I had no idea what this LP was all about when I saw this at my local Salvation Army. I did know that it was a fresh change of pace from the usual barrage of Mantonavi's and Streisand's that have flooded the store for the past however many years. Anyway, flipping to the back cover I quickly figured it to be a xian record, what with all the scripture talk and Jesus/God track title names. The cover looked alright so I figured I would live dangerously and spend the $1 on this 'blind buy'. Well, it turned out to be a successful gamble if you ask me. There's a number of different styles on here; soul, gospel, psych (kind of), but most importantly, some nice emphasis on the patented JesusFunkâ„¢.
Triumphonic was (or should I say still is?) The Salvation Army's record label. The only information I found while searching the web about this particular recording was that it was made in 1974 (the year wasn't credited on the record itself).
Anyway, about the music — there's two notable uptempo tracks with breakbeat drumming, wah guitar, and horn "stabs". "Jesus Knows" (my choice of the two), also incorporates some great fuzz a minute or so into the song. It'd be nice if they let the dude wig out a little longer with his solo but nevertheless, it's still a very enjoyable track. There are also a number of slower, gospel/soul numbers that are quite good as well.
Anyone with any information on this group, feel free to post it in the comments section.
Listen to a few tracks:
Jesus Knows
Freedom in Jesus
A Change will Come
Redemption is:
Jack Hulteen – lead vocal
Phil Smith – first trumpet, flugelhorn
Mike Orfitelli – second trumpet, alto horn
Charlie Baker – trombone, vocals
Gordon Kirby – guitars, tamborine, vocals
Len Ballantine – piano, organ, mellotron, vocals
Bob Frazier – bass
Arnie Hulteen – drums, lead vocals (Jesus Knows)
David Rightmire – sound man
(Posted in hopes that one of these people [or their relatives] googles their name one day and stumbles upon this page, thus giving us more information on this obscure little gem)
Filed under: Gospel, Soul / Funk, Xian / Religious
I’ve seen this record before. I’ve either passed on it (and subsequently regret it) or I’m experiencing deja vu.
I’m going to go sit in the corner…
i don’t know, i think it’s a pretty local record.. maybe it’s stock cover art?
I might have seen it in a finds post on SS or something. Anyway, nice find!
I know most of the guys on this album. Phil Smith is a trumpeter in the NY Philharmonic and Charlie Baker is a trombonist in the NJ Symphony. I’m actually going to see Arnie Hulteen this evening. I’ll let him know about this page and hopefully he can fill in some details for you.
I know most of these folk. Gordon Kirby is my brother lives in NJ and is a construction general contractor. “Jack” Hulteen should be Jude Hulteen, as great contemporary Christian vocalist based in Atlanta whose married name is Gotrich. You’ve heard about Phil and Charlie. Arnie Hulteen played drums as a secondary instrument and is a great trumpeter. Len Ballantime is a minister in the Salvation Army in Canada responsible for all it’s music programs in Canada – great choral songwriter as well. David Rightmire is a professor at Asbury College in KY. Not sure where Bob Frazier is. I’m pretty sure this album also had Lew Soloff of Blood Sweat and Tears fame playing trumpet as well.
Gordon Kirby is my father and the album art is not stock, it is my mother’s painting!
I was 3 years behind Charles Baker at Eastman, knew the Hulteens at Camp Tecumseh in NJ and the other names are mostly familiar to me due to being in the Salvation Army at the time (my husband and I have since gone to other churches). When I went to Canada upon marrying my husband, I met Mr. Ballantine and heard some of his music (he had a female vocal group at the time–as a matter of fact,I had a record album he produced). Really cool to come upon this.
I am the female lead vocal on these tracks – yes, Jude,not Jack. 4 of the tunes were done several years before the launch of the album in ’74. I know because I was only 14 when I sang those vocals. We tried to call this jazz-rock but I don’t think that label stuck at that time but maybe it would today. I sang with all mutations of this group for 6 years so I guess you could call me the veteran, albeit the ‘baby’ of the group. Yes, there are some notable affiliates. Rob Frazier went on to a solo career that produced at least one solo album sold in Christian book stores. Charlie is principle trombonist for NJ Symphony. Others not mentioned above were Phil Smith who is principle Trumpet for NY Philharmonic. It appears that the person who initially posted this ‘find’ is more into the instrumental side of the product but we were told to keep the vocals in check. It was also a tumultuous time (civil rights at it height/race riots, etc.) and I personally was told the following statement, “you ain’t never been black, never will be black, so don’t try to sound black.” Obviously, it was a different time, musically and thankfully that is all behind us.
Listed on the bottom of the album were other contributors like Pete Dino as one of the arrangers (former arranger for Dionne Warwick), Steve Bulla (one of the arrangers for the President’s Marine Band in DC). The group’s design was primarily for Christian outreach and a vehicle to get people’s attention in an outside forum (as in a NJ boardwalk). When the music was good, people stopped to listen and in the breaks we listened to them in conversation about the important matters of their life’s purpose and sharing God’s love for them.
Len Ballantine, keyboards, is my brother and still in touch with Jude, Phil and Charlie at least. He is still composing and arranging and is a choral director of note. The nascent talent in this group was evident in this album…and proved by how many of its members went on to have successful musical careers. Perhaps a key to that lay in the sound classical backgrounds these then young musicians put to use in these contemporary Jazz/Rock pieces. I believe that this group was one of the first contemporary Christian bands on this continent…what do you say, musicologists?