Circle Slide

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Circle Slide is the sixth release, and fifth full-length album, from Christian alternative rock band The Choir, released in 1990.

Recording history

Even with all the popular success that greeted Wide-Eyed Wonder 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 and fashion design.

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 allusions 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. Remove the "Laugh Loop" instrumental and the brief "Tear For Tear," and the album actually only contains seven 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, .

Track listing

All lyrics by Steve Hindalong. All music by Derri Daugherty and Hindalong.

1. "Circle Slide" - 7:23
2. "If I Had A Yard" - 4:16
3. "A Sentimental Song" - 5:01
4. "Merciful Eyes" - 4:55
5. "Tear For Tear" - 1:20
6. "About Love" - 4:03
7. "Blue Skies" - 4:04
8. "Laugh Loop" - 1:46
9. "Restore My Soul" - 6:34

Personnel

The Choir

• Derri Daugherty - Lead vocals, guitars, bass guitar
• Steve Hindalong - Drums, percussion
• Dan Michaels - Saxophone, lyricon

Additional Musicians

• Robin Spurs - Bass guitar, vocals
• Mike Sauerbrey - Bass guitar ("Restore My Soul")
• David Miner - Acoustic bass ("Blue Skies")
• Mark Heard - Background vocals ("About Love")
• Jerry Chamberlain - 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 Willett
• Producers - Steve Hindalong and Derri Daugherty
• 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 Magazine

Trivia

• The working title for the album was Laugh Loop.
• A Circle Slide T-shirt was featured on a two-part episode of the Hulk Hogan TV series Thunder in Paradise, which also served as the basis for a CD-Interactive game. It was worn by the actor Brandon Call, who portrayed the nephew of "Hurricane" Spencer, played by Hogan.
• The handwritten text on the cover of the album is that of Steve Hindalong.
• The cover art is a photograph of a diorama, and the tire on the swing is merely a small rubber washer.

The Choir
Derri Daugherty | Steve Hindalong | Dan Michaels | Tim Chandler Marc Byrd | Robin Spurs | Matt Slocum | Bill Campbell | Mike Sauerbrey | Bill Batstone | Billy Wilde
Discography
Voices in Shadows | Shades of Gray | Diamonds and Rain | Chase the Kangaroo Wide-Eyed Wonder | Circle Slide | Kissers and Killers | Speckled Bird | Free Flying Soul Flap Your Wings | O How the Mighty Have Fallen
Live albums: Let It Fly | ' | '
Compilation Albums: ' | '
Related Articles
Lost Dogs | At The Foot of the Cross | Noel | City On A Hill | Galaxy21 Music | Neverland Studios

 

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