Spirit Dancer
Encyclopedia
Spirit Dancer is the fifth studio album recorded by country music
band BlackHawk. It was also their only album on the Columbia Records label, and the first recorded after the death of former member Van Stephenson. The tracks "Days of America" and "One Night in New Orleans" were released as singles. "Gloryland" was re-recorded by Keni Thomas
(whose version featured backing vocals from BlackHawk themselves) on his 2005 album Flags of Our Fathers. "One Night in New Orleans" was released as a single by The Povertyneck Hillbillies from their self titled album in 2006.
in 1997. Furthermore, the group was released from their record deal with Arista
in June 2000, after the label was bought out by RCA Records
. This came shortly after news that lead guitarist Van Stephenson
would exit the band to combat cancer. He died the following year. To replace Stephenson, the band added backup members Randy Threet (bass and tenor vocals), Mike Radovsky (drums) and Chris Anderson (guitar) to the lineup. The next month, BlackHawk signed with Columbia Nashville to begin work on a new album, reuniting them with CEO Allen Butler, whom they had previously worked with at Arista, Later in the year, they signed with the Columbia Records
branch of Sony Imprint, who went on to release their single "Days of America," a track that was included on Spirit Dancer.
and Dave Robbins along with 1990s country music singer-songwriter Billy Montana
Upon hearing the song, Stephenson stated "There's your hit—there's the radio song," however the track was never released by the band as a single.
The second track, "One Night in New Orleans" was released as a single, peaking at #51 on country charts in 2002. To date, it was the last charting single for BlackHawk. Written by Giles Godard, Tim Nichols
and Rick Giles, the song caught the attention of band member Henry Paul, who called fellow member Dave Robbins stating "Man, you gotta hear this tune." According to Robbins, upon hearing it he "loved it" and remarked that "it's different from anything we've ever done." Paul reflected on the song, commenting that "it's the lighthearted moment of the record" and is "fun."
The album's next song, "Day's of America" was released as a single eleven months prior to the release of Spirit Dancer, soon after the 9/11 attacks. Centered around the plight of workers at a Pittsburgh
Steel Mill
, the song peaked at #37 in 2002. Paul and Robbins, along with Lee Miller, wrote the song in April 2001. Although they stated it was not really "so patriotic" but instead a "testimony to the people who go about making up this place on earth we live," it was featured on the first edition of the Patriotic Country
release in 2004.
Written by Paul and Robbins along with former Survivor
band member Jim Peterik
, the album's fourth track, the title track "Spirit Dancer", was written as a tribute to Van Stephenson. It begins with chants of "I love you" in Cherokee. Robbins noted that the song sounded "like something Van would have written" and Paul noted that the lyrics contain "a very personal and inside message of love" citing the lines: Our hearts weren't ready to let him go / so this is our way to let him know / that we miss him and our love for him will never die.
The fifth track, "I Will" penned by Bonnie Baker and Carol Ann Brown, enchanted Robbins once he heard it, calling the song "a wonderful thing to be saying to somebody", Paul reflected these sentiments by stating that the tune "is a really interesting perspective about how you can put someone else before yourself when it comes to love." It was released as a single in 2002 but did not chart. The "power ballad" previously appeared on Billy Ray Cyrus
' 2000 album Southern Rain
.
The next song, "Brothers of the Southland" is a tribute to Southern rock
ers, which according to Paul includes the "Marshall Tucker Band
, Allman Brothers, [and] Lynyrd Skynyrd
." Robbins, who wrote the song along with Paul and Peterik, stated that what BlackHawk does up on stage today is a part of what those guys (Southern rockers) did."
The seventh track, "Gloryland", was described by About.com
"as a country version of Bryan Adams
' Summer of '69
that sounds as though it came from a "John Mellencamp
album." Paul, who wrote the song along with Robbins and Montana, states that it has "a veiled message" that shows how people have changed yet "still have the child-like wish to be approved." Robbins cites the existence of "the message of the ultimate Gloryland" as what people can relate to in the song.
"Forgiveness", written by Paul and Montana, is described by Robbins as his "favorite thing (track) on the record." Paul reflected that the song was his attempt to "balance" his "karma
book" and doing his "part to come clean." In the first person, the chorus states the protagonist's plea that "all I need" is "forgiveness." The words "all I need" are repeated three times by the singer. In the lyrics, the lines "to turn and face my ghosts of my past" highlight the speaker's desire for "forgiveness."
The next track, "Faith is the Light" was written by Paul, Robbins and singer-songwriter Henry Gross
. The song is uptempo and was described by Paul as "kick-ass" and a perfect followup to "Forgiveness" from a "conceptual standpoint." According to Robbins, the track is "positive" and explains "what really moves you on through this life."
Spirit Dancers 10th song, "I'll Always Love You" is the only track on the album to feature lead vocals from Dave Robbins instead of Henry Paul, who both penned the song along with country songwriter Pat Bunch, who previously authored songs for the band including the single "I Need You All the Time" from the 2000 Greatest Hits
. Although Robbins described it as a "different little spot on the record" Paul praised Robbins' vocals stating that it suited his "rather appealing view of love."
The final track of the album, "Leavin' the Land" is about the band's recovery from the loss of Van Stephenson, and its departure from the metaphorical "land of the broken hearted" while living above the "status quo." The song was written by Paul and Robbins as well as country songwriter Lee Miller, whose work was also displayed on the track "Days of America." The song uses the band's theme to describe a situation where a couple takes chances and promises to never part each other.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
band BlackHawk. It was also their only album on the Columbia Records label, and the first recorded after the death of former member Van Stephenson. The tracks "Days of America" and "One Night in New Orleans" were released as singles. "Gloryland" was re-recorded by Keni Thomas
Keni Thomas
Keni Thomas is an American country music singer and former United States Army Ranger who served in The Battle of Mogadishu, portrayed in the 2001 film Black Hawk Down...
(whose version featured backing vocals from BlackHawk themselves) on his 2005 album Flags of Our Fathers. "One Night in New Orleans" was released as a single by The Povertyneck Hillbillies from their self titled album in 2006.
Context
Prior to Spirit Dancer, BlackHawk had not released a studio album since 1998's The Sky's the Limit, and did not chart a top ten country album since Love & GravityLove & Gravity
Love & Gravity is the third studio album released by the American country music group Blackhawk. It features the singles "Hole in My Heart" and "Postmarked Birmingham", which peaked at #31 and #37, respectively, on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts in 1997.All of the songs center...
in 1997. Furthermore, the group was released from their record deal with Arista
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
in June 2000, after the label was bought out by RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
. This came shortly after news that lead guitarist Van Stephenson
Van Stephenson
Van Wesley Stephenson was an American singer-songwriter. He scored two US Billboard Hot 100 hits in the 1980s as a solo artist, and later became tenor vocalist in the country music band BlackHawk in the 1990s. In addition, Van co-wrote several singles for other artists, such as Restless Heart...
would exit the band to combat cancer. He died the following year. To replace Stephenson, the band added backup members Randy Threet (bass and tenor vocals), Mike Radovsky (drums) and Chris Anderson (guitar) to the lineup. The next month, BlackHawk signed with Columbia Nashville to begin work on a new album, reuniting them with CEO Allen Butler, whom they had previously worked with at Arista, Later in the year, they signed with the Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
branch of Sony Imprint, who went on to release their single "Days of America," a track that was included on Spirit Dancer.
Content
The album begins with the track "One Love", a song performed for Van Stephenson at the end of his life that was played once more at his funeral. It was written by band members Henry PaulHenry Paul (musician)
Henry Paul is an American southern rock and country singer/songwriter who was a founding member of the Southern rock band Outlaws, the front man and founder of the Henry Paul Band and the lead singer for the country band BlackHawk.-Early life:Henry was born in Kingston, New York and lived on a...
and Dave Robbins along with 1990s country music singer-songwriter Billy Montana
Billy Montana
Billy Montana is an American country music singer-songwriter. Between 1987 and 1995, Montana released one studio album and charted six singles on Billboards Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart...
Upon hearing the song, Stephenson stated "There's your hit—there's the radio song," however the track was never released by the band as a single.
The second track, "One Night in New Orleans" was released as a single, peaking at #51 on country charts in 2002. To date, it was the last charting single for BlackHawk. Written by Giles Godard, Tim Nichols
Tim Nichols
Tim Nichols Tim Nichols Tim Nichols (born in Portsmouth, Virginia is an American country music singer and songwriter. Active since the late 1980s, Nichols has written for several country music singers, including Keith Whitley, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Jo Dee Messina, and Alan Jackson...
and Rick Giles, the song caught the attention of band member Henry Paul, who called fellow member Dave Robbins stating "Man, you gotta hear this tune." According to Robbins, upon hearing it he "loved it" and remarked that "it's different from anything we've ever done." Paul reflected on the song, commenting that "it's the lighthearted moment of the record" and is "fun."
The album's next song, "Day's of America" was released as a single eleven months prior to the release of Spirit Dancer, soon after the 9/11 attacks. Centered around the plight of workers at a Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
Steel Mill
Steel Mill
Steel Mill was an early Bruce Springsteen band. Other members of the band included three future members of the E Street Band - Vini Lopez, Danny Federici and Steve Van Zandt. As well as playing on the Jersey Shore, Steel Mill also played regularly in Richmond, Virginia and played gigs in California...
, the song peaked at #37 in 2002. Paul and Robbins, along with Lee Miller, wrote the song in April 2001. Although they stated it was not really "so patriotic" but instead a "testimony to the people who go about making up this place on earth we live," it was featured on the first edition of the Patriotic Country
Patriotic Country
Patriotic Country is a series of three albums featuring American patriotic-themed country music. The series, which has sold over 300,000 copies, is part of Music For a Cause, a record label committed to using the power of song, to help raise awareness and funds for worthy charities...
release in 2004.
Written by Paul and Robbins along with former Survivor
Survivor (band)
Survivor is an American rock band formed in Chicago in 1978. The band achieved its greatest success in the 1980s with its AOR sound, which garnered many charting singles, especially in the United States. The band is best known for its double platinum-certified 1982 hit "Eye of the Tiger", the theme...
band member Jim Peterik
Jim Peterik
Jim Peterik is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the band Survivor and as vocalist and songwriter of the hit song "Vehicle" by The Ides of March...
, the album's fourth track, the title track "Spirit Dancer", was written as a tribute to Van Stephenson. It begins with chants of "I love you" in Cherokee. Robbins noted that the song sounded "like something Van would have written" and Paul noted that the lyrics contain "a very personal and inside message of love" citing the lines: Our hearts weren't ready to let him go / so this is our way to let him know / that we miss him and our love for him will never die.
The fifth track, "I Will" penned by Bonnie Baker and Carol Ann Brown, enchanted Robbins once he heard it, calling the song "a wonderful thing to be saying to somebody", Paul reflected these sentiments by stating that the tune "is a really interesting perspective about how you can put someone else before yourself when it comes to love." It was released as a single in 2002 but did not chart. The "power ballad" previously appeared on Billy Ray Cyrus
Billy Ray Cyrus
William "Billy" Ray Cyrus is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor and philanthropist, who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon...
' 2000 album Southern Rain
Southern Rain
Southern Rain is an album, released in 2000, by country music artist Billy Ray Cyrus. It was his first album for the Monument Records label. The album produced five singles on the Hot Country Songs charts, including the number 17 "You Won't Be Lonely Now"...
.
The next song, "Brothers of the Southland" is a tribute to Southern rock
Southern rock
Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music, and genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country music, and blues, and is focused generally on electric guitar and vocals...
ers, which according to Paul includes the "Marshall Tucker Band
Marshall Tucker Band
The Marshall Tucker Band is an American Southern rock band originally from Spartanburg, South Carolina. The band's blend of rock, rhythm and blues, jazz, country, and gospel helped establish the Southern rock genre in the early 1970s...
, Allman Brothers, [and] Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
." Robbins, who wrote the song along with Paul and Peterik, stated that what BlackHawk does up on stage today is a part of what those guys (Southern rockers) did."
The seventh track, "Gloryland", was described by About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
"as a country version of Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written...
' Summer of '69
Summer of '69
"Summer of '69" is a song recorded by Canadian recording artist Bryan Adams, from his fourth studio album, Reckless . The song was written by Adams and Jim Vallance, a long-time writing partner of Adams. "Summer of '69" was produced by Adams and Bob Clearmountain. It was released in June 1985 under...
that sounds as though it came from a "John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp, previously known by the stage names Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American rock singer-songwriter, musician, painter and occasional actor known for his catchy, populist brand of heartland rock that eschews synthesizers and other artificial sounds...
album." Paul, who wrote the song along with Robbins and Montana, states that it has "a veiled message" that shows how people have changed yet "still have the child-like wish to be approved." Robbins cites the existence of "the message of the ultimate Gloryland" as what people can relate to in the song.
"Forgiveness", written by Paul and Montana, is described by Robbins as his "favorite thing (track) on the record." Paul reflected that the song was his attempt to "balance" his "karma
Karma
Karma in Indian religions is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh philosophies....
book" and doing his "part to come clean." In the first person, the chorus states the protagonist's plea that "all I need" is "forgiveness." The words "all I need" are repeated three times by the singer. In the lyrics, the lines "to turn and face my ghosts of my past" highlight the speaker's desire for "forgiveness."
The next track, "Faith is the Light" was written by Paul, Robbins and singer-songwriter Henry Gross
Henry Gross
Henry Gross , is an American singer-songwriter best known for his association with the group, Sha Na Na, and for his hit song, "Shannon".-Early years:...
. The song is uptempo and was described by Paul as "kick-ass" and a perfect followup to "Forgiveness" from a "conceptual standpoint." According to Robbins, the track is "positive" and explains "what really moves you on through this life."
Spirit Dancers 10th song, "I'll Always Love You" is the only track on the album to feature lead vocals from Dave Robbins instead of Henry Paul, who both penned the song along with country songwriter Pat Bunch, who previously authored songs for the band including the single "I Need You All the Time" from the 2000 Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (BlackHawk album)
Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits package released by the country music band Blackhawk. It features hits from their first four studio albums, as well as the newly recorded "It Takes a Woman", "I Need You All the Time", and "Ships of Heaven". "I Need You All the Time" was released as a single...
. Although Robbins described it as a "different little spot on the record" Paul praised Robbins' vocals stating that it suited his "rather appealing view of love."
The final track of the album, "Leavin' the Land" is about the band's recovery from the loss of Van Stephenson, and its departure from the metaphorical "land of the broken hearted" while living above the "status quo." The song was written by Paul and Robbins as well as country songwriter Lee Miller, whose work was also displayed on the track "Days of America." The song uses the band's theme to describe a situation where a couple takes chances and promises to never part each other.
Reception
Allmusic gave the album three of out five stars and described it as the group's "most personal" release. They commended the title track as "one of several earnest and sincere efforts" but criticized Paul's voice as being "whiny," singling out the songs "Forgiveness" and "Leavin' the Land of the Broken Hearted" as not being "any more deeply felt than the other deeply felt songs on the album" while being "more revealing and touching." The publication stated that the album was one that BlackHawk "had to make" and was a "risk" but "one worth taking" at that stage of the group's career.Track listing
- "One Love" (Billy MontanaBilly MontanaBilly Montana is an American country music singer-songwriter. Between 1987 and 1995, Montana released one studio album and charted six singles on Billboards Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart...
, Henry PaulHenry Paul (musician)Henry Paul is an American southern rock and country singer/songwriter who was a founding member of the Southern rock band Outlaws, the front man and founder of the Henry Paul Band and the lead singer for the country band BlackHawk.-Early life:Henry was born in Kingston, New York and lived on a...
, Dave Robbins) – 3:18 - "One Night in New Orleans" (Giles Godard, Tim NicholsTim NicholsTim Nichols Tim Nichols Tim Nichols (born in Portsmouth, Virginia is an American country music singer and songwriter. Active since the late 1980s, Nichols has written for several country music singers, including Keith Whitley, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Jo Dee Messina, and Alan Jackson...
, Rick Giles) – 3:39 - "Days of America" (Paul, Robbins, Lee Thomas MillerLee Thomas MillerLee Thomas Miller is an American country music songwriter and occasional record producer. His credits include the Number One country hits "The World" and "I'm Still a Guy" for Brad Paisley and "You're Gonna Miss This" for Trace Adkins, as well as Top Ten hits for Terri Clark, Joe Nichols, and...
) – 2:58 - "Spirit Dancer" (Jim Peterik, Paul, Robbins) – 4:31
- "I Will" (Bonnie Baker, Carol Ann Brown) – 3:29
- "Brothers of the Southland" (Peterik, Paul, Robbins) – 4:47
- "Gloryland" (Paul, Robbins, Montana) – 3:51
- "Forgiveness" (Paul, Montana) – 3:03
- "Faith Is the Light" (Henry GrossHenry GrossHenry Gross , is an American singer-songwriter best known for his association with the group, Sha Na Na, and for his hit song, "Shannon".-Early years:...
, Paul, Robbins) – 3:50 - "I'll Always Love You" (Pat Bunch, Paul, Robbins) – 3:49
- "Leavin' the Land of the Broken Hearted" (Miller, Paul, Robbins) – 4:06
Album
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 37 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions |
|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
||
| 2002 | "Days of America" | 37 |
| "One Night in New Orleans" | 51 | |
| "I Will" | — |