, and entertainment that characterize Taylor’s live performances and minimizes the lull between studio albums.
The title of Taylor’s first live work alludes to the rather dubious line “get me outta this limelight” from «This Disco (Used to Be a Cute Cathedral)» and expresses his tentative embrace of his newly acquired place near the top of the Christian music heap. Taylor’s kinetic performance and charismatic delivery are, however, hardly tentative – and neight is the audience response.
At a near sizzling pace, Taylor leads a tight and capable Some Band through rapid-fire renditions of «This Disco», «I Want to Be a Clone», «On the Fritz», and «Meltdown». Dave Thrush shines on sax while Terl Bryant on drums, Glen Holmen on bass, Jeff Stone on guitar, and Steve Peters on keys flush out the sparse, angular arrangements with a kind of musical integrity that belies the fact that the original versions were cut by crack studio players.
Taylor broadens the political scope of «We Don’t Need No Colour Code» to include racist churches in South Africa. Then he adds, in his characteristic wry wit, “I thought it would be nice if we did this song in kind of an African call-and-response format.” The loud shouts of Taylor’s invigorated audience are indicative of modern music’s potential to transform and renew minds when it is allied to the powerful, prophetic gospel.
The rather urbane version of «Not Gonna Fall Away» (Taylor’s duet with Sheila Walsh) that closes out the album lacks both the production wizardry and rhythmic complexity of the Trans-Atlantic Remixes version.
Limelight will be the listener’s companion to a full-length film of the same concert, a marketing strategy not unlike U2’s. The Sparrow/Steve Taylor collaboration – with his debut EP, the two dance remix releases, video productions, and now the step into live album and film promotions – has opened new vistas in marketing to the Christian music business community.
Live albums have a tendency to capture and recap an era in an artist’s achievement. Limelight does all that and more. It again affirms Taylor’s social/spiritual significance, his unique presence and dynamic personality, and the promise of ever greater achievements in creative expressions.
Here’s to Steve Taylor and his reluctant life in the Limelight. It couldn’t happen to a better automation. [Brian Quincy Newcomb, CCM, April 1986]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “This Disco Used To Be A Cute Cathedral” – 3:14
A2. “I Want To Be A Clone” – 2:58
A3. “You Don’t Owe Me Nothing” – 3:26
A4. “On The Fritz” – 3:32
Side Two
B1. “We Don’t Need No Color Code” – 3:16
B2. “Whatever Happened To Sin?” – 3:27
B3. “Meltdown (At Madame Tussaud’s)” – 4:01
B4. “Not Gonna Fall Away” (duet with Sheila Walsh) – 3:28
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Sparrow Records.
The February 1986 issue of CCM Magazine featured a cover story on Steve Taylor.
Billboard’s Gospel Lectern by Bob Darden covers Steve Taylor’s Trans-Atlantic Tour and live album (Billboard Magazine, December 14, 1985)
Limelight: The Film VHS (Sparrow Records 1986)
Tracks: 1. This Disco 2. I Want To Be a Clone 3. You Don’t Owe Me Nothin’ 4. On The Fritz 5.Lifeboat (video) 6. Sin For a Season 7. Over My Dead Body 8. Hero 9. Colour Code 10. Whatever Happened to Sin? 11. Meltdown 12. Not Going To Fall Away (featuring Sheila Walsh).
Limelight – The Film.
Sparrow Records. Directed by John Aneman.At long last, ‘Limelight’ has become available for purchase or rental through Christian retail outlets. Sparrow had heretofore tried it in the church rental market, but with their new “Wrap It Up” promotion, the timing must be right for ‘Limelight’ to hit the racks. The price is right, too – just $24.95.
It’s a good film, shot on film rather than video, in England at Taylor’s performance on the Greenbelt stage in 1985. More than anything, it affirms this artist’s value to the ministry of contemporary Christian music. Taylor’s use of scathing satire slashes with a determined sobriety that intends to heal what is hurt. «On the Fritz», «Sin for a Season», and «(We Don’t Need No) Colour Code» are downright lethal in making their respective points and, make no mistake about it, this stuff is plenty relevant in 1987.
What does come off a bit dated, however, are some of the goofier musical moments like «I Wanna Be a Clone» and «This Disco». Taylor would do well to ensure the longevity of these messages with less trendy music. But it’s a small complaint, and more than anything I was left feeling overwhelmed by his effectiveness, and looking forward to his new material.
On the technical side the film looks good, though the mix leaves a bit to be desired. Jeff Stone’s guitar parts are buried too low for my liking, still it’s nonetheless refreshing to have a concert video apparently free of after-the-fact studio sweetening. Don’t be too late to jump on the bandwagon, er, lifeboat, and pick up ‘Limelight’. This one’s worth it. [Thom Granger, CCM, November 1987]
Last year he’d come, a skinny unknown from the other side of the pond, and all but stole Greenbelt from the big stars. Now he is the big star at this, the biggest Christian Music festival in the World
Twenty thousand Brits holler as Some Band smacks into the first riff and Steve Taylor zooms onto the stage, shot from an invisible catapult.
No, last year was no fluke. This guy delivers. Spinning and wheeling, ducking and diving, Steve sings over a granite-hard backbeat with all the Power and rock & roll fire that separates the true grit men from the soft rock boys. «Meltdown», «Whatever Happened To Sin?», «On The Fritz», here is rock that DEMANDS attention from feet, heart and mind.
Long before Sheila Walsh steps on stage for a duet, Steve has conquered British Christiandom. But here is much more than a human dynamo turning a vast audience into foot-stomping clones. Here is a prophet for our jaundiced age, cutting through sin and compromise with wit, truth and deep, deep passion. “I just wanna know – am I pulling people closer?” Steve sings. Twenty thousand feel the Spirit and know that he is.
Tony Cummings, Buzz Magazine, England [Note printed on the back side of the VHS sleeve]
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