Recollection

Leslie Phillips | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 21, 1994)
• Label: Word -- Word --
• ASIN: B00000311Z
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #183,881 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You Wrap Me Up With Your Expectations, August 8, 2006

By 

Dwight Blubaugh "MichiBlue" (The only Eaton Rapids on Earth, MI, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Recollection (Audio CD)

Leslie Phillips put out four great Contemporary Christian albums, but she couldn't resolve herself with the expectations of the CCM industry - it was becoming much more about slick packaging, sex appeal, and an image than about ministry and thoughtful, truthful lyrics - unfortunately, this is usually what the public has responded to. Being only 21 (and probably quite optimistic, naive, and vulnerable) when her first album was released, Phillips quickly discovered this duality of the Contemporary "Christian" Music market. Leslie's last album, The Turning, was a scathing diatribe against the double standards of this industry (like "You wrap me up with your expectations...") - otherwise artists like Bob Bennett and Mark Heard would have been held in much higher esteem in the CCM market.

Leslie then changed her name to Sam Phillips (no relation to the Sun Records mogul) and started putting out secular albums. As of this writing, she's had a new album released every 2-3 years, and is currently at work on a new one.

Recollections, her greatest hits package, showcases Leslie's four albums, and is excellent quality music throughout - some upbeat, some gentle ballads, vocally in the vein of Leigh Nash (Sixpence None the Richer) or Cyndi Lauper. The "booklet" / liner notes are disappointing - a single double-fold piece of paper with track listing (with source by album) and brief production credits.

Since there is not a track listing here on Amazon, I will include one:

Recollections (1987)
1. #Your Kindness (alternate version on ***)
2. #No One But You
3. *Heart of Hearts (cover of Mark Heard)
4. #Walls of Silence (Home Demo)
5. ****Libera Me
6. ****Love is Not Lost (earlier version on *** CD as bonus)
7. ****Answers Don't Come Easy
8. #You're the Same (alternate version on ***)
9. *I'm Finding
10.*** When the World is New
11. **By My Spirit
12. **Strength of My Life (duet with Russ Taff)
13. #Your Kindness (Reprise - alternate version on ***)

*From Beyond Saturday Night (1983)
**From Dancing With Danger (1984)
***From Black and White in a Grey World (1985)
****From The Turning (1987)
#previously unreleased

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christian Artist before her times, November 8, 1999

By 

S. Tam (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Recollection (Audio CD)

I love this album...the songs although simple lyrically, they are very to the point with real life struggles and praises. Her style is truly unique and stood out from the crowd during that time (which unfortunately got some negative reviews from conservative viewpoints at the time). Through my good times and bad times, her songs have always helped me focus back to God. I thank God and her for being herself. I'm not sure where she is with God at this point in time especailly with her weird acting role in the movie 'Die Hard 3'...I hope she still keeps her devotion to Him and still loves Him. PS...I still love her truly avant-garde music performed under the name Sam Phillips.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Introduction to a Great Artist, February 4, 2004

By 

Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Recollection (Audio CD)

Even though I grew up in the 1980's, I didn't seriously start listening to Christian music until the early 90's, so I completely missed this wonderful artist. It was in college that a friend introduced me to "Strength of My Life" as a praise chorus. I immediately fell in love with the heartfelt cry of dependence on God. Almost immediately, I discovered a cover of her song "By My Spirit." This song's promise from God of help and encouragement in life's trials also struck a chord with me. Even so, it was years later before I tracked down any more of Leslie's music.

When I finally decided to get this CD, I immediately fell in love with it. It covers a range from the upbeat fun of "No One But You" and "Love is Not Lost" to the more contemplative "Answers Don't Come Easy" and the encouraging "Your Kindness." It also includes the originals of the two songs I mentioned above, including the "real" verses to "Strength of My Life." (Turns out what I thought were verses are part of the chorus.)

What I love most about all the lyrics on this CD is their honesty. They range from knowing God and His promises to the doubt that comes when we face trials. But everything is explored in an unflinching manner that makes sense even if it doesn't fall back on the pat answers that Christians sometimes rely on too much.

Unfortunately, the albums this CD came from are long out of print. But the songs collected here are certainly worth tracking down to encourage and uplift you no matter what you're going through.