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To Hell with the Devil

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To Hell with the Devil is the Grammy Award nominated third release, and second full-length album, by the Christian metal and Glam metal band Stryper, released in 1986 (see 1986 in music).[1] It was both the first Contemporary Christian and Christian metal album to achieve Platinum status, selling over one million copies. It remains the best-selling Christian metal album of all time.

The album was listed at #88 in the 2001 book, CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. The album was the only heavy metal album on the list. Ian Christe, author of the heavy metal history book Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal (2003), mentions To Hell with the Devil in his book as one of the landmarks of the glam metal movement.[2] Throughout 1987, both music videos for "Free" and "Honestly" ranked #1 on Dial MTV, the nightly MTV list of most requested videos. The video for "Calling on You" also reached #5 on the show.

The original cover of To Hell with the Devil caused a torrent of controversy, and was soon changed to an all-black design. The original artwork depicted four long haired angels throwing the devil into a fiery pit. The cover was then changed on later pressings to a basic black cover with the Stryper logo and the album title in the center.[3]

As the band started to record the album, Tim Gaines left the band. He was replaced by bassist Matt Hurich. That failed, so session bassist Brad Cobb took Tim's place while recording this album. However, before the tour for it began, Tim Gaines rejoined the band.

Track listing

All songs written by Michael Sweet except as noted

  1. "Abyss (To Hell with the Devil)" – 1:21
  2. "To Hell with the Devil" (M. Sweet, Robert Sweet) – 4:08
  3. "Calling on You" – 3:59
  4. "Free" (M. Sweet, R. Sweet) – 3:44
  5. "Honestly" – 4:10
  6. "The Way" (Oz Fox) – 3:37
  7. "Sing-Along Song" – 4:21
  8. "Holding On" – 4:16
  9. "Rockin' the World" – 3:30
  10. "All of Me" – 3:11
  11. "More Than a Man" – 4:35

Personnel

Stryper

Additional musicians

Singles

  • Free / Calling on You - Released February 10, 1987 (Enigma Records 75001)
  • Honestly / Sing-Along Song - Released August 10, 1987 (Enigma 75009)

Production

  • Stephan Galfas and Stryper - Producers
  • Stephan Galfas and Dan Nebanzal - Engineers
  • Stephan and Michael Sweet - Arrangers
  • Eddy Schreyer - Mastering
  • Robert Sweet - Cover design
  • Brian Ayuso - Art direction
  • Ray Brown - Costume design

References

  1. ^ Thompson, John J. (2000), Raised by Wolves: The Story of Christian Rock & Roll (First printing ed.), Ottawa, Ontario Canada: ECW Press, ISBN 1550224212 Pages 152-155.
  2. ^ Christe, Ian (2003), Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal (First printing ed.), "10: Glambangers of Hollywood", p. 154. HarperCollins., ISBN 0-380-81127-8
  3. ^ Brett Christensen. "Enigma Vinyl Pressing". stryper.com. Retrieved January 18, 2008.
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