Jerry Harrison was so impressed with the performance of his backup band on his 1988 tour that he brought them back around to share billing on his third album, Walk on Water.
It's ironic, then, that none of his star players and partisans feature audibly on the recording. The soulful backing of vocalists Dollette McDonald and Nona Hendryx creep into the mix from time to time, as does Bernie Worrell's blistering keyboard work, but it's clear that Harrison has chosen Walk on Water, his first post-Talking Heads album, to be a stylistic departure from his earlier works.
For one, the dense, syncopated textures from his previous albums have given way to a significantly more laid-back and monorhythmic feel.
No doubt Harrison felt a simpler, pop-oriented approach would seem less self-conscious than his tense, meticulous early material.
Tension, however, has always been an important quality in Jerry Harrison's music. Without it, his songs suffer here, as listenable but vaguely unremarkable tunes.
Harrison brings his political activism to the fore, too, most notably in "I Cry for Iran" and "Cowboy's Got to Go."
Unfortunately, the lyrics come across heavy-handed and lack personality, hardly benefiting from the sparser production. It's only when Harrison truly lets his guard down that Walk on Water succeeds. A handful of surprisingly tender ballads manage to buoy the album up from mediocrity.
"If the Rains Return" is an affectionate ode to a lover with a lush tropical backdrop, while the exquisite lullaby "Sleep Angel" seems to channel Chris Isaak with its silvery steel guitar and husky vocal delivery.
Track listing
1. Flying Under Radar - 3:49
2. Kick Start - 3:51
3. I Don't Mind - 3:29
4. Sleep Angel - 6:05
5. I Cry For Iran - 6:01
6. Confess - 3:40
7. Cowboy's Got To Go - 4:52
8. Never Let It Slip - 3:18
9. If The Rains Return - 4:23
10. Facing The Fire - 4:35
11. The Doctors Lie - 5:39
Personnel
Arthur Russell - Vocals
Ernie Brooks Vocals
Jerry Harrison - Vocals
Tom Bailey - Vocals
Arlene Newson - Backing Vocals
Joyce Bowden - Backing Vocals
Michael Webb - Backing Vocals
Sherrel Harmon - Backing Vocals
Dan Hartman - Backing Vocals, Tracking By [Overdubs], Synthesizer [Fairlight]
Tawatha Agee - Backing Vocals
Vaneese Thomas - Backing Vocals
Loveless Redmond - Backing Vocals
Djamila Mina - Backing Vocals
Rick Jaeger - Drums
Brice Wassy - Drums
Etienne Mboppe - Bass Guitar
Arthur Weir - Bass Guitar
Adrian Belew - Guitar
Alex Weir - Guitar
Jason Klagstad - Guitar
Tom Bailey - Synthesizer [Fairlight]
Bernie Worrell - Synthesizer [Fairlight]
Jim Liban - Harmonica
Abdou Mboup - Percussion
Companies, etc.
- Marketed By – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
- Manufactured By – WEA Manufacturing
- Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Sire Records Company
- Copyright © – Sire Records Company
- Pressed By – Specialty Records Corporation
- Published By – Construct Music, Inc.
- Published By – Constant Evolution Music, Inc.
- Published By – SBK-EMI Music
- Published By – Point Music America Inc.
- Recorded At – DV Productions
- Recorded At – Berwick Street Studios
- Recorded At – Royal Recorders
- Recorded At – AD Productions
- Overdubbed At – Multi-Level
- Overdubbed At – Studio Marcadet
- Overdubbed At – AD Productions
- Mixed At – The Hit Factory
- Mixed At – Sarm West Studios
- Mixed At – Royal Recorders
- Mixed At – Rack Studios
- Mixed At – AD Productions
- Mixed At – DV Productions
- Mixed At – Wessex Sound Studios
- Mixed At – Sigma Sound Studios, New York
- Mastered At – Sterling Sound
Credits
- Design – M&Co.
- Engineer [Assistant] – Al Williams, Brian Poer, Dan Duncan, Dave Kent, David Henszey, Jean Marc Bidaubayle, KK, Pete Lorimer, Steven Fitzmaurice, Tom Frizzy
- Keyboards – JH
- Mastered By – Ted Jensen
- Photography By [Front Cover] – M. Baytoff
- Photography [Flap] – J. Schultz
- Photography [Inside] – G. Orth
- Tracking By [Additional Overdubs] – David Henszey
- Tracking By [Overdubs] – Jay Mark
Notes
Released: 1990
Genre: Rock
Length: 55:54
Label - Sire Records
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