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Shine For You Track Listing

Amazing Grace (Newton / Trad. Arr. Dave Clemo):

I helped out at the Lighthouse Drop-in in Corby a couple of years ago. We’d get quite a few guys call in who’d played guitar at some point in their life and we’d talk and sometimes we’d get a couple of guitars out and play and sing, and even teach a few chords and songs. One day I made the bold statement that the test of a good song is whether it can be sung in a variety of styles (Look at The Beatles catalogue and how so many of them have been covered by all sorts of artistes. And what about Nirvana’s “Smells like teen spirit”? Have you heard the big band version of that? What about The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain’s version?) Anyway, to make my point I said that “Amazing Grace” is such a song, because it can be sung in so many styles. I began to play the song in the Key of E, in a kind of Chicago blues style, and half way through the second line I realised that I was on to something. That Sunday we sang the song in church in this new style, and the rest is history! Once we’d recorded the basic track I had to kick my heels for some time because one of my collaborators Andy Crawley was unavailable, but then the idea of the gospel style backing vocals began to form. I then had to wait a further three or four months before Pat and Pam were able to come and sing for me, a further three months to get the organ parts down, but finally we got it finished and I’m proud of it. My thanks go to everyone who had a hand in it. I was pleased to include this song on a compilation CD that has been sent to around 500 radio stations around the world and it’s been played across Europe and also in Australia and New Zealand.

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Restore (Dave Clemo):

This song went through a number of changes before we got to the version you hear on the CD. I wrote the words about 10 years ago, based upon Ps51, esp v12 “Restore to me the joy of my salvation” and applied it to how I felt at the time. When it came to be recorded we realised that the original melody sounded a bit too familiar and I could have been accused of plagiarism, so I had to change the tune a bit. We then had the idea of the lead guitar lines being played on an acoustic guitar and the background loops on electric guitar. It works for me, and I’ve had many comments that the song sums up where many people are in their faith journey right now. It’s been commented that the Psalms cover every human emotion from intense joy to abject despair, yet the average Christian feels guilty if he admits to anything other than a victorious joy filled life. Isn’t it time we got real?

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Jesus Is My Rock (Dave Clemo):

This is a fairly new song, written to be sung in church. I was leading a very motley bunch of musicians of various abilities from rank beginner upwards. They were also from very different backgrounds and at different stages in their faith. Some were struggling with former addictions and one had left his pregnant wife behind in Eastern Europe to seek work in the UK. We needed a song that would speak into every situation, one that everyone in the group could play, and one that was doctrinally strong. It’s based on John12:32. When it came to the recording I was influenced by a track by Sting where the band switches from a rock beat to black gospel style and I thought we’d have a go. My backing singers Pat and Pam both worship in black churches and Pat agreed to work out the backing vocals. Pete Bultitude is a great musician and his drum track is excellent. There are some other musical influences in there, and I’ll leave you to figure them out! The end result is a song that still works with a single voice and guitar, but can be played in a whole variety of styles (making it a good song according to the definition- see above).

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Reputation None (Dave Clemo):

I wrote the music to this song first. I have a habit of playing my guitar while watching TV and every so often I discover a chord sequence of musical phrase that I develop into a tune for a song. The words are a kind of paraphrase of elements of Paul’s letters, especially 2 Cor11. There’s also a passage in 1Cor4:13 where he writes that up to this moment we (the Apostles of Christ) are the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world If the greatest evangelist and theologian can say those words and mean them, why can’t I? After all, it’s all about God’s grace isn’t it? The basic tracks were recorded quite quickly and I started to think about the other elements of the structure. My good friend Teresa Brown has played on a number of my songs over the years, and I asked her to multi-track some violins and viola. One of my favourite albums of all time is “Forever Changes” by Love and I love the string arrangements. I couldn’t get to that level, but Teresa worked out my garbled instructions and despite her misgivings in one or two places (yes I know the structure does seem lop sided, but it works, doesn’t it, and yes Sue I know it’s a bit short and couldn’t I write a few more verses, but it says what I want to say, and any more would be boasting) Teresa played her parts beautifully. I recorded the guitar solo in one take- job done!

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I Don't Care (Dave Clemo):

I wrote this song about 10 years ago and played it to some older friends. I didn’t get such a positive reaction so I shelved it. Ten years on and I just about old enough to sing it convincingly- now that my hair is falling out, my belly is going to pot, my knees are creaking, etc. When I played the basic recording to Andy (I play all the guitars and the bass and Pete played drums), saying that I thought a piano part would be cool, he declined, saying that he couldn’t do justice to it. He did recommend John Bowman and what a good job he made of it, so good that I began to think of a New Orleans jazz band. But, with the project already months behind schedule we had to leave that for another time.

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Life Before Death (Dave Clemo):

This is another old song from the mid nineties. I wrote it with the idea of sending it to Christian Aid as we were involved with them locally for many years. That didn’t happen, but as I was looking for songs to put on the new album I found it and decided to give it another go. The basic recordings had a lot more stuff going on, but we found that the track works better slightly stripped down. Ten years on and the song is still as relevant- just turn on your TV, nothing has changed really.

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You Are Mine (Dave Clemo):

This is one of my all time favourite tracks. I worked the guitar part out sitting watching TV and the combination of notes is a haunting air moving between D major and C 2 ending on C major7. I wrote the words with the tune in mind. I’d often preached on Elijah and the Prophets of Baal (and I’ve heard some rubbish spouted as well- so where did the water come from?) What struck me was that Elijah was struck with a deep depression within days of that amazing victory, and if it can happen to him then we shouldn’t be surprised if it happened to us. I had to wait for three years or more before I could record the song. It was technically quite difficult to record. Pete played his drums to my basic guitar track and I added the bass. I asked Teresa Brown if she’d play violin and viola and she agreed. In the studio she worked the parts out phrase by phrase and very prayerfully recorded what is in effect three-quarters of a string quartet (my bass being the fourth part). This song has a powerful effect on everyone who hears it and I hope that you will be ministered by it as well.

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That All Will Be Saved (Dave Clemo):

Another song that had to wait before I could record it. I had the most trouble getting this song right. I’ve worked with African musicians and I was hoping to get some of that feel into the song but it wouldn’t work so it was back to the drawing board. Luckily we use digital recording equipment so I was able to salvage some of the drum part and with a bit of cutting and pasting I was able to create a new drum part that grooved. I then rewrote the lead guitar parts and rerecorded all the guitars again. I can’t play slap bass so I had to improvise a part that had the necessary groove. Once again Pat & Pam helped with the backing vocals and I think it’s turned out well.

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Love God, Hate Sin (Dave Clemo):

A few years ago a friend gave me a T-shirt with the slogan “Love God hate Sin” emblazoned on it. The shirt was too garish and a bit too small, but I thought that the slogan would make a good title for a song. As you know I’ve recorded a lot of country style songs over the years and I know how popular line dancing is in the UK. Many of my Christian friends enjoy it, and I’ve felt for a long time that an album of line dancing songs would go down well. This song is great for line dancing. It’s got a good simple chorus, loads of hooks and is a great feel good song. But listen carefully to the words. We Christians can be over the top sometimes, we’ve been saved and we think we’ve got it made, forgetting that God is doing a work of transformation on us, and some of us have a long way to go. It’s all about God’s grace, and let’s never forget it.

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Shine For You (Dave Clemo):

This was the song that inspired the album. I wrote the tune first and one day I went into the music room and just sang whatever came into my head. From this I got the basic idea and sat and wrote the words out and sang it again. I think it’s among the best I’ve done. It’s very personal to me and yet anyone who allows Jesus into their lives will at some point need to acknowledge the truth in these words. I read Paul’s letter to the Corinthians where he writes that all our works will be tested by fire and only the real stuff, the treasure will remain. If what we’ve made is rubbish then all it will do is make the flames hotter. Our witness comes from how we behave in the face of persecution, opposition, difficulties, bereavements and hostility. Jesus makes all this very plain. Some Christians have been badly taught that by becoming Christians we are somehow immune from all the trials and tribulations in the world. Our prayers are all “bless me God” or “Beam me up Scotty” and yet , and yet… Jesus promised us that he will be with us when we’re going through the hard times. He says when “we are persecuted”, not “if”. The process of transformation is tough. It’s OK saying that we’ll gladly be living sacrifices, but candidates for sacrifice will usually wriggle and scream and try to escape. The best that we can do is to shine for Jesus, even when, no especially when the going is tough.

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Feet Of Clay (Dave Clemo):

I get sick of Christians practising idolatry. I’m not alone. James, the first leader of the Church (Both Peter and Paul deferred to him at the meeting in Jerusalem, so despite what our traditions may say, the Bible tells it differently) and he wrote a short letter that was to the point and crammed full of truth. If he condemns Christians for making a fuss of the rich and talented at the expense of the poor and ordinary, why do we continue to do so today? We all have part to play, all the jobs are of equal importance, God has no favourites, so why should we? And yet we set certain musicians and preachers up on pedestals and worship them, their words, their songs and their books. Yet if the janitor hadn’t cleaned the toilets or someone hadn’t set out the chairs or put the kettle on we’d be up in arms. So many people work away behind the scenes doing unglamorous chores for no reward and no recognition, and all for God’s glory. The worship leader and preacher is fulfilling his calling, he or she is still human, still subject to the same pressures and temptations and yet we idolise them. Of course, if they are found to be as fallible as the rest of us they are soon knocked off their pedestals. But why put them on there in the first place?

“Give Glory to the Father, Give Glory to the Son,

Give Glory to the Spirit, three in one.

Don’t put your trust in mortal man Condemned to decay We’re only men,

Men with feet of clay. Put your trust in God above,

starting today And not in man Man with feet of clay.”

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Shine For You Track Listing

Amazing Grace (Newton / Trad. Arr. Dave Clemo):

Feet Of Clay (Dave Clemo):

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