Day 448 - Eric Nelson & Michele Pillar - Love Hurts/He Gave Me Love

448. Eric Nelson & Michele Pillar - Love Hurts/He Gave Me Love
from the Album The Misfit
(Maranatha, 1979)

"As the world of 'Jesus Music' was progressing into what is now known as CCM, there were several very good albums and some brilliant artists making music that was clearly in both genres and served as bridges and building blocks to this new industry. But there were not many 'game changers' that forced the music world to consider the genre valid and worthy of consideration. Most great albums lacked quality production, originality or authenticity.

The Misfit was a game changer. Completely original and just as good as anything in the pop music world at the time. Most 'concept' albums suffer from content over quality and are often filled with songs that are forced to push the story forward and do not stand on their own as original compositions. The Misfit was a concept album that just happened to be filled with 13 brilliant individual songs that have stood the test of time.

This is not a concept album in the same way as something from The Who where it is a rock opera with a singular storyline weaving throughout each song. Rather, The Misfit is a concept album where a common thread of concept of being an 'outsider' or outcast weaves its way throughout each and every song. The different topics range from faith, love, loss, doubt and more, but all with a singular focus as coming from the outside looking in.

Erick Nelson at this point had a very good and lengthy Jesus Music career going as both a solo artist and as a member of popular bands like Good News. Michele Pillar was an up and coming and much talked about new female vocalist on the precipice of a wonderful career in the 1980′s. Her sweet and smooth Karen Carpenter (ballads) or Kiki Dee (pop) like voice matched Nelson’s more soulful and, at times, rocky voice perfectly and the blend just worked. It shocked many at the time that this would be their only album together.

Nelson has said of himself that one of his greatest strengths is his ability to surround himself with amazing musicians and performers. Though no slouch on the piano himself, he most certainly surrounded himself with the very best on this project. Guest musicians include Hadley Hockensmith, Dean Parks, John Wickham, Jonathan David Brown, Alex MacDougall, Keith Edwards, Kelly Willard, Stan Endicott, Denny Correll and a host of others!

There is a touch of Elton John (Rock of the Westies era) throughout the entire project and It is noticeable from the very opening moments of the title track. This may have to do with Nelson’s wonderful piano, but also goes to the strong vocal arrangements and memorable hooks displayed throughout.

What seems initially out-of-place is actually an album highlight with a wonderful and completely different arrangement of the song [Love Hurts by Nazareth], sung here by Pillar with limited musical accompaniment, primarily piano and string leading into a fuller second verse. This version is closer to the Jennifer Warnes version. It is haunting and unforgettable.

The pain of the world’s love is juxtaposed against God’s love that is discovered by the misfit in the following song, He Gave Me Love. … [T]here is a musical segue with no break that accentuates the polar opposite approach to the content. Nelson asked himself if he only had five-minute to sing one song, what would that song say?

The answer is found here. " (Source: CCM's Greatest Albums)

Here are the original album versions of the songs: