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Writer's pictureJoel Caballero

Freedom (1989)

Updated: Mar 23


Freedom is the sixth studio album by the Christian rock band White Heart, released in 1989.


Freedom would be the last album for White Heart on the Sparrow Records label and this would be the final album to feature the rhythm section of Gordon Kennedy, Tommy Sims and Chris McHugh as they left the group in 1990 to pursue musician session work. McHugh did return to the drums for White Heart's 1992 album Tales of Wonder. Freedom is produced by Brown Bannister, who is best known for producing Amy Grant's albums. With Bannister at the production helm, he allowed the group to stretch musically and lyrically. It is considered one of White Heart's best albums in Christian rock with both Christian rock and Christian CHR/AC radio giving airplay on songs like "Over Me," "Invitation," "The River Will Flow," "Let the Kingdom Come" and "Eighth Wonder." Freedom peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart. Freedom was nominated for a Dove Award for Rock Album of the Year at the 21st GMA Dove Awards. The track "Set the Bridge on Fire" is a bonus track on the CD version of Freedom.


On a side note: Kennedy and Sims teamed up with songwriter/producer Wayne Kirkpatrick to write the 1996 hit "Change the World," first recorded by country music singer Wynonna Judd and then covered famously by English singer/

guitarist Eric Clapton for the motion picture soundtrack Phenomenon. Clapton's version was produced by R&B music producer and recording artist Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. Clapton won Grammys for Record of the Year and Best Pop Male Vocal Performance and won Song of the Year given to Kennedy, Sims and Kirkpatrick at the 39th Grammy Awards in 1997.


Track listing


1. Bye, Bye Babylon (Billy Smiley, Mark Gersmehl, Gordon Kennedy, Tommy Sims,

Rick Florian) -4:07

2. Sing Your Freedom (Billy Smiley, Mark Gersmehl, Gordon Kennedy, Tommy Sims) -4:57

3. Let the Kingdom Come (Billy Smiley, Mark Gersmehl, Gordon Kennedy, Tommy

Sims) -5:02

4. Over Me (Billy Smiley, Mark Gersmehl, Gordon Kennedy, Tommy Sims, Chris McHugh) -5:18

5. Eighth Wonder (Billy Smiley, Mark Gersmehl, Gordon Kennedy, Rick Florian,

Chris McHugh) -4:20

6. Power Tools (Billy Smiley, Gordon Kennedy, Chris McHugh) -4:18

7. Invitation (Gordon Kennedy, Tommy Sims) -4:49

8. The River Will Flow (Billy Smiley, Mark Gersmehl) -6:53

9. Set the Bridge on Fire (Billy Smiley, Mark Gersmehl, Gordon Kennedy, Rick Florian) -4:31 (bonus track on CD)

10. Let It Go (Billy Smiley, Mark Gersmehl, Gordon Kennedy, Tommy Sims) -4:14

11. I'll Meet You There (Mark Gersmehl, Tommy Sims) -4:21


Personnel


White Heart:

Rick Florian -lead vocals, backing vocals

Mark Gersmehl -keyboards, 1st lead vocals on track 3, lead vocals on track 8,

backing vocals

Billy Smiley -guitar, backing vocals

Gordon Kennedy -lead guitar, 2nd lead vocal on track 4, 3rd lead vocal on track 7,

backing vocals

Tommy Sims -bass guitar, 1st lead vocals on track 7, backing vocals

Chris McHugh -drums, percussion


Radio singles

1989 "Let the River Flow" -#1 Christian CHR, #13 Christian AC

1989 "Eighth Wonder" -#1 Christian CHR, #18 Christian AC

1989 -1990 "Over Me" -#3 Christian CHR

1989 -1990 "I'll Meet You There" -#32 Christian AC


Previous release: Emergency Broadcast (1987)



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