Hotline (1985)

Hotline is the third studio album by the Christian rock group White Heart, released in March 1985 on Home Sweet Home Records.

White Heart went through more personnel changes as Gordon Kennedy replaced Dann Huff as the new lead guitarist and vocalist and this would be the final appearance of two of its members: Dann Huff's brother David would leave the group and tour as a drummer for Michael W. Smith and lead vocalist Scott Douglas who would be charged with aggravated sexual battery and was sentenced a year later.

Their first hit single "Jerusalem" made the Top 5 on Christian radio featuring vocals by Kennedy and Douglas. Billy Smiley and Mark Gersmehl wrote the song with Eddie DeGarmo and Dana Key, also known as DeGarmo & Key. Hotline peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart. White Heart founders Billy Smiley and Mark Gersmehl produced the album with Chris Christian as executive producer.

Hotline was reissued on CD jointly by Retroactive Records and Christian's record label Home Sweet Home Records on April 9, 2021, released as part of The Legend Series. The album was remastered with two bonus tracks: the Christmas track "Gloria" (from A Home Sweet Home Christmas) and an interview with the band conducted with Jerry Houser, that originally appeared on The Millennium Archives compilation. The CD booklet contains lyrics, photos and a trading card with White Heart on the front and information about the band and the album on the back.

Track listing

1. Hotline (Billy Smiley, Scott Douglas) –4:16

2. Gotta Be A Believer" (Billy Smiley, Mark Gersmehl) – 4:24

3. Jerusalem (Billy Smiley, Mark Gersmehl, Eddie DeGarmo, Dana Key) -3:52

4. Turn The Page (Billy Smiley, Mark Gersmehl) -4:55

5. She's A Runaway (Billy Smiley, Mark Gersmehl) –3:41

6. Heroes (Billy Smiley, Mark Gersmehl) -4:47

7. In His Name (Mark Gersmehl) -4:20

8. The Victory (Billy Smiley, Mark Gersmehl, Gordon Kennedy, Larry Stewart)

-4:34

9. Walls (Mark Gersmehl) -2:35

10. Keep Fighting The Fight (Billy Smiley, Mark Gersmehl) –3:25

Personnel

White Heart:

Scott Douglas -lead vocals, backing vocals

Billy Smiley -guitar, keyboards, backing vocals

Mark Gersmehl -keyboards, synthesizers, lead vocals on tracks 2, 4-6 and 10 backing vocals

Gordon Kennedy -lead guitar, co-lead vocals on tracks 3 and 8, backing vocals,

sitar on track 4

David Huff -drums, percussion

Gary Lunn -bass guitar

Radio singles

1985 "Jerusalem" -#2 Christian CHR, -#3 Christian AC

1986 "In His Name" -#19 Christian AC

Previous release: Vital Signs (1984)

Next release: Live at Six Flags (1986)