Barry McGuire - Lighten Up

Lighten Up is a surprisingly wonderful set of pop tunes by former New Christy Minstrel protest singer Barry Mcguire. With a bevy of famous players -- from Dean Parks to Michael Omartian, Leland Sklar, Joe Osborn, Jim Gordon, Larry Knechtel, and others -- the drive and enthusiasm so important to making a good record are on this album, which could be considered the work of a "New Christian Minstrel." Some artists lose their angst in finding Jesus; pulled from the dark side they often misplace (or just give up) their rock & roll edge, but that can't be said for Mcguire, and three songs immediately stand out: "Don't Blame God," "Pay the Piper," and "Walk in the Sonshine." There is also a terrific rendition of "Eve of Destruction," with Mcguire alone on acoustic guitar giving it the slow and moody treatment, different enough to make secular folk buy the record as well as those who pay attention to the catalogs of the Myrrh and Word record labels. Read More