Description

Celebrate This Heartbeat is the seventh studio album by the American singer and songwriter Randy Stonehill, released on Myrrh Records in April 1984, a division of Word. The album was recorded and mixed by Mark Heard at his studio Fingerprint Recorders in Montrose, California; with Barry Miller Kaye producing. Orchestrated, arranged, and conducted by Tom Howard. Featuring songs like “Who Will Save the Children”, a duet with Phil Keaggy, and “Modern Myth” with background vocals provided by David Edwards and Tonio K. (Trivia: The Morse code on the album jacket spells out “I AM I AM I AM” and the overture has a synth subtly playing the same, as if it was just a musical figure the artist decided would sound nice.)

Randy Stonehill’s return to the studio has again pushed him to the forefront of his field. Insightful and provocative, Celebrate This Heartbeat authenticates the contemporary dimension of contemporary Christian music, combining progressive rock/folk style with an upbeat, almost rockabilly sound somewhere between the Stray Cats and David Bowie.

Having heard that introduction, you’re probably expecting something that casts new light on the Christian music scene. Yet Stonehill’s success is derived mainly in the simplicity and delicacy of stories about real people with real struggles.

The album’s first two cuts, «Overture: Celebrate This Heartbeat» and «Still, Small Voice», lay down the groundwork with simple but poignant lyrics and vocal arrangements. «Modern Myth», «Whatcha Gonna Do About That», and «Stop the World» all carry a liberating beat, shining with satire, wit, and downright cynicism. «Celebrate This Heartbeat», «I’ll Remember You», «When I Look to the Mountains», and «Allison» each delivers subtle, but sophisticated pleas for a truer relationship with the Creator. The emphasis points to a renewal that Stonehill himself seems to have experienced and subsequently grown from.

As with all Stonehill releases, one particular cut is truly outstanding. Celebrate This Heartbeat ends with «Who Will Save the Children», a duet with Phil Keaggy. Expounding on the responsibility of the adult generation to provide hope for the future, Stonehill calls the Christian community to action: “We count our blessings one by one/ But we have forgotten how to live/ It seems that we don’t want to face/ All the hungry and homeless who struggle to live.” With this song, Stonehill reveals even more of himself as a serious songwriter.

As a celebration of the continuing growth of such a dynamic and creative talent, Celebrate This Heartbeat is appropriately titled. [Todd Frimoth, CCM, June 1984]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Overture: Celebrate This Heartbeat” – 3:25
A2. “Still, Small Voice” – 4:04
A3. “Celebrate This Heartbeat” – 4:08
A4. “Modern Myth” – 3:51
A5. “Who Will Save the Children” – 5:27

Side Two
B1. “When I Look to the Mountains” – 3:41
B2. “Allison” – 3:18
B3. “Watcha Gonna Do About That” – 3:19
B4. “Stop the World” – 4:34
B5. “I’ll Remember You” – 4:26

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Myrrh Records. (“Cassettes recorded using the Dolby HX Pro process.”) Available at Bandcamp: https://randystonehill.bandcamp.com/album/celebrate-this-heartbeat

A full-page advertisement for Randy Stonehill’s Celebrate This Heartbeat was featured in the July 1984 issue of CCM Magazine.

A full-page advertisement for Randy Stonehill’s Celebrate This Heartbeat was featured in the September 1984 issue of CCM Magazine.

A full-page advertisement for Compassion International, an organization supported by both Randy Stonehill and Phil Keaggy, was featured in the October 1984, as well as January and February 1985, issues of CCM Magazine.

“Stop the world”, Live at Rock Gospel Show, UK 1985

CREDITS. Produced by Barry Miller Kaye. Recorded and Mixed at Fingerprint Recorders. Cross-fades and Editing at Wilder Brothers Recording Studios. Engineered by Mark Heard. Second Engineering by Dan Reed. Orchestrated, arranged, and conducted by Tom Howard. Rhythm Section and Vocal Arrangements by Barry and Randy. Art Director: Tim Alderson. Photography by Aaron Rapoport. All songs written by Randy Stonehill except track A1 co-written by Stonehill and Tom Howard.

Musicians: Randy Stonehill (Vocals, All Acoustic Guitars, “Ventures” Guitar on track B4), Tom Howard (Piano, Electric Grand Piano, Synthesizers, Tympani), Mark Heard (Electric 12-string Guitar, Slide Guitar Solos on track B2 and B3, Bass on track B3 and B4, Harmonica on track A3), Danny Jacob (Electric Guitars), Tim Chandler (Bass on all songs except track B3 and B4), John Mehler (Drums on all songs except track B4), Rick Geragi (Congas, Bongos, Percussion, DMX Programming on track B4). Jay “Shotgun” Leslie (Tenor and Baritone Saxophones, Flute), John Clarke (Flute, English Horn), Barbara Northcutt (Oboe), Darrel Gardner (French Horn), Michael Amorosi (Harp). Vocals: Lead vocals on track A5 by Randy Stonehill and Phil Keaggy. All other vocals by Randy Stonehill except – Tom and Dori Howard and Randy: background vocals on track A2 and A5; David Edwards, Tonio K. and Randy: background vocals on track A4; and Moses Toth: Children’s voices on track A5.