Servant Shallow Water Genre:Christian & Gospel The Oregon-based band Servant began with a classic rock sound featuring the twin lead vocals of Sandie Brock and Bob Hardy on blues-based songs that sometimes recalled Jefferson Airplane. Shallow Water was originally relea... more »sed in 1979 on the Canadian label Tunesmith Records, and was a hard-edged rock album forged in the same tradition as fellow pioneers Barnabas and Resurrection Band, though not as heavy. It was a breath of fresh air at a time when most CCM was cheesy, superficial, and lacking a social conscience. Known for their theatrics, dazzling light show, and smoke-bomb filled performances, many critics of the time considered them too raucous to be authentically Christian. Yet years of tireless touring garnered the band legions of fans over time. Their fame peaked in 1982 when Petra headlined for them on a national tour! Bob Rock (later of Metallica, Motley Crue, Skid Row) produced the album, but it fell into obscurity when it went out of print before CDs came along. Retroactive Records released this Limited Edition digitally re-mastered re-issue May, 2006. This is the first time it has ever been available on CD. Liner notes, including reflections on the band's history, are written by founding member Owen Brock. For fans of Rez, Barnabas, Jerusalem, and all fans of AOR/arena rock. Songs include: 'Shallow Water,' 'Rich Man,' 'Here Comes David,' 'Rejoice,' 'Jesus Star,' 'Water Grave,' 'Cup Of Water,' 'Holy Roller Blues,' and 'Fly Away.'« less
The Oregon-based band Servant began with a classic rock sound featuring the twin lead vocals of Sandie Brock and Bob Hardy on blues-based songs that sometimes recalled Jefferson Airplane. Shallow Water was originally released in 1979 on the Canadian label Tunesmith Records, and was a hard-edged rock album forged in the same tradition as fellow pioneers Barnabas and Resurrection Band, though not as heavy. It was a breath of fresh air at a time when most CCM was cheesy, superficial, and lacking a social conscience. Known for their theatrics, dazzling light show, and smoke-bomb filled performances, many critics of the time considered them too raucous to be authentically Christian. Yet years of tireless touring garnered the band legions of fans over time. Their fame peaked in 1982 when Petra headlined for them on a national tour! Bob Rock (later of Metallica, Motley Crue, Skid Row) produced the album, but it fell into obscurity when it went out of print before CDs came along. Retroactive Records released this Limited Edition digitally re-mastered re-issue May, 2006. This is the first time it has ever been available on CD. Liner notes, including reflections on the band's history, are written by founding member Owen Brock. For fans of Rez, Barnabas, Jerusalem, and all fans of AOR/arena rock. Songs include: 'Shallow Water,' 'Rich Man,' 'Here Comes David,' 'Rejoice,' 'Jesus Star,' 'Water Grave,' 'Cup Of Water,' 'Holy Roller Blues,' and 'Fly Away.'
CD Reviews
The Original and Still the Best
Jedidiah Palosaari | Fes, Morocco | 07/24/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Let me admit the biases first: Servant was our band, by that, I mean part of our commune, managed and put together by my dad, and all the people in it close friends of mine. So I am going to be pretty supportive.
I like folk rock. I miss it. Well, I grew up on it. This was decidedly a folk rock album. Pleasant music that you could understand all the words to- and you really wanted to, for the words were that good. Well, for many the words were too cutting and dangerous to listen to, for who wants to hear a call to repent, that you, the church, are not actually following Jesus Christ? Isn't contemporary Christian music supposed to just make Christians happy, and be a safe outlet to dance?
Servant was cutting edge- the first Christian band with an extensive light show, the first to use lasers, and the band that gave Petra their start. A lot of what made Servant what it was comes through in this album. The words speak to the foundational elements of our commune, HMS. The Jesus Movement never produced a tome like the Westminster Confession; for us, our theology was expressed in our music. Even today, when I contemplate an ethical action, I consult the Bible, and the music I grew up with.
So Shallow Water speaks of how Christians don't take their faith seriously. As Ghandi said, if only the Christians actually did what their religion called for, it would truly change the world. Rich Man speaks of the loneliness that accompanies wealth, when Christ calls us to give up all we have to the poor and come follow Him. Cup of Water reminded us of our call to care for the poor first, and not only be the poor. Here Comes David and Rejoice are praise songs- but the lines of Here Comes David unique and wonderful.
"David had a wife who stayed in town/from the top floor window she was looking down/she said, 'Hey David what do you mean, by causing a ruckus, by making a scene?/He said, 'Going to praise the Lord so go back inside/Shut the door." Truly, we need more songs in praise of dancing publicly in underwear.
Jesus Star was an homage to some of the wonderful music from the musical Lonesome Stone that toured Europe long ago. Holy Roller Blues was true Jesus Freak vintage, using the Blues to ask "Whose freak are you?", and sung wonderfully raw by Bruce, God rest his soul. He gave his testimony on stage during the tour, that lead directly into this song. It was something that made Servant unique, and spoiled all future concerts for me. Because of my dad's background in theatre, they would often have short skits interspersed throughout the songs. I came to think of this as normative in rock music. Then later I found out most concerts are so boring, for they only have music! Not so Servant, a lost art form, using theatre and music to call the Church to be what it was always meant to be.
Rockin' Revival
World of Sand + 2"
Jesus rock -- of high quality
Richard E. Young | In Any Town, USA | 06/02/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"if you're a fan of Larry Norman, I think you'll love this album. Servant CDs were the soundtrack to my own salvation -- when I was 18 or 19 I contacted the band and received on autographed poster: it was a tour poster from their then-current swimming in a human ocean tour/album. As I recall the band was in transition and never released another album. Looking back on it, shallow water was probably the very best -- but all of servants music was uncompromising, socially aware and solid as a rock musically. They did have a characteristic zeal that today is lacking: CCM today is dreadful, in my opinion! But via the art of music, we can travel back to a more idealistic time, when kids/young adults were able to actually live out the pattern of early Christianity -- read ACTS: Chapter 2.
Mix Love, talent, zeal- all the elements, and still there is no way to describe the power when one is hearing this band for the first time, Servant is one-of-a-kind... The radical Christianity endorsed is still very relevant today, read below:
RICH MAN
Sammy Hager
All the silvers been varnished,
the linens white as snow
Im hiding in the library no one ever goes
And Im thinkin bout the wealth in this
big old house around me
You know I feel so ashamed and poor because
the Spirit hasnt found me
If I could lend someone a hand
Id be a rich man
I could hang out in the drawing room
and walk the length of the yard
But livin in all this splendor, sometimes
its a little hard
Cause Im really very human, with a heart
that can only melt
And in the worst part of emptiness I ever felt
If I could lend someone a hand
Id be a rich man
All the things that happen to me,
all the things that I'm goin' through
Well they make me stop and wonder,
is it happening to you
'Cause there really ain't no reason
to sit all alone and cry
So go out and give it another try
If I could lend someone a hand
Id be a rich man
If I could help someone to stand
Id be a rich man
And I could try to weave the words
of a song together
Aahh, Ooh rich man
Aahh, rich man
Aahh, Ooh rich man I feel so lost and lonely
Aahh, rich man Jesus I need You
Aahh, Ooh rich man
If I could lend someone a hand
Id be a rich man
If I could help someone to stand
Id be a rich man
And I could try to weave the words
of a song together
Aahh, Ooh rich man
If I could lend someone a hand
Id be a rich man
If I could help someone to stand
Id be a rich man
If I could lend someone a hand
Id be a rich man
If I could lend someone a hand
Id be a rich man
If I could lend someone a hand
Id be a rich man
If I could help someone to stand
Id be a rich man
the blues based rock and roll, and thunderous guitar work make this CD a uniquely vital and alive experience -- like a sonic treasure recalling a time before CCM was dipped in donkey dust.
I will always remember the original lineup of Servant, pioneers similar to Larry Norman who cannot ever be replaced, though sometimes imitated today."
I was there
Dewaine James | Granbury, TX USA | 07/06/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Don't remember the exact year. But it was SMU in Dallas in the late 1970's. This band was the first Christian band I saw that used effects like lasers, smoke...etc. Great show, awesome presentation and ahead of their time. This first album is the one that will forever be "Servent" to me. They also spoke of their commune and their lifestyle at the concert. It was all good to me. Great message, dated music but still good (even with weak production). I am thrilled to find this again, Amazon MP3 downloads are amazing, I find things no one else has. Out of print albums (like this one) are here... makes me happy :)"
Masterpiece
W. Sulik | Springfield, USA | 01/14/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album was a masterpiece - I'm so glad to see it re-released on CD. When I first heard it in the 70's, it was because it covered a song that a local group was doing which I loved (water grave). But then I heard the other songs - Rich Man, Cup of Water, etc. and it blew me away.
Servant focused on the radical call of living the Gospel and this album constantly challenged me to live a better life."
