There is always an alternative point of view....and mine is from the world of photography. In the 1980s i was part of a cooperative called Grapheteria. We were graphic designers and photographers. We were not a partnership but a collective of folks offering their skill sets to help people or companies communicate. We helped build Huntsville, Alabama. One of the designers Michael Cissel had a group of musicians, which ended up being several groups......A Special Blend and Alliance. I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing these folks for Michael. On one of the shoot which was of Alliance, we went to the University of Alabama in Huntsville campus and used their Nursing Building as a background. It was from a photo standpoint a gray background, but had highlights and shadow. We started photographing and all the guys were kinda stiff....so i asked them to loosen up and maybe sing something....and they did and i was astounded by their vocal ability in acapella. I had grown up as a person that loved the Beatles and the Beach Boys, Simon and Garfunkel, Peter Paul and Mary and loved voices and harmony. I said i was astounded but maybe stunned would have been a better word.....i instantly was enlightened and had a much more discrete appreciation of voices. An additional comment here is necessary. All of the folks in Alliance and A Special Blend could not have made a better impression and representation of good Christian people. They may have been pushing the limits of music but they were some of the finest folks i have ever met. And i must say that closed minds represent fear in the business world but in the spiritual world creating something new and making folks that are not the same appreciate that with which they are not familiar with is a god sent blessing. I thank Merv Warren and all the other members of Alliance and A Special Blend for the few moments i shared with them and hopefully served them on their path. Thank you for further opening my mind and opening my mind to an at i had not heard.
Congratulations, Mervyn, and the rest of the members of "A Special Blend." I loved it during your college days, as you know:) and I'll love it even more now.
Fell in love with the harmonies of Special Blend and subsequently Take 6....Jazzy, Funky, Gospel music back in 1988....The Rerelease is SO LONG OVERDUE...YAY!!!!
OMG!!! Was this the group that did "Seek Ye First"? I CAN'T BELIEVE I FINALLY FOUND THE SOURCE OF THAT AWESOME SONG! M. warren is truly an unsung hero!
So happy! Just found out about the re-release of this album that I've been looking for for YEARS...4 years later. Went to Amazon and purchased it IMMEDIATELY.
@ Gerald Murray , that's because after he left Take 6 he no longer wanted to be associated with the adventist church , and probably felt that there were too many restrictions (which are untrue). It was the same way he called Oakwood " A Christian College " instead a : " SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST " College. As you can see he has left the faith a long time ago , and does not care to be a christian. He just wrote a new song for this gay movie , and I was shocked to say the least. Most of the member of Take 6 wear jewelry now , and hardly perform gospel music anymore. It's only when their Alma Matter calls them for a visit that they change up and perform it. It's a shame though. All that fame went to their heads , and they just went with the world standards , smh.
***** Nah , people know about the faith.......he had left a long time ago. His church community was very harsh to him during his years with this group and Take 6. They felt it didn't fit in to the demographic of what adventist people call " GOSPEL " . That's pretty much it
GMANKOOL23 You have no idea what you're talking about in regards to why Merv left and what T6 is doing now as a group. Please do some research, listen to current albums, maybe go to one of their many shows throughout the year before you come on here talking nonsense. Not trying to start anything, just letting you know you're misinformed.
PowerHouse70 actually GMANKOOL is correct. Go to Merv's fan page on Facebook. Ask him, he'll tell you himself. Just scroll back, he said and i quote "i'm so far removed from the gospel world."
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one of the greatest vocal arrangers of human history!
THIS IS A FACT!!!!
Ĥim Mark Kibble and Cedric Dent put it down.
In the Adventist world,he was wayyy ahead of his time.
Let it shine!!
Let It Shine!!!! That was the song.. After all these years, Marks voice, still pure as gold. Thanks Mr. Warren for the re-release!!! God bless!
There is always an alternative point of view....and mine is from the world of photography. In the 1980s i was part of a cooperative called Grapheteria. We were graphic designers and photographers. We were not a partnership but a collective of folks offering their skill sets to help people or companies communicate. We helped build Huntsville, Alabama. One of the designers Michael Cissel had a group of musicians, which ended up being several groups......A Special Blend and Alliance. I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing these folks for Michael. On one of the shoot which was of Alliance, we went to the University of Alabama in Huntsville campus and used their Nursing Building as a background. It was from a photo standpoint a gray background, but had highlights and shadow. We started photographing and all the guys were kinda stiff....so i asked them to loosen up and maybe sing something....and they did and i was astounded by their vocal ability in acapella. I had grown up as a person that loved the Beatles and the Beach Boys, Simon and Garfunkel, Peter Paul and Mary and loved voices and harmony. I said i was astounded but maybe stunned would have been a better word.....i instantly was enlightened and had a much more discrete appreciation of voices. An additional comment here is necessary. All of the folks in Alliance and A Special Blend could not have made a better impression and representation of good Christian people. They may have been pushing the limits of music but they were some of the finest folks i have ever met. And i must say that closed minds represent fear in the business world but in the spiritual world creating something new and making folks that are not the same appreciate that with which they are not familiar with is a god sent blessing. I thank Merv Warren and all the other members of Alliance and A Special Blend for the few moments i shared with them and hopefully served them on their path. Thank you for further opening my mind and opening my mind to an at i had not heard.
Wow this is an amazing back-story, thank you!
Seminal album that deserved major distribution and advertising first time around. Thanks for giving the world this project Mervyn
Congratulations, Mervyn, and the rest of the members of "A Special Blend." I loved it during your college days, as you know:) and I'll love it even more now.
Fell in love with the harmonies of Special Blend and subsequently Take 6....Jazzy, Funky, Gospel music back in 1988....The Rerelease is SO LONG OVERDUE...YAY!!!!
Mervyn is a genius!
OMG!!! Was this the group that did "Seek Ye First"? I CAN'T BELIEVE I FINALLY FOUND THE SOURCE OF THAT AWESOME SONG! M. warren is truly an unsung hero!
So happy! Just found out about the re-release of this album that I've been looking for for YEARS...4 years later. Went to Amazon and purchased it IMMEDIATELY.
Awesome! There is also a CD available.
Classic Album...Still hearing it today and its still a blessing!
I've been a big fan of MW since his work on the film 'Living Out Loud" some 20 years ago. What a musical genius!
These are the beginnings of the world famous group Take 6. I love the album.
I love the whole album, jazz, funk and all.
its an awesome album Merv, good stuff!
Can't wait!!
Awesome Producer!. Hands Down!
We love you, Merv!
So modest! If I had 1/5 of his gifts I’d be a blessed lady.
Love the album when it came out, it has a huge Singers Unlimited influence to it
You can buy the album on iTunes.
I don't think he needed to do that. He was just reminiscing about working on the project.
when's the release!? The album is one of my fav's of all time - major impact on my own choral arranging.
@ Gerald Murray , that's because after he left Take 6 he no longer wanted to be associated with the adventist church , and probably felt that there were too many restrictions (which are untrue). It was the same way he called Oakwood " A Christian College " instead a : " SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST " College. As you can see he has left the faith a long time ago , and does not care to be a christian. He just wrote a new song for this gay movie , and I was shocked to say the least. Most of the member of Take 6 wear jewelry now , and hardly perform gospel music anymore. It's only when their Alma Matter calls them for a visit that they change up and perform it. It's a shame though. All that fame went to their heads , and they just went with the world standards , smh.
***** Nah , people know about the faith.......he had left a long time ago. His church community was very harsh to him during his years with this group and Take 6. They felt it didn't fit in to the demographic of what adventist people call " GOSPEL " . That's pretty much it
GMANKOOL23 You have no idea what you're talking about in regards to why Merv left and what T6 is doing now as a group. Please do some research, listen to current albums, maybe go to one of their many shows throughout the year before you come on here talking nonsense. Not trying to start anything, just letting you know you're misinformed.
@Powerhouse70, yes I do. Have a nice day bro , lol
PowerHouse70 actually GMANKOOL is correct. Go to Merv's fan page on Facebook. Ask him, he'll tell you himself. Just scroll back, he said and i quote "i'm so far removed from the gospel world."
Yes, Merv is far removed... but not Take 6. That's what I was referring to.
It's amazing how he neglects to mention the name Jesus even though this is/was a gospel project..