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I have a real soft spot for Randy Stonehill's music. For many years my favourite artists list went something like this: Larry Norman, Randy Stonehill, Mark Heard, and Daniel Amos (not in that order). The late 70's and early 80's had something magical in the music that was being created. There was a rebeliousness and sense of adventure present that has since been plowed under by the business of making music. The first Stonehill album I bought was Welcome To Paradise it was an album that profoundly changed the way I looked at music. Randy was one of the elite artists who managed to merge his tongue in cheek humour with a serious bent that few artists have been able to accomplish. Randy released a string of outstanding albums, then I lost track of Randy's music in the early 80s. Then one day several years ago I happened to stop in at a Tower Records in Seattle and stumbled upon Can't Buy A Miracle. I hadn't heard anything by Randy since Equator so I picked up a copy, not knowing what to expect. Would it be the Randy of old or some sad excuse that didn't know when to hang 'em up. Glad it was a CD, otherwise I'd have probably worn the the thing out. There are still a few I haven't been able to find on CD - Between the Glory and the Flame is high on my wish list. But the chances of that, or Equator ever seeing light of day are about as likely as me playing for the NBA. A note to Randy on the off chance that he ever reads this: Thanks. |
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Get
Me Out Of Hollywood (©1999 Solid Rock)
This is an amazing album. Recorded in 1973 at George Martin's AIR recording studios, Get Me Out Of Hollywood was supposed to be Randy's major label release; however, it never saw the light of day. A handful of test pressings were made, but the album remained unreleased for over 25 years. Fans knew it existed but it remained shrouded in mystery. Musically this is a wonderful counterpoint to Larry Norman's Only Visiting This Planet, as it features many of the same musicians and has a similar feel. The music doesn't feel dated, and the quality of the recording is crisp and bright. I defy you to find more than a handful of albums released in the early 70's that sound this fresh. A couple of the songs did appear on later recordings, but the early versions of Puppet Strings, and Jamey's Got The Blues are great songs. The liner notes are rich and full of insight into a time that many of us were too young to appreciate, but they're only from Larry's point of view. It would have been nice to hear from Randy too. A small gripe, I'm grateful that this important work has finally seen the light of day. Reviewed September 23, 2000 |
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Welcome
to Paradise (©1976, 2002) Solid
Rock Records
There are five star albums, and then there are five star albums. This was one I pre-ordered just to make sure it got made, and more importantly I got a copy. This is one of those "must have" records. In 1976 I had no idea who Randy Stonehill was, and thankfully when I started getting into (ick) Christian music in the early 1980's (a time when quality and "religious" music were seldom used together in the same sentence), Randy's album was still in print. This was properly produced, and recorded, and really had something to say. Heck it was engineered by Andy Johns - a man who knows how to make a good sounding record. His credits read like a who's who of rock and roll. I wore out the first side of the record. The first three songs were so brilliant I hardly ever turned over the album. I even learned to spell cigarette properly as a result of Lung Cancer. Don't get me wrong I'd play both sides, but it was a pain having to get up and turn the LP over, and why bother when I could set my record player to repeat side A over and over. So here it is over 25 years later, and I was worried it wouldn't hold up to my nostalgic baggage. Thankfully I had nothing to worry about - it's excellent. In fact it's far better than I remember. The packaging is wonderful, and includes all the little extras you could want. This was obviously a labour of love; except for whoever mastered the cd - someone wasn't paying attention to the track sequencing. The flaw isn't noticable if you play the album in its entirety, but if you're on random you'll find songs starting a couple of seconds in, and the the beginning of others tagged on to the end of others - shame on the quality control guy. Still, it's great to be able to hear all the things I never heard, as well as finally being able to give equal time to the other songs. My wife even commented as I played this for the 12th time the other day that there's something special about this album. Randy is his own genre - there's a timelessness about Welcome to Paradise that'll last long after today's "Christian Pop" musicians fade away. Reviewed May 24, 2002 |
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The
Sky Is Falling (©1980 Solid Rock)
This is the 1980 European version. If you're from Europe and grew up listening to this version, great. I didn't. I liked the North American version just fine thank you. What's with the need to release different versions anyway? I'm suppose to buy two copies - is that the trick? Over the years I managed to wear out my cassette and vinyl copies of this album. So when I was able to snag it on CD I was pretty happy. My first thought was why are they re-releasing his second Solid Rock album, and not Welcome To Paradise? I got the feeling reading the liner notes that Randy didn't have much of a hand in the repackaging of this CD - the notes practically say the album was a Larry Norman release with Randy contributing vocals. I wonder what Randy thought about that? This is still a great record, and worth seeking out. Once I got used to the different song order, and different arrangements, especially on Counterfeit King (what happened to the brilliant Jon Linn guitar solo?) and Teen King. I am still pretty happy to be able to listen to this album again. Has it really been twenty years? Reviewed July 2000 |
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The
Wild Frontier (©1985 Myrrh)
Oh boy. Here I am almost twenty years after the fact with the ability of hindsight listening to a "new" Stonehill album, and wondering how am I going to be charitable to an album that isn't holding up well at all. Now in my defense I like a lot of 80s music, and certain cheesy sounds are pretty nostalgic, and it would hardly be fair to totally crap all over this for sounding dated. So I'll compare it to Randy's other output, and other albums from this time. Hmm. La la la. Nope, this one just doesn't cut it. No matter which way you slice it. With Love Beyond Reason Randy was falling into insipid territory and had totally lost his edge, and sense of musical direction (not counting down as a direction). Now, lest you think I'm a total first letter depression let me say that The Gods of Men, and Bells are a couple of really really (note how I used really twice?) good songs. Songs I'd stack up with any of Randy's best work. Hymn although not among my favourites here is good old acoustic Randy. The big stinker here is Randy's "classic" Until Your Love Broke Through. This is a version so horrible I'm embarrassed for Randy. I'm not sure what broke through there, but make sure you turn the fan on and open a window. This was not a high water mark for Uncle Rand, but thankfully this wasn't a career ending album either. He'd only get better with age. Heck it was the 80s after all, and the guy just wanted to be funky. Reviewed February 17, 2004 |
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The
Wild Frontier (©1986 Myrrh)
People tend to think of Randy as a guy who only writes nice sucky acoustic songs (he is). Guess what? This is a straight ahead rock and roll album. The music is bright and crisp, and lyrically Randy is as poignant as ever. I've had this CD for a long time now, and it is standing the test of time quite nicely thank-you. Even the highly annoying What Do You Want From Life grows on you. There are a number of very good songs on this album - from the title track, The Dying Breed, Words On The Wind, the haunting Evangeline, and The Hope Of Glory. This CD like many of Randy's back catalog is out of print and hard to find. Worth picking up if you can find it. Reviewed October 16, 2000 |
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Can't
Buy A Miracle (©1988 Myrrh / A&M)
This was the album that brought me back into the Christian music fold. I had pretty much given up on Christian music. Most of what I was hearing was self congratulatory pap, and the closest to rock and roll that my local "religious" station played was the new Amy Grant stuff (pre-divorce). Not to mention the pain in the ass it is trying to find anything other than the two or three current "hot" artists. I found this at a Tower Records, and thanks to normal distribution I was able to pick up some great music without having to go to some bookstore and pay and arm and a leg for the same CD (boy howdy, am I ever on a soapbox, I thought this was supposed to be a review . . . ) This is a fun, raw and true blue Randy Stonehill effort. This album stayed in my CD changer for a long time when I first bought it. It makes the occasional trip there still. Heck even the incredibly horrible Cold Rock The Groove is forgivable (I guess Randy had some toys in the studio and couldn't help himself). |
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Return
To Paradise (©1989 Myrrh)
This is a hard album to review. After years of being the rocker, and embracing sounds and styles that sometimes didn't fit, Randy attempts to Return To Paradise. Overall it is another fine example of Randy the songwriter; and shows his strengths as a musician and singer. Mark Heard captures the subdued energy and performances and lends a hand on guitar, bass, mandolin. Randy’s voice can convey more emotion than practically any singer I can think of. The title invites the obvious comparison to his landmark Welcome To Paradise. In a way the two albums serve as musical bookends. Both feature strong songs, and are driven by Randy’s distinct vocal and guitar. For whatever reason, this album has never resonated with me the same way many of his other albums have. Maybe he was trying to hard, maybe I expected too much. Maybe he forced the listener (me) to pay attention, and treat this seriously. I know there are fans who mark this album as one of Randy’s crowning jewels. Lyrically, it is a beautiful work. It’s not an album you can just put on. It’s an album you put on to listen to, and think about. And there’s the rub – I’m too lazy to properly appreciate this one. I like to put music on and have it play to me. I’m not too accustomed to stop and take notice. Reviewed March 11, 2002 |
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Until
We Have Wings (©1990 Myrrh)
The Live Songs: Keep Me Runnin’ / Turning Thirty / Ramada Inn / Shut De Do / Hymn / Good News / I’ll Remember You Until We Have Wings is an interesting album. Half studio half live. This is not among my favourite albums, but it is an important work that features some incredible songs. Most of which are found on the studio portion. Mark Heard who helmed Randy on Return To Paradise is back behind the board, and adds guitars, bass and vocals to the album – if you can excuse the pun his Fingerprint© is all over the place (this is not to say that Randy is simply mirroring Mark’s sound and style from Second Hand, and Satellite Sky; Randy’s voice is so unique it’s hard for him to sound like anyone but himself). When viewed as two mini albums the effect is more even. The first chapter is dark, brooding and it has a nice acoustic rock feel. If the whole album had been like this it would have stood as one of his best works - period. The live cuts that make up the second half feature Randy standing solo highlighting his precarious balancing act between his manic over the top humour and earnest seriousness (which must be witnessed to be appreciated) to his craft. The two songs that kill the album are the ones that would have very enjoyable live, but translate into annoying territory on CD. Shut De Do, and Good News together clock in at close to 20 minutes. They're okay as far as capturing a performance go, but they grind the overall experience to a halt. However, as good as some of the lives song are, they cancel out the mood created during the first seven songs. Reviewed March 7, 2002 |
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This album marked a return of sorts for Randy. Back behind the board, and co-writing many of the songs was Terry Taylor. Musically the results are about what you'd expect. This is a record of jangly guitars, Beatlesque harmonies, with a generous sense of irreverence. The Lost Parade alone is worth the price of the CD. "And the big rock spins in space / In its lonely circle dance / Like a ghostly ballerina / Trapped within her trance / And we praise the feast of fools / And we shun the bread of life / And the stars shine like the tears of God / For the weary world tonight." I've been haunted by this song for years now, and if there was a song that I could point to as being a high water mark for Mister Stonehill this would be it. Reviewed August 31, 2000 |
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This is a collection of (surprise!) Randy's thematic songs. There are also a few unreleased songs here too. I guess they were left over from the Wonderama days. Good songs there are too. One of Randy's strengths has always been his ability to paint a picture with words, and the songs collected here are among the best he's written. I'll admit that some of the songs aren't my favourites, but I don't skip them either when listening to the album. Oddly enough the show stopper this time out is the acoustic version of Hope Of Glory. It captures the yearning and emotion of a heartfelt plea for grace. One day the fine marketing folks at Word will release a collection of Randy's silly and fun songs to act as a counterpoint to this meaty offering. Reviewed September 3, 2000 |
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The
Lazarus Heart (©1994 Street Level)
Randy now just calls himself Stonehill, which I guess makes sense. Just as Bob Newhart, evolved into Newhart and then just plain old Bob. Randy's entered a more mature phase of his career, and the bold Stonehill denotes a seriousness of purpose. The Lazarus Heart is a very good album, and continues his streak of solid albums that are well thought out glimpses into the human condition. This album feels like Randy's attempt to grasp the brass ring. With the help of people like Phil Keaggy, Michael W. Smith, Gary Chapman, Bob Carlisle you can almost feel them pulling for Uncle Rand to hit the proverbial home-run. I didn't buy this CD when it first came out, and when I eventually went to pick one up it was gone (don't get me started on the ridiculousness of buying music at a bookstore - selection tends to be sketchy at best - God bless the Internet and all of the better ways of buying music). I was lucky to find a copy, as it has been out of print for a while now. Sad. Very sad. I remember when Christian music has a shelf life. Reviewed July 2000 |
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Our
ReCollections (©1996 Word)
Our Recollections is one of those inevitable "best of" albums that appear whenever an artist leaves a record label. From what I've read Randy was dropped by Word - I guess he wasn't selling enough product. He must have sold enough to warrant a kick at the ReCollection can. Enough speculation on things I know nothing about. This is a very good introduction into Randy's music. It's too bad that the powers that be decided to duplicate four songs that appear on the Stories collection. For the most part it's pretty balanced in terms of pulling from all of his Myrrh releases - with one glaring omission: where are the songs from Between the Glory and the Flame? Equator was a great record, but did we need four songs from this album and only one from Can't But A Miracle? There are some very good songs here, and some weak ones too. After Equator there were a couple of albums that were kind of lost, but from The Wild Frontier on Randy found his muse and hasn't looked back. Reviewed August 15, 2000 |
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Produced by Rick Elias, Randy embraces a slightly different sound, but remains true to his style. There are a number of very good songs here, and of course there has to be some irreverence, and Baby Hates Clowns is a typical Stonehill tongue in cheek offering. Thirst doesn't really grab you by the short and curlies and make you go "ooh" and "ah." Which is a good thing. I tend to be wary albums that really sizzle the first time - they often don't hold up well to repeated listenings. How many people still listen to that Sunscreen song? Addendum September 3, 2000 - this album keeps getting better the more I listen to it. This is a very good album, and not to be missed the faithful. |
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Edge
Of The World (©2002 Fair Oaks Records)
This was one I really wasn’t too keen on picking up initially. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan and really like Randy’s stuff. For whatever reason the mp3’s on his site didn’t grab my attention – even the much ballyhooed We Were All So Young with its cavalcade of guest vocalists. I didn’t know how much distribution this one would get since it’s essentially an indie release – and I wasn’t going to order it from the States and double my purchase cost. But when I found it at home, I figured “Oh what the heck.” Know what? This one really does live up to some of the hyped tag lines. I think it truly is one of Randy’s crowning moments. The songs are well played, crisply produced, and honest. Uncle Rand actually plays it straight all the way through and he pulls off one of the best records I’ve heard in a while. We Were All So Young is actually pretty good, and it would have been nice to have a vocal road map for those of us who weren’t around then, but know many of the names. The Phil Keaggy contributions are excellent, and That’s The Way It Goes is a great song. It makes you wonder why guys like Randy stumble around writing and performing some of the most poignant music of a generation and remain in relative obscurity. Randy, you’re a true artist, and an inspiring writer. Reviewed April 2003 |
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Decade is a debatable best of from his work with Larry Norman and his output during the Solid Rock years. If you’re like me and have all of Randy’s stuff you bought got this for the unreleased tracks. Of which there are only three. Some of Randy’s best moments are included here to be fair (every cloud has a silver lining). Songs like Keep Me Running, and Puppet Strings, as are Jamey’s Got the Blues and One True Love. Larry’s commented before that the original master tapes from The Sky is Falling were never returned to him, so it’s unlikely we’ll ever see many of those songs in their most familiar (and superior) form. I found it odd that Back to California was left off and Strange Youth included from the Get Me Out of Hollywood album. Now about those three “new” tracks: rumour has it they were demos that Randy was shopping around in hopes of getting a mainstream label deal. Each song clocks in at over 7 minutes, and to be honest they’re okay, but nothing to get signed over. Hide Me In Your Love had real potential - I have to remember that this is a demo. I don’t think these generated a lot of interest. I think that if Randy had his way, these would have been left in the box and not seen the light of day. It’s always dangerous ground when you try to pick a best of collection – you’ll always miss something and not please somebody. (Silver lining part two: Jevon tries to justify the purchase) If you listen to this as it stands it’s a good collection of songs from an important singer songwriter. Could it have been better? Of that there can be no doubt. Reviewed May 2003 |
| Larry Norman & Randy Stonehill |
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The Cottage
Tapes - Book One (©1999 Solid Rock Records)
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The
Cottage Tapes - Book One (©1999 Solid Rock Records)
Full review can be found on my Larry Norman page. |
The
Songs: Get Me Out of Hollywood / Back to California / Lately Mary /
Jamey's Blues / Puppet Strings / Strange Youth / Strangest Feeling /
East Coast Lady / One Man's Blues / Vegetables / Blind Minstrel
The
Songs: King Of Hearts / Keep Me Runnin' / The Winner (High Card) / Lung
Cancer / Puppet Strings / First Prayer / I've Got News For You / Song
For Sarah / Christmas Song For All Year Round / Good News / bonus tracks:
Janet / The Winner / News For You / Keep Me Running / Let Me Do It /
Randy and Larry writing Heart Lock 
The
Songs: One True Love / Bad Fruit / Jamey's Got The Blues / Through The
Glass Darkly / The Great American Cure / Venezuela / Emily / Trouble
Coming / Counterfeit King (alternate mix) / Teen King (alternate mix)
/ Postcards From The Heart / King Of Hearts (the orchestral version)
/ Good News (live)
1:
I Could Never Say Goodbye 2: Love Beyond Reason 3: The Gods of Men 4:
Bells 5: You're Loved Tonight 6: Until Your Love Broke Through 7: Hymn
8: Angry Young Men 9: Judgement Day 10: Cross That Line 11: The Gods
of Men (extended version)
The
Songs: The Wild Frontier / Here Come The Big Guitars / The Dying Breed
/ Words On The Vine / What's My Line / What Do You Want From Life /
Get Together / Defender / Evangeline / Hope Of Glory
The
Songs: It's Now / Don't Break Down / Coming Back Soon / How The Mighty
Have Fallen / Brighter Day / Awfully Loud World / Cold Rock The Groove
/ Beyond The Veil / Can't Buy A Miracle
The
Songs: Starlings / Stand Like Steel / I Don’t Ever Want To Live Without
You / Friend Of Old / You Can Still Walk Tall / True Blood / Strong
Hand Of Love / Christmas At Denny’s / Love Tells No Lies / Weight Of
The Sky / Ready To Go 
The
Studio Songs: Faithful / Didn’t It Rain / Born To Love / Breath Of God
/ The History In Your Eyes / Can Hell Burn Hot Enough / Old Clothes
The
Songs: Wonderama / I Will Follow / Barbie Nation / Don't Be Sad / Rachel
Delevoryas / Intermissions at the Wonderama / Great Big Stupid World
/ Sing in Portuguese / Mice & Men / The Lost Parade / Lantern in
the Snow / Wonderama Postlude
The
Songs: I Thirst For You / Still, Small Voice / Rachel Delevoryas / Bells
/ Starlings / Turning Thirty / Coming Back Soon / Charlie The Weatherman
/ Sing In Portuguese / Weight Of The Sky / Letter To My Family / Christmas
At Denny's / Hope Of Glory (acoustic version)
The
Songs: A Promise Made Is A Promise Kept / I Turn To You / In Jesus'
Name / Under The Rug / Remember The Name / That's Why We Don't Love
God / When I'm Afraid / Shadow Man / Zurich In The Snow / Troubles /
The Lazarus Heart
The
Songs: The Wild Frontier / Shut De Do / Who Will Save The Children?
/ I Could Never Say Goodbye / Christmas At Denny's / Great Big Stupid
World / Turning Thirty / Faithful / American Fast Food / The Hope of
Glory / The Gods of Men / China / Celebrate This Heartbeat / Rachel
Delevoryas / Coming Back Soon
The
Songs: The Hand Of God / Fire / Sleeping / Father Of Lights / Angel's
Wings / Baby Hates Clowns / Every Heartbeat Is A Prayer / Lonely House
/ Little Rose / Everything You Know (Is Incorrect)
Dare
To Believe / That's The Way It Goes / We Were All So Young / Jayney
/ Take Me Back / All I Know / Hey, Pauline / Edge Of The World / Last
Song For Michael / Far, Far / Prisoner Of Hope 
1:
Strange Youth 2: I Love You - Original Version 3: Jamey's Got The Blues
4: Alright Now 5: Lately Mary 6: One True Love 7: News For You 8: Lung
Cancer Lament 9: Keep Me Running 10: Christmas Song 11: Puppet Strings
12: First Prayer 13: Good News - Live 14: King of Hearts - With Orchestra
15: Safe in your Arms - Unreleased Studio Recording 16: Hide Me In Your
Love - Unreleased Studio Recording 17: Chinatown - Unreleased Studio
Recording 18: Norman's Kitchen - A Biographical Tale 
