Fallen Splendor by Jeff Johnson

"When I look at you and you look at me we only see the skin.
If we could look inside, I bet we'd find a searcher there within."

Introduction by Reed Jolley –

The eighteenth century English poet William Blake lamented that people of his age were in the habit of seeing "with but not through the eye." Could a better description be given our age? We "watch" a particular space shuttle explode, a South African Black being beaten, a Filipino riot, an Ethiopian starve ... but what do we see? These, and a thousand other images, flood our psyche like the waters of a broken dam. It is a grand irony that while we are unable to integrate this cornucopia of data we have an increasing appetite for more. More "news," more replays, more information.

The beat goes on. Computers "crunch" everything in their reach. The deficit grows while condominiums shrink into "condos." Yuppies celebrate life in a new SAAB and wonder how much better life would be in a Mercedes. While we "watch" the "world going 'round" (remember the fool on the hill?) we hunger for something other than cruelty and banality.

At times our empty hearts distract us even from the plethora of our distractions. In our "quiet desperation" we realize that we "look" but rarely do we "see." The distinction is subtle but it allows us to catch a glimpse of our place in the universe. What we see is not what we get. We were created for something greater than fast-foods. Muzak and astro-turf. Our inner longings are fulfilled in the one who made us. Any approach to life, any effort to make sense of the cosmos, any attempt at splendor aside from the reality of God is fallen indeed.

Featuring –
Jeff Johnson: Keys & voice
Sandy Simpson: Electric guitars & keys
Mark Schulman: Drums
David Friesen: Oregon bass
Roger Hadley: Bells & cymbals
Dave Hagelganz: Tenor saxophone
Rick Crittenden: Bass
Paul Chasman: Acoustic guitar
Brian Willis: Drums

Music Review –

Fallen Splendor is more than 50 minutes of the most articulate, intriguing and beautiful music on CD today. – NewSound

Tracklist

1.	Looking For God (Using A Spotlight)	5:57

2.	Old Germany	6:18

3.	Mere Breath	3:32

4.	Time Waits For You	2:57

5.	Wind And Water	6:36

6.	Monet's Failing Eyes	6:15

7.	Fallen Splendor	4:23

8.	He Is Not Here	6:09

9.	Receive Your Sight	1:57

10.	Sacrament (I Will Not Forget You)	4:23

11.	Poem	2:56

Credits

released July 13, 1986

Produced, engineered & mixed by Jeff Johnson & Sandy Simpson at The Ark / Tigard, Oregon.

Sound effects recorded on location by Ark Mobile.

Mastered by John Golden Mastering
www.goldenmastering.com

℗ 1986 Ark Records, Inc. / ArkMusic
Music & lyrics by Jeff Johnson except "Poem" from a poem by Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (1475 - 1564)
© 1986 Sola Scriptura Songs (BMI)
Administered by musicservices.org)

Cover art by David & Kathy Hastings © 1986

With much gratitude to Susie, Sandy, David & Kathy, & Gerald Blalock.

AKD-5475

"Fallen Splendor" is also available on iTunes and Amazon.

License