Shotgun Angel
Daniel Amos continued down the country rock path with its sophomore release Shotgun Angel, a record that shows a marked improvement from the band’s self-titled debut a year earlier. And while Daniel Amos’s country roots still show, it’s clear the band is moving toward a more rock-orientated sound. Daniel Amos fans from the first album must have raised a few eyebrows when they flipped Shotgun Angel on the turntable. It was as if The SGT. It was as if The SGT. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band got together at The Hotel California and made a rock opera about Revelations.
Album Reviews
Christian Acts Volume 1, Number 5
'I'm gonna lay it on you,
Where the rubber meets the road,
It's the Lord talkin' to you
On your radio.'
Shotgun Angel is the latest incredible creation by Daniel Amos. This album breaks through many of the traditional boundaries set by contemporary Christian music. It is such a departure from the 'normal way of doing things' that you'll have to have an open mind as you listen to the album. You'll have to laugh as you hear 'Meal' - a song that is virtually a 'musical cartoon.' Side 2 will sober you up in a hurry, however. It's about the end times... the antichrist and the Second Coming. Get out the lyric sheet and your Bible when you listen, Editor's note: Shotgun Angel is a giant step forward for contemporary Christian music. It should insire other musicians to break some of the molds they've cast themselves in.
'Not until now have we seen an album that is as versatile, professional, or as serious musically as is Daniel Amos' 'Shotgun Angel'.'
CORNERSTONE newspaper
'This record is a flat-out winner. Brilliant.'
CAMPUS LIFE
'Shotgun Angel' is truly an offering of excellence to the Lord.'
BUZZ magazine (Eng.)
Down The Line Magazine September 2011
Daniel Amos Shotgun Angel Rar Torrent
My introduction to Daniel Amos came through the Fearful Symmetry album which was released back in 1986; I probably came across it somewhere around '88 or '89 when I was 14 or 15 years old. It absolutely changed the way that I viewed Christian music and stamped Terry Taylor's name on my brain. After finding and purchasing everything prior to Fearful Symmetry (and everything that came after), I easily rank Terry Taylor's creative genius in my top 5 favorite artists of all time. The man has an incredible gift!The Shotgun Angel re-issue is simply amazing. This is really the record that I would consider to be the hub track that all the various projects of Taylor and Co. would be birthed from at later dates. For example, listen to Meal (track 5 on the first disc); it could be released as a Swirling Eddies track at any point and stand right there with the best of them. That is another thing that struck me about the brilliance of this deluxe reissue: these songs are so good and sound so strikingly crisp and well done that they hold up amazingly well today some 30+ years later. Hearing in these songs the sounds that were to come (in other formats with other bands) is a real treat for the listener and a testament to the creativity that not only helped create the industry, but also helped to define and expand the musical scope of the 'Jesus music' genre. In addition it also speaks to the talent that these guys' posses – a talent that would continue to push musical boundaries and define the sounds as the standard which so much would be compared to over the next several decades.
To try and define the songs and the sounds here is difficult because when this came out in 1977 there was nothing else quite like it. I would definitely give this a laid back country type feel, but it also has an Americana rock ‘n roll vibe saddled right there in line with it. Once you throw in all the quirky zaniness that only comes from Daniel Amos, this is a release that stands in a category by itself. Take a healthy dose of early Eagles tunes, whip that with some beautiful harmonies a la the Grateful Dead, season that in a container with The Beatles and shake vigorously…that is what Shotgun Angel sounds like.
Lyrically this album is rich with imagery that is as broad as the sounds themselves. Topics range from a person who gives up pursuing money to pursue spiritual riches instead ('Black Gold Fever'); a truck driver who finds Christ by talking on his C.B. radio (title track 'Shotgun Angel'), all the way down to the first disc's closer about the return of Christ ('Posse In the Sky'). The lyrics run a gamut of situations with a spiritual focus on many day to day living situations. The parallels that the lyrics draw are as unique as the songs and circumstances themselves. From the longing ache in 'Days and Nights', to the comedic chorus of 'Meal' or the worshipful colored 'Praise Song', Taylor has crafted a journey of lyrical life experience in his unique humor and style.
The remastering on this release is superb. This is the classic line up of Taylor (guitar, lead vocals, BGV), Jerry Chamberlain (guitar, lead vocals, BGV), Marty Dieckmeyer (bass, BGV), Mark Cook (keyboards, lead vocals, BGV) and Ed McTaggart (drums, percussion, BGV). The songs are vibrant, clear and sonically pleasing. When Daniel Amos releases a re-issue you know it will be first rate and top notch. Such is the case here as well, 2 discs with a track count of the original 13 tracks on the first disc, and a staggering 26 tracks on disc 2. This release has it all: four-track demos, pre-production demos, alternate mixes and a 24 page color booklet that has over 30 never before released photos as well.
This is a great re-issue, a classic album and an amazing band! Look for this to be available on the Daniel Amos tour this summer. It will also become available on the website as well. It doesn't get any better than this! Check out www.danielamos.com and support the band, spin the tunes and catch a show this summer!
Cross Rhyhtms February 16, 2014
As any longtime follower of Christian music will know, Daniel Amos were a seminal band who in the '80s particularly took Christian rock into uncharted territory. This album from 1977 was the transition between the country of their self-titled debut album and the Beatles-esque rock of 'Horrendous Disc' a year later. There are influences aplenty here including Queen and Pink Floyd mixed with vocal Eagles style harmonies (just listen to the title track and 'Posse In The Sky') which would feature in similar bands of the time such as the Sweet Comfort Band. Outstanding tracks include 'Praise Song' with its encouraging lyrics and the humorous, country track 'Meal'. There are instances of rock opera such as 'Finale:Bereshith Overture' and 'The Whistler' which both take you by surprise the first time you hear them. The transfer quality is remarkably good given the age of the original recordings with only tape hiss noticeable.
Disc two contains 26 tracks including demos and alternative mixes. One track 'Jonah And The Whale' is new, but it is not up to the quality of the songs elsewhere - you can see why it never made it to the final album. This, although interesting, does not offer long time listening enjoyment especially as songs are repeated with slight differences, although the studio chat is interesting. Overall an enjoyable album though probably only hardcore Daniel Amos/Terry Scott Taylor completists will get much from disc two.
CCM Magazine June 1988
'Hats off to the band!' hails Baker. Jonathan David Brown (now with Twila Paris!) produced this early Daniel Amos, uh, DA, uh Da project. 'This album from DA's Eagles period was an artist triumph,' Rabey says. Somewhere between country and new wave, the guys came up with a winner in Angel. Pinzon elaborates, 'Most bands lose fans during the transitional period; it is a tribute to DA's talent that their transitional album is still their most popular.' Side two's musical vision of the end times is a seamless masterpiece. 'Father's Arms' and 'Days and Nights' are standout cuts too.
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Syndicate December 1990
It's way past time for all of DA's albums to hit the street on compact disc, and slowly but surely (actually, all of a sudden) that's happening. Shotgun Angel the band's second vinyl confession finds Terry Taylor, Ed McTaggart, Jerry. Chamberlain and Co. laying the groundwork for all that was to come. It's not quite a rock 'n' roll album, but it has Beatles and country rock influences, strong melodies, some very. promising writing and enough silly stuff to warrant both excitement and dread. Somebody please tell me why they recorded 'Meal,' and Taylor has written other beautiful songs, but 'Father's Arms' is clearly a classic.
Of course the second side of the album takes a rather obnoxious pre-millennial dispensational look at the book of Revelation, something I learned in seminary is probably an inadequate approach. Since, I've become a pan-millennialist; the foundational tenets being that the future is in God's hands, Jesus is coming back, We know not the day or the hour and it'll all pan out in. the end. DA presents its own pop opera on the end times, and for the most part it'll be acceptable to all kinds of Christian perspectives. Certainly 'Sail Me Away' and 'Posse In the Sky' are fabulous songs with engaging imagery.
The tracks convert to digital very nicely, although my vinyl copy has sounded pretty bad for years. It's exciting to have this classic back in a format that will last until Jesus' return. - Brian Q. Newcomb
Harvest Rock Syndicate 1987
The 25 Best Albums of Early Christian Rock
#8: Shotgun Angel
Daniel Amos Shotgun Angel Album
'A long cry from the first Daniel Amos album, Shotgun Angel demonstrated the creative scene that has become a trademark of all Da (nee Daniel Amos, then DA) work through the years,' says T.L. Faris. 'They never did take country music that seriously,' asserts Greenfield, 'still, Angel did showcase Terry Taylor's up-and-coming, unique songwriting ability.' 'Side Two is a masterpiece. A little too Beatle-esque for some tastes, perhaps, but I admired the band's ambition at the time and still do,' says Styll with SChmitz in agreement, 'I could still listen to Side Two for hours every day.' Ok, Ok, so there are great songs like 'Days and Nights,' 'Father's Arms' and 'Shotgun Angel,' and Side Two is brilliant, given you have to be able to endure a rather literalistic reading of Revelation from a Pre-Millenial Dispensationalistic point of view, but would someone tell me how 'Meal' ever got on this record?