Emergency Broadcast

Description

Emergency Broadcast is the fifth studio album by the American rock band White Heart, released on Sparrow Records in 1987. The album tracks were recorded by Jeff Balding at OmniSound Studios and Center Stage Studio in Nashville, Tennessee; with the band producing and arranging. Vocals engineered by Scott Hendricks. Mixed by Balding at Sixteenth Avenue Sound in Nashville.

White Heart is Rick Florian (lead vocals), Billy Smiley (vocals and rhythm guitar), Mark Gersmehl (keyboards and vocals), Gordon Kennedy (guitars and vocals), Tommy Sims (bass, keyboards, and vocals), and Chris McHugh (drums and percussion).

Only the Imperials can outdo White Heart as the best revolving door in Christian music. Since the band’s beginnings nearly a decade ago, vocalist Steve Green, guitarist Dann Huff, drummer Dann Huff, and bassist Gary Lunn have exited.

But ‘Emergency Broadcast’ reveals a White Heart that is beating in a healthy manner, indeed. Founding members Billy Smiley and Mark Gersmehl, who double as two of contemporary Christian music’s most prolific songwriters, get plenty of help from lead guitarist Gordon Kennedy and rock steady drummer Chris McHugh. And newcomer Tommy Sims nicly fills Lunn’s shoes and fretboard.

Vocalist Ric Florian, who replaced Scott Douglas in 1986, continues to expand his already impressive range, and when he is joined on background vocals by four bandmates, the band sounds like a rockin’ Mormon Tabernacle Choir. When these guys make music – whether rockers like the opener «Urban Renewal» and «Speed of Sound» or moving ballads like «Montana Sky» and «More Sold Out» – they achieve a level of musical pizazz and togetherness that sounds like they grew up in the same family room.

And it’s not just neat sounds White Heart pumps out. Their songs continue to deal with urgent topics that kids need to consider. «Key to Our Survival» is a powerful song about the beauty of God’s grace in trying times that achieves a musical balance between rowdy rock and refined church anthems, while «Lone Ranger» is a rhythm and blues-influenced critique of solo Christianity.

‘Emergency Broadcast’ is a solid album that offers additional evidence of White Heart’s continuing maturity. [Steve Rabey, CCM, December 1987]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/emergency-broadcast/716278333)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Urban Renewal” – 4:02
A2. “Key To Our Survival” – 4:05
A3. “No Taboo” – 4:46
A4. “Montana Sky” – 4:55
A5. “Fashion Fades” – 4:19

Side Two
B1. “More Sold Out” – 4:41
B2. “Somewhere In Between” – 4:04
B3. “Speed Of Sound” – 3:03
B4. “Lone Ranger” – 4:07
B5. “Edge Of The Dream” – 4:34

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Sparrow Records. The album track “Edge of the Dream” was released as a 7-inch promo single with same cut on both side (SGL 1144-2), “More Sold Out” was released as a 33⅓ RPM 12-inch promo single, pressed on green vinyl with same cut on both sides (Sparrow SGL 1144-3), and “Montana Sky” (Radio Version-Intro Edit) was released as a 7-inch promo single with “Key To Our Survival” on the flip-side (Sparrow SGL 1144-1).

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White Heart (L-R): Gordon Kennedy, Billy Smiley, Chris McHugh, Mark Gersmehl, Tommy Sims, Rick Florian.

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CREDITS. Produced and arranged by White Heart. Tracks recorded and mixed by Jeff Balding. Vocals engineered by Scott Hendricks. Keyboard overdubs engineered by Bill Whittington. Guitar overdubs engineered by Bill Deaton. Additional engineering by Brent King. Second Engineers: Dave Parker, Jeanne Kinney, and Danny Johnson. Vocal Production Assistant: Scott Hendricks. Recording Studios: Omni Sound and Center Stage, Nashville, TN. Mix Studio: Sixteenth Avenue Sound, Nashville, TN. Mastering by Denny Purcell at Georgetown Studio, Nashville, TN. Cover Photography by Steven Heller. Illustration by Ron Mazellan. Design by 5 Penguins Design, Inc. Art Direction by Barbara Catanzard Hearn. Executive Producer: Randy Moore.

Musicians: White Heart – Rick Florian (Lead and Background Vocals), Billy Smiley (Background Vocals, Rhythm Guitar on track A1), Mark Gersmehl( Keyboards, Background Vocals, Lead Vocals on track B5, Additional Lead Vocals on track A3), Gordon Kennedy (Rhythm and Lead Guitars, Background Vocals, Lead Vocals on track A4, Additional Lead Vocals on track A3), Tommy Sims (Bass, Synth Bass, Keyboards, Background Vocals, Additional Lead Vocals on tracks A3 and B4), Chris McHugh (Drums and Percussion). Additional Musicians: Carl Marsh (Fairlight Programming on tracks A3, A4; and B4),
Dave Mullen (Background Vocals on tracks A1 and A3).