"Lend an ear to a love songOoooh a love songLet it take you, let it startWhat can you hear in a love song?If you can feel it,Then you're feelin' from the heart. All the emotions true feelings of life is what music of love is aboutIf you are listening with peace in your heart and no doubt So listen now to a love songIf you can hear itWe will never be apart."
How do you review the album that truly started it all? How do you put into words the start of a musical style that not only swept a nation but changed a generation? I'm really not sure, but I'm going to give it a shot anyway.
The name "Love Song" is largely unknown to the modern generation of Christian musicians and consumers. Which is sad, truly sad. Most of us, if we were required to trace our musical roots, would eventually find the family tree coming through this branch.
Back in 1972, Chuck Girard, Tommy Coomes, Jay Truax, Bob Wall, and John Mehler actually knuckled down and recorded eleven of the songs they had been playing over the past two years. The result was this album, their self titled debut, "Love Song".
The first item of note on this album is, of course, the music itself. It may be simplistic, it may not be refined or perfected like what so many of us are used to in professional music, but it has two things that make it stand out and grab at least my attention; talent and life.
These guys may not have sprung for a lot of studio time or have been the best at finding time for rehearsals, but they all knew what they were doing and did it well. From Chuck on lead vocals and keyboard to John on the drums, these guys really had (and still have, actually) real talent in their musical offerings.
Second, and more importantly, this music has life. Life comes from purpose, and these guys had a purpose like none other. They were sharing the perfect love of our Savior and it shows. Their singing, their playing, and their very attitudes not only show this fact to us, they scream it at us in a way that can't be ignored. From the fun country-funk number "Front Seat, Back Seat" to the soft acoustic ballad "Welcome Back", everything they did was focused on the message. They had a message worth sharing and they were going to share it with the talent God gave them.
Which brings me to my next point, the songs themselves.
The first thing that most people will notice about the songs on this album besides the fact that they are very, very 70's in nature is that they are simplistic; some would say overly so. This may be true and is a criticism that I would agree with...to a point.
The one reason that I think they can get away with it is because everything matches. Yes, the melodies are simplistic, but so are the lyrics and with that simplicity comes an honesty and realness that's frankly hard to find in modern music. These songs were written by new Christians; men who were experiencing the Love of God for the very first time. The songs they wrote weren't deep or profound, but they were honest and personal.
This can be seen starting right off with the title track. It's short, it's simple, it's symbolic, and it's indirect, but it's amazing. Let's use this as a transition into discussing the style of the album.
It starts, as I said, with the very slow, pretty and, as Chuck said it, Disney-ish "Love Song", but moves right into the bright, energetic, and folk-rock-ish "Changes", and then back down to the slow acoustic "Two Hands." That's pretty typical of the album. It's never hits a rut. It's always changing and expressing a different emotion of our lives in Christ.
The same is true of their musical style. On this one album they played almost every popular style of the day. From the funk and fun of the Beatles to the sweet tones of James Taylor style ballads, they have it all. They were even able to work in a couple rockers with hints of an acid feel in "Freedom" and "Let Us Be One" (Both with lyrics fit perfectly to the sound, I might add).
The only consistent pattern that can be identified is a decidedly cheerful outlook. Even when they go soft and slow, the message and emotion of the songs are positive and bright. They were songs of joy from the hearts of men glad to be changed. Songs of sorrow would come, but not on this album. This album was sung as a love song to our Savior.
And that, as they say, is that. Based on style and simplicity, no, this album isn't going to be a constant listen for everybody, or even most people. But don't let that deter you. Whether you're a musician or just a listener who, like me, enjoys musically induced highs, this album is worth at least a single listen both for it's historical significance and it's fresh and honest look at the Christian life; something we tend to look at from a very stale perspective sometimes.
"So listen now to a love song
If you can hear it
We will never be apart"
