GIRDER RECORDS TO RELEASE 2ND CHAPTER OF ACTS SINGER SOWER and MANSION BUILDER
PRE-ORDERS START WEDNESDAY MARCH 27
Official Press Release
Official press release here --> https://girdermusic.com/pages/2nd-chapter-of-acts-celebrating-the-legacy-with-two-classic-album-reissues
Singer Sower
- Guitars and Synths by Kerry Livgren
- 3 part Harmonies from Matthew Ward, Annie Herring and Nelly Greisen
- Originally Released in 1983. Available for the first time since 1991
- 12 Page Booklet with Lyrics and photos in a jewel case
- Officially licensed from Capital Records
- Remastered Audio
- Release Date 05-03-2024
- 2024 Girder Records (GR1195)
- UPC 765105160010
Description
Since the release of their first 45s in 1972, 2nd Chapter of Acts, consisting of siblings Annie Herring, Nelly Greisen, and Matthew Ward, has been synonymous with Jesus Music. They combined earnest, high quality songwriting with tight vocal harmonies and top notch production to create music that has endured through the years. Millions of Spotify streams stand a testimony of their enduring popularity with lovers of classic CCM.
1983's Singer Sower shows the band fully embracing the aesthetic of the 80s as they transitioned to the sounds of a new decade. With its synthesizers and 80s era drum sound, Singer Sower is a time capsule for a bygone era of CCM that set out to prove that it belonged in the music landscape and deserved a seat at the table with any other pop/rock act on the scene. Available here on this fully remastered CD for its first reissue since 1991, Singer Sower is a bright spot that shouldn't be missed in an era that cannot be forgotten.
In the Midst of a New Era
Annie Herring, Matthew Ward, and Nelly Greisen came together to record Singer Sower in 1983. It would be 2nd Chapter of Acts' fourth and final studio album for Sparrow Records before the band moved to the Live Oak Records label (although Sparrow would issue instrumental versions of the band's "Hymns I and II" albums in 1989). Singer Sower is an unabashed celebration of what music in 1983 had to offer.
Synthesizers feature heavily on Singer Sower, and they set the tone for the rest of the album's sound. However, Buck Herring's production ensures that the album is able to sound like a product of its time without sounding overly dated or out of touch with a modern audience. Again, the honesty of the songwriting takes center stage for the listener. One coup for the recording process is the work of Kerry Livgren (Kansas, A.D.) on synths and on guitar. Annie Herring's songwriting always flirted with the fringes of progressive rock which makes the Livgren pairing an ideal choice for the record.
While the record is filled with great songs, there's one highlight that must be mentioned. The album closer, "Lift Me Up," is one of Herring's most beautiful lyrics laid over top of wonderful music written by Keith Green who, at the time of the album release, had only recently passed away. It's a fitting tribute to an artist and songwriter that 2nd Chapter of Acts had honored through their own renditions of his songs across their careers. It's a gorgeous melody that just hearkens back to the sorts of melodies Keith himself would write and stands as an amazing testimony to his work.
Singer Sower is an album that is not to be missed. It's not a 70s record. It's an 80s record, but it doesn't suffer for it. Instead, it revels in the sounds of the decade and celebrates the time in joyous praise. This incredible remaster lovingly presents these songs again to an audience that is sure to love what they hear.
- Room Noise
- Beware My Heart
- Ocean Liner
- Takin' The Easy Way
- No One Will Have A Secret
- Spin Your Light
- Open Up My Blind Eyes
- I'm Wastin' No More Time
- Lift Me UpRod And Staff
MANSION BUILDER
- Features Keith Green's Make My Life a Prayer To You
- Originally Released in 1978. Available for the first time since 1991
- Lush, gorgeous harmonies from
- 12 Page Booklet with Lyrics and photos in a jewel case
- Officially licensed from Capital Records
- Remastered Audio
- Release Date 05-03-2024
- 2024 Girder Records (GR1196)
- UPC 765105160027
Description
Since the release of their first 45s in 1972, 2nd Chapter of Acts, consisting of siblings Annie Herring, Nelly Greisen, and Matthew Ward, has been synonymous with Jesus Music. They combined earnest, high quality songwriting with tight vocal harmonies and top notch production to create music that has endured through the years. Millions of Spotify streams stand a testimony of their enduring popularity with lovers of classic CCM.
Mansion Builder marked a change for the group as they left longtime label Myrrh Records and made this album their Sparrow Records debut. The album featured an all-star cast of musicians including Michael Omartian, Koinonia's Abraham Laboriel, and Grammy-nominated Richard Souther. This release marks the first time this album has been issued in any format since 1991. This incredible album has been give the full Girder Treatment, fully remastered and includes lyrics and photos in a jewel case.
The Roots of a Movement
It's important to recognize and appreciate trailblazers in any arena of life. They are the people who enhance our quality of life and enrich us all with their contributions. When it comes to the burgeoning world of CCM that we find coming to life as Jesus Music in the 70s, few acts exemplify the trailblazer moniker better than 2nd Chapter of Acts. Their commitment to making honest music about Jesus that was relevant to the culture around them is obvious in every song.
Their third LP, Mansion Builder, is no exception to the standard 2nd Chapter of Acts fans had come to expect from them. Recording with their touring band, "The Band called David," this record is chock full of tight playing and fantastic arrangements that allow the band to shine without ever overshadowing the message. Buck Herring's production here is a masterwork in the sound of the era. Every track on this one is a winner but highlights include the funky praise of "Psalm 93" and "Rainbow" along with a beautiful rendition of Keith Green's brilliant "Make My Life a Prayer to You."
Longtime fans will be incredibly pleased with how this new remaster sounds. It's like new life breathed into these great classic songs. If you've never heard this album before, you're in for a real treat as you experience it for the first time on this CD release. This album serves as a great reminder that the Christian youth of the 70s were standing tall and saying that Jesus and rock music could go hand in hand. This album can sit next to Keith Green, Randy Stonehill, and Larry Norman in anyone's collection as a testament to what God was doing in rock music at the time. Get a hold of Mansion Builder "and let the praises flow like a river..."
- Mansion Builder
- Psalm 93
- Gold In The Clouds
- I'll Give My Life Away
- Rainbow
- Well, Haven't You Heard Lightning Flash
- Starlight, Starbright
- Make My Life A Prayer To You
- Daydreamer