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From the Vault...
04/26/2015
#1461 |
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info
Dion
"Inside Job/Only Jesus"
© Ace Records
Year of Release: 2003
Rating:
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track listing
I Believe
(Sweet Lord Jesus)
He's The One
Center Of My Life
The Truth Will
Set You Free
Gonna Be Ready
Old Souvenirs
New Jersey Wife
Man In The Glass
Sweet Surrender
Hearts Made Of Stone
The Best
Sweet Love Of Jesus
It's Gonna Rain
Only Jesus
Train For Glory
Thank You Lord
Sailing Ahead
Of The Wind
Puttin' On My Crown
Greater Is He
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Dion
"Inside Job/Only Jesus"
"I dedicate this album to Jesus; also to my precious wife Susan and my beautiful daughters Tane, Lark and August... a family secure in the loving
lordship of Jesus Christ." -- Dion
Dion (DiMucci) returns this week, with a new journey he encountered in his career at the time. We all know him famous as one of the pioneers of the
early years of Rock & Roll. His hits "The Wanderer" and "Runaround Sue" are the ones that will always be remembered. And of course, his
years as "Dion & The Belmonts," with hits such as "Teenager In Love" and "I Wonder Why."
By the year 1968, he was in a different direction, both good, and bad. He was learning the Blues (good). He was trying to kick a heroin addiction (bad).
Towards the end of the 1960s, he would record one of the most influential songs in music history. A song in response to the assassinations of Abraham
Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr. John F. Kennedy, and Bobby F. Kennedy. The song was entitled "Abraham, Martin And John." By the end of the 1970s,
he would become a born-again Christian. His future albums in the 1980s would be of Christian music. The first two albums in this genre were packaged
together as a 2-albums on 1-disc, released by Ace Records. Inside Job was originally released in 1980. His second Christian album, Only Jesus
was released the following year. Four more Christian albums would follow, throughout the mid-1980s decade.
Both albums featured this week, Inside Job/Only Jesus definitely shows a different side of Dion. They were not considered "doo wop" albums.
Remember, these albums were released in the 1980s, and over 20 years had passed, since the popularity of doo wop music existed. Doo wop music was basically
an oldies thing, and not brought back into popularity. (Although in 1983, Billy Joel would have a 1950s early Rock & Roll hit, "For The Longest Time.")
Dion was now a different person, getting over a heroin addiction, and taking religion into his life, following Jesus Christ. Just as he had done before in
music, his new chapter in Christian music would be just as exceptional as his beginning years in Rock & Roll.
INSIDE JOB:
This album is basically a Rock and Roll album, but not as it was back in the 1950s. The 1970s decade had passed, and most of
the music heard (and accepted) were Country, and Southern Rock. Not to say this album is all Country or Southern Rock, it is not.
The first track, "I Believe (Sweet Lord Jesus)" has a more soulful sound. "He's The One" can be compared to Bob Seger. The other tracks
have a simple Rock style, "Center Of My Life," where a very good Rock track is "The Truth Will Set You Free." A Rock & Roll sound (almost
to Dion's heyday) gets "Gonna Be Ready," and is probably the only song that can be traced back to Dion's early years. 1970s "lite-rock" or is it
"off-Country" has "Old Souvenirs." The remaining tracks, "New Jersey Wife," "Man In The Glass." and "Sweet Surrender" all have a
"Rock" sound, contributing to how music was back in this time period. An overall good Rock album, with Dion's spiritual and Christian lyrics.
ONLY JESUS:
This album is definitely different, even different than the previous Christian album. I'm trying to determine what kind of
"Rock" this really is. My overall review is that there is a lot of songs here that sound like the later years of Bob Dylan. These tracks are heard on
"Hearts Made Of Stone," "The Best," and "Sweet Love Of Jesus." Then there's the "off-Country," or I can even say that the next track, "It's
Gonna Rain" with it's style and nature, you could hear this song being recorded by Waylon Jennings. Another track further on this album compared to Waylon,
is "Puttin' On My Crown."
The title track is really different, and mysterious. A different setting compared to all the songs from both albums on this twofer. Different also
goes for the "tropical" sounding "Train For Glory." Dion had been working with Blues music, and there is a common Blues feel heard on "Thank
You Lord." "Sailing Ahead Of The Wind" has a common 1970s Rock sound and style. Rock and Blues gets a good mix on the last track, "Greater
Than He."
Dion has accomplished an incredible journey in his musical travels. His first two Christian albums here are definitely enjoyable. There isn't a bad
track on either one. It's just a different feel, from one of the early greats of Rock & Roll. Again, there is no comparison to the early doo wop sound
that Dion is famous for. A different approach, a different lifestyle, it all becomes natural. Dion would also record future Rock and Blues albums well
into the 21st Century. Dion is a legend, a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer (inducted in 1989 as "Dion"; not with the Belmonts).
As the decades emerged, music had changed, and Dion changed with the times. Christian music was a great move for him, as these albums are worth
listening to, and enjoyed. Which of the two albums were better? I would say Inside Job. Having said that, both albums are very well done, and
should easily be accepted by fellow Christian music admirers, and Rock & Roll fans as well.
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