Soldiers Under Command is the second release and first full-length studio album by the Christian hard rock band Stryper, released on August 23, 1985 by Enigma
Records. The album is produced by Michael Wagener.
It was the first Christian metal album to be Gold certified by the Recording
Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of half a million copies. A music video was made for the title song of the album. It was originally issued on white
vinyl. Both the title song and the ballad "Together As One" were sent to Christian Rock and CHR radio, respectively. The inspiration verse for Soldiers Under
Command is 2 Timothy 2:3, 4: "Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer" (New International Version).
The album peaked at number 5 on the Top Christian Albums and number 84 on the Top 200 Albums charts in Billboard magazine. In 1986, Stryper released a
concert video on VHS titled Live in Japan, where they are popular in that country.
Stryper performed songs from this album and their debut EP The Yellow and
Black Attack! The concert video was certified Platinum. That same year, the band performed live at the 17th GMA Dove Awards, making them the first
Christian metal act, despite the conservatism of the ceremony where the
performers and presenters are predominantly Southern Gospel. Soldiers Under Command was reissued in 1991 by Hollywood Records.
Track listing
All songs were written by Michael Sweet, except where noted.
1. Soldiers Under Command (Michael Sweet, Robert Sweet) -5:04
2. Makes Me Wanna Sing -2:53
3. Together Forever -4:04
4. First Love -5:48
5. The Rock That Makes Me Roll -4:59
6. Reach Out (Michael Sweet, Robert Sweet) -5:23
7. (Waiting For) A Love That's Real -4:36
8. Together As One -5:05
9. Surrender -4:30
10. Battle Hymn of the Republic (Glory, Glory Hallelujah) (Julia Ward Howe;
arranged by Michael Sweet) -2:38
Gold certified in 1988.
Personnel
Stryper:
Michael Sweet -lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitars, lead
guitar solo on tracks 4 -7
Robert Sweet -drums
Oz Fox -backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitars, lead guitar solo on
tracks 2 -6 and 9
Tim Gaines -backing vocals on all tracks, bass guitar and keyboards on all
tracks, except track 8 (bass guitar and keyboards were handled by John Van
Tongeren on track 8)
Radio singles
1985 -1986 "Together As One" -#3 Christian CHR, #34 Christian AC
Previous release: The Yellow and Black Attack (EP) (1984)
Next release: To Hell with the Devil (1986)
Watch the music video of "Soldiers Under Command" here:
Watch the live concert video Live in Japan here:
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