Description

The Sky is Falling is the fourth studio album by the American singer and songwriter Randy Stonehill, released on Solid Rock Records in June 1980, though actually recorded in 1977. The album was recorded and mixed by Ken Suesov with additional engineering by Andy Johns. Produced and arranged by Larry Norman.

Another very good album by Randy, its only minor flaw being it’s not quite as memorable as Welcome To Paradise. «One True Love», «Counterfeit King», «Through The Glass Darkly». A nod to the Eagles on the smooth country-rocking «Teen King». Also the touching ballad «Emily» about the death of a loved one. Novelty tunes this time include the television-slamming «The Great American Cure» and the Jamaican-flavored «Bad Fruit» (complete with Steve Scott on “augmented jungle chanting”). Other participants include Larry Norman, Tom Howard, Alex MacDougall, Jon Linn and Billy Batstone. Closes on the hard rock note with apocalyptic «Trouble Coming». Includes an elaborate foldout with an extensive Randy interview describing the circumstances of each song. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th Edition]

Larry Norman finally got round to releasing this classic Randy Stonehill album on CD in 1994. For those who’d only previously owned the British vinyl version (I was fortunate enough to get the original version with American track listing and sumptuous gatefold packaging including a Q&A interview with Mr Stonehill), there are a few treats to be encountered as Norman restores a couple of songs that weren’t included on the UK version. So, this might be the first time you get to hear «Counterfeit King» which does have a different musical vibe to the rest of the album, relying on the excellent Tom Howard‘s keyboard contributions. «Teen King» is an excellent pastiche of The Eagles and examines the seductive power of fame and its affect on those who become famous. Norman also messes with the song order which doesn’t necessarily make it better! It still opens with the excellent «One True Love» but for some reason, one of the album’s weaker songs «Bad Fruit» is placed second. There are the usual Stonehill sensitive ballads «Emily» and «Jamey’s Got The Blues» which are good but somehow not quite as engaging as the slower material on the previous album ‘Welcome To Paradise‘. Highlights? There are quite a few! There’s the usual Stonehill comedy song and this time it’s TV addiction which is featured in «The Great American Cure» which rides rampantly over some pretty strident guitar riffs. Guitar riffs is what you also get on the closing rock out «Trouble Coming» where everything is turned up to 11. Tame by today’s standards but pretty much cutting edge rock for the era! I’ve always had a soft spot for «Venezuela» which the interview sleeve notes says was penned for his best friend Ray Ware who at that point wasn’t a Christian. Whether you’re examining the song writing, the musicianship, the production or the packaging, everything adds up to make this a classic Christian album.

The bonus material includes «Postcards From The Heart» which is an early version of the song which eventually became «Letter To My Family» on the ‘Between The Glory And The Flame‘ album. Here it has a gorgeous string arrangement and was probably left off the original album because there were already enough ballads. There’s also an alternative version of one of Stonehill’s best songs «King Of Hearts». The original version opened ‘Welcome To Paradise’. This version is Stonehill’s guitar and voice which sounds like an early outtake with slightly different lyrics from the familiar version and Norman has added a lovely string arrangement. The album closes with a live recording taken from Greenbelt ’79 where Stonehill and band romp through «Good News». [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, October 2011]

LP tracklist (original US edition):

Side One
A1.”One True Love” – 4:10
A2.”Through The Glass Darkly” – 5:50
A3.”Teen King” – 4:25
A4.”The Great American Cure” – 4:00
A5.”Venezuela” – 6:50

Side Two
B1.”Counterfeit King” – 5:30
B2.”Jamey’s Got The Blues” – 4:00
B3.”Bad Fruit” – 4:55
B4.”Emily” – 5:40
B5.”Trouble Coming” – 4:50

Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by Solid Rock Records, with the LP version housed in a gatefold sleeve with the lyrics printed on the inside. Later re-issued on CD. The UK edition features only eight of the ten tracks of the original US version: Side One – One True Love / Bad Fruit / Jamey’s Got The Blues / Through The Glass Darkly. Side Two – The Great American Cure / Venezuela / Sweet Emily / Trouble Coming. Available at Bandcamp: https://randystonehill.bandcamp.com/album/the-sky-is-falling-deluxe

The Rock & Religion Radio Show #113/114 (Air Date: July 15, July 21, 1980), released on a 12-inch vinyl LP by Sangre Productions, features several interview segments with Randy Stonehill along with songs from The Sky is Falling. Tracklist: SIDE 1: “The Great American Cure” / Intro: Tom McKenzie / Interview I: Mary Neely/Randy Stonehill, “Bad Fruit” / Interview 2: Mary Neely/Randy Stonehill, “Emily” / Insert: Mary Neely/Randy Stonehill I.D. / Interview 3: Mary Neely/Randy Stonehill, “Venezuela” / Interview 4: Mary Neely/Randy Stonehill, “One True Love” / Close. SIDE 2: Collage & Statement: Mary Neely/Randy Stonehill / Intro: Tom McKenzie / Interview I: Mary Neely/Randy Stonehill, “Jamey’s Got The Blues” / Interview 2: Mary Neely/Randy Stonehill, “Teen King” / Insert A: Randy Stonehill/Mary Neely I.D. / Interview 3: Mary Neely/Randy Stonehill, “Through The Glass Darkly” / Insert B: Randy / Interview 4: Mary Neely/Randy Stonehill, “Counterfeit King” / Interview 5: Mary Neely/Randy Stonehill, “Trouble Coming” / Close / Interview 4 “Faith” / Interview 5 “Redeemer” / Close.

Gatefold Cover Artwork

Gatefold Cover, Inside

LP Inner sleeve

CREDITS. Produced and arranged by Larry Norman. A Solid Rock Studios production. Engineered and mixed by Ken Suesov. Additional engineering and olfactory dismemberment by Andy Johns (also known as Andrew “Just-like-that” Johns). Photography, Album Design, Artwork, Sandwiches and Kitchen Sink by Larry Norman. Paste-up and Doo-wops by Little Bobby Emmons. All songs written by Randy Stonehill.

Musicians: Randy Stonehill (Lead Vocals and Harmonies, Acoustic and Electric Guitars), Steve Scott (Augmented jungle chanting on “Bad Fruit”), Sara Finch (Background Harmonies), Larry Norman (Background Harmonies, Piano, Marimba, Harmonica, Japanese Koto, Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Autoharp, Steel Drums, Bass), Tom Howard (Piano, Moog Synthesizer, Orchestration and Keyboards), Jon Linn (Electric Guitar, Slide Guitar, Volume Control Guitar, and Fiery Fingers), Dave Coy (Bass), Billy Batstone (Bass), Alex MacDougall (Drums and Percussion), Peter Johnson (Drums).