What a Day is the debut solo album by Christian singer/songwriter/guitarist Phil Keaggy. It was originally released on New Song Records. The album was made and copyrighted in 1973 but was not fully released until 1974. What a Day was produced by Keaggy and Greg Hedden.
Keaggy did all the instruments, vocals and arrangements. Album highlights include the title song and "That Is What the Lord Will Do for You." What a Day has been reissued three times: the second time it was reissued by Nissi Records in 1984. Next it was reissued on Myrrh/Word Records as part of a double album with his 1976 album Love Broke Thru on CD in 1990. In 2014, it was reissued for its 40th anniversary digitally remastered.
In 2023, What a Day was reissued as a 50th anniversary deluxe edition on 3 CDs by Retroactive Records. The first CD is the remastered original album. The second disc "In The Studio" features alternate mixes, outtakes, instrumental mixes and others. The third disc "Demos and Outtakes" features 20 acoustic demos recorded in 1970 to 1972, just around the time that Keaggy was a member of Glass Harp. Keaggy recorded them on cassette tape as possible tracks for his first solo album. Many demos of songs made it on to the album and many didn’t and never found a home until now. Included is a 40-page booklet with liner notes by Keaggy himself, co-producer Hedden and project supervisor Tom Gulotta, plus an essay by acclaimed author and Chesterton biographer Kevin Belmonte. Includes dozens of newly discovered, never-before-seen photos from the original photo shoots for the album by Bob Combs.
Track listing
All songs were written and arranged by Phil Keaggy.
1. That Is What the Lord Will Do for You -2:58
2. King of the Jews -2:10
3. Walking With the Lord -4:23
4. A Time and a Place -2:50
5. Rejoice -4:50
6. What a Day -4:50
7. Now I Can See -5:09
8. Behold All Things Are Becoming New -1:22
9. Hallelujah -4:48
10. I Will Sing -3:26
NOTE: there is a spoken word poem in the bridge section of "A Time and a Place" that is written anonymously.
Next release: Love Broke Thru (1976)
Comments