Sticks and Stones

The 77's | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 21, 1994)
• Label: Word Inc.
• ASIN: B00000312L
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,723 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #6 in Music > Indie Music > Christian & Gospel > Rock

Track Listings

1. MT

2. NOWHERE ELSE

3. THIS IS THE WAY LOVE IS

4. PERFECT BLUES

5. DON'T, THIS WAY

6. YOU WALKED IN THE ROOM

7. THE DAYS TO COME

8. THE LOOP

9. GOD SENDS QUAILS

10. LOVE WITHOUT DREAMS

11. DO IT FOR LOVE

12. THE LUST, THE FLESH, THE EYES & THE PRIDE OF LIFE

13. PEARLS BEFORE SWINE

14. BOTTOM LINE

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy It If You Can Find It - Don't Let This One Get Away, February 13, 2003

By 

Daniel R. Martin (Grand Haven, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sticks and Stones (Audio CD)

I had never heard of the 77s when a good friend of mine recommended this CD to me a few years ago. Being a fan of 80s rock/new wave/alternative music (Smiths, REM, U2, Psychedelic Furs, Simple Minds, etc.), he thought I might enjoy this little known album as a "Christian" alternative to those bands. It was the best recommendation anyone has ever given to me.

Having been described as "too Christian for the radio, and too radio for the Church," the 77s never received the commercial success in either market that they deserve. I guess that is what makes them true artists.

This album is essentially a "greatest misses" - a collection of songs that for one reason or another didn't make it onto the band's proper albums. Having never heard those prior albums, to me Sticks and Stones is more of a Greatest Hits. Nearly every song is absolutely brilliant. As singles, the songs would fit perfectly on any John Hughes 80s teen flick soundtrack (Pretty in Pink, Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Some Kind of Wonderful, etc.). Yet the songs flow together like any proper album should.

More importantly, like all great music, these songs transcend the time in which they were created. The lyrics and the music are as relevant today as when they were first released in the early 1990.

The liner notes include brief but interesting descriptions of each song by Michael Roe, the band's guitarist and lead singer.

Incidentally, the band's name comes from Matthew 18:22, where Jesus responds to Peter's question as to how many times he should forgive a brother who has sinned against him. Seventy-seven times - or seventy-times seven. So when people call you names because of the music you listen to or your faith in Christ, just remember - sticks and stones may break your bones ...

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great record!, June 14, 2002

By 

Jon Kortebein (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sticks and Stones (Audio CD)

Although it was offered as a collection of odds and ends and unreleased material, Sticks & Stones includes some of the best work by the early incarnation of the 77s. The first ten songs, all previously unreleased, come together to form a record that any band would be proud to have produced. The last four songs are alternate takes of songs from the self-titled Island record, and each is superior to those on that record, particularly "The Lust...". Sticks and Stones is full of gems and not to be missed!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Among best of Christians in Pop, November 24, 2007

By 

thisisgibbie (Indianapolis) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sticks and Stones (Audio CD)

I agree with the best of the reviews on this. The Seventy Sevens were a rare group that had it in the 80s. After U2 broke down the wall for Christians to get back into the music and art world and out of the closet, the Seventy Sevens were one of the few groups that provided some of the best music for the beleagured ones who grew up on the best of pop rock, but mostly only had other options for appropriate listening of those days.

This album alone is worth the purchase for one of the best pop songs, THE LUST, THE FLESH, THE EYES & THE PRIDE OF LIFE. Other favorites include: YOU WALKED IN THE ROOM, NOWHERE ELSE, THE DAYS TO COME and LOVE WITHOUT DREAMS.

I only wish they added All Fall Down and Unguarded Moment...more gems.

Another band of those days was the Altar Boys.

They were exciting days...