Description

Scenic Routes is the debut album by the American americana/pop combo the Lost Dogs, released on Brainstorm Artists International in 1992, manufactured and distributed by Word. Most of the music was recorded during two weekends in October 1991, played live in the Lounge of Mixing Lab B in Garden Grove, California. The album was mixed January 1992 at Mixing Lab A in Garden Grove and at Pakaderm Studio A in Los Alamitos, California. The album was produced by Lost Dogs and engineered by Gene Eugene with Rob Watson, Terry Taylor, and Derri Daugherty.

The Lost Dogs was billed a “supergroup” as the four members actually were lead vocalists in their respective bands, loosely considered alternative Christian music’s Big Four at that time: Terry Taylor of Daniel Amos, Michael Roe of The 77s, Derri Daugherty of The Choir, and Gene Eugene of Adam Again. As well featuring Greg Kellogg on dobro, banjo, and pedal steel guitar and Burleigh Drummond of Ambrosia fame on drums and percussion, with James Sitterly sitting in on violin. There’s a sense of barely restrained fun and looseness about this recording you don’t hear everyday. The music wanders between country rock, blues, and points in between.

Yowsa. I’m suddenly at a loss for words. Go figure. Well, actually that’s not entirely true. But I must confess I never expected to be using words like “cornball country” and “rootsy acoustic blues” in a review of a combined effort featuring the lead vocalists from four of the best-loved and critically acclaimed bands on the alternative edge of Christian rock. But sure enough, da‘s Terry Taylor, The Choir‘s Derri Daugherty, 77s Mike Roe and Adam Again‘s Gene Eugene have come together as the Lost Dogs, and the result is a homespun acoustic outing that recalls the concept of Traveling Wilburys and the spirit of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. By todays pop sales standards it would be presumption to refer to this loose conglomeration as a Super Group in the same way as the joining of Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne, but by any artistic standard this talented bunch is a super group.

On 17 tracks (some rather brief) these four recognizable voices blend their creative efforts in pursuit of a good time, a fun sound and an immediate presentation. The effect is a rather contagious good feeling on songs like the title track, the Dylan-esque speak rhymes of «Breath Deep», and a sing-along country/blues feel on tracks like «Built for Glory, Made to Last», «Bullet Train» and «The Fortunate Sons». While the setting offers a unique opportunity to say traditional things in an authentic fashion (i.e. the gospel song references in «Built for Glory», and the hymn-like arrangement of Stephen Goster’s «Hard Times Come Again No More»), what stands out are the quirkier lyrics that reach beyond the somewhat sentimental forms.

«Amber Waves Goodbye», written by Taylor, uses a lost love song format to challenge the pollution of our homeland, while «Bush League» outspokenly chastises the failed economy of our President’s military-backed new world order: “Your points of light are almost gone” and “Will you give me a job? / I doubt it.” Elsewhere these Dogs ask important theological questions like «Why is the Devil Red?» «Bullet Train» looks at unfortunate deaths by gun shot, and «Smokescreen» deals with tobacco as the addictive drug and health hazard it is. The blues classic, «You Gotta Move» gets covered, recalling the earlier Rolling Stones version, a Jimmy Reed song gets reworked into «Old and Lonesome», and Dylan’s «Lord Protect My Child» becomes a compelling rock prayer that will be familiar to any parent.

On the whole, Scenic Routes from Lost Dogs is unlike anything Eugene, Roe, Daugherty and Taylor have done in their respective bands (with the possible exception of Roe’s bluesy experiments as 7&7 Is), which makes it all the more fun. Cornball country at times, sure. And definitely in a decidedly rootsy acoustic blues vein at times, but a delightful listen for all kinds of music fans nonetheless. These Dogs will find their way back to the bands they front, but heres hoping they get Lost again from time to time. [Brian Q Newcomb, CCM, April 1992]

If the only lost dogs that come to your mind are from the early stages of many a Lassie film, then prepare to give these guys a chance, since their musical pedigree is far stronger than their name would suggest. Actually a mongrel, Lost Dogs is a band composed of tempo­rary defectors (Terry Taylor, Gene Eugene, Deri Daugherty and Mike Roe) from Da, Adam Again, The Choir and The 77s respectively. It is a defection that would be well worth repeating at a later date. As elo­quent wordsmiths they lament poverty, violence and injustice, without being cynical. It’s their musical style which is remarkable though. Essentially roots music (though with a touch of rock a la ‘Midnight Oil‘) most of the tracks take in country, downhome blues (they recreate the Jimmy Reed sound expertly) and Bob Dylan (there’s even a cover «Protect My Child»). This isn’t just Christians doing a Travelling Wilburys, these guys just love acoustic music. The only nails-down-the-blackboard feature for me was their insistence that ‘route’ rhymes with ‘about’, a few choruses of the title track had me reaching for the fast forward button. But I quibble. An excellent album. If you do not like blues, country, folk, rock or Bob Dylan, don’t buy this [Collin Maclean, Cross Rhythms, October 1992]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/scenic-routes/592510298)

CD tracklist:

01. Scenic Routes – 2:29
02. You Gotta Move – 3:55
03. Built For Glory, Made To Last – 5:30
04. Bullet Train – 5:25
05. The Fortunate Sons – 4:38
06. The New Physics – 4:08
07. I Am A Pilgrim – 3:42
08. Lord, Protect My Child – 4:56
09. Amber Waves Goodbye – 3:55
10. Bush League – 1:54
11. Old And Lonesome – 4:53
12. I Can’t Say Goodbye – 5:03
13. Why Is The Devil Red? – 2:51
14. Smokescreen – 2:28
15. The Last Testament Of Angus Shane – 4:10
16. Hard Times Come Again No More – 2:14
17. Breathe Deep – 3:33

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Brainstorm. Remastered and re-issued on both CD and 12-inch vinyl double LP in 2025. Available at Bandcamp: https://thelostdogs.bandcamp.com/album/scenic-routes

Lost Dogs, live in concert: (L-R) Michael Roe, Terry Scott Taylor, Gene Eugene, Derri Daugherty.

CREDITS. Produced by Lost Dogs. Most of the music was recorded during two weekends in October 1991, played live in the Lounge of Mixing Lab B, Huntington Beach, CA. The vocals and a few overdubs were recorded in January 1992 at McCrummy Studio, Whittier, CA. It was mixed later in the month at Mixing Lab A, Garden Grove, CA, and at Pakaderm Studio A, Los Alamitos, CA. Engineered by Gene Eugene with Rob Watson, Terry Taylor, and Derri Daugherty. Art Direction and Photography by Anna Cardenas. Art Production and Layout by FMG Graphics. Executive Producers: Ojo Taylor and Gene Eugene.

Musicians: Lost Dogs – Terry Taylor (Guitar, Vocals), Derri Daugherty (Guitar, Bass, Vocals), Michael Roe (Guitar, Bass, Harp, Vocals), Gene Eugene (Guitar, Bass, Piano, Vocals). Additional Musicians: Greg Kellogg (Dobro, Banjo, Pedal Steel Guitar), James Sitterly (Violin), Rick Elias (Acoustic Guitar on track 9), Burleigh Drummond (Drums, Percussion).