| A God That Can Dance | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1996 (private release) 2003 (official release) | |||
| Genre | Pop, rock | |||
| Length | 57:23 | |||
| Label | Search & Seizure Records | |||
| Producer | Paul Delph, Paul Marcus | |||
| Paul Delph chronology | ||||
| ||||
A God That Can Dance is the second and final studio album from Los Angeles-based musician Paul Delph, released privately in 1996 and officially in 2003. [1] [2]
A God That Can Dance was privately released to family and friends in 1996. It chronicles Delph's struggle with HIV/AIDS and draws its title from a quote attributed in the liner notes to Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 – 1900):
The album was produced by Delph and Paul Marcus, who also wrote the majority of the material together. [4] The album was engineered by Delph and Jim McMahon. It was recorded at Magic Bus Studio, Magic Studio, and The Aspen Studio, and mastered by Wally Traugott at Capitol Mastering, California. [3] [5]
Both "Eternity Spin" and "The Dance at the End of Time" was written by American singer-songwriter Jimmie Spheeris. In 1983-4, he returned to the studio to record a new album that was produced by Delph, however he was killed by a drunken driver in 1984. The album, titled Spheeris, wasn't released commercially until 2000. [6] In "Mad at God", the second verse speaks of Spheeris, where Delph questions whether his "best friend had to die", relating to the fatal motorcycle crash Spheeris was involved with. [3] "Breath of Life" features vocal from singer and friend Vida Vierra. "Mama Don't Cry" is directed to Delph's parents. [7] "Kyrie" was written by Medieval French poet and composer Guillaume de Machaut. [3] "Let Yourself Go" was later used in the final scene of the 1999 US romantic comedy film Deal of a Lifetime . [8]
In 2003, to promote the release of the album, a radio broadcast on KOOP FM 91.7 in Austin, Texas, featured album personnel Paul Marcus, Vida Vierra, Doug Lunn and Andy Markley. Marcus commented: "Paul and I worked closely on the album, we'd been writing songs for about fifteen years, and he found out he was HIV positive and then finally told me. Slowly but surely we started writing these songs that were sort of a song cycle, and we didn't really realise that until about half way through, but it was basically documenting what he went through and what we were going through. It was very exciting, incredibly sad, and always powerful - what had happened - all the recording that went on during the sessions. Most of it happened in this Magic Bus, somebody had left a 24-track recording studio on a bus in Malibu, and said Paul, here you can use this." [4] Recalling "Mama Don't Cry", Marcus said: "I remember when he wrote "Mama Don't Cry", it came out of a conversation where I said 'you gotta tell your folks, you've got to tell them', if he wanted to protect them as he's a sweet guy who doesn't want anyone to hurt. And he did, and one of his ways of telling his mother was to write the song." [4]
Three days after Delph's death, his mother, June, published a letter based on Paul's final week. She said: "Throughout the week, we played music for Paul - "A God That Can Dance," and in particular, "Breath of Life," also Jimmie Spheeris' CD that Paul put together of Jimmie's renditions of favorite songs." [9]
Growing interest in Delph's legacy later caused the album to be officially released on CD in 2003. It was digitally remastered and featured new artwork designed by Billy Vaughn, with inserts containing all the lyrics, credits and updated biography information. All sales of the album were to benefit the Paul Delph Memorial Scholarship Fund. [5] After the album's release, five additional Paul Delph collections were to follow, but these have not yet appeared. [1]
Marcus said of the release: "It just had to be done, it's astonishing work, it's an amazing album. There's an incredible lineup of musicians, the material is just stunning, it was languishing and it needed to be documented, preserved and made available to a new generation of listeners." [4]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mad at God" | Paul Delph, Paul Marcus | 4:54 |
| 2. | "The Good Days are Better (But the Bad Days are Worse)" | Delph, Marcus | 4:21 |
| 3. | "Mamma Don't Cry" | Delph, Marcus | 5:18 |
| 4. | "Sombadine" | Delph | 1:54 |
| 5. | "Stumbling in the Dark" | Delph, Marcus | 4:44 |
| 6. | "More than Ever" | Delph, Marcus | 4:47 |
| 7. | "Let Yourself Go" | Delph | 4:26 |
| 8. | "I'm Gonna Save My Dreams until Tomorrow" | Delph | 3:11 |
| 9. | "Kyrie" | Guillaume de Machaut | 1:31 |
| 10. | "Eternity Spin" | Jimmie Spheeris | 4:43 |
| 11. | "My Heaven" | Delph, Marcus | 4:31 |
| 12. | "A God That Can Dance" | Delph, Marcus | 3:45 |
| 13. | "Breath of Life" | Delph, Marcus | 7:41 |
| 14. | "The Dance at the End of Time" | Spheeris | 1:29 |
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |  [10] |
| David McClanahan | (A++) [7] |
Will Grega of AllMusic said:
"A God That Can Dance takes the big view. Dealing with the struggle to survive in a surprisingly upbeat and life-affirming fashion, this triumphant disc is the best example yet that in facing death, one can also confront the larger issues of life and ultimately find peace. The result is a masterful album about immortality at once intensely personal, yet broad in its sheer pop appeal. A mix of prayerful, comforting ballads and rockers dealing with tragedy, surrender, rescue and the Great Unknown, A God That Can Dance is a testament to faith in eternal life, a look past suffering, and an embracing of the infinite. Delph has created some of the most upbeat, positive, life-affirming and spiritual rock music you may ever hear. Songs dealing with anger, sorrow, and finding strength lead to a poetic and otherworldly, new age-style climax with the pensive album closers "Breath of Life" and "The Dance at the End of Time." Delph makes death into a beautiful thing by removing the fear and replacing it with faith and hope. It's a remarkable journey for modern ears and hearts." [10]
David McClanahan wrote:
"This is a powerful, deeply moving CD that will have you singing, smiling and dancing; it will also bring tears to your eyes, and cherishment to your heart. A God That Can Dance is a wonderful, unique CD bridging a wide range of styles, textures and emotions. Listening to this CD is like walking through a huge tapestry, a sonic landscape that covers the entire range of human experience. There are songs that are a dancing celebration of life, full of joy and often ecstatic. Other songs are hard rocking, intensely angry, questioning, seeking answers to the painful, horrific events of the human experience. There are songs expressing the deepest feelings of love, gratitude and the cherishment of life. Moments that are mystical, pensive, etheric, timeless. There are moments that are deeply touching and many of great beauty. Overall, the message is a positive, uplifting hymn of hope and a deep belief in Immortality. Written and recorded when Paul knew he was dying of AIDS; the lyrics are profound, the music is nothing short of genius, the resulting feeling is one of hope, faith, love and the cherishment of a life where Paul could make such music for a God that can dance." [7]
Goodies is the debut studio album by American singer Ciara. It was released on September 28, 2004, via Jazze Pha's Sho'nuff Records and LaFace Records. After writing songs for several established acts, Ciara's talents were noticed by Jazze Pha, and she began to work on what became Goodies. The album's conception came through the title track, produced by Lil Jon and created as a female crunk counterpart to other singles produced by Lil Jon such as Usher's "Yeah!" and Petey Pablo's "Freek-a-Leek". Ciara worked with additional writers and producers on the album, including Jazze Pha, Bangladesh, R. Kelly, Johntá Austin, Sean Garrett, and Keri Hilson, among others.
Rascal Flatts was an American country music group founded in 1999 in Nashville, Tennessee. The group consisted of Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus, and Joe Don Rooney. DeMarcus is LeVox's second cousin, a brother-in-law of country music singer James Otto, and a former member of the contemporary Christian music duo East to West. LeVox and DeMarcus are both natives of Columbus, Ohio.
Jimmie Spheeris was an American singer-songwriter who released four albums in the 1970s on the Columbia Records and Epic Records labels. Spheeris died in 1984, at the age of 34, after a motorcycle accident.
Sally Can't Dance is the fourth solo studio album by American rock musician Lou Reed, released in September 1974 by RCA Records. Steve Katz and Reed produced the album. It remains Reed's highest-charting album in the United States, having peaked at #10 during a 14-week stay on the Billboard 200 album chart in October 1974. It is also the first solo Lou Reed album not to feature any songs originally recorded by Reed's earlier band, the Velvet Underground, as well as the first of Reed's solo studio albums to be recorded in the United States. The album art was designed by noted Fillmore and Broadway poster artist David Edward Byrd and was one of the few album covers he ever designed.
The Kentucky Headhunters are an American country rock and Southern rock band originating in the state of Kentucky. The band's members are Doug Phelps, Greg Martin, and brothers Richard Young and Fred Young. It was founded in 1968 as Itchy Brother, which consisted of the Young brothers and Martin, along with Anthony Kenney on bass guitar and vocals. Itchy Brother performed until 1982, with James Harrison replacing Martin from 1973 to 1976. The Youngs and Martin began performing as The Kentucky Headhunters in 1986, adding brothers Ricky Lee Phelps and Doug Phelps to the membership.
The Healing Game is the twenty-sixth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1997 by Polydor. It reached the Top Ten in four countries, and the Top Twenty in three more. Following two overtly jazz albums, it saw Morrison adding blues and a pop sensibility. It is the only album recorded after 1980 which Rolling Stone judged to be among his ten best, calling it "a clear highlight of his mid-period discography".
Tell Mama is the seventh studio album by American singer Etta James. Her second album release for Cadet Records, produced by Rick Hall at his FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, it was James's first album since 1964 to enter the Billboard 200 chart. It contained her first Top 10 R&B hits since 1964 – the title cut and "Security". The "Tell Mama" single gave James her all-time highest Billboard Hot 100 position, reaching number 23.
This Woman is the seventh studio album by American singer LeAnn Rimes, released on January 25, 2005. While promoting This Woman, she stated that it was her return to her "roots", country music. The album has a theme of falling in love and marriage. It was a success on the country charts. Rimes co-wrote three tracks on the album: "You Take Me Home", "I Got It Bad" and "When This Woman Loves a Man".
Whatever We Wanna is the eighth studio album by American singer LeAnn Rimes, released June 6, 2006. The album has a more rock-oriented sound. The album was released and promoted exclusively in Europe, Taiwan, and Brazil. It was originally slated to be released in the U.S., however, the release was pulled due to the success of her single, "Something's Gotta Give", leading to an increase in sales of This Woman. A deluxe edition with three bonus remixes was released in the US on September 10, 2021, fifteen years after the original release.
"Got the Life" is a song by American nu metal band Korn. It was released on November 23, 1998, as the second single from their third album, Follow the Leader (1998). The song was recorded in April 1998 at NRG Recording Studios. The band decided they would release the song as a promotional single after each member found that there was something "special" about the song. The single had "phenomenal success", and its music video was requested more than any other video on MTV's TRL, making it the first officially "retired" music video.
John Goodsall was a British-American progressive rock and jazz fusion guitarist most noted for his work with Brand X, Atomic Rooster, and The Fire Merchants.
McGear is the second and final solo album by English singer Mike McGear, released in 1974. The album is a collaboration between McGear and his brother Paul McCartney, who co-wrote and produced the record. All backing tracks on the album are performed by McCartney and his band Wings, occasionally accompanied by guest artists. Lead vocals are sung by McGear.
Paul Delph was a Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, producer, engineer, and studio musician whose catalog includes work with many well-known recording artists from the late 1970s through the mid-1990s. Delph died from complications of HIV/AIDS at his parents' home in Cincinnati, Ohio. His ashes are interred at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati. A panel in Delph's name is part of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt.
Jane Getz is an American jazz pianist and session musician.
Ëmëhntëhtt-Ré is the tenth studio album by French progressive rock band Magma. It was released on 20 October 2009. Parts of it have been played live since 1975 and can be found on various albums as extracts or live versions.
She Won't Be Lonely Long is the ninth studio album by American country music artist Clay Walker, and was released on June 8, 2010, via Curb Records. It is Walker's first studio album since 2007's Fall.
That's Why God Made the Radio is the twenty-ninth and most recent studio album by American rock band the Beach Boys, released on June 5, 2012, on Capitol Records. Produced by Brian Wilson, the album was recorded to coincide with the band's 50th anniversary. It is their first studio album since 1996's Stars and Stripes Vol. 1, the first album to feature original material since Summer in Paradise in 1992, their first album to feature guitarist and backing vocalist David Marks since Little Deuce Coupe in 1963, and their first album since the 1998 death of co-founder Carl Wilson.
Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope is the thirty-first studio album by American country music singer Reba McEntire. It was released on February 3, 2017, by Rockin' R Records, Nash Icon, Big Machine Records and Capitol Christian Music Group. McEntire produced the album with her musical director Doug Sisemore and Jay DeMarcus from the musical group Rascal Flatts. The album consists of two discs. The first disc is made up of traditional hymns, while the second disc contains all original songs. McEntire wrote a song on the album "I Got the Lord on My Side" with the help of her mother, Jackie McEntire.
"All We Have Is Love" is a song recorded by American singer Sabrina Carpenter from her second studio album Evolution (2016), served as the last track of the album. The track was written by Carpenter, Afshin Salmani and Josh Cumbee, and it was produced by Nonfiction a collaboration of Afsheen and Josh Cumbee. The song was released by Hollywood Records as the first promotional single from Evolution on September 23, 2016 with the album's pre-order, three weeks before the album's release. "All We Have Is Love" is a dance track. that talks about happiness, optimism and love that reflects in a new relationship. According to Carpenter, the song is the most positive song on the album.
"In My Darkest Hour" is a song by the American thrash metal band Megadeth. It is the sixth track from their third studio album So Far, So Good... So What! It was released as a promotional single in 1988. The song is frequently performed live by the band. The song was featured in the documentary The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years, where it received a music video as well as featuring on the films official soundtrack released under Capitol. Dave Mustaine has said that the song has one his favorite solos that he has written.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)