Shadowlands is the sixth studio album by Scottish Christian singer - author Sheila Walsh, released in 1986 on Word Records. This is Walsh's first album on the Myrrh label after leaving Sparrow Records.
Considered to be Walsh's best album, Shadowlands features some harder beats and a British techno pop sound. The album is produced by Richard Osborne and Jon Sweet, marking Walsh's first time working with them to update her sound and featuring songs by Sweet and Rod Trott. The track listings differ from the U.S. and U.K. recordings: the U.S. LP of Shadowlands on side 2, track 1 contains the song "Christian" which was released as the album's lead single, while the U.K. LP version on the same side and track contains the duet "I Hope and I Pray" with Walsh and English rock singer Alvin Stardust, in place of "Christian." "I Hope and I Pray" is found as a bonus track on the cassette and CD versions of Shadowlands in the U.S. The track is produced by Barry Blue.
Eventually, both "Christian" and "I Hope and I Pray" were on the CD versions of Shadowlands in both U.S. and U.K. markets. The album reached number 22 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart and earned Walsh her third and final Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Performance, Female at the 29th Grammy Awards. Walsh also released a concert video on VHS called Shadowlands: Live in London to promote the album. A music video was made for the track "Big Boy Now."
Track listing on the U.S. CD version of Shadowlands
All songs were written by Jon Sweet and Rod Trott, except where noted.
1. Sand in the Hand -3:47
2. Ship of Love -3:56
3. Keeper of the Key -3:53
4. The Hungry Night -4:18
5. Valley of Tears -4:40
6. Christian -4:19
7. Big Boy Now (Lance Demers) -3:56
8. Last Word in Love -4:15
9. What Do You Know (That I Don't) -5:18
10. Never Give It Up -4:06
11. I Hope and I Pray (duet with Alvin Stardust) (Jon Moss, Sheila Lippel, Simon
Brenner) -3:51
Production credits
Richard Osborne and Jon Sweet -producers (tracks 1 - 10)
Barry Blue -producer (track 11)
Radio singles
1986 "Christian" -#2 Christian CHR, #4 Christian AC
1986 "What Do You Know (That I Don't)" -#4 Christian CHR, #9 Christian AC
1987 "Big Boy Now" -#17 Christian AC
1987 "Valley of Tears" -#28 Christian AC
Previous release: Portrait (1986) (compilation)
Listen to Shadowlands here:
Watch Shadowlands: Live in London concert here:
Watch the music video of "Big Boy Now" here:
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