Sail On (Imperials album)

Sail On is the 24th studio album by the Christian music vocal group The Imperials. Released in 1977, it is their first album on Word Records' DaySpring label.[2][3] It is also the first appearance of two new members, Russ Taff on lead vocals and David Will on baritone vocals, in addition to founding member, bass vocalist Armond Morales and tenor Jim Murray. Taff and Will replaced Sherman Andrus and Terry Blackwood, who went on to form the Christian music duo Andrus, Blackwood and Company in 1977 after the release of the 1976 Imperials' album Just Because.

Sail On
Studio album by
Released1977
Recorded1976
Studio
GenreContemporary Christian music, Gospel, Inspirational
Length31:36
LabelDaySpring/Word Records
ProducerChris Christian
The Imperials chronology
Just Because
(1976)
Sail On
(1977)
Imperials Live
(1978)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

In 1978, the group won their second Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational for Sail On at the 20th Grammy Awards[4] and at 10th GMA Dove Awards they were named Male Group of the Year.[5] The Imperials' first chart appearances was on CCM Magazine's contemporary hit radio chart in August 1978 with the title song climbing to number three a couple of months later.[6] Sail On has never been released on CD.

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Water Grave"Steve Chapman3:56
2."Satisfaction Guaranteed"Chris Christian3:50
3."Gotta Watch, Gotta Pray"Terry Wayne Robinson3:08
4."More Each Day"Tim Sheppard3:28
5."There Will Never Be Any Peace"Eugene Record2:59
6."Sail On"C. Christian3:20
7."Keep On Walking"Steve Chapman, Annie Chapman2:52
8."Sonlight"Jim Murray, James Hollihan, Jr.3:03
9."Bread on the Water"Bill Grine, Janny Grine3:08
10."Try Again"Russ Taff2:59

Personnel

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The Imperials

  • Russ Taff – lead vocals
  • Jim Murray – tenor, vocals
  • David Will – baritone, vocals
  • Armond Morales – bass, vocals

Musicians

Production

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  • Chris Christian – producer
  • Lanny Avery – engineer
  • Brown Bannister – engineer
  • Shannon Smith – engineer
  • Travis Turk – engineer
  • Glenn Meadows – mastering at Masterfonics (Nashville, Tennessee)
  • Dennis Ivy – cover photography
  • Phil Van Duivendyk – center photography
  • Mark Pleasant – back photography
  • Buddy Huey – liner notes

Charts

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Radio singles

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Year Singles Peak positions
CCM AC[6]
1978 "Sail On" 3
1979 "Water Grave" 14

Accolades

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Grammy Awards

Year Winner Category
1978 Sail On Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational

GMA Dove Awards

  • 1978 Male Group of the Year

References

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  1. ^ The Imperials – Sail On at AllMusic
  2. ^ The Imperials: Sail On. DaySpring Records. 1977.
  3. ^ Cusic, Don (2009-11-12). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music: Pop, Rock, and Worship: Pop, Rock, and Worship. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-0-313-34426-8.
  4. ^ "20th Annual Grammy Awards". February 23, 1978.
  5. ^ "Dove Awards Past Winners". Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Brothers, Jeffrey Lee, ed. (2003). CCM Hot Hits: AC Charts 1978 - 2001. AuthorHouse. p. 120. ISBN 1-4107-3294-0.