The Way Home (Russ Taff album)

The Way Home
A sepia-toned photo of Taff's face
Studio album by
Russ Taff
Released1989
Studio
GenreCCM, roots rock, country rock
Length47:51
LabelMyrrh Records
ProducerRuss Taff
  • James Hollihan, Jr.
Russ Taff chronology
Russ Taff
(1987) 		The Way Home
(1989) 		Under Their Influence
(1991)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

The Way Home is the fourth studio album by Christian singer-songwriter Russ Taff, released in 1989 on Myrrh Records.[2] Music videos were made for "Winds of Change" and "I Cry" to promote the album. The Way Home was ranked at number 11 on CCM Magazine's 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music.[3] The album includes a one-minute version of the traditional gospel song "Ain't No Grave" – Taff later recorded a longer version on his 1991 album Under Their Influence. In 1990, The Way Home won Rock Album of the Year and the song "The River Unbroken" won Rock Recorded Song of the Year at the 21st GMA Dove Awards. Taff was also nominated for Best Gospel Performance, Male for the song "Farther On" at the 32nd Grammy Awards. The album topped the Billboard Inspirational Albums chart.

Track listing

The Way Home track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Winds of Change"Danny Tate, Danny Wilde4:17
2."It Was Love"Russ Taff, Tori Taff, James Hollihan, Jr., Darrell Brown, Marshall Chapman4:26
3."Farther On"R. Taff, T. Taff, J. Hollihan, Jr.3:49
4."The River Unbroken"D. Brown, David Batteau4:24
5."He Came Through"Ashley Cleveland, Wally Wilson, R. Taff, J. Hollihan, Jr.3:10
6."I Cry"R. Taff, T. Taff, J. Hollihan, Jr.4:07
7."I Need You"Michael Anderson, Guy Roche4:36
8."Go On"R. Taff, T. Taff, J. Hollihan, Jr., D. Brown4:22
9."Ain't No Grave"Traditional, arranged by R. Taff and J. Hollihan, Jr.1:19
10."Guiding Light"Hal Lindes, R. Taff, T. Taff, J. Hollihan, Jr., M. Chapman4:13
11."Take My Hand"Larry Hall, R. Taff, T. Taff, J. Hollihan, Jr., M. Chapman, D. Brown4:35
12."Table in the Wilderness"R. Taff, D. Brown, D. Batteau4:12

Personnel

  • Russ Taff – vocals, guitars, backing vocals (1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10-12), guitar solo (6)
  • Larry Hall – keyboards
  • James Hollihan – keyboards, melodica, guitars, backing vocals (4, 7, 10-12), guitar solo (7, 12)
  • Chuck Leavell – keyboards (8, 10, 11), acoustic piano solo (8)
  • John Darnall – mandolin (1)
  • Jackie Street – bass
  • Lynn Williams – drums
  • Terry McMillan – percussion (2-11), harmonica (9)
  • Mark Douthit – saxophones (5)
  • Mike Haynes – trumpet (5)
  • The Real JR Strings – strings (6, 12)
  • Don Hart – string arrangements (6, 12)
  • Ashley Cleveland – additional vocals (2, 8, 10, 11)
  • Greg Sparks – backing vocals (4, 11)
  • Rebecca Ed Sparks – backing vocals (4, 6, 7, 10, 11), additional vocals (12)
  • Marshall Chapman – backing vocals (8)
  • Frank Ådhal – backing vocals (10-12)
  • Bonnie Keen – backing vocals (10)
  • Dan Keen – backing vocals (10, 11)
  • Marty McCall – backing vocals (10, 11)
  • Darrell Brown – backing vocals (11)

Production

  • Russ Taff – producer
  • James Hollihan Jr. – producer
  • Tim Crich – engineer
  • Peter Coleman – mixing at Mama Jo's Studio (North Hollywood, California)
  • Lynn Fuston – additional engineer
  • David Garcia – additional engineer
  • David Schober – additional engineer
  • Elaine Anderson – assistant engineer
  • Shawn McLean – assistant engineer
  • Gil Morales – assistant engineer
  • Chris Rich – assistant engineer
  • Clarke Schleicher – assistant engineer
  • Mac Smith – assistant engineer
  • Dan Hersch – mastering at DigiPrep (Hollywood, California)
  • Buddy Jackson – art direction
  • Laurie Fink – cover coordinator
  • Bonnie Schiffman – black and white photography
  • Loren Balman – front cover photography
  • Zack Glickman – management

Charts

Chart (1989) Peak
position
US Inspirational Albums (Billboard)[4] 1

Radio singles

Year Singles Peak positions
CCM AC chart[5] CCM CHR chart[6]
1989 "Farther On" 1 1
1989-90 "I Cry" 1 1
1990 "Table in the Wilderness" 13 7
1990 "Winds of Change" - 19
1990 "I Need You" 33 6

Accolades

GMA Dove Awards

Year Winner Category
1990 The Way Home Rock Album of the Year
1990 "The River Unbroken" Rock Recorded Song of the Year

References

  1. ^ Allmusic review
  2. ^ Russ Taff: The Way Home. Myrrh Records. 1989.
  3. ^ Granger, Thom, ed. (2001). The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. Harvest House. p. 32. ISBN 0-7369-0281-3.
  4. ^ "Inspirational LPs" (PDF). Billboard. November 18, 1989. p. 31.
  5. ^ Brothers, Jeffrey Lee, ed. (2003). CCM Hot Hits: AC Charts 1978 - 2001. AuthorHouse. p. 207. ISBN 1-4107-3294-0.
  6. ^ Brothers, Jeffrey Lee, ed. (1999). CCM Hot Hits: Christian Hit Radio - 20 Years of Charts, Artist Bios and More. CCM Books. p. 160. ISBN 0-8230-7718-7.