Musical Style: Classic Hard Rock	Produced By: Bob Brooks
Record Label: Tunesmith / Retroactive	Country Of Origin: USA/Canada
Year Released: 1979 / 2006	Artist Website: Servant
Tracks: 9	Rating: 75%
Running Time: 37:29

Servant draws comparison to contemporaries Resurrection Band from manner in which it traces its origin to the Jesus Movement originating during the late sixties.  Future Servant members Owen (guitar) & Sandie (lead vocals) Brock and Matt Spransy (keyboards) were brought together by the early seventies European evangelistic rock musical Lonesome Stone, but once Lonesome Stone ended, Owen and Sandie moved to Victoria, BC where the lineup of the band - initially using the Higher Ground moniker - came together over the next several years.  Canadian guitarist Bruce Wright was the first to sign up, while bassist Rob Martens, who had several chance meetings with Wright at a Greyhound bus depot and a guitar shop, joined the band - now officially renamed Servant - in early 1977.  When drummer David Holmes caught a performance of Servant at his coffee shop, the Upper Room, he offered his serves to replace its conga player.  Lead vocalist Bob Hardy became a Christian after Wright shared his faith with him and subsequently rounded out the Servant roster in late 1977.

Side note: when Spransy returned from Europe, he formed a Joliet, Illinois based progressive rock band also called Servant (often referred to a Joliet-Servant) with Doug Pinnick (King’s X).  After Joliet-Servant disbanded in 1980, Spransy saw Servant live in Chicago and donated his truck in addition to music and sound equipment to the group.  Spransy later joined Servant in the summer of 1981.

With its roster set, Servant began playing live extensively, including shows at Christian coffee houses and colleges, parks, bars and other secular venues.  Around the same time, The Highway Missionary Society emerged, which also included members of the band.  Further details from Owen Brock as it pertains to the community: “(it) would become foundational as our lifestyles and music reflected our shared beliefs about the world, the church, God’s kingdom, Christian community and compassion and justice for the poor.”  Servant and The Highway Missionary Society relocated to Grants Pass, Oregon in 1979 and subsequent to becoming the first band to sign with fledgling label Tunesmith, released the same year its debut album Shallow Water. 

Originally released on vinyl and cassette, Shallow Water was re-mastered (noting the work of Rev at Creation Station Media) and reissued by Retroactive Records in 2006.  Extensive liner notes include a detailed band history written by Owen Brock and previously never before seen band photos.

As one might expect, production values are somewhat thin.  That being said, and to be completely fair, Shallow Water was recorded on a small Christian label using late seventies technology.  It deserves note the album was engineered by Bob Rock, who went on to greater fame with Metallica, Motley Crue and Ski Row.

Lyrically, I commend Servant for both the quality to its lyrics and manner in which it combines the need for salvation with strong and biting social commentary.  Musically, Shallow Water trends seventies influenced hard rock and classic rock that while not quite heavy as previously notes Resurrection Band - not to mention Barnabas and Daniel Band - gives prominence to more than adequate guitar driven incentive all the same.

Hence, albums seething opening title track.  “Shallow Water” delivers a prominent blow in this regard, tenacious with its defiant guitar disposition but also effusive from manner in which Sandie Brock’s raspy voice proves the perfect vehicle to impart the group’s message about waking to the worlds needs:

Well I’m sittin’ by the TV and I think I might hit the sack
Life is pretty easy when you’re just kickin’ back
I’ve heard about the starving millions, I got my TV and radio
I know many are called, and I don’t like to stall, but I’m much too busy to go

Refrain gains further momentum in building upon the barbed themes:

I’m walking on shallow water, there’s no depth to what I do
If I try to go deeper I might disappear and I’ve got too much to lose

Third and final verse effectively sums thing up:

Now Jesus called to Peter, He said “come take a walk on the sea
Leave your fears in the boat and you will float, just put your trust in me

Subsequent cut is a cover of the Montrose classic “Rich Man”, which originally appeared on the 1976 album Jump On It.  Shallow Water line notes credit Sammy Hagar as penning the song, but my online research provides instead attribution to Dan Hartman, whom is renowned for composing the hit “Free Ride” with the Edgar Winters group.  Hagar was not part of Montrose in 1976, having left the group the previous year.

Musically, “Rich Man” mirrors the Servant classic rock side.  It echoes of the relaxed and easy going with its acoustic interlacing - almost instilling a Country twang - and bountiful vocal melodies.  David Holmes shines with his classic tenor vocal style, which contrasts with the earthy form of Montrose front man Bob James.  Difference between the two versions is the Montrose use of keyboards.

“Here Comes David” reveals a boogie flavored heavy rock sound.  Song takes a self-assertive form, awash in the work of ‘wild organist’ Robby King (quoting albums liner notes) and bluesy licks and chops of Bruce Wright, who takes ample opportunity to bestow his unreserved playing instrumentally.  I enjoy how “Here Comes David” decelerates to a near standstill at the end for open-air vocal melodies.  Subject is self-explanatory:

The children of Israel all gathered round
To see King David
Bring the ark into town
He caused such a ruckus
He caused such a fright
He was praising the Lord with all of his might
He said call up the troops
Call up the nation
Cause were gonna have us a big celebration

Worship rocker “Rejoice” ensues. Song traces to Joe Grier and David Eden of Jesus rock act e Band, who along with cohort Greg X. Volz (Petra) recorded it for the early seventies compilation Because I Am.  Of note is how e Band reformed for Cornerstone 2011 and performed “Rejoice” live.  Servant rendering weaves its way acoustically, awash in the groups underrated vocal melodies and Sandie Brock’s heartfelt croon.  Song picks up pace over its final minutes as a joyous combining of acapella vocals, organ and impelling bass take over.

Album returns to a hard rock direction with “Jesus Star”.   Song starts to a DJ voice over ahead of taking off to Southern style harmonies, emboldening further as rhythm guitar speaks of the unhesitating and classic tenor front man Bob Hardy the satiric in line with the cynical stance to hold sway.  Lyrically, “Jesus Star” takes a ‘concerned swipe at the luxury of the Christian star making machinery being utilized to promote the simple teachings of Jesus’ (quoting the CD liner notes):

My press agent called
He said you got autographs to sign
And then I do an interview
With a famous friend of mine

OH to meet influential people
To get the Gospel sold
Now there’s fame in my name
And they can use that use that on the show

Second side opening cut “Water Grave” also brings extensive history.  It was initially composed by Steve Chapman (not to be confused with Steven Curtis Chapman) and recorded by Dogwood for its 1975 debut After The Flood, Before The Fire and later covered by The Imperials for the 1977 release Sail On.  Atomic Opera even got in on the act by including a cover of “Water Grave” on its 1997 sophomore album Penguin Dust.

All history lessons aside, in my opinion “Water Grave” is albums finest cut.  It translates seamlessly to the Servant mode of hard rock, highly engaging in light of its provocative melody, realizing the charged harmonies and Hardy’s ascending vocals, but also electric from the exhilarative fusing of organ and rhythm guitar (instrumental moments shine in this capacity).  I would love to hear a cover from Stryper or Theocracy.

Albums mellowest “Cup Of Water” follows.  Mellower, however, means no less adept, as the song trends its five and half minutes in serene, ballad like fashion to affecting vocal melodies and wave like guitar.  All the while fluent guitar feedback weaves in and out of the mix.  Over its final half, the song stops dead in its tracks for an open-air vocal harmony trade off.  Similar to many Shallow Water cuts, “Cup Of Water” challenges the listener to wake up to the worlds needs:

Give a cup of water in the name of the Lord
We need to give away all the things that we have stored
Too much time spent thinking of ourselves
When all around us people crying out for help

Poverty surrounds us and we know it’s here to stay
After all what can we do they live so far away
Hungry little children they’ve got their hands outstretched
Begging for a piece of bread when will their needs be met

As implied by its namesake, “Holy Roller Blues” trends blues based hard rock territory.  With Bruce Wright’s soulful vocals setting the dauntless tone, song revels in down tuned unease in echoing the disquiet and vexing.  Front to back Wright also bestows his razor sharp guitar abilities.  I saw Servant in concert no less than four times, and “Holy Roller Blues” was a concert favorite as Wright took an improvisational approach with his witty storytelling and extended open air guitar soloing:

Well they call me a holy roller
Yes and I do believe it’s true
You know they call me a holy roller
Yes and I do believe, I do believe it’s true
Well if they know my Jesus
They’d be a doin’ some rollin too

They call me a Bible thumper
And I do believe, believe it’s true
Well if they know what was in the Word of God
They’d be out thumpin that Bible too

“Fly Away” was another live staple that Servant used to close its shows.  It begins to a brief explosion of feedback ahead of rushing forward at an ambitious tempo to synthesizers and ‘I’m getting ready’ backing vocals, sustaining the vehement verve as Sandie Brock vocally takes command in reinforcing the repeated ‘fly way, away, away, away’ hooks.  Synthesizers lead the way instrumentally.  

Shallow Water holds up resoundingly well after the passing of forty-five years.  As one might expect, it sounds somewhat dated, but the creativity and youthful exuberance - not to mention some REAL good songs - cannot be denied.  I particularly take to the albums heavier material such as “Shallow Water”, “Jesus Star”, “Water Grave” and “Holy Roller Blues”, but I do not hit the skip button either.  If interested in a piece of Christian rock history, I encourage obtaining a copy of Shallow Water.
Review by: Andrew Rockwell

Track Listing: “Shallow Water” (5:02), “Rich Man” (3:39), “Here Comes David” (3:36), “Rejoice” (4:24), “Jesus Star” (3:36), “Water Grave” (4:51), “Cup Of Water” (4:53), “Holy Roller Blues” (3:33), “Fly Away” (3:52)

Musicians
Sandie Brock - Lead Vocals
Bob Hardy - Lead Vocals
Bruce Wright - Guitars & Vocals
Owen Brock - Guitars
Rob Martens - Bass
David Holmes - Drums & Vocals

Guest Musicians
Robbie King - Organ