A New Sound For The Archers
December 1981
CCM Magazine – What’s New
-Karen Marie Platt



 

Spreadin’ Like Wildfire (Songbird, MCA-52-58) is very slick, very professional, very formula.  It also contains an updated, upbeat sound for The Archers

Though slightly deficient in gut level emotions (if that’s what you’re looking for), many of the tunes on the LP are still well-written and tastefully arranged to convey enthusiasm.

The Archers perform these secular hit sound-alikes with their own brand of freshness and with considerable ease; their sibling accuracy and harmonies blend well with the full, punchy, orchestrated pop sound provided by producer Donny McGuire.

Several cuts convey delightful, upbeat moods, including the title cut, “Spreadin’ Like Wildfire,” “I Never Knew Love Like This Before,” “Back In Your Arms,” and a rather unusually arranged “Merry Go Round.”  Steve Archer’s tune, “Care” promises his solo album will be somewhat different from the Archer’s group efforts.  One cut on the LP does stand out as a bit strange: “Runnin’ too Long,” seems to be one of those not-as-rare-as-they-should-be Christian songs in which the themes of the music and the lyrics seem inherently contradictory.

Best cuts: “Spreadin’ Like Wildfire,” “Back In Your Arms,” “Merry Go Round.”