Russ Taff (album) explained
Russ Taff is the third album by Christian singer/songwriter Russ Taff, released in late 1987 on Myrrh/Word Records.[1] 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[2] and US R&B hit[3] 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.
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
Radio singles
| Year | Singles | Peak positions |
|---|
| CCM AC chart[5] | CCM CHR chart[6] |
|---|
| 1988 | "Walk Between the Lines" | 1 | 1 |
| 1988 | "Believe in Love" | 11 | 16 |
| 1988 | "Breathe Life into Me" | 11 | align="center" | - |
| 1988 | "Down in the Lowlands | align="center" | - | 6 |
| 1989 | "I Still Believe" | 5 | 5 |
| 1989 | "Healing Touch" | 38 | align="center" | - | |
Accolades
GMA Dove Awards
| Year | Winner | Category |
|---|
| 1989 | Russ Taff | Rock Album of the Year |
| 1989 | Russ Taff | Recorded Music Packaging of the Year | |
Notes and References
- Book: Russ Taff: Russ Taff. 1987. Myrrh Records.
- News: Hits of the World. Billboard. December 10, 1988. 67.
- News: Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs. Billboard. October 7, 1989.
- News: Inspirational LPs. Billboard. March 12, 1988. 54.
- Book: CCM Hot Hits: AC Charts 1978 - 2001 . . 2003 . 1-4107-3294-0 . Brothers . Jeffrey Lee. 207.
- Book: CCM Hot Hits: Christian Hit Radio - 20 Years of Charts, Artist Bios and More . . 1999 . 0-8230-7718-7 . Brothers . Jeffrey Lee. 160.
