Description

Mourning into Dancing is the sophomore album by the American alternative pop-rock band 4•4•1, released on Blue Collar Records in 1985, distributed by Lexicon Distribution. The album was produced, recorded, and mixed by The Pakaderm Co. (brothers Dino and John Elefante) at Pakaderm Studios in Los Alamitos, California. Additional production and engineering by Mike Mierau. Arranged by the Elefante brothers and the band.

The disc showed a more mature sound and consistently stronger songwriting. Joined by Undercover and Adam Again, the newly renamed Blue Collar Records ( (originally known as Royal Commandment) aggressively promoted their trifecta of bands and Mourning Into Dancing debuted on CCM Magazine‘s Top 40 sales chart, and the title track rose to number two on the national CCM rock chart as well. 4-4-1 toured extensively off the success of their two hit records, playing energetic sets at the Icthus and Cornerstone festivals in 1986. Blue Collar Records declared bankruptcy in 1987 based on non-payment of record sales from its distributor, leaving 4-4-1, as well as Undercover and Adam Again, looking for a new home.

Rising to the top of the new music renaissance in Southern California and ready for national consideration is 4-4-1, a pop/wave quartet with a successful custom LP on the indie label Royal Commandment Music already to their credit. Now ‘Mourning Into Dancing’, with its first-class production values, punchy, memorable songs, and emotionally authentic performances, puts 4-4-1 on the map in a big way.

The title track bursts into the listener’s consciousness with the intense pounding of drummer Steve Giali. The listener is then swept up further by Glenn Holland’s throbbing bass and soaring keys and John Giali’s Edge-styled guitar rhythms. By the time John McNamara’s youthful vocals sink in, the listener has already been moved from «Mourning to Dancing» by the modern interpretation of Psalm 30. With telltale influences from new music innovators as diverce as U2 and Duran Duran, 4-4-1 has found a comfortable niche where danceability, pop sensibilities, artistic expression, and an ability to clearly communicate to the Christian audience mesh into an enjoyable and highly listenable matrix.

Other notable tracks include: «In the Night», a study of seduction from Proverbs 7; «In His Presence», its original recording on ‘4-4-1‘ showing what a difference a budget makes; «Say It Right», a moving love song, and «Take Their Toll», a bopping rock ‘n’ roller about the importance of honesty.

All in all a refreshing and tasteful album, ‘Mourning Into Dancing’ will likely appeal to pop, rock, and new music listeners with no compromise on any front. [Brian Quincy Newcomb, CCM, May 1986]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/mourning-into-dancing/268132767)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Mourning Into Dancing”
A2. “In The Night”
A3. “Is It Enough?”
A4. “In His Presence”

Side Two
B1. “Take Their Toll”
B2. “New Land”
B3. “On The Run”
B4. “Jordan”
B5. “Say It Right”

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Blue Collar Records. Later remastered and re-issued on CD by the band.

A full-page advertisement for two new albums released on the indie label Blue Collar Records, 4-4-1’s Mourning Into Dancing and Undercover’s Branded, was featured in the May 1986 issue of CCM Magazine.