Description
Hosanna is a multi-artist compilation released on Maranatha! Music in June 1979, distributed by Word. (Later re-issued as Hymns of Praise.) It is a collection of traditional worship hymns interpreted in a contemporary style. The album was recorded by Dan Willard at Maranatha! Studios in Santa Ana, California; and was produced and arranged by Harlan Rogers of Sonlight and Koinonia fame. Mixed by Jonathan David Brown at Maranatha! Studios, assisted by Willard. Featuring members of Koinonia as well as Al Perkins on steel guitar. Cover artwork by Rick Griffin.
“Hosanna is a collection of some of the most treasured hymns of all-time, arranged and sung with all the freshness and vitality of today’s sounds. No matter what your format – Contemporary, MOR, Traditional or Country – Hosanna has something for your listeners. Hosanna, not too contemporary, not too traditional – just beautiful music that glorifies the Lord! [sticker on the front cover]
Hosanna was (alongside Praise III, another compilation released by Maranatha! Music the same year) included among CCM Magazine’s Top 10 MOR/Inspirational and Misc. Albums of 1979 – Though the label may read “Various Artists,” this time around the accolades go to Harlan Rogers, the producer and arranger of this collection of hymns gone contemporary. The performances by the Maranatha! artists are as good as ever, but it’s Harlan’s touch that makes it memorable.
HOSANNA – VARIOUS ARTISTS – Maranatha MM0052 (Word)
From the sound of this first Hosanna LP, the concept of doing traditional hymns in a contemporary style will no doubt provide as big a series as Maranatha’s Praise collection. «Fairest Lord Jesus», «At The Cross», «Amazing Grace» and «Higher Ground» are standouts. [Record World, July 7, 1979 (Gospel Section/Gospel Album Picks)]
Traditional hymns are given contemporary praise/worship interpretations (i.e., easy listening) on this album of otherwise unavailable tracks by Maranatha artists Erick Nelson, Michele Pillar, Harlan Rogers, Kelly Willard, Leon Patillo, Ernie Rettino and Debby Kerner. Most of these folks are pretty mellow and pop-oriented to begin with, but the selections here are even mellower than their regular output. Slow-moving songs with lush arrangements and string orchestration, sometimes interjected with a bit of synthesizer, country pedal steel or mild jazz/rock electric guitar. Black gospel edge on a couple of the selections. Produced and arranged by Harlan Rogers. The background of each hymn is detailed on the inner sleeve, Biggest draw for me is actually the classy Rick Griffin artwork on the foldout cover, both inside and out. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th Edition]
Here was a really great album that just slipped through the cracks. Originally titled simply Hosanna when it was released in 1979, this album contains eight classic hymns, done in a jazz/pop style. The vocals were performed by Maranatha! artists of that era, including Erick Nelson, Kelly Willard, Leon Patillo, Ernie Rettino and Debby Kerner. Producer Harlan Rogers (who also sang vocals) used some of the best studio musicians available; himself on keyboards, Hadley Hockensmith on guitar, Bill Maxwell on drums, Abe Laboriel on bass; in other words, Koinonia. The basic tracks are what you’d expect from that line-up – solid pop with a jazz/funk edge, thanks largely to Abe’s legendary bass playing. That’s particularly noticeable on the more upbeat cuts, like «Higher Ground» (sung by Patillo) and my personal favorite, a rousing «At The Cross», sung as a duet by Harlan Rogers and Kelly Willard. Erick Nelson’s «Fairest Lord Jesus», is a classic, and was included on the Maranatha! Current sampler and Erick’s later best-of LP. Like some of the other slower-tempo cuts, «Fairest Lord Jesus» employs the judicious use of some strings to fill in the sound. The original release had a wild cover and a beautiful gatefold jacket with a detailed personnel list, the hymn lyrics on the LP sleeve and a separate insert with a history of the hymns, written by Maranatha! regular Bob Bennett. Apparently, the LP didn’t make much headway as it was, so Maranatha! tried to repackage it as ‘Hymns Of Praise,’ with a much tamer cover, and squeeze it into the then-flourishing Praise series. Unfortunately, it didn’t fit that mold very well and it went out of print long before CD’s hit, and it was never re-released. [CP]
Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/hymns-of-praise-hosanna/715649642)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. Erick Nelson – “Beautiful Savior – Fairest Lord Jesus” – 3:44
A2. Michele Pillar – “There Is A Fountain” – 4:57
A3. Harlan Rogers & Kelly Willard – “Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed? At The Cross” – 4:08
A4. Harlan Rogers – “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” – 5:00
Side Two
B1. Kelly Willard – “The Love Of God” – 4:07
B2. Leon Patillo – “Amazing Grace” – 4:40
B3. Ernie Rettino & Debby Kerner – “Take My Life, And Let It Be” – 3:31
B4. Leon Patillo – “Higher Ground” – 4:37
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Maranatha! Music, with the original vinyl release housed in a gatefold jacket. The inner sheet contains history facts about the hymns that were chosen for this recording, written by Bob Bennett. Later re-issued featuring new cover artwork and re-titled Hymns of Praise (sub-titled A Collection of Traditional Worship Hymns Interpreted in a Contemporary Style). Later re-issued as Hymns of Praise (this version contains a b&w inner sleeve with a Hosanna Logo and different cover art).
Gatefold Cover Artwork
Gatefold Cover, Inside
Artwork Fun Facts: If you look inside the gatefold sleeve, you can see Rick Griffin’s image painted in to the right of Jesus on the donkey. Also, to the left of Jesus there is a skater boy wearing a Lynard Skynard tee shirt (inserted by Griffin because “that’s the way it would be if Jesus came back today”).
The Maranatha! Music promo shot for the Hosanna album: (L-R) Leon Patillo, Erick Nelson, Michele Pillar, Harlan Rogers, Debby Kerner Rettino, Ernie Rettino, Kelly Willard, Dan Willard.
Hosanna US 1979 Tour, handbill designed by Rick Griffin. Concert at Anaheim Convention Center, California, September 29, 1979, featuring Denny Correll, Benny Hester, Michael Omartian, and Leon Patillo, as well as pastor at Calvary Chapel, Chuck Smith.
CREDITS. Produced and Arranged by Harlan Rogers. Background Vocals on track B2 arranged by Danniebelle Hall. Engineered by Dan Willard at Maranatha! Studios, Santa Ana, California. Mixed by Jonathan David Brown at Maranatha! Studios, assisted by Dan Willard. Mastered by Bernie Grundman. Liner Notes [Hymns History] by Bob Bennett. Poem “The Donkey” by G. K.Chesterton. Illustration by Rick Griffin. Layout and Design by Neal Buchanan.
Musicians: Harlan Rogers (Piano, B-3 Organ, Fender Rhodes Electric Piano, Synthesizer, Percussion), Al Perkins (Steel Guitar), Hadley Hockensmith (Acoustic and Electric Guitars), Abraham Laboriel (Bass), Bill Maxwell (Drums), Alex MacDougall (Percussion). Backing Vocals: Harlan Rogers, Kelly Willard, Michele Pillar (Tracks A1, A2, and A4), Bob Bennett, Harlan Rogers, Kelly Willard, Michele Pillar (Track B1), Danniebelle Hall, Michele Pillar, Phyllis St. James (Track B2), Danniebelle Hall, Harlan Rogers, Kelly Willard, Michele Pillar, Phyllis St. James (Track B4).
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