Russ Taff | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1987 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | CCM, Christian pop, Christian rock | |||
Length | 48:01 | |||
Label | Myrrh/Word Records | |||
Producer | Jack Joseph Puig | |||
Russ Taff chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Russ Taff is the third album by Christian singer/songwriter Russ Taff, released in late 1987 on Myrrh/Word Records. [2] 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 [3] and US R&B hit [4] 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.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Shake" | Russ Taff, Tori Taff, Dave Perkins, Lynn Nichols | 4:20 |
2. | "Walk Between the Lines" | D. Perkins | 5:32 |
3. | "Believe in Love" | Chris Eaton | 5:02 |
4. | "Down in the Lowlands" | Charlie Peacock | 5:07 |
5. | "This Love Is Strong" | R. Taff, T. Taff, James Hollihan, Jr. | 5:03 |
6. | "I Still Believe" | Michael Been, Jim Goodwin | 4:31 |
7. | "Steal Away" | Traditional | 0:43 |
8. | "(Living on the) Edge of Time" | J. Hollihan, Jr. | 3:40 |
9. | "Higher" | R. Taff, T. Taff, J. Hollihan, Jr., John Hiatt | 4:54 |
10. | "Breathe Life into Me" | Peter Vale, Mick Leesome | 4:24 |
11. | "Healing Touch" | R. Taff, T. Taff, J. Hollihan, Jr. | 4:45 |
The 'Boys Choir' on This Love is Strong"
Chant on "(Living on the) Edge of Time"
Chart (1988) | Peak position |
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US Inspirational Albums (Billboard) [5] | 2 |
Year | Singles | Peak positions | |
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CCM AC chart [6] | CCM CHR chart [7] | ||
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 | - |
Year | Winner | Category |
---|---|---|
1989 | Russ Taff | Rock Album of the Year |
1989 | Russ Taff | Recorded Music Packaging of the Year |
Jesus Freak is the fourth studio album by the American Christian rap and rock trio DC Talk, released on November 21, 1995, on ForeFront Records. The style was a marked departure from the group's previous releases, incorporating a heavier rock sound and elements of grunge that was popular at the time.
Lead Me On is the eighth studio album by Christian music singer-songwriter Amy Grant, released in 1988 through A&M Recordings.
Change of Heart is a 1978 album by Eric Carmen. It was his third solo LP, and reached No. 137 on the Billboard album chart.
Phil Keaggy and Sunday's Child is the title of a 1988 album by guitarist Phil Keaggy, released on Myrrh Records and A&M Records simultaneously.
Dancing with Danger is the second album by Leslie Phillips, released in 1984 on Myrrh Records. The album peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Top Inspirational Albums chart.
Right Here, Right Now is the eight studio album by Christian singer-songwriter Russ Taff. Released in 1999, it is his first and only album on Benson Records also his first full-length Christian album of new material in 10 years, after 1991's Grammy winning Under Their Influence, his limited country success of 1995's Winds of Change and released two years after the death of his father. Taff's father was a Pentecostal minister and a couple of his songand s reflect that on the album. Taff and his long-time guitarist James Hollihan, Jr. produced the album.
Vital Signs is the second album by the Christian rock band White Heart and the band's first with vocalist Scott Douglas, who replaced Steve Green, released in 1984 on Home Sweet Home Records. By this time, Green had already started his solo recording career with the release of his self-titled debut album released the same year as White Heart's Vital Signs. The album features their first Christian radio number-one hit "We Are His Hands" featuring Green singing background vocals and part of the choir at the end of the song. Vital Signs peaked at number nine on the Billboard Top Inspirational Albums chart.
Winners is a studio album by the Brothers Johnson, released in 1981.
Love Life is the second studio album by American singer/songwriter Brenda Russell, released in 1981 by A&M Records.
Another Time...Another Place is the twelfth studio album by Christian singer Sandi Patti, released in 1990 on Word Records. Like her 1986 best seller and award winning album Morning Like This, Another Time...Another Place was another definitive album with in addition to her inspirational anthems, there are also some pop elements and uptempo songs. The title song features a duet with fellow Christian singer and songwriter Wayne Watson. It became a successful hit climbing to No. 1 on the Christian AC chart and would win them a GMA Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year and it also won Song of the Year, given to its writer Gary Driskell. The album also features popular CCM recording artist Amy Grant providing guest vocals on the song "Unexpected Friends". In 1991, Patti would win her fifth and final Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album at the 33rd Grammy Awards and wins Female Vocalist of the Year and Inspirational Album of the Year at the 22nd GMA Dove Awards. Its music video won Short Form Music Video of the Year in 1992. The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart and was certified Gold in 1992 by the Recording Industry Association of America. The CD version contains a bonus track "Rejoice", originally recorded by Christian pop group NewSong.
Walls of Glass is the debut solo album by former Imperials lead singer Russ Taff, released in 1983 on Myrrh Records. After he left the Imperials in 1981, Taff started work on his first solo album featuring songs that he co-wrote with his wife Tori and his guitarist and songwriter James Hollihan Jr. "We Will Stand" was released as the first single and became his first Christian radio hit topping the Christian AC chart for 15 weeks. The song is ranked at number 29 by CCM Magazine's 100 Greatest Songs in Christian Music. Taff won his first solo Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance, Male at the 26th Grammy Awards. At the 15th GMA Dove Awards, Taff won his third Male Vocalist of the Year title, his first as a solo artist. "We Will Stand" was nominated for Song of the Year twice at the Dove Awards in 1984 and 1985. Walls of Glass reached No. 5 on the Billboard Top Inspirational Albums chart.
Medals is the second studio album by Christian singer-songerwriter Russ Taff, released in 1985 on Myrrh Records. Medals would prove to be his breakthrough album. Taff once again co-wrote with his wife Tori, along with his guitarist and songwriter James Hollihan, Jr. and contributions from other CCM artists and songwriters like Pam Mark Hall, Roby Duke and Chris Eaton.
The Way Home is the fourth studio album by Christian singer-songwriter Russ Taff, released in 1989 on Myrrh Records. Music videos were made for "Winds of Change" and "I Cry" to promote the album. The Way Home was ranked at number 11 on CCM Magazine's 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. The album includes a one-minute version of the traditional gospel song "Ain't No Grave" – Taff later recorded a longer version on his 1991 album Under Their Influence. In 1990, The Way Home won Rock Album of the Year and the song "The River Unbroken" won Rock Recorded Song of the Year at the 21st GMA Dove Awards. Taff was also nominated for Best Gospel Performance, Male for the song "Farther On" at the 32nd Grammy Awards. The album topped the Billboard Inspirational Albums chart.
We Will Stand/Yesterday and Today is a compilation album by Christian singer-songwriter Russ Taff. This was his final album on the Myrrh label released in 1994. It is a collection of Taff's favorite songs from his solo years on the Myrrh label as well as a couple of songs from his time with the Imperials. It also contains one previously unreleased track, "Your Love Stays With Me", originally recorded by Christian singer-songwriter Gary Chapman on his 1987 album Everyday Man.
Winds of Change is the seventh studio album by singer-songwriter Russ Taff, released in 1995 on Reprise/Warner Bros. Nashville. It is Taff's first, and only, full-length mainstream country album. The title song and "I Cry" are the only two songs from his 1989 album The Way Home that he re-recorded for this album. The first country single "Love Is Not a Thing" debuted on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart on January 14, 1995, at number 64, peaking at number 53 on February 25, 1995, spending a total of 9 weeks. "One and Only Love" and "Bein' Happy" were also released as singles and music videos performing moderately well on country radio and CMT. Well-known country songwriter/producer/musician Randy Scruggs produced the album's first six tracks, while Taff and his long-time guitarist James Hollihan, Jr. produced the remaining four tracks.
Our Hymns is a compilation album released in 1989 on Word Records. It features well-known church hymns each done by CCM artists' interpretation and styles of music from pop to rock to country. It is also a trilogy of albums from Word Records using the word "Our" in the series starting with this album, along with Our Christmas (1990) and Our Family (1992). The R&B vocal group Take 6 won the Grammy for Best Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group for their interpretation of "The Savior Is Waiting" at the 32nd Grammy Awards. In 1990, the album won Praise and Worship Album of the Year and Amy Grant won Country Recorded Song of the Year for "'Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus" at the 21st GMA Dove Awards. Our Hymns debuted and peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Top Inspirational Albums chart.
As I Am is the seventh and, to date, final studio album by American Christian singer-songwriter Kim Boyce. It is her first and only release on Diadem Music Group, distributed by Benson Records in 1997. Like her previous album By Faith, As I Am continues her adult contemporary sound. Boyce duets with her husband Gary Koreiba on the track "Amazing Love for Me". Production duties were done by Bryan Lenox while James Hollihan, Jr. produced the track "The Sound of Your Voice".
Stand by the Power is the 28th studio album by Christian music vocal group The Imperials, released in 1982 on DaySpring Records. This is the first album to feature new lead singer Paul Smith, who replaced Russ Taff after being with the group since 1976. While promoting an Imperials concert at Baylor University where he was a student, Smith gave Armond Morales a tape of his music. When Morales learned that Taff was leaving, he called Smith. Smith co-wrote five songs on this album and the Imperials also covered the Kerry Livgren track "How Can You Live" from his album Seeds of Change (1980). In 1983, the Imperials won the Dove Award for Group of the Year at the 14th GMA Dove Awards.The album peaked at number two on the Billboard Top Inspirational Albums chart.
Artist of My Soul is the eighteenth studio album by Christian singer Sandi Patty, released in 1997 on Word Records. It was produced by Robbie Buchanan, whose production, arrangement and keyboardist credits include artists like Amy Grant, Whitney Houston, Rascal Flatts and Neil Diamond. The album peaked at number 3 on the Heatseekers Albums, number 7 on the Top Christian Albums and number 155 on the Top 200 Albums charts in Billboard magazine. Artist of My Soul won Inspirational Album of the Year at the 29th GMA Dove Awards.
Same Girl is the fifth studio album by Christian singer-songwriter Twila Paris, released in 1987 by Star Song Records. Paris was nominated in two categories at the 19th GMA Dove Awards for Female Vocalist of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for Same Girl. Christian recording artist and guitar player Phil Keaggy provides an acoustic guitar solo on the track "I Feel It." The album peaked at number six on the Billboard Top Inspirational Albums chart.