Walls of Glass is the debut solo album by former Imperials lead singer Russ Taff, released in 1983 on Myrrh Records. After he left the Imperials in 1981, Taff started work on his first solo album featuring songs that he co-wrote with his wife Tori and his guitarist and songwriter James Hollihan Jr. "We Will Stand" was released as the first single and became his first Christian radio hit topping the Christian AC chart for 15 weeks. The song is ranked at number 29 by CCM Magazine's 100 Greatest Songs in Christian Music. Taff won his first solo Grammy Award (his fourth overall) for Best Gospel Performance, Male at the 26th Grammy Awards. At the 15th GMA Dove Awards, Taff won his third Male Vocalist of the Year title, his first as a solo artist. "We Will Stand" was nominated for Song of the Year twice at the Dove Awards in 1984 and 1985. Walls of Glass reached No. 5 on the Billboard Top Inspirational Albums chart.
Contents
Personnel
Russ Taff – lead vocals, backing vocals (1, 8, 10)
Robbie Buchanan – Rhodes electric piano (1, 4, 5), synthesizers (1, 3, 4, 10), synth bass (1), acoustic piano (3–5, 10)
James Newton Howard – acoustic piano (2, 7, 9), synthesizers (2, 5, 7)
Bill George – Rhodes electric piano (3)
Michael Omartian – acoustic piano (6, 8), Rhodes electric piano (6, 8), synthesizers (6, 8)
Michael Landau – guitars (1, 2, 4–9)
Marty Walsh – guitars (1, 4)
James Hollihan – guitars (3)
Nathan East – bass (2, 6–8)
Richard Hopkins – bass (3)
Abraham Laboriel – bass (4, 5)
Mike Baird – drums (1, 4, 5)
Jeff Porcaro – drums (2, 6–8)
John Hammond – drums (3)
Lenny Castro – percussion (1–8)
Ernie Watts – horns (2, 8), sax solo (3)
Charles Loper – horns (2, 8)
Gary Grant – horns (2, 8)
Jerry Hey – horns (2, 8), horn arrangements (2, 8)
David Lasley – backing vocals (1, 3, 4)
Arnold McCuller – backing vocals (1)
Bill Champlin – backing vocals (2, 6, 8)
Tamara Champlin – backing vocals (2, 6)
Carmen Twillie – backing vocals (2)
Charlotte Crossley – backing vocals (3, 4, 7)
Jo Ann Harris – backing vocals (3, 4, 7)
Bonnie Bramlett – backing vocals (6, 8)
Franke Previte – harmony vocals (7)
Laury Boone – backing vocals (10)
Dony McGuire – backing vocals (10)
Reba Rambo – backing vocals (10)
Backing vocals on "We Will Stand"
Laury Boone, Harry Browning, Don Cason, Cynthia Clawson, Ragan Courtney, David Lasley, Arnold McCuller, Bobby Messano, Franke Previte, Susan Pyron Heard, Russ Taff, Tori Taff and Gary Whitlock
Production
Bill Schnee – producer, engineer
Russ Taff – vocal producer (3)
Jack Joseph Puig – vocal producer (3), additional engineer
Daniel Garcia – assistant engineer
David Schober – assistant engineer
Doug Sax – mastering at The Mastering Lab (Hollywood, California)
Janet Heard – production assistant
Paul Gross – layout, design
Gary Whitlock – cover concept, back cover photography
Sam Emerson – front cover photography, back cover insert photography
Accolades
Grammy Awards
GMA Dove Awards
1984 Male Vocalist of the Year