CCM's 500 Best Albums Of All Time
The Best CCM Albums of All Time
50. Hand to the Plow – Paul Clark
HAND TO THE PLOW (1977)
YouTube: Hand To The Plow song
Paul Clark
When conversation inevitably move to discussions revolving
around the formation of CCM and the Jesus Movements
“Jesus Music” world, many names take center stage.
Larry Norman, Barry McGuire, Annie Herring and Randy Stonehill
tend to be the focal point of conversations with the list of
artists that were birthed at Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa
like Love Songs, Mustard Seed Faith and Daniel Amos.
But when conversing with the artists mentioned above,
But when conversing with the artists mentioned above,
the name most often brought up is that of musician extraordinaire,
Paul Clark. Noted as one of the finest (possibly the finest)
songwriter of the time and a world class musician of his own,
Clark was instrumental in bring CCM to a whole new level of
quality and acceptance.
After four very well received and reviewed projects,
Clark nearly single-handedly raised the bar to a whole
new stratosphere with “Hand to the Plow.” Putting down
his acoustic guitar and worship framed lyrical and musical
focus, Clark joined forces with some of the finest musicians
to ever grace a CCM project and invented the first real
“classic rock” Christian album.
Seven minute jams featuring precise piano, swinging sax and
Seven minute jams featuring precise piano, swinging sax and
grooving guitars, the album is brilliant from the opening piano
interlude to the fading final string note. While the rest of the
Jesus Music world was still peddling relatively safe and “dated”
country rock and folk, Clark was piercing the speakers with
R&B/Soul rhythms and progressive rock prowess
unforeseen at time.
From the grainy cover of a wrinkled, weathered and worn
From the grainy cover of a wrinkled, weathered and worn
hand of old man grasping a wooden plow to the stellar
production quality, there is very little that was not groundbreaking.
Clark’s voice was never this edgy or passionate in his
previous releases. There is more Moody Blues, Pink Floyd
and Steely Dan here than in the rest of CCM at the time combined.
Even listening to this album as I write this review I am in
awe of just how much I feel like I am listening to any other
classic rock album of note during the same time period.
Bobby Cotton’s production is so rich and textured and
the songs are not watered down for Sunday Morning
consumption. This was real, contemporary and utterly
relevant; well before those words lost their meaning in
the modern Church movement.
The album features what would later become the bedrock
The album features what would later become the bedrock
of the amazing jazz group, Koinonia. Hadley Hockensmith,
Harlan Rogers and Bill Maxwell were joined by unheralded
and uber-guitarist Curt Bartlett. But it would be Jim Hochanadel’s
amazing saxophone work that would stick with listeners
over three decades later.
The album kicks off with the seven minute title track that
The album kicks off with the seven minute title track that
simply rocks. It would easily rank among the great Christian
classic rock tunes if there were any that were even in its
category. Borrowing from the Biblical image of the need to
keep moving forward in our work for the Lord and not
looking back to our former lives, Clark pounds his way
through this epic. Here the guitar and saxophone work
simply steal the show. But it is all based around Clark’s
killer piano work.
Before this time the thought of an seven minute epic rock
Before this time the thought of an seven minute epic rock
song that featured more instrumental time than lyrical time
was simply unheard of. This was entering into the domain
of bands like the Moody Blues and even the Allman Brothers
with long instrumental breaks and, for lack of a better term ,
“jamming.” This was done live by the likes of Phil Keaggy,
but was a real rarity on a studio recording. Clark’s ability to
keep the musical interest with such a long instrumental song
(especially to lead the album) is proof of his musical genius
and great songwriting and arranging.
Things slow down immediately with the classical guitar tinged,
Things slow down immediately with the classical guitar tinged,
“Spring of Life.” nearly liturgical in its feel and arrangement,
this beautiful songs works as a perfect interlude between the
two rock numbers that make up two of the first three songs
on the project. This style would soon become the centerpiece
musical expressions for artists like John Michael and terry Talbot.
“All I Need” is pure Jazz/R&B genius. The funk driven female
“All I Need” is pure Jazz/R&B genius. The funk driven female
backing vocals would sound like Riki Michelle of Adam Again
20 years before. In fact, every listen to this song reminds me of
just how much Gene Eugene was influenced by the same music
that Clark delivers here. Everything from the funky keyboard
rhythm (think early Stevie Wonder) and great Hammond
organ solo to the funky guitar solo and thumping bass are
pure funk/soul magic.
Another brilliant and more progressive rock sounding classic
Another brilliant and more progressive rock sounding classic
is “Shipwrecked.” Introduced by a beautiful orchestral arrangement,
the song soon moves into something akin to the best from
Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon.” Slow and passionate
like “Comfortably Numb,” Clark’s strong higher register is
accompanied by, of all things, the harmonica. what would
seem out of place, works perfectly here as the song turn
more inspirational than dirge-like.
The smooth jazz many remember Clark for is most evident
The smooth jazz many remember Clark for is most evident
on “Love You So.” Clark’s voice rangers from a Phil Keaggy
quality to almost a Stephen Bishop quality. The organ again
finds itself the central driving force to this beautiful ballad
before the amazing sax work takes center stage as the more
jazz influence is delivered.
“Help Me to See” would have fit on any Glass Harp album
“Help Me to See” would have fit on any Glass Harp album
and is the most Keaggy-like on the project. The song is a
slow build rocker that features some of the finer blues-influenced
guitar solo work for the time. Moody and darker than most
CCM at the time, the song is a Psalmists plea for direction
and security.
Before the world of CCM discovered that automatic radio
Before the world of CCM discovered that automatic radio
airplay that “wedding songs” provided an artist, Paul Clark
wrote one of the finest wedding songs ever written. Ever.
The medley, “Woman…The Man That I Love” is six minutes
The medley, “Woman…The Man That I Love” is six minutes
long and features two separate songs that are merged to
create a cohesive single expression. The duet, sung with
Kelly Willard, is written from the perspective of both the
woman and the man as the song changes musical expressions
as each sings their glorious parts. The songs do blend in the
final chorus as both sing simultaneously this stunning song.
“Now and Forevermore” shows Clark’s growth in the use
“Now and Forevermore” shows Clark’s growth in the use
of orchestral arrangements. here, not only does the orchestra
support the melody, it carries the entire song. More classical
than most ballads, the song is a worshipful reminder for
communion and an expression of the covenantal faithfulness
of God that is remembered in the sacrament.
The album closes with “One Final Word,” introduced with a
The album closes with “One Final Word,” introduced with a
harp and orchestra. the sound would later be more consistently
applied by the like of Jeff Johnson.
This is as nearly flawless an album as any from the Jesus Music
This is as nearly flawless an album as any from the Jesus Music
era. It is also gives reason why many of Clark’s peers hold
him in such high regard. Not constrained to the parameters
of common Jesus Music or CCM at the time, Clark’s innovative
and original musical expressions made him a favorite among
fans and artists.
He, for some reason, never received the long-term recognition
He, for some reason, never received the long-term recognition
he so richly deserved, as this album plainly presents. If there is
an expression greater than “An Album You Should Own,”
this album would deserve that classification. Though other
Jesus Music albums will be ranked higher based on historical
significance, very few can compete with this album.
Paul Clark - 2009
Click here for more: CCM 500 Best Albums All-Time
Paul Clark (Christian musician)
- Songs from the Savior, Vol. 1 1972
- Songs from the Savior, Vol. 2 1972
- Come Into His Presence (Paul Clark and Friends) 1974
- Good To Be Home (Paul Clark and Friends) 1975
- Hand to the Plow 1976
- Change in the Wind 1978
- Aim for the Heart 1980
- New Horizon 1981
- Drawn to the Light 1982
- Out of the Shadow 1983
- Awakening from the Western Dream 1988
- When the Moon is Behind the Clouds 1992
- Private World 1995
- Resonate 1996
- Christmas 1998
- Call of the Canyon 2001
- Approaching Jerusalem 2009
- "The Shorter The Trailer The Longer The Road" or "Songs From The Trailer VOL.IV" 2012
Click here: Paul Clark's website
