The Way Home (Russ Taff album)

The Way Home
The Way Home
Studio album by Russ Taff
Released	1989
Studio	Bennett House, Franklin, Tennessee; Downstage Studio, Nashville, Tennessee; Gold Mine Studio, Brentwood, Tennessee; Digital Recorders, Nashville, Tennessee; Hollywood Sound Recorders, Los Angeles, California; Wayne Cook Studios, Glendale, California;
Genre	CCM, roots rock, country rock
Length	47:51
Label	Myrrh Records
Producer	Russ Taff James Hollihan, Jr.;
Russ Taff chronology

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]

The Way Home is the fourth studio album by Christian singer-songwriter Russ Taff, released in 1989 on Myrrh Records.^[2] Music videos were made for "Winds of Change" and "I Cry" to promote the album. The Way Home was ranked at number 11 on CCM Magazine's 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music.^[3] The album includes a one-minute version of the traditional gospel song "Ain't No Grave" – Taff later recorded a longer version on his 1991 album Under Their Influence. In 1990, The Way Home won Rock Album of the Year and the song "The River Unbroken" won Rock Recorded Song of the Year at the 21st GMA Dove Awards. Taff was also nominated for Best Gospel Performance, Male for the song "Farther On" at the 32nd Grammy Awards. The album topped the Billboard Inspirational Albums chart.

Track listing

*The Way Home* track listing
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Winds of Change"	Danny Tate, Danny Wilde	4:17
2.	"It Was Love"	Russ Taff, Tori Taff, James Hollihan, Jr., Darrell Brown, Marshall Chapman	4:26
3.	"Farther On"	R. Taff, T. Taff, J. Hollihan, Jr.	3:49
4.	"The River Unbroken"	D. Brown, David Batteau	4:24
5.	"He Came Through"	Ashley Cleveland, Wally Wilson, R. Taff, J. Hollihan, Jr.	3:10
6.	"I Cry"	R. Taff, T. Taff, J. Hollihan, Jr.	4:07
7.	"I Need You"	Michael Anderson, Guy Roche	4:36
8.	"Go On"	R. Taff, T. Taff, J. Hollihan, Jr., D. Brown	4:22
9.	"Ain't No Grave"	Traditional, arranged by R. Taff and J. Hollihan, Jr.	1:19
10.	"Guiding Light"	Hal Lindes, R. Taff, T. Taff, J. Hollihan, Jr., M. Chapman	4:13
11.	"Take My Hand"	Larry Hall, R. Taff, T. Taff, J. Hollihan, Jr., M. Chapman, D. Brown	4:35
12.	"Table in the Wilderness"	R. Taff, D. Brown, D. Batteau	4:12

Personnel

Russ Taff – vocals, guitars, backing vocals (1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10-12), guitar solo (6)
Larry Hall – keyboards
James Hollihan – keyboards, melodica, guitars, backing vocals (4, 7, 10-12), guitar solo (7, 12)
Chuck Leavell – keyboards (8, 10, 11), acoustic piano solo (8)
John Darnall – mandolin (1)
Jackie Street – bass
Lynn Williams – drums
Terry McMillan – percussion (2-11), harmonica (9)
Mark Douthit – saxophones (5)
Mike Haynes – trumpet (5)
The Real JR Strings – strings (6, 12)
Don Hart – string arrangements (6, 12)
Ashley Cleveland – additional vocals (2, 8, 10, 11)
Greg Sparks – backing vocals (4, 11)
Rebecca Ed Sparks – backing vocals (4, 6, 7, 10, 11), additional vocals (12)
Marshall Chapman – backing vocals (8)
Frank Ådhal – backing vocals (10-12)
Bonnie Keen – backing vocals (10)
Dan Keen – backing vocals (10, 11)
Marty McCall – backing vocals (10, 11)
Darrell Brown – backing vocals (11)

Production

Russ Taff – producer
James Hollihan Jr. – producer
Tim Crich – engineer
Peter Coleman – mixing at Mama Jo's Studio (North Hollywood, California)
Lynn Fuston – additional engineer
David Garcia – additional engineer
David Schober – additional engineer
Elaine Anderson – assistant engineer
Shawn McLean – assistant engineer
Gil Morales – assistant engineer
Chris Rich – assistant engineer
Clarke Schleicher – assistant engineer
Mac Smith – assistant engineer
Dan Hersch – mastering at DigiPrep (Hollywood, California)
Buddy Jackson – art direction
Laurie Fink – cover coordinator
Bonnie Schiffman – black and white photography
Loren Balman – front cover photography
Zack Glickman – management

Charts

Chart (1989)	Peak position
US Inspirational Albums (Billboard)^[4]	1

Radio singles

Year	Singles	Peak positions
Year	Singles	CCM AC chart^[5]	CCM CHR chart^[6]
1989	"Farther On"	1	1
1989-90	"I Cry"	1	1
1990	"Table in the Wilderness"	13	7
1990	"Winds of Change"	-	19
1990	"I Need You"	33	6

Accolades

GMA Dove Awards

Year	Winner	Category
1990	The Way Home	Rock Album of the Year
1990	"The River Unbroken"	Rock Recorded Song of the Year

References

^ Allmusic review
^ Russ Taff: The Way Home. Myrrh Records. 1989.
^ Granger, Thom, ed. (2001). The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. Harvest House. p. 32. ISBN 0-7369-0281-3.
^ "Inspirational LPs" (PDF). Billboard. November 18, 1989. p. 31.
^ Brothers, Jeffrey Lee, ed. (2003). CCM Hot Hits: AC Charts 1978 - 2001. AuthorHouse. p. 207. ISBN 1-4107-3294-0.
^ Brothers, Jeffrey Lee, ed. (1999). CCM Hot Hits: Christian Hit Radio - 20 Years of Charts, Artist Bios and More. CCM Books. p. 160. ISBN 0-8230-7718-7.

[1] Allmusic review

[Album-2] Russ Taff: The Way Home. Myrrh Records. 1989.

[3] Granger, Thom, ed. (2001). The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. Harvest House. p. 32. ISBN 0-7369-0281-3.

[4] "Inspirational LPs" (PDF). Billboard. November 18, 1989. p. 31.

[5] Brothers, Jeffrey Lee, ed. (2003). CCM Hot Hits: AC Charts 1978 - 2001. AuthorHouse. p. 207. ISBN 1-4107-3294-0.

[6] Brothers, Jeffrey Lee, ed. (1999). CCM Hot Hits: Christian Hit Radio - 20 Years of Charts, Artist Bios and More. CCM Books. p. 160. ISBN 0-8230-7718-7.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]