Horrendous Disc
Encyclopedia
Horrendous Disc is the title of the third studio album by the rock band
Daniel Amos
, that was recorded in 1978 and released in 1981 on Solid Rock Records.
The album was dropped by Maranatha! Music
after the label decided to quit releasing rock and roll albums and focus on children's releases and the new praise style of gospel music. So the band, now without a record contract, began to shop the project around to various labels like Curb
/Warner Brothers. Word bought the tapes from Maranatha! and Larry Norman
's Solid Rock Records
, home to such artists as Randy Stonehill
, Tom Howard
, Mark Heard
, and others, leased the recordings from Word. Norman had the album mixed and took photos of the band for the album's cover. In July 1979, Norman released a test pressing with a different track listing and slightly different mix. This pressing was distributed to reviewers and extra copies were taken on tour.
Some of the songs from the album, like "Hound of Heaven" were being performed by the band in concert as early as 1977. Aside from live performances, music from the album, the test pressing, was first heard by the public on the Rock & Religion Radio Show
on January 20, 1980. Several tracks were played and the band was interviewed about what they had hoped would be their soon-to-be-released album. For reasons that remain a mystery, the album was shelved by Solid Rock until its long overdue release in April 1981, nearly three years after it had been recorded and just weeks before the band's follow up on Newpax Records
, ¡Alarma!, hit record stores. Upon its release, CCM found its sound to be "bizzare, multifacited" compared to the group's other releases.
This album frequently appeared at the top of Christian Music magazine readers polls of the "album that people most wanted to see released on CD," until its eventual reissue on CD in 2000. It was listed at No. 63 in the book CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music
(Harvest House Publishers, 2001).
The CD re-release stirred controversy among Daniel Amos fans by the inclusion of two bonus tracks: Tribute recordings that Larry recorded for the When Worlds Collide: A Tribute to Daniel Amos
CD that he decided to include at the end of the Horrendous Disc CD. The covers sung by Norman were of his favorite Daniel Amos song – "Hound of Heaven". One recording was a straight-ahead tribute version of the song and the second tribute recording was a version using a very laid–back jazz band. The decision to include these cover tracks on the CD, along with some long, wandering liner notes, bewildered DA fans.
Daniel Amos had approached Larry about putting together a "Deluxe Edition" of Horrendous Disc in 2006 with the original Horrendous Disc on the first disc and many bonus tracks on the second disc. That deal fell apart suddenly when Larry first agreed verbally to the deal, and then announced plans for his own CDR reissue with a computer printed cover. DA fans were very disappointed with the cheap and apathetic approach to what they consider a legendary album. That arrangement was nearly resurrected and put in writing once more shortly before Norman's death in March 2008. It is now uncertain what the future of any kind of joint release between Stunt and Solid Rock might be. Stunt hopes at the very least to revisit HD with a collection of rarities and out-takes.
+ these tracks were re-recorded for the final release
Master Cylinder Two
Side Two
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
Daniel Amos
Daniel Amos
Daniel Amos is a rock band formed in 1974 by Terry Scott Taylor on guitars and vocals, Marty Dieckmeyer on bass guitar, Steve Baxter on guitars and Jerry Chamberlain on lead guitars. Current members include bassist Tim Chandler, guitarist Greg Flesch and drummer Ed McTaggart...
, that was recorded in 1978 and released in 1981 on Solid Rock Records.
Background
DA had almost completely abandoned the country sound of their first record by late 1977 and early 1978, when this album was recorded with co-producer Mike Stone.The album was dropped by Maranatha! Music
Maranatha! Music
Maranatha! Music began as a non-profit outreach of Calvary Chapel in 1971. The Jesus People of the late 1960s and early 1970s began to write new hymns and worship songs with a folk-rock style. Maranatha! Music was founded at this time in order to publish and promote this new type of Christian...
after the label decided to quit releasing rock and roll albums and focus on children's releases and the new praise style of gospel music. So the band, now without a record contract, began to shop the project around to various labels like Curb
Curb Records
Curb Records is a record label started by Mike Curb originally as Sidewalk Records in 1963...
/Warner Brothers. Word bought the tapes from Maranatha! and Larry Norman
Larry Norman
Larry David Norman was an American Christian musician, singer, songwriter, record label owner, and record producer, who worked with Christian rock music...
's Solid Rock Records
Solid Rock Records
Solid Rock Records is the record label of Larry Norman. It was set up in 1975 to distribute his own work, after he had been released by Capitol Records. Solid Rock had a distribution deal with Word Records until 1980....
, home to such artists as Randy Stonehill
Randy Stonehill
Randall Evan "Randy" Stonehill is an American singer-songwriter from Stockton, California, best known as one of the so-called "fathers of contemporary Christian music". His music is primarily folk rock in the style of James Taylor, but he has assayed other styles, with various albums focused on...
, Tom Howard
Tom Howard (musician)
Tom Howard was an American pianist, musical arranger and orchestral conductor.In 1983, Howard helped the rock band Daniel Amos form the Alarma! Records label....
, Mark Heard
Mark Heard
John Mark Heard was a record producer, folk-rock singer, and songwriter originally from Macon, Georgia, USA....
, and others, leased the recordings from Word. Norman had the album mixed and took photos of the band for the album's cover. In July 1979, Norman released a test pressing with a different track listing and slightly different mix. This pressing was distributed to reviewers and extra copies were taken on tour.
Some of the songs from the album, like "Hound of Heaven" were being performed by the band in concert as early as 1977. Aside from live performances, music from the album, the test pressing, was first heard by the public on the Rock & Religion Radio Show
Rock & Religion Radio Show
Rock & Religion was a syndicated radio program based in Sacramento, California, USA. The program began in 1977 and ran through 1981. The show was produced by Mary Neely, and hosted by Neely, and singer Michael Roe. Although it is not currently being broadcast, recordings and original promotional...
on January 20, 1980. Several tracks were played and the band was interviewed about what they had hoped would be their soon-to-be-released album. For reasons that remain a mystery, the album was shelved by Solid Rock until its long overdue release in April 1981, nearly three years after it had been recorded and just weeks before the band's follow up on Newpax Records
NewPax Records
NewPax Records was founded in 1975 by Gary S. Paxton as an outlet for his gregarious ideas in songwriting and engineering. This gave Paxton the edge he needed to create music that was far ahead of its time....
, ¡Alarma!, hit record stores. Upon its release, CCM found its sound to be "bizzare, multifacited" compared to the group's other releases.
This album frequently appeared at the top of Christian Music magazine readers polls of the "album that people most wanted to see released on CD," until its eventual reissue on CD in 2000. It was listed at No. 63 in the book CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music
CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music
CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music is the title of a book, edited by Thom Granger and published in 2001 by Harvest House Publishers....
(Harvest House Publishers, 2001).
The CD re-release stirred controversy among Daniel Amos fans by the inclusion of two bonus tracks: Tribute recordings that Larry recorded for the When Worlds Collide: A Tribute to Daniel Amos
When Worlds Collide: A Tribute to Daniel Amos
When Worlds Collide: A Tribute to Daniel Amos is an indie tribute album by a variety of artists that pays musical tribute to the band Daniel Amos and its chief songwriter Terry Scott Taylor. It was released in July 2000 by Ferris Wheel....
CD that he decided to include at the end of the Horrendous Disc CD. The covers sung by Norman were of his favorite Daniel Amos song – "Hound of Heaven". One recording was a straight-ahead tribute version of the song and the second tribute recording was a version using a very laid–back jazz band. The decision to include these cover tracks on the CD, along with some long, wandering liner notes, bewildered DA fans.
Daniel Amos had approached Larry about putting together a "Deluxe Edition" of Horrendous Disc in 2006 with the original Horrendous Disc on the first disc and many bonus tracks on the second disc. That deal fell apart suddenly when Larry first agreed verbally to the deal, and then announced plans for his own CDR reissue with a computer printed cover. DA fans were very disappointed with the cheap and apathetic approach to what they consider a legendary album. That arrangement was nearly resurrected and put in writing once more shortly before Norman's death in March 2008. It is now uncertain what the future of any kind of joint release between Stunt and Solid Rock might be. Stunt hopes at the very least to revisit HD with a collection of rarities and out-takes.
July 1979 test pressing order
- Flying Saucer sounds
- "On the Line"
- "Never Leave You"
- "I Believe In You"
- "Tidal Wave"
- "Sky King"
- "I Love You #19" +
- "Man in the Moon
- "Hound of Heaven" +
- "Horrendous Disc"
+ these tracks were re-recorded for the final release
US track listing
Master Cylinder One- "I Love You #19" (Taylor)
- "Hound Of Heaven" (Taylor)
- "(Near Sighted Girl With Approaching) Tidal Wave" (Taylor)
- "Sky King (Out Across the Sky)" (Taylor)
Master Cylinder Two
- "On the Line" (Taylor)
- "I Believe In You" (Taylor)
- "Man in the Moon" (Chamberlain)
- "Never Leave You" (Cook)
- "Horrendous Disc" (Cook-Chamberlain-Taylor)
UK release track list
Side One- "I Love You #19"
- "Hound of Heaven"
- "I Believe In You"
- "Sky King (Out Across the Sky)"
Side Two
- "On the Line"
- "Never Leave You"
- "After All These Years" (Taylor)
- "Horrendous Disc"
Canadian reissue
The Canadian re-issue omits "Never Leave You". However, Word Canada still had labels, sleeves, and jackets from the first pressing so, not wanting to be wasteful, the disc was mastered to appear to have five tracks on side two by visually splitting "Horrendous Disc".CD Reissue
- "I Love You #19"
- "Hound of Heaven"
- "Near Sighted Girl (With Approaching Tidal Wave)"
- "Out Across the Sky (Sky King)"
- "On the Line"
- "I Believe In You"
- "Man in the Moon"
- "Never Leave You"
- "Horrendous Disc"
- "Hound of Heaven" (performed by Larry Norman)
- "Hound of Heaven" (another version performed by Larry Norman)
2007 CDR
- "On the Line (Extended Version)"
- "Out Across the Sky (Sky King)"
- "I Love You #19"
- "Man in the Moon"
- "The Hound of Heaven"
- "Never Leave You"
- "Near Sighted Girl (With Approaching Tidal Wave)"
- "I Believe In You"
- "Horrendous Disc"
- "Fairy Tale" (previously unreleased)
- "After All These Years" (only released on the UK album version)
- "That Girl Likes To Talk (Yak, Yak, Yak)" (previously unreleased)
- "Twilight Love" (previously unreleased, except as a live version on the album Our Personal Favorites)
- "Noelle" (previously unreleased. Different version on the album Motor Cycle)
- "Hello Aloha" (previously unreleased)
Personnel
Daniel Amos had grown to six members when this album was recorded.- Terry Scott TaylorTerry Scott TaylorTerry Scott Taylor is an American songwriter, record producer, writer and founding member of the bands Daniel Amos and The Swirling Eddies . Taylor is also a member of the roots and alternative music group, Lost Dogs. He is currently based in San Jose, California, USA.Taylor is highly regarded for...
: guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, lead vocals - Jerry ChamberlainJerry ChamberlainJerry Chamberlain , is a United States singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer, best known for his work with the rock bands Daniel Amos and The Swirling Eddies ....
: guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, vocals, lead vocals on "Man in the Moon" & "Horrendous Disc" - Marty DieckmeyerMarty DieckmeyerMarty Dieckmeyer was the bass guitar player for the Christian rock band Daniel Amos from 1974 to 1981. Dieckmeyer sang the lead vocal on the song "Props" from the ¡Alarma! album in 1981...
: bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Mark CookMark CookMark Cook is an American songwriter and keyboardist, best known for playing keyboards in the 1970s rock group Daniel Amos. Mark Cook later left the group to become a Calvary Chapel Pastor....
: keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, vocals, lead vocal on "Never Leave You" - Ed McTaggartEd McTaggartEd McTaggart is an American drummer and artist. He is best known as the drummer of the rock band Daniel Amos.McTaggart joined DA in 1976, after years of playing with Bill Sprouse Jr.'s band The Road Home....
: drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Alex MacDougallAlex MacDougallAlex MacDougall is an American record producer, and percussionist. MacDougall is best known for being a member of the Christian rock band Daniel Amos in the late 1970s in addition to his production and recording session credits...
: drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...