Mansion Builder

Song Titles Listen to a Clip RealPlayer Quicktime Rod And Staff Mansion Builder Ps. 93 Gold In The Clouds I'll Give My Life Away Rainbow Well, Haven't You Heard Lightning Flash Starlight, Starbright Make My Life A Prayer To You Daydreamer Listen to a flash-back radio interview with the 2nd Chapter of Acts from the radio show "Rock And Religion" -recorded in 1979- You can stream or download the clips below Quicktime High Bandwidth Real Video High bandwidth Download Quicktime player Download Real player

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Recording Notes

SO WHY SHOULD I WORRY?
WHY SHOULD I FRET?
‘CAUSE I’VE GOT A MANSION BUILDER
WHO AIN’T THROUGH WITH ME YET

- excerpt from the song Mansion Builder

Recorded in 1977 in their home studio and released in 1978, MANSION BUILDER would feature 11 songs that had as its major theme welcoming the joyful return of Christ. Most of the songs were written by Annie with the exception of the soulful Psalm 93 which was written by Matthew and group’s keyboard player Richard Souther, and “Make My Life A Prayer To You” provided to the project by new Christians and friends Keith and Melody Green. Nelly would sing the lead on this tune.

The cover was shot in 1977, Matthew was just 19, and had not done any solo recording yet, Nelly, 21, was newly engaged to Steve with her ring evident on the cover, and Annie 32 years old. During the photo shoot, the photographer Johanna Wyk faced a unique challenge as Matthew had a difficult time staying focused. Why? Steely Dan’s ‘PEG’ was being playing in the photo studio and so captured his attention, that until the music was shut off, the photo sessions success was in doubt. Joahanna really got a laugh out of this.

MANSION BUILDER heralded a new label relationship with the newly formed Sparrow Records, friend Billy Ray Hearn’s new venture to launch a record label of his own. Billy Ray had started Word Records first contemporary label Myrrh Records and had befriended Acts some years earlier, who’s FOOTNOTES and IN THE VOLUME OF THE BOOK recording had been part of laying the foundation for Myrrh’s successful beginnings. Now Billy Ray was off on his own and Acts would join him..and again be part of laying a successful foundation for his next venture.

MANSION BUILDER would feature the title cut MANSION BUILDER that would become 2nd Chapter of Acts biggest and most popular song next to EASTER SONG.

The players on the projects included the groups band members: Gene Gunnels (drums), Herb Melton (bass), Peter York (guitar – who would go on to be the current president of Sparrow Records), Richard Souther (keys-piano,clavinet,organ and mini moog) and at piano Annie Herring. The project would also feature guest musicians Abraham Laboriel (bass), Bill Maxwell (drums), Jay Graydon (guitar) and Michael Omartian (arpvaak, piano, string and horn arrangements and additional percussion and strange tonal instruments) Michael would also conduct the string sessions for the project.

The writing for Mansion Builder took a unique approach, as the music was written and recorded first; verse, chorus, bridge etc.. with almost no lyrics yet crafted. Lyrics were written later and all made to fit the pre-produced music.

The song Daydreamer interestingly was covered soon after the album’s release by the 70’s funk group “The Brothers Johnson”. Annie even played piano on the session.