Greetings and Rockin' Salutations my friends. I hope you are doing well. Today...the Ruminatin' Rod's Record Review...is again...one of my favorites. Today, I review...CRIMSON AND BLUE by Mr. Phil Keaggy. As many of you know...and if you didn't know.. now you do know...I am a big fan of the music of Phil Keaggy. Well...I say the music of Phil Keaggy...but really the man himself. I first heard of Phil Keaggy when the bass player, friend, brother in the Lord...Mark Webster gave me a copy of Phil Keaggy's WHAT A DAY. I had never heard of Phil so I put it on the old turntable and gave it a spin. I was NOT impressed. It seemed a little to mellow for me. At the time I was listening to music by RESURRECTION BAND (from the Jesus People USA Community in Chicago)..."Music To Raise The Dead." This lukewarm reception by me to Phil's music quickly changed. I fell in love with the mellow/tender side of Phil...but later on...after listening to syndicated radio shows like the SCOTT ROSS SHOW...JESUS SOLID ROCK (with Jerry Bryant)...and hanging out at Koinonia Bookstore...I heard more and more about Phil.
Phil was in a band in the early 70's called GLASS HARP. They were a power trio...who were up and coming. They were signed to the EPIC LABEL...and managed by Van Morrison's manager. They were recording in Jimmy Hendrix's Electric Ladyland studio...and were opening up of whoever was popular at the time.Glass Harp consisted of Daniel Peccio on bass.. John Sferra on drums...and a young guitarist by the name of Phil Keaggy. The group was famous for their jams. Originally from the Youngstown Ohio area...they were contemporary of people like the James Gang (Funk # 49, Walk Away). They played at Kent State...and were scheduled to play at Kent State but were not allowed to set up by the National Guard because of the tragic riots.
Glass Harp went on to record three studio albums...and a live project GLASS HARP LIVE AT CARNEGIE HALL (opening up for the Kinks). There was a synergistic quality with the three...and driven by the guitar gymnastics of Phil. An oddity at the time was the spiritual bent to their songs. Phil had become a Christian (the others later)...and Phil eventually dropped out and began recording Jesus Music (later to be dubbed CCM...Contemporary Christian Music). Phil would do a lot of studio work and tour with people like Honeytree, 2nd Chaper of Acts, Paul Clark, etc...and then eventually ended up in Freeville New York at the Love Inn Christian Community (See the book Scott Free by Scott Ross). He played in the community band called the Phil Keaggy Band...played with Ted Sanquist and recorded a songs of worship...along with the afore mentioned project WHAT A DAY. It was also at this time that Phil recorded LOVE BROKE THROUGH and EMERGING. He also recorded a ground breaking project...THE MASTER AND THE MUSICIAN (instrumental). NOTE: Wow...I didn't mean to ramble on about the history... but I did find it refreshing to remember the roots of Phil.
I have 50+ projects by Phil...ranging from instrumentals, Spanish, Blues, Rock, and every genre in between. If I had to choose a favorite album...I would have to choose...CRIMSON AND BLUE. It is this project...that captures the guitar genius of Phil. Sure his other projects have Phil on guitar...and they are amazing...but nothing really captures the essence of Phil like he is in concert. NOTE: Another reason this holds a special place in my heart is my Dad. I had ordered this project and received it on a Saturday...and played it and was blown away by it. A little later on...my Dad stopped by and picked me up and we went to Eagleville Tennessee for a chitlin' supper. (Chitlins being the intestines of pigs...cleansed...boiled...and fried...also NASTY!) The project was released in 1993...and Dad passed away in October of 1993 of pancreatic cancer. CRIMSON AND BLUE always reminds me of this bitter time in my life...and helped me cope with the death of my dad. As with all of Phil's music...it becomes touchstones in my life to encourage me, lift me up, point me to Jesus.
As I said...this project showcases Phil's guitar genius...more than any of his other projects. If you notice their are different CD covers all with the CRIMSON AND BLUE LINK. Phil released one called BLUE which as the Limited Editon Rock Version of CRIMSON AND BLUE. There were extended jams...and a couple of extra songs (The Further Adventures Of, All Our Wishes, and a cover of Badfinger's Baby Blue). This was released for distribution by Word on EPIC (Glass Harp's original label).There was also som other goodies in a project called REVELATOR (after the song John the Revelator)...with "a few variations on the themes in Crimson and Blue, celebration of life, reunion, restoration and forgiveness. It's also a peek into some of the fun, unrehearsed moments in the studio with some of my oldest and best pals." (Revelator Liner notes)
The band on the project includes: Phil Keaggy (guitars and lead vocals), John Sferra (drums),
Wade Jaynes (bass), Phil Madeira (Hammond B-3 and background vocals), Lynn Nichols (Background vocals and guitar) NOTE: Phil Madeira and Lynn Nichols were with Phil in the Love Inn Days and in The Phil Keaggy Band on the album EMERGING).
I saw the group in Nashville on the Crimson and Blue tour at 328 Performance Hall and it was flawless rock and roll.
Well...from the opening field drum beat of the song SHOUTS OF JOY to the electrified version of the old blues song JOHN THE REVELATOR....to the ending, tender instrumental of NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS (the true crimson in our lives) this project draws me into the presence of the Father...via the blood of Jesus.
I give CRIMSON AND BLUE...an enthusiastic 5 MOO-MOOS.
Love and Solid Rock and Roll Kisses because of the Solid Rock Jesus
Rodney "Shouts of Joy" Boyd
