Between the Glory and the Flame is the fifth studio album by Christian singer -
songwriter Randy Stonehill. It was released on August 20, 1981 by Myrrh/Word Records. Stonehill co-produced the album with Terry Scott Taylor.
Starting with this release, Stonehill began a decade-long association at Word Records on the Myrrh label. It was released after his fallout with Larry Norman, plus the release of his previous album The Sky is Falling and divorcing his first wife Sara Finch. Stonehill has since been remarried to his second wife Sandy Warner. Stonehill started work on this album with Terry Scott Taylor producing. Taylor's band Daniel Amos played throughout the entire album, along with Norman's protégé Tom Howard also playing on keyboards.
The result is a tight band performing Stonehill's songs in the studio, giving a much more polished sound than we were used to getting from him up to this point. The title song "The Glory and the Flame" was released to Christian radio where it became his first Top 10 hit. The song "Die Young" is an example of Stonehill's cynical but honest approach, calling out the typical Western lifestyle centered around short term thinking. It was one of Stonehill's earliest music videos. His combination of humor and truth-telling was present throughout his career. Stonehill re-records the track "Letter to My Family," that was originally recorded during The Sky is Falling sessions but ended up as a CD bonus track on the 1994 reissue of that album. Howard handles the orchestral arrangements on the track.
Between the Glory and the Flame debuted and peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart. The album has not been released on CD and is not available digitally. A YouTube link to listen to the album is posted below this article.
Track listing
All songs were written by Randy Stonehill, except where noted.
1. The Glory and the Flame -3:08
2. Die Young -3:10
3. Fifth Avenue Breakdown -3:00
4. Grandfather's Song -3:23
5. Find Your Way to Me -3:47
6. Christine -3:32
7. Rainbow -3:40
8. Givin' It Up for Love (Randy Stonehill, Tom Howard) -4:11
9. Letter to My Family -4:37
10 Farther On (Randy Stonehill, Tom Howard) -2:57
Radio singles
1981 -1982 "The Glory and the Flame" -#3 Christian CHR
Previous release: The Sky is Falling (1980)
Next release: Equator (1983)
Listen to the album Between the Glory and the Flame here:
Watch the music video of "Die Young" here:
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