A Briefing for the Ascent
Encyclopedia
A Briefing for the Ascent is the title of the second solo album by Daniel Amos
frontman, Terry Scott Taylor
, released in 1987 on Frontline Records
.
A touching and fitting follow-up to 1986's Knowledge & Innocence
, which had been inspired by the loss of Taylor's grandfather and child, most of the music on this release deals with the death of the songwriter's grandmother.
Daniel Amos
Daniel Amos is a rock band formed in 1974 by Terry Scott Taylor on guitars and vocals, Marty Dieckmeyer on bass guitar, Steve Baxter on guitars and Jerry Chamberlain on lead guitars. Current members include bassist Tim Chandler, guitarist Greg Flesch and drummer Ed McTaggart...
frontman, Terry Scott Taylor
Terry Scott Taylor
Terry Scott Taylor is an American songwriter, record producer, writer and founding member of the bands Daniel Amos and The Swirling Eddies . Taylor is also a member of the roots and alternative music group, Lost Dogs. He is currently based in San Jose, California, USA.Taylor is highly regarded for...
, released in 1987 on Frontline Records
Frontline Records (1980s)
Frontline Records was a Christian record label founded in 1986 by James Kempner. The label focused primarily on modern rock, rap, and hip-hop...
.
A touching and fitting follow-up to 1986's Knowledge & Innocence
Knowledge & Innocence
Knowledge & Innocence is the title of the first solo album by Daniel Amos frontman, Terry Scott Taylor, released in 1986 on Shadow Records....
, which had been inspired by the loss of Taylor's grandfather and child, most of the music on this release deals with the death of the songwriter's grandmother.
Side one
- "A Briefing For The Ascent" (Words by Taylor, Music by Taylor/Flesch)
- "Somewhere To Elsewhere (Instrumental)" (Flesch)
- "Beyond The Wall Of Sleep" (Taylor)
- "The Wood Between The Worlds" (Taylor)
- "Changeless" (Taylor)
Side two
- "My Love, My Love" (Words by Taylor, Music by Taylor/Flesch)
- "Wars of the Heart (Instrumental)" (Taylor/Flesch)
- "Capture Me" (Taylor)
- "Where Dreams Come True" (Taylor)
- "Long, Long, LongLong, Long, Long"Long, Long, Long" is a song written by George Harrison, and first released by The Beatles on their 1968 album, The Beatles, also known as The White Album....
" (George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
) - (Spoken Word and Instrumental)
- "Going Home" (Music by A. Dvorak, Public Domain, Arranged and adapted by Greg Flesch and Terry Taylor)
CD reissue
The CD version of this album omits some material present on the original LP.- A brief sketch at the beginning of the album in which Flesch (playing a desk clerk) curtly insists, with no explanation, that "Mr. Borthwick" (Taylor) enter the "picture gallery."
- Part of the "Spoken Word and Instrumental" near the end of the album.
- Brief spoken introductions to various sections of the album (i.e., "Part Three: The Battle"), recorded by Taylor in an "instructional tape" monotone.
Personnel
- Terry Scott Taylor: GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and Synthesizers, Drum Programs, Synth Treatments, VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Greg FleschGreg FleschGreg Flesch is a guitarist and musician, best known for his work with the rock bands Daniel Amos and The Swirling Eddies .Flesch joined D.A...
: GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and Synthesizers, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, Drum Programs, Synth Treatments - Tim ChandlerTim ChandlerTim Chandler is a bass guitar player, best known for his work with the rock bands Daniel Amos, The Swirling Eddies and The Choir....
: BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Steve HindalongSteve HindalongSteve Hindalong is an American drummer, percussionist, songwriter and producer best known for his work with the alternative rock band The Choir...
: drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Ed McTaggartEd McTaggartEd McTaggart is an American drummer and artist. He is best known as the drummer of the rock band Daniel Amos.McTaggart joined DA in 1976, after years of playing with Bill Sprouse Jr.'s band The Road Home....
: drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Alex MacDougallAlex MacDougallAlex MacDougall is an American record producer, and percussionist. MacDougall is best known for being a member of the Christian rock band Daniel Amos in the late 1970s in addition to his production and recording session credits...
: percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Dave Hackbarth: Drum Programs
- Background Vocals provided by Terry, Jerry ChamberlainJerry ChamberlainJerry Chamberlain , is a United States singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer, best known for his work with the rock bands Daniel Amos and The Swirling Eddies ....
, Tom HowardTom Howard (musician)Tom Howard was an American pianist, musical arranger and orchestral conductor.In 1983, Howard helped the rock band Daniel Amos form the Alarma! Records label....
, Rob WatsonRob WatsonRobert D. Watson is a keyboard player, producer and composer best known for his work with the rock bands Daniel Amos and The Swirling Eddies...
, Crystal LewisCrystal LewisCrystal Lewis is an American contemporary Christian/Gospel vocalist, songwriter and author.-Early years:Lewis grew up singing in her father's church...
, Montebello First Baptist Church Choir.
Production notes
- Produced by Terry Scott Taylor and Greg Flesch.
- Orchestrations Constructed and Arranged by Terry and Greg.
- Engineer: Dave Hackbarth. Mixed by: Terry Taylor and Doug Doyle with Greg Flesch.
- Recorded at 3-D Studios3-D Studios3-D Studios was the name of a recording studio in Costa Mesa, California in the 1980s.3-D Studios, which was built by audio engineer Doug Doyle, was the recording studio which was home to a large number of California-area albums in the 1980s, including albums by 441, Daniel Amos and others.Albums...
, Costa Mesa, CaliforniaCosta Mesa, CaliforniaCosta Mesa is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 109,960 at the 2010 census. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to a primarily suburban and "edge" city with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light...
. - Mastered by John Matousek, Hitsville, L.A..
- Album Cover Concept: Terry, Ed McTaggart.
- Art Direction: Ed McTaggart.
- Photography: Bob Rowe.
- Photographics: Ken Baley.