Circle Slide
Encyclopedia
Circle Slide is the sixth studio album from Christian alternative rock band The Choir, released in 1990.
and the band's relentless touring in support of that record, the circumstances that surrounded the creation of Circle Slide were fraught with difficulty, not unlike Chase the Kangaroo
, to which this album is often compared. After the upbeat examination of birth
and family
relationships, The Choir returns to addressing more complex and somber topics, which are set against the moody, dream-like compositions for which the band is best known. As a result, many critics and long-time listeners consider this album to be the band's finest work, although others would argue that Chase the Kangaroo deserves that honor. That argument still continues to this day.
Speaking of arguments, creative disagreements between bassist Robin Spurs and the rest of the band came to a head during the recording sessions of this album, and were serious enough that Spurs quit The Choir altogether before the album was halfway finished. Because the breakup was not at all amicable, her departure was notably unpublicized in light of all the massive attention that greeted her entry into the band. Derri Daugherty
took over bass duties for the rest of the album, while David Miner
--who was then currently working with Mark Heard
--filled in on one track and former bassist Mike Sauerbrey made a surprise appearance on the album's closing song, "Restore My Soul." Spurs would later join the Christian "all-girl" pop/rock band Rachel Rachel on tour for their second and final album, then leave music entirely in order to pursue a successful career in jewelry, fashion design
, and web design
; eventually she found her way back to music with the Pearl
project.
In addition to the behind-the-scenes recording tensions, it is obvious that not all was bliss in the household of Steve Hindalong
either, whose confessional lyrics deal with marital tug-of-war ("About Love") and the frustrations of living in a too-small house ("If I Had A Yard"). However, those difficulties are balanced out by the acknowledgment of true love for his wife despite the tension ("A Sentimental Song") and a number of songs about one's relationship to God ("Merciful Eyes," "Restore My Soul," and the title track). Circle Slide also marks the first time that Hindalong uses allusion
s to and actual lyrical snippets from his previous work. The title track refers to "children of time," a song from Chase the Kangaroo, while "Blue Skies" alludes to both "Happy Fool" and "Robin Had A Dream" from Wide-Eyed Wonder. Hindalong would continue this trend on almost every subsequent release by The Choir.
Although Circle Slide was greeted with almost universal critical praise, the one complaint lodged against the album is that it is too short. Not counting the "Laugh Loop" instrumental and the brief "Tear For Tear," the album actually only contains seven full-length songs. Despite this, the album solidified the band's important role in the development of Christian alternative music, so it was later listed at #53 in the book, CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music
.
. All music by Derri Daugherty
and Hindalong.
Recording history
Even with all the popular success that greeted Wide-Eyed WonderWide-Eyed Wonder
Wide-Eyed Wonder is the fifth studio album from Christian alternative rock band The Choir, released in 1989.-Recording history:Making up for their almost non-existent promotion of Chase the Kangaroo, Myrrh Records pulled out all the stops with this album, which was—perhaps not coincidentally—the...
and the band's relentless touring in support of that record, the circumstances that surrounded the creation of Circle Slide were fraught with difficulty, not unlike Chase the Kangaroo
Chase the Kangaroo
Chase the Kangaroo is the fourth studio album from Christian alternative rock band The Choir, released in 1988.-Recording history:Chase the Kangaroo was a radical departure from the upbeat, alternative pop sounds of Diamonds and Rain, and quickly proved to be a seminal work—not only for The Choir,...
, to which this album is often compared. After the upbeat examination of birth
Birth
Birth is the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring. The offspring is brought forth from the mother. The time of human birth is defined as the time at which the fetus comes out of the mother's womb into the world...
and family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
relationships, The Choir returns to addressing more complex and somber topics, which are set against the moody, dream-like compositions for which the band is best known. As a result, many critics and long-time listeners consider this album to be the band's finest work, although others would argue that Chase the Kangaroo deserves that honor. That argument still continues to this day.
Speaking of arguments, creative disagreements between bassist Robin Spurs and the rest of the band came to a head during the recording sessions of this album, and were serious enough that Spurs quit The Choir altogether before the album was halfway finished. Because the breakup was not at all amicable, her departure was notably unpublicized in light of all the massive attention that greeted her entry into the band. 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....
took over bass duties for the rest of the album, while David Miner
David Miner (musician)
David Miner , sometimes credited as David Minor, is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter, perhaps best known as a member of Grace Slick's The Great Society in the 1960s. He actually co-founded The Great Society along with Jerry, Darby, and Grace Slick as well as Bard Du Pont, in the sense...
--who was then currently working with Mark Heard
Mark Heard
John Mark Heard was a record producer, folk-rock singer, and songwriter originally from Macon, Georgia, USA....
--filled in on one track and former bassist Mike Sauerbrey made a surprise appearance on the album's closing song, "Restore My Soul." Spurs would later join the Christian "all-girl" pop/rock band Rachel Rachel on tour for their second and final album, then leave music entirely in order to pursue a successful career in jewelry, fashion design
Fashion design
Fashion design is the art of the application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories. Fashion design is influenced by cultural and social latitudes, and has varied over time and place. Fashion designers work in a number of ways in designing clothing and accessories....
, and web design
Web design
Web design is the process of planning and creating a website. Text, images, digital media and interactive elements are used by web designers to produce the page seen on the web browser...
; eventually she found her way back to music with the Pearl
Pearl
A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other...
project.
In addition to the behind-the-scenes recording tensions, it is obvious that not all was bliss in the household of 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...
either, whose confessional lyrics deal with marital tug-of-war ("About Love") and the frustrations of living in a too-small house ("If I Had A Yard"). However, those difficulties are balanced out by the acknowledgment of true love for his wife despite the tension ("A Sentimental Song") and a number of songs about one's relationship to God ("Merciful Eyes," "Restore My Soul," and the title track). Circle Slide also marks the first time that Hindalong uses allusion
Allusion
An allusion is a figure of speech that makes a reference to, or representation of, people, places, events, literary work, myths, or works of art, either directly or by implication. M. H...
s to and actual lyrical snippets from his previous work. The title track refers to "children of time," a song from Chase the Kangaroo, while "Blue Skies" alludes to both "Happy Fool" and "Robin Had A Dream" from Wide-Eyed Wonder. Hindalong would continue this trend on almost every subsequent release by The Choir.
Although Circle Slide was greeted with almost universal critical praise, the one complaint lodged against the album is that it is too short. Not counting the "Laugh Loop" instrumental and the brief "Tear For Tear," the album actually only contains seven full-length songs. Despite this, the album solidified the band's important role in the development of Christian alternative music, so it was later listed at #53 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....
.
Track listing
All lyrics by Steve HindalongSteve Hindalong
Steve Hindalong is an American drummer, percussionist, songwriter and producer best known for his work with the alternative rock band The Choir...
. All music by 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....
and Hindalong.
- "Circle Slide" – 7:23
- "If I Had A Yard" – 4:16
- "A Sentimental Song" – 5:01
- "Merciful Eyes" – 4:55
- "Tear For Tear" – 1:20
- "About Love" – 4:03
- "Blue Skies" – 4:04
- "Laugh Loop" – 1:46
- "Restore My Soul" – 6:34
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, bass guitar - 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 - Dan Michaels - Saxophone, lyriconLyriconThe Lyricon is an electronic wind instrument, the first wind controller to be constructed.Invented by Bill Bernardi , it was manufactured by a company called Computone Inc in Massachusetts...
Additional musicians
- Robin Spurs - Bass guitar, vocals
- Mike Sauerbrey - Bass guitar ("Restore My Soul")
- David MinerDavid Miner (musician)David Miner , sometimes credited as David Minor, is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter, perhaps best known as a member of Grace Slick's The Great Society in the 1960s. He actually co-founded The Great Society along with Jerry, Darby, and Grace Slick as well as Bard Du Pont, in the sense...
- Acoustic bass ("Blue Skies") - Mark HeardMark HeardJohn Mark Heard was a record producer, folk-rock singer, and songwriter originally from Macon, Georgia, USA....
- Background vocals ("About Love") - 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 ....
- Background vocals ("Merciful Eyes") - Sharon McCall - Background vocals ("A Sentimental Song")
- Nancy Hindalong - Spoken words "and purple flowers" ("If I Had A Yard")
- Emily Hindalong - Laugh tracks ("If I Had A Yard, "Laugh Loop")
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...
- Producers - Steve HindalongSteve HindalongSteve Hindalong is an American drummer, percussionist, songwriter and producer best known for his work with the alternative rock band The Choir...
and 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.... - Co-producer, recording - Dave Hackbarth
- Mixing - Steve Griffith for Clear Mix
- Additional mixing - Dave Hackbarth
- Mastering - Steve Hall at Future Disc
- Art direction and design - John Flynn for F2 Design
- Photography - Susan Goines
- Associate art director: Roz
Awards and nominations
- Album of the Year (winner) - Campus Life
- Alternative Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Artist of the Year (winners) - Harvest Rock Syndicate
- Favorite Alternative Band, 1990 (winner) - CCM MagazineCCM MagazineCCM Magazine was a monthly magazine published by Salem Publishing, a division of Salem Communications. It was first published in July 1978, and it has always been a Christian music magazine. On January 16, 2008, Salem announced that the April 2008 issue would be the final printed issue of the...