Customer Reviews

Rich Mullins

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While strong for a first album, Rich is still trying to find his style on this CD. After writing for Amy Grant et al for so long, he is unsure of his style and it shows. Not his worst work, but still, no way am I going to give this the same rating as his better albums.

The best song is "Elijah", but the better version of "Elijah" is the reworked one on "Songs".

This was the first CCM album I bought site unseen. And I am so glad that I did! I used to play the original cassette over and over again on a weekend afternoon. Rich's writing was unlike anything else I had heard from other Christian artists. Songs like "Save Me" and "Both Feet on the Ground" featured a brutal yet refreshing honesty that would come to define Rich Mullins as the modern poet and iconoclast the church so desperately needed.

A showcase for the over-produced, mid-80s CCM sound (READ: Always behind mainstream pop music by at least 2 years.), the disc does show its age. Still, this recording is a worthy addition to any music library for its inclusion of the original recording of "Elijah," arguably his greatest composition. If your only exposure to this song is from Rich's live concert performances or the more pop sounding, radio-friendly version found on "Songs," you really need to hear the original recording. The beautiful orchestration makes for a striking backdrop to the definitive Rich Mullins lyric. If this album had been released on CD back in '86, I would have burned a hole in the disc on that cut alone!

Don't let other less-than-enthusiastic reviews keep you from this debut recording from one of CCMs most amazing artists. No Rich Mullins fan should be without this album. Highly recommended!

There is one thing about this CD that nobody can dispute: it is absolutely dripping with the sounds of '80s pop music- electric drums, punchy electric guitar and cheesy synthesisers. So naturally if you're not accustomed to that sound, that will be all you hear at first. At its best, the instrumentation is merely outdated; at its worst, it is downright annoying. After my first time through, I couldn't detect hardly any resemblance to the more recent Rich Mullins songs I've grown to love (except of course for "Elijah"). The tragedy is, there are some fantastic songs hidden underneath all that 80's garb. Blame the record company for dousing the melodies in the preppy sound of that era. They should have just let Rich Mullins be Rich Mullins. It took me a few listens, but I am discovering that the songs on this CD contain the same great songwriting that Mullins would become famous for. Granted, most of the subject matter is more conventional CCM material compared to, say, the "prairies calling out Your name" but there are still plenty of brilliant lines that couldn't have been written by anyone else but Rich. The Ragamuffin Band or Mitch McVicker should really do a remake of this whole album to bring it to life for today's listeners.

This album is a wonderful family-oriented collection of songs. They are realistic, mostly upbeat, and all Biblical. Of course, Rich's music gets better in the later years. We all grow and change, and the music industry has changed quite a bit since 1986! But this album is as fun as "Pictures in the Sky" with great lines like "Live like you'll die tomorrow; Love knowing you'll live forever. Live right!" And "There's a lot of things working against me, but I know I can't lose."

If you enjoy Rich's later and more popular works, this cd is worth purchasing. Even on this first album, the poetry is amazing. Of course, there are wrinkles to be ironed out. "A New Heart" has great lyrics, but it's a bit...high for Rich's vocal range! And "Save Me" is a bit out of place on the album, even though it is meaningful and gives us a glimpse of Rich's heart and struggles (and our own). And there are the synthesizers.... So for the best taste of Rich, start with one of his later albums, and you'll find yourself coming back to buy this one too.

Overall, just like "Pictures in the Sky," this would be a great album for kids to grow up with. There are so many truths in Rich's music. If anyone listens to these songs enough, they will pick up theological concepts and an excellent Christian belief structure. The topics covered include God's love, eternity, moral living, salvation, sin, human love - the list goes on and on. Also, this album will cheer you up when you're running errands or paying the bills. And that's what life is all about, isn't it? Enjoying God's presence and His gifts. Rich's music enriches life with a strong focus on Jesus and poetry that reaches to our souls.

I'll be blunt--most of these songs are what we dread when we think of 80s CCM. Save the lyrics, there is not much going for most of these songs. The one exception, and the one song that makes this CD worth having is "Elijah". Rich's most heartfelt, soul bearing song was his personal favorite and, in my opinion, his best. "Elijah" was rereleased on the 'Songs' CD, but it was over-produced and sounds like a studio exec asked him to make it "hip" or something. In any event get this CD, as it contains Rich's favorite song and his best.

I've had an interesting relationship with Rich Mullin's music. I didn't care for that much of it when he was alive, yet continue to discover how good it was after his death. Take this disc as a perfect example. I dismissed it after a few listens but decided to give it another shot and discovered just how great it is.

Throughout his life, Rich was known for saying what he thought. And that is evident here from the very first disc. "A Few Good Men" is a challenge to live by your convictions. He continues that with a challenge to live with eternity in mind on "Live Right." Probably the most challenging song on here is "These Days," which really calls our culture on the carpet for the way we live our lives. The saddest thing is that is still applies 20 years later.

Yes, this CD is over 20 years old now. And that's the biggest flaw to the disc. It is full of 80's pop production, from drum machines to synthesizers and heavy electric guitar.

The other flaw, for me, is "Save Me." I know many people love the song, but I've never truly been able to get into it. Frankly, I'd call what Rich does here speaking in rhythm instead of singing. And the lyrics make for a good modern poem, but they don't work for me as a song.

On the flip side, Elijah is absolutely outstanding. This track leaves most of the 80's pop sound behind. It's got a piano and string backing that is beautiful. And the lyrics are pure Rich as he sings of his desire to be in Heaven. It's a true classic and wonderful song.

While this CD didn't come close to the classic status of many of his later recordings, it still provides some great songs. So don't let the dated sound scare you away. Get it today.

I have been researching Rich Mullins for about 3 years. I am new to contemporary Christian music. This premier CD is definitely a youthful sound, periodic, when you note the date of release, yet still loaded with trade mark Rich Mullins sounds. It is interesting to listen to this youthful Rich and then compare the same song as done on a "mature" Rich offering. I did not know Rich then, but he has influenced my life tremendously through his writings and music.

Rich Mullins again moves me with his music. "If I Stand" and "Elijah" are my two favorites on this cd. The man and the music he may have written in the future will both be missed.