World Library WLSM-36-SM (1968)
Jack Miffleton started out at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore. That shouldn’t be strange to regulars on this blog: it was also the starting point of the trio who produced Songs for the Masses. It’s a pedigree that has largely been forgotten. And that’s sad; this is a good folk production that needs a revival.
The title wouldn’t pass muster in this obsessive day of ours, but the “skins” part refers to percussion, something that didn’t always pass muster in a day when percussion was thought in some quarters to be secular at best and pagan at worst. But Miffleton and his musicians make good use of it; the album is reminiscent, more than anything else, of God Unlimited, although some of the pieces echo The Keyhole as well. There are some very powerful pieces on the album (“Cry Alice.”) The Mass propers are at a minimum here.
If you’re looking to break out of the #straightouttairondale mould fashionable these days, this is an album you should consider. The recording is out of distribution but the sheet music is definitely available and can be found here.
My thanks to Dennis for this music.
The songs:
- Well, It’s A New Day
- The Wind Blows
- Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
- Yours Is The Kingdom
- Cry Alice
- Alleluia Response
- I’m The Good Shepherd
- Alle, Alle
- Lord, I’ve Come To Your Garden
- I Am The Bread
- Up To Jerusalem
- There Are But Three Things
- It Is My Faith
- But Then Comes The Morning
- I’m Ready To Follow
Positive Infinity 
Definitely a high water mark for Catholic rock. Best drums of any Christian music. However, did they really mean to make the backing singer’s voice louder than that of the lead singer? The album appears to have been made with a minimum of mixing, so they may not have realized this until it was too late. Other albums like Some Young Carpenter did not have this vocal anomaly.
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