Virtues (1986)

Virtues is the second studio album by the Christian rock band Allies. It was released in 1986 and is the second and final album on Light Records. The album is produced by Dino Elefante and Randy Thomas.

Virtues have some key moments in their career as a band and as individual members. Great maturity in the writing, from the almost anthemic rock tracks such as “On With the Fight” (co-written by Bryan Duncan) and “In America” to sensitive ballads like “Prayer for the Children” and “Somebody Told Me You Were Crying.” The track "Jacque Remembers" was the first on a series of songs that Bob Carlisle wrote about his family. The track is about Carlisle's wife named Jacque. A decade later Carlisle co -wrote about his daughter Brooke on her 16th birthday called "Butterfly Kisses" and became the biggest hit of his solo career.

Virtues debuted and peaked at number 34 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart. This is the last album to feature Sam Scott on keyboards as he left the group after its release. And also the last album to feature the band in military outfits as it hurt them as a band and hindered their purpose as to what their identity is as a band. Virtues was reissued and remastered on CD in 2021 by Girder Records.

Track listing

1. Hardened Hearts (Sam Scott, Michael Hodge) -4:43

2. On With the Fight (Sam Scott, Bryan Duncan) -3:43

3. If You Believe (Randy Thomas) -3:44

4. Harmony (Bob Carlisle, Michael Carey) -4:09

5. Pray for the Children (Sam Scott, Michael Hodge) -4:53

6. In America (Bob Carlisle, Randy Thomas, Sam Scott) -3:37

7. Jacque Remembers (Bob Carlisle, Randy Thomas) -3:57

8. Somebody Told Me You Were Crying (Bob Carlisle, Randy Thomas) -3:09

9. Let's Fall in Love (All Over Again) (Bob Carlisle, Eric Rosse) -4:44

10. Runnin' Out of Time (Bob Carlisle, Sam Scott) -4:15

Personnel

Allies:

Bob Carlisle -lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar

Randy Thomas -guitar, guitar synthesizer, backing vocals

Matthew Chapman -bass guitar, backing vocals

Jim Erickson -drums

Sam Scott -keyboards, backing vocals

Radio singles

1987 "If You Believe" -#6 Christian CHR

Previous release: Allies (1985)

Next release: Shoulder to Shoulder (1987)