Phil Stacey

Phil Stacey

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 29, 2008)
• Original Release Date: April 29, 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Lyric Street
• ASIN: B0013UQUNC
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #19,371 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist
Phil Stacey's defining moment on American Idol came during Country Week, well into the competition. "Country Week was the first one that had anything to do with my background," he says. "It was my chance to sing music I could really relate to, that drew on who I am and what I'd grown up around."

Phil's path toward a country music career began in a childhood molded by two equally strong influences. The first was the ministry, which had shaped both sides of his family for generations. The other was music. Phil grew up singing in church and later became a member of the prestigious Lee Singers.

Intending to pursue a career in music after graduating from college, Phil was compelled to join the Navy after the attacks of September 11.

While stationed in Jacksonville, FL as lead singer of the Navy Band Southeast, he performed music by Garth Brooks, George Strait, Tim McGraw, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and James Taylor, a rounding out of tastes that served him well when he finally hit Idol. Then, with Country Week, it all came full circle. "Randy said, 'Dude, you're gonna have a big career in country,' and that was the night even Simon agreed," he says. "And I was thinking, 'Thank God, because this is me. I'm finally getting to do something I love to do.'"

After the 55-city Idol tour wrapped in September 2007, Phil immediately re-enlisted in the Naval Reserves. He moved his family to Nashville, signed with Lyric Street Records, and began recording his debut album with producer Wayne Kirkpatrick.

The music they've recorded will give listeners a look at a man who comes into his own with a hard-won maturity and self-knowledge. "I feel my job as a singer," he says, "is part of my job as a human being. I'm supposed to be touching other people's lives, doing the best I can to be a positive force in the world."

Product Description
Phil Stacey was a finalist on the sixth season of American Idol, where he performed for an average of 30 million viewers for the eleven weeks he competed on the series. Phil's debut single, "If You Didn't Love Me" is climbing the country charts. The track is produced by Wayne Kirkpatrick and co-written by Rascal Flatts' Gary Levox.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stacey makes you think and dance, May 2, 2008

By	Martin Milner "martin_milner" (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Phil's debut is one that makes you think about the values of life and is rich with songs that both make you want to get up and move and also think a little more deeply about what you are listening to. Its style is sort of country but crosses over also into pop/rock.

Personal favorites:

Be good to each other - the message is clear, partners should support and put each other first because there is enough pain in the world without adding more to it. I love the instrumentation that comes into play after the title worlds are sung.

Find You - Delicate and romantic and with a beat that inspires.

You are mine - The lines about your partner being a masterpiece that can do nothing but inspire you are great. The tune is also very pleasant.

It's who you know - The beat is good although the message seems at first sight to be a little cynical.

'Round here - Bouncy country rock with spare guitars - a message about values and religion in the heartland. It has a more uptempo, pulsing beat. The message is: You might do things your way but 'round here we do it like this because of the values that we uphold.

No way around a river - No, when there's an obstacle in your path you have to find your own way around it, it cannot just be ignored. The piano on this track is very beautiful.

Identity - overtly religious and brimming with the man's values. A man or woman has no identity other than that provided by God, without God there is no reason for being. God is the strength of all.

All in all a very pleasant and thought-provoking debut, which I bought on the off chance at a Target in New Jersey. I am very happy with it. Congratualtions, Phil!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Phabulous Debut CD, April 29, 2008

By	M. Klise "Mom and Bookaholic" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Phil Stacey's debut CD speaks volumes about who he is as a man by showing his love for his wife and God. There are some wonderful tracks that make you want to blast the radio and roll down the windows as well as some that just make you sit quietly and smile. This is an excellent first album which will be a great start to a long career.



Here are my thoughts on the songs:

"It's Who You KNow" is a great song with a catchy groove.

I love singing and dancing to it and the message is soo true

"No Way Around a River" is one of my top pics. It is like God is speaking to me through this song. I'm going through some rough times right now, and this is just what I need to hear.

"Still Going Through" is the only song that doesn't feel "real" to me. It is a great song, and I love Phil's voice in it, but knowing Phil's personality and who he is, the song just doesn't ring true. It is a break-up song, and the girl has gotten over him, but he still doesn't feel real because I know how much he and Kendra love each other.

"Be Good To Each Other" is a great song....that's all I have to say about that.

"Identity" is a powerful song that makes me just say "wow" each time I hear it

"You Are Mine" is probably my least favorite song even though I still really like it. I just chose it because it is the only one I don't hit the repeat button on each time it plays.

"Round Here" is one of those songs you turn up in the car, roll down the windows, and just blast as you drive down the road

"Find You" is in the run for my favorite song. I love the beat and just can't help but dance to it. It is a great song.

"Looking Like Love" is one that makes it easy to picture the video that would portray it while it is playing. I picture Phil and Kendra sitting on a couch, going through a photo album. As they look through pictures of them in the beginning of their relationship, the pictures come alive and show them falling in love. It's a great song.

"What I'm Fighting For" is a powerful love song. It fits Phil's voice and personality, beautifully.

"If you didn't love me" speaks a truth about how love can get us through the toughest times. As you sing along and tap your foot, it will remind you of the great loves in your own life.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It'll grow on you., May 27, 2008

By	Robert Felberg (Southbury, CT United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I love this album. ( And please don't take me as just another Idol worshipper) I didn't love it at first. I liked it. But Phil Stacey's solo debut is one that will grow on you.
Top Ten finalist on Season Six of American Idol-Phil Stacey faces the real world with his self titled debut on Lyric Street Records. Sure, I watched Idol and I thought Stacey was one of the more sincere performers with an above average voice. Surrounded by a whose-who of studio musicians like George Kennedy, Chris McHugh Jimmie Lee Sloas, Phil Madeira and Dan Dugmore and A list songwriters like Gary Levox of Rascal Flatts and Jon Waller, producer Wayne Kirkpatrick has a created a top notch Country Christian album that is so shiny, tight and engaging that you almost don't notice how good it is.
Lead single "If You didn't Love Me" (written by Gary LaVox) is perfect of today's Country Charts. #8 as I write this. A heart-on-my-sleeve,"'without you where would I be" fight song that features Wayne Kirkpatrick's multi-octave bvgs, a Cajun-y fiddle from Stuart Duncan (a highlight throughout the album) and a slowed down "If I Could Turn Back Time" intro riff, Stacey's vocal is sincere and believable. Ahh, Stacey's vocals. Through out the ablum they are emotion fueled, spot on, and loaded with compassion.
Opener "It's Who You Know" sets the tone here. Pretty catchy all the way around, it sports a great intro riff, nice harmonies, contagious chorus. "Looking Like Love," "Round Here" both with Gordon Kennedy's superlative lead guitar breaks, continue all around clean sound. "Find You," "You Were MIne," and "What I am fighting for" are superlative love songs each with its own special lyrical twist.
Maybe the best song, "Still Going Through," rises above lyrically and offers Stacey's most effective vocal. A song about feelings rekindled by a call from an old relationship, Stacey captures the hurt and confusion in spades.
Things are closed out with John Waller's "Indentity." Pumping bass and an anthemic chorus let's you know where Stacey stands with the Lord. "I'm in You, I know who in are. You're my true born identity. And I am not the one I used to be. uz now there is not separating You from who I am. Anything less is not us."
No, Phil Stacey won't knock you out immediately, but the more you listen, the closer it gets. You will become more than a listener. You will become a friend of Phil Stacey.