Okay, I’m trying to be casual about this and not get caught up in nostalgia (Marti never likes it when I look back for too long), but I can’t help it: “Still Life” is back. Yes, I’m talking about the 1973 recording that launched the musical part of my career 38 years ago. (See the column at right.)
This was a magical record with lots of TLC going into every step, from concept, to arranging, to engineering, to band selection, to even packaging (the original printing was s fold out LP with all the lyrics on the inside).
My good friend and producer of the original project, Dan Collins, has been sharing memories with me, like the painstaking effort the late Clark Gassman put into getting a string section to play on the song “I’m Human.”
Clark, who arranged the album, was so committed to having the songs maintain the integrity of my playing them alone that he had me record everything first by myself and then put the band around it. This is relatively easy to do with most songs by recording to a “click track,” a sort of metronome in your headphones. The same clicks are then used later for the rest of the band so they play in sync with you.
However, “I’m Human” is a song I play completely legato – totally out of time – and Clark had to put strings over my free-form piano version. He did it by counting out the whole song with numerous time changes to incorporate my slowing down and speeding up so that the string players could play an actual timed musical score that fell in line perfectly with all my changes. In other words, he put my out-of-time to time. He organized my chaos so others could join me and it would sound like we had recorded it all together under a maestro’s direction.
You know, I think God does this with the movements of our lives. He takes all the out-of-sync moments – the seeming chaos of our existence – and writes it into time and eternity, so that the whole universe can play along, and the final production will resound as an orchestrated symphony to the glory of the Great Composer himself.
And then there was the cricket on the opening song, “Still Life,” that was actually in the studio the day I did the song’s vocals. We started to get rid of it when we realized a cricket would actually enhance the feeling on that first song, so we just left it to chirp along with me. …and so it is.
John Fischer The Catch 
I bought your Still Life album after you played at a Lutheran youth event back in the summer of 1974(?) when I was a teenager in the Bay Area. It was a milepost faith event in my life and your music (and that of a couple of other musicians there whom I can’t remember — maybe you do?) dramatically impacted my teen life. In fact, the three of you got up a the end of the event and played together. As we were cheering and drawing connections to contemporary pop stars like CS&Y, you reminded us that the music was about and for God and that He should be our focus. The memory and the album is still with me all these years later. Thanks!
(To those not familiar with “I’m Human”, its about the end of a romantic relationship). Back in the late 70’s I was a 20-something new Christian and much too familiar with romantic rejection. I was involved in a ministry that (rightly) emphasised faith over feelings (e.g. you’re saved, loved and accepted by God whether you feel it or not). But the message I was hearing was that feelings were wrong and it was wrong to feel sad or lonely. So when I heard “Don’t You know I’m human? That means I have to feel…” (from “I’m Human”), it really impacted me and let me know that feelings were part of being human had a place in my relationship with God.
So thanks John for such an honest song
Good thought, John, but I’m afraid you have it exactly backwards. WE’RE the string players and God is the director, composer, arranger, who shapes our lives and the way we play the music to make it fit the great work of art that He Created……. We call it ‘life,’ don’t we?
Still Life was probably my favorite album of yours, John. In fact I transferred “Brightest and Best” to an mp3 not to long ago so I could listen to it now. Yes, I still have a turntable. My teenage sons what wonder what that big black disc is. Album has some scratches so I’ll probably download your re-release. Thanks for your music and your The Catch devotionals.
Hi brother John, is your album “Still Life” available and if so where could I maybe get it?
It is available for download only. Just click on the cover at the bottom of the Catch.
Still Life album was one of the first Albums I could sing all the way through. Its some of the first Christian music my parents fell in love with. We went to see you around 1975 at a church in Seattle. My sisters and I were singing all your songs with you. I remember a guy asking us if we were singers. Well that night we were. I can still remember I’ve got the joy joy joy joy down in my wash down in my wash down in my wash to stay and im so happy so very happy I’ve got the cleanest dishes on the block. Hahaha the things we remember! I was about 8 years old at the time and was very impressed by your rendition! Still Am!
38 years ?! No way! I still have that album, too, and I remember your concerts like it was … uh, 38 years ago? No way.
Thanks for the memories, and the stories of the recording. God even arranged for a cricket; how much more does He care about us?
Adding my nostalgia comments from back in the day…I remember sitting at PBC (1973) listening to “All Day Song,” having recently moved to CA (after committing my life to the Lord) just singing, loving the Lord along with the rest through song…The New Covenant musical for which this non-sew-er slavishly worked on a banner with butterflies to be used for props; I’ve always loved “Alleluia” and used it in a recent blog, LOL. As an PBC Intern, you led the first home Bible Study I ever attended, and Ephesians has been a favorite book since. The study grp opened my mind to CS Lewis, and the Narnia Tales, for which I am eternally grateful. I even remember you sitting on a stool, in front of the crowd at PBC, when you told us about Marti. 🙂 I was crushed. God does weave together the threads of our lives by grace, as lives meet, touch one another in profound ways, not really knowing it, except for moments of nostalgia. Glad you brought back Still Life.
are any of your other albums available anywhere?
Not yet. We’re working on it.
Speaking of synchronicity in God’s orchestral masterpieces… Today, you posted this, and today, I was sitting at a traffic light when I realized that the Christian song I was singing along with was exactly…exactly!…in synch with my turn signal. I don’t recall that has occurred in all my years of listening to classical, orchestral, contemporary and Christian music in my car. Being a musician, as I have been, too, you know the silly feeling of wonder such a musical coincidence can inspire. 😀 I felt as if I’d been tickled by the Holy Spirit on a beautiful spring day!
Ahhh. At last. I’m so thankful that you’ve made this album available John. I have my analog/vinyl disk copy with the slightly worn album sleeve sitting on my shelf behind my desk. Like the others who have commented on the meaning of this album for them, your words, music and the whole project shaped me. In the Spring of 1973 I had recently returned from a rich, wonderful season at L’Abri in Switzerland. The goodness and friendships and my reflections during that time are completely interwoven with Still Life. Cooler still is that Karen’s and my early marriage years were graced with your music, too. Then our kids grew up singing your songs. Do you think you may have a legacy, brother???
I suppose with some. It’s amazing how memories hang on music.
Heaven will tell the story, my friend…all thing that “he prepared for us to walk in before the dawn of time.”
Yes, I’m thankful for the connection that exists between music and memory.
Blessings to you.
It is amazing how memories hang on music!
As I listened through “Still Life” today, the memory of a young girl, and her pure love for Jesus, swept in and flooded me in tears as all the issues of adult life were stripped away and revealed that this simple, pure love for Jesus is still there.
What a lovely place to return to!
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Just recently, a fellow Peninsula Bible Church member and I were bemoaning the fact that we couldn’t find your music on line. All the albums were lost, tapes broken, etc. Thanks for doing this, and PLEASE get the rest of your “old” music out there for us.
We’re working on it. Glad you found us!