![]() ![]() Both played multiple instruments and had angelic voices, and often performed as a duo. The other main musician/singers in the band that served as the musical nucleus of New Song were Kim Scofield, a Marina High grad, and Linda Stassen. His assistant was a guy named Stan Swanson, a local construction worker. Tom had no musical abilities, but acted as the spiritual leader of New Song the fellowship, and the manager of New Song the band. The guy who pretty much ran the show was Tom West, a graduate of Downey High School, whose only credentials were his magnetic personality, his hypnotic voice and hip preaching style, and the belief of everyone around him that he was “anointed” of God. Rich, however, was not the leader of New Song. Rich wrote and performed the first track on the album “Sing Praise to God.” His keyboards provided the foundation of New Song’s music. He’s recorded some praise stuff with Maranatha! Music. ![]() Rich was (and I believe still is) an Orange County CPA who plays a mean piano and has a great voice. It started in around 1975 as a Bible study that met at the Costa Mesa home of Rich and Pam Boyer, and grew into a hybrid fellowship and music ministry. New Song Ministries was an offshoot of Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa (often called Big Calvary). My name is Paul Griffo, and I live in Virginia now, but I was a member of New Song in the mid 1970s, and wrote the song “I Had Never Imagined.” And yes, there were no credits on the album because we (somewhat arrogantly) wanted everyone to think that the album somehow descended form heaven and ended up on the racks. OK, here’s the history…from someone who was there. ![]() You can read these below my comments on them are here. Update (June 2013): Much of the mystery behind this album is peeled away by the comments of group member Paul Griffo. And the end…well, that’s the most powerful moment of the album, you’ll have to experience that for yourself. But New Song’s approach is entirely different and, in some ways, dates more gracefully than Daniel Amos. Christian music buffs will draw the parallel with the second half of Daniel Amos’ Shotgun Angel, released the following year. The last half is a suite based on the book of Revelation. That’s a stretch: the rich vocals and instrumentation are frequently overdone, and one gets the impression that what they’re trying to convey is well beyond the power of their expression. It’s obvious, however, that New Song Ministries implied that the music came directly from God. Coming from Huntington Beach, CA, it has no credits to its musicians, but gives all the credit to “God the Holy Spirit.” That’s always buffaloed those who want to know the people who actually performed on and produced this unique work. This album has always been the mystery album of 1970’s Christian music. The result of that is this album, which is in a class by itself. A City Set Upon a Hill Cannot Be Hid (New Song NS-0001) 1976īack when I first encountered the “Jesus Music” of the 1970’s, I always wondered: what if they ditched the guitars and tambourines of the “ Fisherfolk” and did something orchestrally? Evidently someone else had the same idea. ![]()
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