Chase the Kangaroo
Encyclopedia
Chase the Kangaroo is the fourth studio album from Christian alternative rock band The Choir, released in 1988.
, and quickly proved to be a seminal work—not only for The Choir, but for Contemporary Christian music
in general. A variety of artists such as Jars of Clay
, Switchfoot
and Sixpence None the Richer
have pointed to this album as a strong musical influence, and it singlehandedly pushed contemporary Christian music into lyrical and musical terrain it had never before explored. Because of this, the album is listed at No. 50 in the book CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music
.
Unlike Diamonds and Rain
, which was recorded in a scant 12 weeks, Chase the Kangaroo took six months of experimentation in the studio to complete, and even then, it was still being recorded and mixed up to the last minute before its release, which led to some confusion as to song order and inclusion on the LP and cassette versions. Because this moody and somber album deals almost exclusively with sadness, grief and loss—not exactly Christian pop chart material--Myrrh Records
couldn't determine how to market the album, so it ultimately received little promotion. The lead-off track, "Consider," did prove to be a No. 1 Christian rock
hit, but the song was the last one written for the record in order to satisfy the label's desire for a radio-friendly single, according to drummer and lyricist Steve Hindalong
.
The questioning and even sad nature of the album has to do with difficult and tragic events that the band experienced in the year prior to recording. Contrary to the idea that even successful Christian musicians are well-to-do, Hindalong was forced to work in construction
to make ends meet, and his frustration with being reduced to digging ditches is directly addressed in the final track, "Kangaroo." In addition, his wife Nancy had suffered her second miscarriage
, and "Sad Face" was written in response. Due to the painful honesty of the lyrics and the longest guitar solo that Derri Daugherty
ever recorded, the song immediately became a favorite that the band has included in almost every live set they have performed since.
Other songs on the album also deal with complex and uneasy topics, like the nature of evil
("Children of Time"), personal betrayal
("Cain"), anger
and revenge
("The Rifleman"), the exploitation of children and the elderly ("Look Out (For Your Own)") and the threat of permanent separation from loved ones ("So Far Away"). Despite the pain expressed in these songs, Chase the Kangaroo has at the same time a strong worshipful feel, due to its ever-present lyrical acknowledgment of the sovereignty of God
, even when life's events don't make sense. "Clouds" is the album's preeminent example, as it directly addresses God's awesome yet mystical nature. Despite this, the record label had serious problems with the lyrics "The blood is still as rich / That poor sinners drink like wine," until Hindalong had to explain to them that the phrase refers to the Christian practice of Communion
.
Some of the musical highlights of the album are the transitions between songs, which often blend into each other. "Clouds" and "Sad Face" are linked by the snippet of a hymn
sung by Daugherty's mother, recorded at his parents' church, while "Sad Face" ends with a long instrumental break that includes portions of the drum tracks to "Clouds" played in reverse before it slams into the beginning of "Cain." "The Rifleman" includes a number of spoken verses recorded by everyone who was in the studio that day, and the fade-ins and -outs to different individuals speaking at the same time was mixed live as it was recorded, ultimately fading out to a snippet of "Render Love," from the band's previous album Diamonds and Rain
.
The CD release of Chase the Kangaroo also includes all five songs from Shades of Gray
as bonus tracks.
Recording history
Chase the Kangaroo was a radical departure from the upbeat, alternative pop sounds of Diamonds and RainDiamonds and Rain
Diamonds and Rain is the third studio album from Christian alternative rock band The Choir, released in 1986. It is the first release under the band's new moniker after dropping "Youth" from their name....
, and quickly proved to be a seminal work—not only for The Choir, but for Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
in general. A variety of artists such as Jars of Clay
Jars of Clay
Jars of Clay is a Christian rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. They met at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois.Jars of Clay consists of Dan Haseltine on vocals, Charlie Lowell on piano and keyboards, Stephen Mason on lead guitars and Matthew Odmark on rhythm guitars...
, Switchfoot
Switchfoot
Switchfoot is an American rock band from San Diego, California. The band's members are Jon Foreman , Tim Foreman , Chad Butler , Jerome Fontamillas , and Drew Shirley .After early successes in the Christian rock scene, Switchfoot first gained mainstream...
and Sixpence None the Richer
Sixpence None the Richer
Sixpence None the Richer is an American rock/pop band that formed in New Braunfels, Texas, eventually settling in Nashville, Tennessee. They are best known for their songs "Kiss Me" and "Breathe Your Name" and their covers of "Don't Dream It's Over" and "There She Goes". The name of the band is...
have pointed to this album as a strong musical influence, and it singlehandedly pushed contemporary Christian music into lyrical and musical terrain it had never before explored. Because of this, the album is listed at No. 50 in the book CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music
CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music
CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music is the title of a book, edited by Thom Granger and published in 2001 by Harvest House Publishers....
.
Unlike Diamonds and Rain
Diamonds and Rain
Diamonds and Rain is the third studio album from Christian alternative rock band The Choir, released in 1986. It is the first release under the band's new moniker after dropping "Youth" from their name....
, which was recorded in a scant 12 weeks, Chase the Kangaroo took six months of experimentation in the studio to complete, and even then, it was still being recorded and mixed up to the last minute before its release, which led to some confusion as to song order and inclusion on the LP and cassette versions. Because this moody and somber album deals almost exclusively with sadness, grief and loss—not exactly Christian pop chart material--Myrrh Records
Myrrh Records
Myrrh Records, also known as Myrrh Worship, is a Christian music record label. According to Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music, the label was instrumental in developing a popular following for Contemporary Christian music as the label that first published music by Barry McGuire, 2nd Chapter of...
couldn't determine how to market the album, so it ultimately received little promotion. The lead-off track, "Consider," did prove to be a No. 1 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...
hit, but the song was the last one written for the record in order to satisfy the label's desire for a radio-friendly single, according to drummer and lyricist Steve Hindalong
Steve Hindalong
Steve Hindalong is an American drummer, percussionist, songwriter and producer best known for his work with the alternative rock band The Choir...
.
The questioning and even sad nature of the album has to do with difficult and tragic events that the band experienced in the year prior to recording. Contrary to the idea that even successful Christian musicians are well-to-do, Hindalong was forced to work in construction
Construction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
to make ends meet, and his frustration with being reduced to digging ditches is directly addressed in the final track, "Kangaroo." In addition, his wife Nancy had suffered her second miscarriage
Miscarriage
Miscarriage or spontaneous abortion is the spontaneous end of a pregnancy at a stage where the embryo or fetus is incapable of surviving independently, generally defined in humans at prior to 20 weeks of gestation...
, and "Sad Face" was written in response. Due to the painful honesty of the lyrics and the longest guitar solo that Derri Daugherty
Derri Daugherty
Derri Daugherty is an American record producer, songwriter, guitarist and singer, best known as the lead singer and guitarist for band The Choir....
ever recorded, the song immediately became a favorite that the band has included in almost every live set they have performed since.
Other songs on the album also deal with complex and uneasy topics, like the nature of evil
Evil
Evil is the violation of, or intent to violate, some moral code. Evil is usually seen as the dualistic opposite of good. Definitions of evil vary along with analysis of its root motive causes, however general actions commonly considered evil include: conscious and deliberate wrongdoing,...
("Children of Time"), personal betrayal
Betrayal
Betrayal is the breaking or violation of a presumptive contract, trust, or confidence that produces moral and psychological conflict within a relationship amongst individuals, between organizations or between individuals and organizations...
("Cain"), anger
Anger
Anger is an automatic response to ill treatment. It is the way a person indicates he or she will not tolerate certain types of behaviour. It is a feedback mechanism in which an unpleasant stimulus is met with an unpleasant response....
and revenge
Revenge
Revenge is a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance, be it real or perceived. It is also called payback, retribution, retaliation or vengeance; it may be characterized, justly or unjustly, as a form of justice.-Function in society:Some societies believe that the...
("The Rifleman"), the exploitation of children and the elderly ("Look Out (For Your Own)") and the threat of permanent separation from loved ones ("So Far Away"). Despite the pain expressed in these songs, Chase the Kangaroo has at the same time a strong worshipful feel, due to its ever-present lyrical acknowledgment of the sovereignty of God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
, even when life's events don't make sense. "Clouds" is the album's preeminent example, as it directly addresses God's awesome yet mystical nature. Despite this, the record label had serious problems with the lyrics "The blood is still as rich / That poor sinners drink like wine," until Hindalong had to explain to them that the phrase refers to the Christian practice of Communion
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
.
Some of the musical highlights of the album are the transitions between songs, which often blend into each other. "Clouds" and "Sad Face" are linked by the snippet of a hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
sung by Daugherty's mother, recorded at his parents' church, while "Sad Face" ends with a long instrumental break that includes portions of the drum tracks to "Clouds" played in reverse before it slams into the beginning of "Cain." "The Rifleman" includes a number of spoken verses recorded by everyone who was in the studio that day, and the fade-ins and -outs to different individuals speaking at the same time was mixed live as it was recorded, ultimately fading out to a snippet of "Render Love," from the band's previous album Diamonds and Rain
Diamonds and Rain
Diamonds and Rain is the third studio album from Christian alternative rock band The Choir, released in 1986. It is the first release under the band's new moniker after dropping "Youth" from their name....
.
The CD release of Chase the Kangaroo also includes all five songs from Shades of Gray
Shades of Gray (album)
Shades of Gray is the second studio album and the first EP released by Christian alternative rock band The Choir , released in 1986.-Recording history:...
as bonus tracks.
Track listing
The Choir
- Derri DaughertyDerri DaughertyDerri Daugherty is an American record producer, songwriter, guitarist and singer, best known as the lead singer and guitarist for band The Choir....
- Lead vocals, guitars, keyboards - Steve HindalongSteve HindalongSteve Hindalong is an American drummer, percussionist, songwriter and producer best known for his work with the alternative rock band The Choir...
- Drums, percussion, vocals, and lead vocals on "Everybody in the Band" - 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....
- Bass guitar - Dan Michaels - Saxophone and lyricon
Additional musicians
- Bill BatstoneBill BatstoneBill Batstone is an American guitarist, bassist, composer and singer/songwriter.In 1970, Batstone started his first band Rebirth, with David Diggs, including percussionist Alex MacDougall. Later Batstone would go on to form Good News with Diggs and Erick Nelson...
- Keyboards ("Clouds"), background vocals ("Clouds", "Cain") - Gene EugeneGene EugeneGene "Eugene" Andrusco was a Canadian born actor, record producer, engineer, composer and musician. Andrusco was best known as the leader of the funk/rock band Adam Again, a member of The Swirling Eddies and as a founding member of the roots music supergroup Lost Dogs.-Acting:Andrusco was a child...
and Riki MicheleRiki MicheleAdam Again chanteuse Riki Michele is a female Christian alternative music artist. She has also recorded four eclectic solo records....
- Background vocals ("Look Out (For Your Own)") - 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 ....
and Sharon McCall - Background vocals ("So Far Away") - Nancy Hindalong - Background vocals ("Sad Face")
- Steve Griffith - Background vocals ("Clouds")
- Marc Sercomb - Spoken verses ("The Rifleman")
Production
- Executive producer - Tom WillettTom WillettTom Willett is an American musician, author and entertainment industry executive. He toured and recorded extensively as a bass player during the 1960s and 1970s, served as booking agent and manager for numerous artists in the 1980s, and worked as an artist and repertoire and marketing executive...
- Producer - Derri DaughertyDerri DaughertyDerri Daugherty is an American record producer, songwriter, guitarist and singer, best known as the lead singer and guitarist for band The Choir....
, Steve HindalongSteve HindalongSteve Hindalong is an American drummer, percussionist, songwriter and producer best known for his work with the alternative rock band The Choir... - Additional production - Gene EugeneGene EugeneGene "Eugene" Andrusco was a Canadian born actor, record producer, engineer, composer and musician. Andrusco was best known as the leader of the funk/rock band Adam Again, a member of The Swirling Eddies and as a founding member of the roots music supergroup Lost Dogs.-Acting:Andrusco was a child...
, Steve Griffith - Recording - Mark HeardMark HeardJohn Mark Heard was a record producer, folk-rock singer, and songwriter originally from Macon, Georgia, USA....
, Dave Hackbarth, Gene Eugene, Steve Griffith, Derri Daugherty - Concept and design - John Joseph Flynn for OZ graphics
- Art direction and coordination - Tim Anderson
- Photography - Stewart Ivester
- Additional graphic assistance - Phillip Foster, Stewardt Ivester, and Ed, June, and Marcella at Slides and Print
- Handwritten liner notes - Steve Hindalong
- Management - Brian Martin