Description

Within Reach is the seventh studio album by the American singer, songwriter, and session bassist Rick Cua, released on Reunion Records in 1991, manufactured and distributed by Word. The album was recorded and mixed at Pakaderm Studios with John and Dino Elefante producing.

‘Within Reach’ is Cua’s seventh album in the past nine years, and few artists can match his consistency in challenging both themselves and their audience. There are no hidden messages here and no thinly veiled metaphors; Cua has earned the right through his compassion for his fans to speak candidly. Rick is aided in his efforts by a cracker-jack band, featuring drummer Mike Caputy and guitarist Glen Pierce. The musical foundation for ‘Within Reach’ is meat and potatoes rock ‘n’ roll, with some feverish R&B horn charts. Stirring up this stew (to borrow from Rick’s other passion – cooking) are John and Dino Elefante, who prove capable of stepping beyond the progressive metal for which they are most noted. The Pakaderm Twins are to be commended for finally letting more of the artist (and less of the producer) come through in the mix. (Maybe it was their common Neopolitan heritage, eh?)

The album kicks off with two rockers, «Message of Love», contributed by pop craftsman Jerry Williams, and «Heaven Won’t Stop the Rain», a tune Cua co-wrote with long-time partner Bob Halligan. Rick’s vocal prowess shines through on the soulful ballad «Keeper of My Soul». We’re encouraged by Cua to «Do It» – don’t delay in bringing the gospel to the world and to «Stand Your Ground» when that gospel is rebuffed by people. It hardly seems possible that some of us have been in this business long enough to have teenage children, but Rick gently reminds us of that fact on two of the album’s best tracks – «Fifteen», dedicated to daughter Nina and the Kansas-influenced «Diamond Girl», for daughter Niki.

But Cua is far from being an old geezer; in fact, the vitality with which he approaches his ministry, and the joy he devotes to his music might ensure that a whole new audience is just ‘Within Reach’. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, April 1991]

CD tracklist:

01. Message Of Love – 3:42
02. Heaven Won’t Stop The Rain – 4:48
03. Somewhere Tonight – 3:39
04. Stand Your Ground – 4:18
05. Fifteen – 4:07
06. Power Of The Lord – 4:12
07. Big Gun – 3:48
08. Keeper Of My Soul – 3:23
09. Do It – 4:37
10. Diamond Girl – 3:57

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Reunion Records.