Day 460 - Resurrection Band - Paint a Picture

460. Resurrection Band - Paint a Picture

From the album Rainbow's End
(Star Song, 1979)

"Resurrection Band’s sophomore attempt was Rainbow’s End. It would serve as the last for Star Song as I was once told that [the] record company was not happy with the album and the direction of the band at the time. I never understood if it was the apparently 'progressive' political approach or the music. If it was the first then shame on them! If it was the second, I can only question the understanding of modern music of the time by those running the label.

It should be noted at this point that the artwork for the first four Resurrection band albums was simply beyond amazing, and way beyond what anyone else was doing at the time. Not just for the artwork itself, but the packaging was impressive. Three of the first four possessed what is called a 'gate fold' which means the packaging opened up to a double wide presentation. There were full lyrics and photos, etc. It was very impressive, especially since that type of artwork is usually reserved for 'double albums.'

Rainbow’s End had artwork that was even more ambitious. They used a die cut technique for the windows on the front cover and the album jacket insert was firm cardboard like the outer cover. You could then turn the inner jacket different directions and display a different 'vision' in the cut out windows.

(Album artwork was really cool back then and a sadly lost art).

Content-wise the album was more Black Sabbath blues influenced hard rock. But it is on Rainbow’s End that the lyrical content began to show a more socially conscious awareness. This is most notable on the [song] Afrikaans. The pure passion of Glenn’s vocals still sends a chill down my spine even as I listen as I type. Until I die I will never forget the line 'God makes the color, but the color doesn’t make you God. ...

But other songs worthy of note are The Wolfsong and Skyline, which proved a harmonica can rock! But the highlight of the album is Glenn’s unforgettable ballad, Paint a Picture. The ache of longing for hope is just laid out on the canvas of this song. It shows that a rock song can be emotionally moving. There is pain in the voice and a whining guitar that simply cannot be matched in other genres." (source: CCM's 500 Best Albums)

Here is the original studio album version of the song: