Between Heaven 'N Hell
Encyclopedia
Between Heaven 'N Hell is the ninth release, and seventh studio album
, from American Christian rock
band Resurrection Band
, released in 1985. This is the first album on which Resurrection Band shortened its moniker to "REZ," and it also marks the band's final album for Sparrow Records
.
, the band jettisons much of the New Wave
, keyboard-driven musical stylings from that album in favor of the band's traditional hard rock sound. Glenn Kaiser
takes over the majority of the songwriting once again, while his wife and co-lead singer Wendi Kaiser makes her most significant songwriting contributions here. This explains the likely reason her image, pulled from a live concert performance, is prominently featured on the album cover.
Between Heaven 'N Hell is also significant for being REZ' attempt to cross over to the mainstream market. Although the lyrics of the album still contain bold declarations of faith to the listener, the band opted to focus less on evangelism
and more on performance for the tour which supported this album. The first single, "Love Comes Down," was shopped to mainstream rock stations, and the band's most sophisticated music video
was filmed for that song, which achieved regular rotation on MTV
for a brief period of time.
By 1985, the issue of apartheid in South Africa
had come to national prominence in pop music with the release of Artists United Against Apartheid
's "Sun City
", and although REZ had already addressed the subject several years prior on 1979's Rainbow's End
, "Zuid Afrikan" reminded listeners that the issue was still of importance to the band. Other highlights on Between Heaven 'N Hell include the closing track, "2,000," and "Shadows," which became a live favorite due to its unflinching depiction of the destructiveness of teenage suicide
.
unless otherwise noted
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, from American Christian rock
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
band Resurrection Band
Resurrection Band
Resurrection Band, also known as Rez Band or REZ, was a Christian rock band formed in 1972. They were part of the Jesus People USA Christian community in Chicago and most of its members have continued in that community to this day. Known for their blend of blues-rock and hard rock, Resurrection...
, released in 1985. This is the first album on which Resurrection Band shortened its moniker to "REZ," and it also marks the band's final album for Sparrow Records
Sparrow Records
-Background:Sparrow Records was founded in 1976 by Billy Ray Hearn, then A&R director at Myrrh Records. Purchased by EMI in 1992, it is now part of the EMI Christian Music Group, and has been named by Billboard Magazine as "America's Best Christian Music Record Label"...
.
Recording history
On REZ' follow-up to HostageHostage
A hostage is a person or entity which is held by a captor. The original definition meant that this was handed over by one of two belligerent parties to the other or seized as security for the carrying out of an agreement, or as a preventive measure against certain acts of war...
, the band jettisons much of the New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
, keyboard-driven musical stylings from that album in favor of the band's traditional hard rock sound. Glenn Kaiser
Glenn Kaiser
Glenn Kaiser is a Chicago-based Christian blues musician, singer-songwriter and pastor. He was the leader of Resurrection Band and is currently the leader of The Glenn Kaiser Band.-Childhood:...
takes over the majority of the songwriting once again, while his wife and co-lead singer Wendi Kaiser makes her most significant songwriting contributions here. This explains the likely reason her image, pulled from a live concert performance, is prominently featured on the album cover.
Between Heaven 'N Hell is also significant for being REZ' attempt to cross over to the mainstream market. Although the lyrics of the album still contain bold declarations of faith to the listener, the band opted to focus less on evangelism
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
and more on performance for the tour which supported this album. The first single, "Love Comes Down," was shopped to mainstream rock stations, and the band's most sophisticated music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was filmed for that song, which achieved regular rotation on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
for a brief period of time.
By 1985, the issue of apartheid in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
had come to national prominence in pop music with the release of Artists United Against Apartheid
Artists United Against Apartheid
Artists United Against Apartheid was a 1985 protest group founded by activist and performer Steven Van Zandt and record producer Arthur Baker to protest apartheid in South Africa...
's "Sun City
Sun City (song)
"Sun City" is a 1985 protest song written by Steven Van Zandt, produced by Van Zandt and Arthur Baker and recorded by Artists United Against Apartheid to convey opposition to the South African policy of apartheid...
", and although REZ had already addressed the subject several years prior on 1979's Rainbow's End
Rainbow's End
Rainbow's End is the second full-length album by American Christian rock band Resurrection Band, released in 1979.-Recording history:Resurrection Band continues in its Led Zeppelin-inspired rock vein with this record...
, "Zuid Afrikan" reminded listeners that the issue was still of importance to the band. Other highlights on Between Heaven 'N Hell include the closing track, "2,000," and "Shadows," which became a live favorite due to its unflinching depiction of the destructiveness of teenage suicide
Teenage suicide
Teenage suicide in the United States remains comparatively high in the 15 to 24 age group with 4,000 suicides in this age range in 2004, making it the third leading cause of death for those aged 15 to 24...
.
Track listing
All songs written by Glenn KaiserGlenn Kaiser
Glenn Kaiser is a Chicago-based Christian blues musician, singer-songwriter and pastor. He was the leader of Resurrection Band and is currently the leader of The Glenn Kaiser Band.-Childhood:...
unless otherwise noted
- "The Main Event" (G. Kaiser, Roy Montroy) – 3:03
- "Love Comes Down" – 3:08
- "Zuid Afrikan" – 5:20
- "Walk On" (Tom Cameron, G. Kaiser, Wendy Kaiser) – 3:42
- "Talk to Me" (Jim Denton, G. Kaiser, Jon Trott) – 4:25
- "I Think You Know" – 3:13
- "Shadows" (G. Kaiser, W. Kaiser, Trott) – 5:00
- "Save Me from Myself" (Denton) – 3:30
- "Nervous World" (G. Kaiser, W. Kaiser) – 4:22
- "2,000" (G. Kaiser, Montroy, Trott) – 4:56
Personnel
- Glenn KaiserGlenn KaiserGlenn Kaiser is a Chicago-based Christian blues musician, singer-songwriter and pastor. He was the leader of Resurrection Band and is currently the leader of The Glenn Kaiser Band.-Childhood:...
- Vocals, guitars - Wendi Kaiser - Vocals
- Stu Heiss - Lead guitar
- Jim Denton - Bass guitar, keyboards
- John Herrin - Drums, percussion
Album Production
- Producer - REZResurrection BandResurrection Band, also known as Rez Band or REZ, was a Christian rock band formed in 1972. They were part of the Jesus People USA Christian community in Chicago and most of its members have continued in that community to this day. Known for their blend of blues-rock and hard rock, Resurrection...
- Engineer - Roger Heiss
- Assistant engineers - Larry Bishop and Roy Montroy
- Mastering - Steve Hall at Future Disc
- Album cover concept and art - Cornerstone Graphics, Dick Randall, Janet Cameron, Bob Cox, Pat Peterson and Tom Wray
- Front cover photo - Bruce Hamsher
- Back cover and sleeve photos - Cornerstone Graphics and Mike Tabor
Road Crew
- Unmanageable manager - Keith Rintala
- Live sound - Ed Bialach
- Monitors - Greg Jacques
- Lights - Andy Falstad and Ken Mitchell
- Staging - Mark Hall
- Trucking - Shawn Haugh