Description
The musical City of Gold, sub-titled Impressions of Heaven in Poetry & Song, is a collaborative project featuring songs co-written by Phil Baggaley of Phil & John fame, Dave Clifton, and Ian Blythe, as well as narration by poet/author Adrian Plass, released on Gold Records in 1997. The album was produced by Phil Baggaley and Neil Costello. Featuring lead vocals by Mal Pope and Julie Costello.
City of Gold was followed-up by another musical entitled Shipwrecks & Islands: Touching the Heart of a Broken World, released on Gold Records in 1999. A third musical was released in 2001, entitled Road to the City: A Pilgrim’s Journey.
A musical, but much more. What Phil Baggaley, the creative driving force behind this stunning project, demonstrates, is that great art requires something transcendent, something beyond the total sum of its parts, for greatness to be achieved. Not that the elements here are exactly base metal. Those years with Phil And John have clearly demonstrated Phil Baggaley can craft a song hook; Adrian Plass, though maybe a tad overrated on the comedy front, is a marvellous poet in Betchamanesque mode; Mal Pope is an expressive rock-edged singer, good enough to tour with Art Garfunkle; Neil Costello, surely one of Christendom’s most consistent producers, excels himself here; David Fitzgerald, seemingly the best horn-man in Christendom; and on it goes. But it still needed the hand of the Lord to lift this musical, which will be touring the UK in 1998, to greatness. Maybe for you the idea of a Christian musical still conjures up slightly embarrassing memories of Come Together. Maybe you’ve never really rated Phil And John. Maybe you are so into rock that an album of contemporary pop, with some roots music elements, simply doesn’t appeal. Or maybe the thought of a musical/concept album, based on the theme of Heaven, fills you with apprehension. But this is more than a concept album, it’s a breathtaking work of art with all the power to heal, comfort and envision. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, December 1997]
A special 20th Anniversary Gold CD limited edition, with 20 page full colour booklet, lyrics and art images.
Leading on from late-night conversations between Phil Baggaley, Adrian Plass and David Clifton during a tour in the spring of 1995, the idea of putting together a musical presentation on the subject of heaven and eternity was born.
More than a year slipped by, each of them having full work-loads and other commitments, with the result that they were still no further forward! However, a writing session with Ian Blythe in August 1996 gave birth to the title song ‘The Golden City’ and with the emergence of this track came the spark that seemed to ignite the project. Telephone conversations with Adrian Plass confirmed his interest in the concept, and the fact that he had several pieces of prose and poetry about heaven already written inspired the writing and assembling of new work. Over the next few weeks, with several son-writing sessions taking place in London and Derby with David Clifton and Ian Blythe, the layout and map of the next songs came together very quickly. All the elements were assembled in rough demo form by October 1996. Early spring and summer of 1997 saw the tracking and recording taking shape, with the mixing and mastering completed late in the summer. There was also a special book released as a companion to the project, with artwork and graphics by Steve Rigley.
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/city-of-gold/482649788)
CD tracklist:
01. Poem by Adrian Plass – Peaceful Shore (Pilgrim’s Progress)
02. Mal Pope – The Golden City
03. Poem by Adrian Plass – Creed
04. Julie Costello – How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place
05. Poem by Adrian Plass – River of Life (Pilgrim’s Progress)
06. Mal Pope and Julie Costello – River of Life
07. Poem by Adrian Plass – Heavenly Playground
08. Mal Pope and Julie Costello – The Bells Of The City Rang
09. Mal Pope and Julie Costello – The King Who Remembers My Name
10. Mal Pope – Safe In Your Harbour
11. Dave Cliftona and Dave Fitzgerald – Welcome Dance
12. Poem by Adrian Plass – Cricket
13. Julie Costello – No Song On Earth
14. Poem by Adrian Plass – Heaven
15. Mal Pope – This Is Your Land
16. Poem by Adrian Plass – Arrival at The City (Pilgrim’s Progress)
17. Journey’s End
18. This Is Your Land (Reprise)
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Gold Records. Later re-issued as a Limited Edition 20th Anniversary CD with 20 page full colour booklet, lyrics and art images. Available at Bandcamp: https://littleroommusic.bandcamp.com/album/city-of-gold
CREDITS. Produced by Phil Baggaley and Neil Costello. Poems by Adrian Plass. Words and music by Phil Baggaley, David Clifton and Ian Blythe.
Musicians: Mal Pope (Vocals), Julie Costello (Vocals), Mark Edwards (Keyboards, Bass, Programming, Loops), Steve Thompson (Organ), David Fitzgerald (Saxophones, Whistles, Flute), David Clifton (Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin), Neil Costello (Electric Guitar), Terl Bryant (Drums).
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