The Radical Light (CD - 1992)

Personnel includes: Vonda Shepard (vocals, piano); Michael Landau (acoustic & electric guitars, mandolin); David Pack (guitar, synthesizer, background vocals); JayDee Mannes (steel guitar); David Campbell (viola, Mellotron); Suzie Katayama, Larry Corbett (cello); David James (piano, synthesizer, programming); Mitchell Froom, Benmont Tench (Hammond B-3 organ); Matthew Wilder (synthesizer, programming, background vocals); Khris Kellow, Randy Waldman, James Newton Howard (synthesizer); Jimmy Johnson, Jimmy Haslip, Jerry Scheff (bass); Jeff Porcaro, Jim Keltner (drums); Lenny Castro, Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Marcus D. Bush (programming); Arnold McCuller, David Lasley, Cal David, Jean McLain (background vocals).

Producers include: Matthew Wilder, Don Was, David Pack, Michael Landau, Vonda Shepard.

Engineers include: Rik Pekkonen, Eric Anest, Stephen Stewart Short.

Personnel: Vonda Shepard (vocals, piano, background vocals); Michael Landau (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin); David Pack (guitar, synthesizer, background vocals); JayDee Mannes (steel guitar); David Campbell (viola, Mellotron); Suzie Kattayama, Suzie Katayama, Larry Corbett (cello); David James (piano, synthesizer, bass synthesizer, programming, drum programming, percussion programming); Matthew Wilder (synthesizer, bass synthesizer, percussion, programming, drum programming, percussion programming, background vocals); Michael Wilder (synthesizer, bass synthesizer, percussion, drum programming, percussion programming, background vocals); Khris Kellow (synthesizer, string synthesizer); James Newton Howard (synthesizer, Synclavier); Randy Waldman (synthesizer); Jeff Porcaro, Jim Keltner (drums); Lenny Castro, Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Marcus D. Bush (programming); Lana Williams, David Lasley, Cal David, Raymone Carter, Arnold McCutler, Mark Smith , Jean McLain, David Park, Joseph Williams, Leslie Smith, Mark E. Smith , Portia Griffin, Arno Lucas, Arnold McCuller, Jean McClain (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Johnny Potoker; Michael Landau; Rik Pekkonen; Ross Pallone; Tom Lord-Alge.

Recording information: A & M Studio; A&M, Los Angeles, CA; Cherokee; Cherokee studios; Conway; Conway Recording Studios, Los Angeles, CA; OceanWay; Oceanway Studios; Pack's Place; Steve Lindsey Studio; Steve Lindsey's Studios.

Photographer: Victoria Pearson.

Unknown Contributor Role: Raymone Carter.

Arrangers: David Campbell ; James Newton Howard.

The Radical Light is pleasant but unremarkable. There are signs of promise in Vonda Shepard's vocals and songwriting, but it gets lost in overly long songs that, by the end of the album, all sound pretty much the same. Although Shepard's music is definitely pop, it's frequently tinged with a gospel-blues sound. Those moments are when the album is at its best. Shepard's voice is well suited to soul-filled styles. Lyrically, Shepard can't be accused of being pessimistic. The album is soaked in encouragement: "You don't have to be alone" ("The Radical Light"), "All of the joy for which you pray/ Is closer than you think" ("100 Tears Away"), "You better be good to yourself" ("Good to Yourself"). Unfortunately, the rampant encouragement is just not enough to raise this album above mediocrity. ~ Melinda Hill minimize