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Russ Taff (album)

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1987 studio album by Russ Taff
Russ Taff
Studio album by Russ Taff
Released1987
Studio
GenreCCM, Christian pop, Christian rock
Length48:01
LabelMyrrh/Word Records
ProducerJack Joseph Puig
Russ Taff chronology
Medals
(1985) 		Russ Taff
(1987) 		The Way Home
(1989)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic

Russ Taff is the third album by Christian singer/songwriter Russ Taff, released in late 1987 on Myrrh/Word Records. Taff covers two songs: "Down in the Lowlands" by Charlie Peacock and "I Still Believe" by the Call, plus a 40-second snippet of the American negro spiritual "Steal Away". Taff also records "Breathe Life into Me", which would later be a UK Top 30 hit and US R&B hit in 1988–1989 by British singer Mica Paris. Russ Taff reached number two on the Billboard Top Inspirational Albums chart. The album won a GMA Dove Award for Rock Album of the Year at the 20th GMA Dove Awards and earned Taff a Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Performance, Male at the 31st Annual Grammy Awards.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Shake"Russ Taff, Tori Taff, Dave Perkins, Lynn Nichols4:20
2."Walk Between the Lines"D. Perkins5:32
3."Believe in Love"Chris Eaton5:02
4."Down in the Lowlands"Charlie Peacock5:07
5."This Love Is Strong"R. Taff, T. Taff, James Hollihan, Jr.5:03
6."I Still Believe"Michael Been, Jim Goodwin4:31
7."Steal Away"Traditional0:43
8."(Living on the) Edge of Time"J. Hollihan, Jr.3:40
9."Higher"R. Taff, T. Taff, J. Hollihan, Jr., John Hiatt4:54
10."Breathe Life into Me"Peter Vale, Mick Leesome4:24
11."Healing Touch"R. Taff, T. Taff, J. Hollihan, Jr.4:45

Personnel

  • Russ Taff – lead vocals, backing vocals (3, 8, 11)
  • Robbie Buchanan – synthesizers (1-6, 8-11), acoustic piano (2, 3, 5, 11), Hammond B3 organ (3, 11), PPG bass (5)
  • Greg Husted – Hammond B3 organ (1, 6)
  • Eric Persing – synthesizer programming (2)
  • Alan Pasqua – synthesizers (3, 4, 6)
  • James Hollihan – guitars (1, 3-6, 8-11), slide guitar solo (5), acoustic slide guitar (7), acoustic piano (8), guitar solo (9-11), acoustic guitar (11)
  • Lynn Nichols – acoustic guitar (1)
  • Dave Perkins – acoustic guitar (1), guitars (1, 2, 6), guitar solo (1), backing vocals (2, 11), additional synthesizers (2)
  • Dann Huff – guitars (2-5, 9, 10)
  • Neil Stubenhaus – bass (1, 2, 6, 9)
  • Mike Brignardello – bass (3, 11)
  • Nathan East – bass (4, 10)
  • Jackie Street – bass (8)
  • Mel Watts – drums (1, 6, 8)
  • Scott Musick – drums (2, 9)
  • Paul Leim – drums (3-5, 10, 11)
  • Lenny Castro – percussion (1, 4, 5, 8, 11)
  • Koji Egawa – door percussion (4)
  • Joe Porcaro – timpani (5)
  • Jeff Porcaro – hi-hat (6)
  • Mark Douthit – sax solo (3), soprano saxophone (4), saxophone (8, 9)
  • Clarice Devisschu – backing vocals (4)
  • Vince Ebo – backing vocals (4, 9)
  • Charlie Peacock – backing vocals (4, 9)
  • Rebecca Sparks – backing vocals (4)
  • Jack Joseph Puig – ethnic vocals (4)
  • Mark Williamson – backing vocals (6, 8, 10)
  • Annie Stocking – backing vocals (9)

The 'Boys Choir' on This Love is Strong"

  • James Hollihan, Lynn Nichols, Greg Sparks, Russ Taff, Steve Taylor and Mark Williamson

Chant on "(Living on the) Edge of Time"

  • James Hollihan, Lynn Nichols, Dave Perkins, Jack Joseph Puig and Russ Taff

Production

  • Lynn Nichols – executive producer, cover design concept
  • Jack Joseph Puig – producer, recording, mixing
  • Steve Ford – assistant engineer
  • Koji Egawa – assistant engineer
  • Wade Jaynes – assistant engineer
  • Julie Last – assistant engineer
  • Bert Stevens – assistant engineer
  • Billy Whittington – assistant engineer
  • Steve Hazelton – technical assistance
  • Mike Wambsgans – technical assistance
  • Doug Sax – mastering at The Mastering Lab (Hollywood, California)
  • Joan Tankersley – art direction, cover design concept, logo design
  • Patrick Pollei – logo design
  • Phillip Dixon – photography
  • Zack Glickman – management

Charts

Chart (1988) Peak
position
US Inspirational Albums (Billboard) 2

Radio singles

Year Singles Peak positions
CCM AC chart CCM CHR chart
1988 "Walk Between the Lines" 1 1
1988 "Believe in Love" 11 16
1988 "Breathe Life into Me" 11 -
1988 "Down in the Lowlands - 6
1989 "I Still Believe" 5 5
1989 "Healing Touch" 38 -

Accolades

GMA Dove Awards

Year Winner Category
1989 Russ Taff Rock Album of the Year
1989 Russ Taff Recorded Music Packaging of the Year

References

  1. Allmusic review
  2. Russ Taff: Russ Taff. Myrrh Records. 1987.
  3. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. December 10, 1988. p. 67.
  4. "Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs". Billboard. October 7, 1989.
  5. "Inspirational LPs" (PDF). Billboard. March 12, 1988. p. 54.
  6. Brothers, Jeffrey Lee, ed. (2003). CCM Hot Hits: AC Charts 1978 - 2001. AuthorHouse. p. 207. ISBN 1-4107-3294-0.
  7. Brothers, Jeffrey Lee, ed. (1999). CCM Hot Hits: Christian Hit Radio - 20 Years of Charts, Artist Bios and More. CCM Books. p. 160. ISBN 0-8230-7718-7.
Russ Taff
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