Description

Way Back Home is the ninth solo album by the American singer, songwriter, and guitarist Phil Keaggy, independently released on Pan Pacific Records in March 1986. (A remixed version of the album was released on CD by Sparrow Records in June 1994, featuring bonus tracks as well as new cover artwork.) The album was recorded by Bob Cotton, Thom Roy, and Eddie Keaggy at Weddington Studios in North Hollywood and Whitefield Studios in Santa Ana, California; with Phil Keaggy producing and arranging. Mixed by Bob Cotton, Phil Keaggy and Eddie Keaggy at Weddington Studios. String ensemble and woodwinds arranged by Tom Howard.

Way Back Home is a very personal and moving album. Family is extremely important to Phil and this album gives us a glimps of his rich family life. In the liner notes, Keaggy says of this album, “I wish to make this album ‘Way Back Home’ a tribute to family, parents, grandparents, children and grandchildren. I have a heritage I wish to express in this album. Of all the music I’ve written, these songs mean the most to me.” These comments accurate reflect the thematic focus of this collection of songs: The family as home, the “place” where we come from, and from which we draw our sustenance. “Let Everything Else Go” is different than the previously released version on Town to Town album. “The Reunion” was also released on the instrumental album The Wind and The Wheat the following year.

As we mentioned in our recent review of Keaggy’s instrumental LP ‘The Wind and the Wheat‘, Keaggy fans usually occupy two camps – those who prefer Phil’s pop/rock personality and those who lean toward his gentle ballads. In an effort to appease both groups, Keaggy often splits his recordings between electric and acoustic which has made for several well-executed, if stylistically schizophrenic, albums. Happily, that is not the case on ‘Way Back Home’, Phil’s new vocal release. It is his most consistent record since his primarily acoustic debut, ‘What a Day‘. On this outing, Keaggy uses only steel-string acoustic and classical guitars.

The title tune, a moving story of Phil’s early years, begins with his familiar multi-tracked guitar sound. Augmented by a woodwind section, Phil sounds a lot more like McCartney than he has in along while. «Here and Now», one of the best wedding songs to come along in some time, is next, followed by «A New Star», another family story and the album’s most up-tempo tune. This Caribbean-flavored track, to which Phil contributes a delightful classical solo, also features Jon Clarke’s oboe, reminding one of Loggins & Messina.

The album features two updates, «Let Everything Else Go» and an intriguing take of «Noah’s Song». The first does not deviate much from its original form, but «Noah’s Song», once bombastic and explosive in its choruses, is given a more subtle reading. Soprano sax and subdued drumming create all the dramatics necessary.

Also featured are «Olivia», which continues Keaggy’s tradition of writing beautiful ballads for his family, and «Reunion», which is, curiously, the same track featured on ‘The Wind and the Wheat’. It’s a shame that there hasn’t been much publicity for ‘Way Back Home’. An album of this quality shouldn’t have to depend on word-of-mouth from die-hard fans to make Its case. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, May 1987]

Sparrow Records 1994 Version: > iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/way-back-home/724527781)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Way Back Home” – 4:24
A2. “Here and Now” – 2:50
A3. “A New Star” – 3:40
A4. “Maker of The Universe” – 3:13
A5. “Once I Prayed” – 3:25
A6. “Let Everything Else Go” – 6:00

Side Two
B1. “Noah’s Song” – 4:15
B2. “The Reunion” – 6:00
B3. “Olivia” – 3:24
B4. “Be In Time” – 4:47
B5. “In Every Need” – 4:47

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Pan Pacific Records. The album was re-issued on CD by Sparrow Records in June 1994, featuring bonus tracks as well as new cover artwork, with the tracks from the original release remixed. Available at Bandcamp: https://philkeaggy.bandcamp.com/album/way-back-home-1986

CREDITS. Produced and arranged by Phil Keaggy. String ensemble and woodwinds arranged by Tom Howard. Recorded at Weddington Studios in North Hollywood and Whitefield Studios in Santa Ana, CA. Engineered by Bob Cotton, Thom Roy and Eddie Keaggy. Mixed by Bob Cotton, Phil Keaggy and Eddie Keaggy at Weddington Studios. Cover concept and photography by Gary Whitlock. Photo hand tinting by Kim Whitlock. Graphic Design by Rhonda Jesson. Direction by Robert Cotton and Gary Whitlock.

Musicians: Phil Keaggy (Vocals, Acoustic and Classical Guitars, Bass), David Stone (String Bass), Alex Acuña (Drums), Brad Dutz (Percussion). String Section: Pavel Farkus, Gail Cruz, R. F. Peterson, Ken Burwood-Hoy, John Walls. Jim Isaacs (Oboe, English horn), Jon Clarke (Clarinet, Flute, Soprano Sax, Oboe, English Horn), Ian McKinnell (Cello on “Olivia”).