Description
At the Foot of the Cross, Volume One: Clouds, Rain, Fire, sub-titled Songs to Inspire Worship, is a multi-artist project independently released on GlassHouse Records in 1992, manufactured and distributed by Word. (Glasshouse actually was a short-lived indie label run by members of The Choir.) It features alternative worship songs written or co-written by Steve Hindalong and Derald Daugherty of The Choir fame and Greg Flesch of Daniel Amos fame. The album was produced by Hindalong, Daugherty and Flesch with most tracks recorded at Neverland, The Choir’s own studio located in Cerritos, California. A follow-up album entitled At the Foot of the Cross, Volume Two: Seven Last Words of Christ was released in 1995.
The album track “Beautiful Scandalous Night”, a song co-written by Steve Hindalong and Derri Daugherty, has later been covered multiple times. Sheila Walsh recorded the song for her 2000 album Blue Waters and Sixpence None the Richer together with Bebo Norman did as well on the 2003 set City on a Hill: The Gathering. Hindalong and Daugherty recorded an acoustic version themselves for their band’s live album Let It Fly and in 2000 they recorded a studio-recorded version on their Grammy-nominated album Flap Your Wings.
This album will likely be called praise and worship, though unlike most music of that genre, which is upbeat, from the charismatic tradition, and congregationally-oriented, ‘Clouds, Rain, Fire’ is much more intimate and introspective, mainly designed for personal devotional time.
Its chief architects are Steve Hindalong and Derald Daugherty, co-founders of The Choir; and co-producer/arranger Greg Flesch (of da) and arranger Rob Watson. These four have taken several disparate styles of music – rock, pop, country and classical – and woven them together with new lyrics written by Hindalong, and three pieces of ancient Latin text, to create a sound so stunning and original, that the listener can go back time after time and be rewarded with fresh insight.
The album is divided into three sections – The Mystery, dealing with God’s majesty and holiness; The Atonement, which speaks of the Lord’s sacrificial death and resurrection; and The Inspiration, which celebrates the results of that act. Each movement is annotated with appropriate scripture references, giving the material deeper resonance.
Adding to the appeal of ‘Clouds, Rain, Fire’ is the number of high-profile guests. Of special note are Phil Keaggy, who contributes his signature acoustic guitar work and an understated vocal to «Round About You»; Bob Bennett, Julie Miller and Daugherty, who trade leads on the poignant «Beautiful Scandalous Night»; Mark Heard who renders an impassioned version of «My Redeemer Lives» and the quirky Victoria Williams, who’s joined by Julie and Buddy Miller on the country-ish «Sanctified».
The only track reminiscent of The Choir is «When the Sun Fades», a driving atmospheric number, which features vocal and guitar leads by Daugherty. Alternative mainstays Mike Roe and Michael Knott also distinguish themselves in the balladic settings of «Heal Us O Lord» and «Teach Us to Love You». There is truly nothing like this album in Christian music circles, nor likely will there be – until Volume II is released. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, March 1992]
30 Year Anniversary Promo
In 1992, the release of At the Foot of the Cross, Vol. 1 provided a breakthrough for members of The Choir. The group had gained respect as a standout member of the Southern California alternative rock scene but had yet to make the big move to Nashville in order to grow its presence in the heart of the Christian music industry. In partnership with Daniel Amos multi-instrumentalist Greg Flesch, Steve Hindalong and Derri Daugherty conceived a project that would engage the burgeoning worship music trend with authenticity and heart. The project also tapped the talents of musical friends including (among others) virtuoso guitarist Phil Keaggy, baritone Bob Bennett, Leslie DuPre-Grimaud, Bill Batstone, the late Mark Heard, Michael Roe of the 77s, Pam Miner, alt-rock maverick Michael Knott, and roots music luminaries Victoria Williams and Buddy & Julie Miller.
The resulting music brought broader recognition to Daugherty and Hindalong as a production and songwriting team. «Beautiful Scandalous Night» became a new staple for Choir concerts and has since been performed in churches around the world during the Easter season. The song paved the way for the eventual collaborative creation of «God of Wonders».
The 12-song program is separated into three movements. The Mystery features the captivating «When the Sun Fades». The Atonement includes the plaintive «Heal Us Oh Lord» and worshipful «Beautiful Scandalous Night». The Inspiration resonates with «Sanctified» and «Teach Us to Love You».
At the Foot of the Cross, Vol. 1 has long been out of print, and has never been released on vinyl. This campaign aims to produce a high-quality vinyl LP release, a CD, and a companion art book with photos, lyrics, and song charts and artist quotes. Thanks to careful archiving, Daugherty has access to the original unmastered mixes. This permits a rare opportunity for true remastering in order to bring the music to full flourish with the best in modern technology and technique. With your help, At the Foot of the Cross, Vol. 1 can be celebrated afresh by longtime fans and introduced to a new generation of listeners in time for the album’s 30th anniversary.
> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/at-the-foot-of-the-cross-vol-1-and-2-songs-to-inspire-worship/853753423)
CD tracklist:
01. Kate Miner – Clouds, Rain, Fire – 2:47
Part One: The Mystery
02. Phil Keaggy – Round About You – 3:19
03. Choral – Sanctus – 1:53
04. Derald Daugherty – When The Sun Fades – 4:00
Part Two: The Atonement
05. Michael Knott – Heal Us Oh Lord – 1:29
06. Bob Bennett, Derald Daugherty, and Julie Miller – Beautiful Scandalous Night – 3:34
07. Leslie DuPre-Grimaud, Jerry Chamberlain, and Sharon McCall – Kyrie – 2:18
08. Mark Heard and Kate Miner – My Redeemer Lives – 2:53
Part Three: The Inspiration
09. Victoria Williams, Buddy Miller, and Julie Miller – Sanctified – 2:42
10. Michael Roe and Kate Miner – Teach Us To Love You – 3:28
11. Derald Daugherty and Kate Miner – Peace (John 14:27) – 3:01
12. Choral feat. Leslie DuPre-Grimaud – Agnus Dei – Dona Nobis Pacem – 3:39
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by GlassHouse Records. Re-issued by Imaginary Music in 1997 as a double disc featuring both Volume One and Volume Two as well as new cover artwork. Comes in a cardboard gatefold sleeve. This album was re-mastered from the original mixes in 2021 for a 30 Year Anniversary Kickstarter-funded re-issue on both the CD and Vinyl formats by Galaxy21 Music (a Band Commentary Digital Download was also made available). Vinyl – CD – Book – Cover Print and a collectable Custom Wooden Box… all items available in limited quantities. Available at Bandcamp: https://thechoir1.bandcamp.com/album/at-the-foot-of-the-cross-vol-1-re-mastered-album-commentary
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