Welcome to Paradise (1976)

Joel Caballero

Nov 3, 2024

2 min read

Updated: Sep 27

Welcome to Paradise is the third studio album by Christian singer - songwriter Randy Stonehill. It was released in 1976 on Larry Norman's Solid Rock label. Norman produced and arranged the album.

Stonehill returned with a proper follow-up to his 1971 debut album Born Twice. His songwriting had always been very strong but now his guitar work was catching up. For many this album was their first exposure to Stonehill and it had strong sales numbers. His opening signature track "King of Hearts" showcases Stonehill's melodic pop style and offers a parable of a lost soul searching for life.

"Keep Me Runnin'" is a rock number that describes the emptiness and alienation of lives apart from Christ without tidying everything up with a too-obvious moral or conversion testimony. "Song for Sarah" is a tender ballad and "Lung Cancer" is a humorous look at the posture of teenagers who think they're being countercultural when they yield to the pressures of the tobacco industry. Stonehill also re-recorded the track "Puppet Strings," that he originally recorded for his 1973 release Get Me Out of Hollywood.

Welcome to Paradise was named the 13th greatest album in Christian music by CCM Magazine in their 2001 book The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. In 2002, the album was reissued on CD by Larry Norman with five bonus tracks included. A YouTube link to listen to the album is posted below this article.

A Kickstarter fund-raising campaign project was started on September 9, 2026 to work on a 50th anniversary edition of Welcome to Paradise. The goal is to raise up to $55,000 to complete a remastered version of the album on 2 CDs and 2 vinyls. The second CD and LP will have bonus tracks. Click here for more information.

Track listing

All songs written by Randy Stonehill.

Tracks 1 -5 (Paradise lost - sorrow and sadness...)

1. King of Hearts -4:53

2. Keep Me Runnin' -5:59

3. The Winner (High Card) -3:44

4. Lung Cancer -3:35

5. Puppet Strings -4:25

Tracks 6 -10 (Paradise regained - ...turned into gladness)

6. First Prayer -3:11

7. I've Got News for You -3:51

8. Song for Sarah -3:29