The Praise Album

Description

The Praise Album is a multi-artist project released on Maranatha! Music in 1974. It is the first installment of an ongoing series of praise and worship compilations – later known as The Praise Series – recorded by a revolving cast of singers known as The Maranatha Singers, backed by various session musicians connected to Maranatha! Music. The album was recorded at Buddy King Studios in Huntington Beach, California; with Tommy Coomes of Love Song fame producing. String and horn arrangements by Peter Jacob of Children of the Day. Featuring the classic “Seek Ye First”, a song written by Karen Lafferty.

In 1974 Maranatha! Music took another giant step forward by adopting a more contemporary approach to congregational worship music. The release of The Praise Album proved hugely influential and was to be the first in a series of albums – soon simply titled ‘Praise’ – which was to go on over the next 36 years to an amazing 21 volumes. In 1975 Maranatha as well released The Joy Album.

The first seven albums of the Praise Series, originally released between 1974 and 1984, were re-issued on CD by Maranatha! Music in 2012, as a part of The Praise Box Set. Includes The Praise Album (1974), Praise II (1976), Praise III (1979), Praise 4: In His Time (1980), Praise 5: It’s Time to Praise the Lord (1981), Praise Six: Come and Sing Praises (1982), and Praise Seven (1984).

I’ve never really cared for the whole easy listening style of contemporary praise music, the Maranatha series included. I will, however, make note of the debut here as it contains two very moving ballads: «Praise The Lord» and the soft-electric-backed «Bring My Body Closer». Both feature members of Love Song and would be right at home on either of their two studio LPs. The minor-key acoustic round «Holy, Thou Art Holy» also has some nice guitar work and harmonization. Simple “Jesus folk” expressions such as these had disappeared by the time of Praise II and the subsequent entries. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-praise-album/1214196490)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Heavenly Father” – 3:39
A2. “Father I Adore You” – 2:31
A3. “Praise The Lord” – 4:50
A4. “Praise The Lord Together” – 1:15
A5. “Thy Loving Kindness” – 2:12
A6. “Set My Spirit Free” – 3:43

Side Two
B1. “Bring My Body Closer” – 3:28
B2. “Love (One Another)” – 3:02
B3. “Seek Ye First” (Matt. 6:33) – 2:45
B4. “Cause Me To Come” – 2:36
B5. “Holy, Thou Art Holy” – 2:36
B6. “Peace Give I To Thee” – 3:03

Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by Maranatha! Music. The original issue was without Word distribution. The first and rarest vinyl pressing has yellow, brown and green back cover with Dave Rios and Bill Bradford missing from Musician Credits and has a beige label with maroon print. All subsequent pressings have a green back cover with Dave Rios and Bill Bradford properly credited – first on beige label with maroon print, then later on beige label with black print

Re-issued on CD by Maranatha! Music in 2012, as a part of The Praise Box Set. The CD box set features the first 7 vinyl Maranatha! Praise LPs from the 70s and 80s. Each CD album is re-mastered and digitally restored for the purest sound and features the original cover artwork, all contained in a slipcase box. Includes The Praise Album (1974), Praise II (1976), Praise III (1979), Praise 4: In His Time (1980), Praise 5: It’s Time to Praise the Lord (1981), Praise Six: Come and Sing Praises (1982), and Praise Seven (1984).

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CREDITS. Produced by Tom Coomes. String and horn arrangements by Pete Jacob. Recorded at Buddy King Studios, Huntington Beach, CA. Mastered by Doug Sax at The Mastering Lab, Hollywood, CA. Album design and artwork by Kernie Erickson and Neal Buchanan. Cover Photo by David Burgin.

Musicians: Bill Bradford, Bill Sprouse, Bruce Herring, Chuck Girard, Dana Angle, Dave Rios, Denny Stahl, Erick Nelson, Ernie Rettino, Gary Arthur, Jan Luxumbourg, Jay Truax, John Mehler, John Wickham, Karen Lafferty, Linda Broadbent, Marsha Stevens, Mike Fickling, Nancy Hawthorne, Pete Jacobs, Russ Stevens, Terrye Coelho, Tom Stipe, Tom Coomes, Wendy Carter. Horns: Bob Lund, Brooks Grier, John McIntyre, Kris Holmes, Ron Minor. Strings: Al Barr, Bobby Bruce, Goerge Poole, John Santulio, Mark Kovacs, Nate Gershman, Walt Wiemeyer.