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.

Russ Taff
Studio album by
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[1]

Track listing

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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

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  • 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 Porcarotimpani (5)
  • Jeff Porcarohi-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

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  • 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

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Chart (1988) Peak
position
US Inspirational Albums (Billboard)[5] 2

Radio singles

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Year Singles Peak positions
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 -

Accolades

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GMA Dove Awards

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

References

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  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.