Love Songs and Prayers:
A Retrospective
Compilation album by
The Choir
ReleasedNovember 13, 1995
Recorded1985-1994
Genre
Length78:32
LabelMyrrh / Epic
Producer
The Choir chronology
Speckled Bird
(1994)		 Love Songs and Prayers:
A Retrospective
(1995)		 Free Flying Soul
(1996)

Love Songs and Prayers: A Retrospective is the first compilation album from alternative rock band the Choir, released in 1995.

Background

When the Choir was contacted by Myrrh Records about releasing a "best of" collection, the band requested to choose the songs themselves, and the label agreed.[1] The organization of the songs into "love songs and prayers" was suggested by saxophone and Lyricon player Dan Michaels when he heard drummer and lyricist Steve Hindalong use that term in an interview to describe the Choir’s body of work.[1][2]

Although released by Myrrh, the compilation chronologically presents songs from all their releases, regardless of record label, up to that point.[1] The unreleased alternate versions of "A Million Years" and "All Night Long" were originally re-recorded in 1985 with producer Mark Heard after Michaels had joined the band,[3] and appear for the first time on this collection.[4]

The digipack CD case was designed by singer Christine Glass (using the name "Christy Coxe" in her role as art director).[1] She would eventually record backup vocals for the Choir on a consistent basis beginning with 2000's Flap Your Wings. Her husband, Marc Byrd, would subsequently join the band in 2005.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Cross Rhythms[5]
AllMusic[6]

At the time of its release, Love Songs and Prayers was well-received. Sam Hargreaves, writing for Cross Rhythms said “the quality of the songwriting progresses through the album, and the lyrics are consistently good.”[5]

Retrospectively, Darryl Cater at AllMusic praised the “great deal of variety” on the compilation, and added that “the result of this interesting mix is (and has always been) a sense of persistent hopefulness in the face of darkness.”[6]

Track listing

All songs written by Steve Hindalong and Derri Daugherty, unless otherwise specified.

No.TitleWriter(s)Originally released onLength
1."A Million Years (alternate version)" Previously unreleased3:31
2."All Night Long (alternate version)" Previously unreleased5:29
3."Render Love"Hindalong, Charlie PeacockDiamonds and Rain5:12
4."Black Cloud"Hindalong, PeacockDiamonds and Rain3:40
5."Consider"Hindalong, Daugherty, Tim ChandlerChase the Kangaroo4:06
6."Sad Face (edit version)"Hindalong, Daugherty, ChandlerPreviously unreleased4:52
7."So Far Away" Chase the Kangaroo4:51
8."Clouds"Hindalong, Daugherty, Steve GriffithChase the Kangaroo6:05
9."To Bid Farewell" Wide-Eyed Wonder4:37
10."Car, Etc. (special radio mix)" Previously unreleased4:33
11."Merciful Eyes" Circle Slide4:55
12."Restore My Soul" Circle Slide6:34
13."A Sentimental Song" Circle Slide5:01
14."Like A Cloud" Speckled Bird2:06
15."Gripped" Speckled Bird4:21
16."Grace" Speckled Bird3:08
17."Live Postlude" Previously unreleased1:08
Total length:78:32

Personnel

The Choir

Additional musicians

  • Bill Batstone – guitar, bass guitar ("A Million Years," "All Night Long," "Render Love," "Black Cloud")
  • Robin Spurs – bass guitar, vocals ("To Bid Farewell," "Car, Etc.")
  • Mike Sauerbrey – bass guitar ("Restore My Soul")
  • Mark Heard – background vocals ("About Love")
  • Jerry Chamberlain – background vocals ("Merciful Eyes")
  • Sharon McCall – background vocals ("A Sentimental Song")

Production

  • Ken Love – digital editing and mastering
  • Christy Coxe – art direction
  • Norma Jean Roy – photography
  • Astrid Herbold – design

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Records: Love Songs and Prayers". January 28, 2007. Archived from the original on March 12, 2005. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  2. ↑ Hindalong, Steve (November 1995). "The Choir: To Bid Farewell". Special Radio Interview Disc (Interview). Interviewed by Tony Shore; Chris Well. Nashville, Tennessee, USA: Myrrh Records.
  3. ↑ Conant, Andy; Palmer, Dave (2001). The Choir: Never Say Never: The First 20 Years. Brentwood (Nashville, Tennessee), USA: Galaxy21 Music. p. 10. ISBN 0-688-12672-3.
  4. ↑ Michaels, Dan (November 1995). "The Choir: To Bid Farewell". Special Radio Interview Disc (Interview). Interviewed by Tony Shore; Chris Well. Nashville, Tennessee, USA: Myrrh Records.
  5. 1 2 Hargreaves, Sam (April 1, 1996). "Review: The Choir - Love Songs and Prayers: A Retrospective". crossrhythms.co.uk. Cross Rhythms. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  6. 1 2 Cater, Darryl. "The Choir: Love Songs & Prayers". allmusic.com. AllMusic. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
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