By this stage of their career, the Faith Band had shifted from their funk and R&B tinged rock, to something harder and rock based, they didn’t quite get the recipe right, but they gave it a crack nonetheless.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Faith Band
ALBUM: Vital Signs
LABEL: Village Records/Mercury
SERIAL: SRM 1-3807
YEAR: 1979
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Carl Storie – vocals, harmonica * David Bennett – guitars * John Cascella – vocals, keyboards, saxophone * Mark Cawley – bass, vocals * David Barnes – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Yesterdays News * 02 Easier Said Than Done * 03 Somewhere In The Night * 04 Everything But A Heartache * 05 Paradise * 06 Dark Side Of L.A. * 07 Only A Joker * 08 Rosalie * 09 Is It For Real
WEBLINKS: Wikipedia Page
Background
‘Vital Signs’ would be the final effort from this popular Indianapolis based Faith Band. Over the course of their five album run, the band endured ups and downs, and changes in musical style.
The latter was something most bands who operated through this era put up with, due to the prevalent style of the day, and what was working commercially on radio, and where record labels and band management wanted to place their roster.
By this stage of their career, the Faith Band had shifted from their funk and R&B tinged rock, to something harder and rock based. They didn’t quite get the recipe right, but they gave it a crack nonetheless.
The Songs
Much of the material on ‘Vital Signs’ operates in the same territory as the Michael Stanley Band. Very heartland oriented rock, which would’ve been popular throughout the mid-west.
The lead-off ‘Yesterdays News’ is dominated by a sax line which sounds like a bagpipe. There’s some nice gruff guitar work to be found on ‘Easier Said Than Done’. If the band had a style like this throughout, then it would’ve made the listening experience more fulfilling.
‘Somewhere In The Night’ is an example of that Michael Stanley Band comparison, so too ‘Everything But A Heartache’, both proving to be useful tunes. ‘Paradise’ pushes the envelope, a harder rock n roll track similar to something the Iron City Houserockers might do.
Probably the best track here is ‘Dark Side Of L.A’, while the last two tracks are quite different; ‘Rosalie’ with its jangly rockabilly sound (imagine something like Gary U.S Bonds, coupled with the ballad ‘Is It For Real’ combining acoustic guitar and piano to good effect.
In Summary
So, yes, a mixed bag, not totally convincing, but good to have finally heard it and written about it. The Faith Band did release a compilation album in 2010, and at last report, were due to release a new album during 2013, according to their Wikipedia page. I haven’t heard or seen any new developments, but if you are a fan, then there is hope for you yet.
Faith Band on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
