line up 1 (1977-80)

- Nancy Helms -- vocals, guitar

- Howard Mark-Mandel (RIP 2012) -- vocals, keyboards, guitar

  supporting musicians:

- Sue Clarke -- flute

- Brad Currie -- percussion

- Wayne Farley -- electric guitar

- Bib Kauflin -- piano

- Jim Logue -- keyboards

- Don Nalie -- bass

- none known

Genre: Christian

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  It Shall Be

Company: Messianic
Catalog: LBA 2001-A

Year: 1977

Country/State: Pennsylvania

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: signed inscription on front cover

Available: 1

Catalog ID: --

Price: $15.00

I was born and raised Catholic, but having endured far too many folk masses, I'll admit Christian rock is not a genre that I'm particularly attracted to.  I'll also confess the only reason I own a copy of "It Shall Be" is I found a cheap  copy at a local yard sale.  The album was clearly a collection of non-secular songs, but  I remembered the odd band name and one of the reviews I'd seen described the album as "religious psychedelic rock".   As for that description - not even close.  

There's not a lot of material on the web with respect to this mid-'70s, Pennsylvania-based Christian duo.  Sonship featured the talents of singer/guitarist Nancy Helms and the late singer/multi-instrumentalist Howard Mark-Mandel.  The pair seemingly got their start played small colleges and churches throughout the Midwest and Northeast.  Produced by Rick 'Levi' Coghill, 1977's "It Shall Be" found the pair splitting  songwriting chores.  Both Helms and Mark-Mandel had nice enough voices and on performances like the rocking title track and 'Gonna Be There Soon' they displayed an affinity for pretty, blended vocals.  Like many Christian albums this one was split between the seeming joy the pair felt in spreading their message of hope and salvation and the fact they didn't seem to be having a lot of fun with the work.  Among the exceptions were the title track and 'It Is Good' where the pair actually sounded like they were having a good time.  Primarily because it soft-pedaled the religious content the orchestrated ballad 'Gonna Be There Soon' was also worth hearing.  Reminding me a bit of a Mike Oldfield composition, complete with acres of Gregorian chant sounding backing vocals, Howard Mark-Mandel's closer 'Sing Halleluia' was the album highlight for me.

You can find the album on YouTube.  In 2023 Helms saw the posting and left a note.  Hopefully she won't mind me including it here:

"Hi Friends! Nancy Helms Nalle here.Thank you so much for sharing this album! I was amazed to find someone had posted it. Howard, went to be with the Lord in 2012. He and his beautiful wife, Mimi had envisioned and developed the first online homeschooling Academy in 2001 along with other entrepreneurial endeavors. Don Nalle (from GLAD) and I married way back in 1979 and are in the DC/metro area where Don is Comms director for Fourth Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, MD. God is so good!"

"It Shall Be" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Morning Song (Nancy J. Helms) - 4:12 rating: ** stars

Helms had a pleasant voice well suited to the pretty opening ballad.  In terms of melody imagine something Cat Stevens might have penned early in his career.  Yeah, the devoted lyrics were going to drive secular listeners over the edge, but overall it was sort of sweet.  Certainly heard preachy stuff far more irritating than this one.  

2.) It Is Good (Wayne Farley) - 5:12  rating: *** stars

Penned by guitarist Wayne Farley and sporting a full band arrangement 'It Is Good' sported a bouncy melody with jazzy touches.  Imagine The Free Design as a Christian act ...  Mark-Mandel had a nice voice and the interweaving vocals were kind of interesting.  Unlike so many dour Christian bands, they actually sounded like they were having fun on this one.  That might be the reason Don Nalle's band Glad covered this tune on their second album - 1980's "Beyond a Star."  Nalle also went on to marry Helms.

3.) Shma (Howard Mark-Mandel) - 3:06  rating: *** stars

'Shma' started out as a bland folk ballad before bouncing into a weird mix of reggae and Yiddish flavors..  Lyrically the song appeared to reflected evangelistic support for the Jewish people.  After all Jews remain God’s chosen people.   Out of curiosity I looked the word up and it turnss out  'Shma' (also known as "Shema" and "Sh'ma") serves as the centerpiece of daily morning and evening prayer services and is considered by some the most essential prayer in all of Judaism. An affirmation of God’s singularity and kingship, its daily recitation is regarded by traditionally observant Jews as a biblical commandment.  Weird tune both musically and lyrically.  Postscript - Trolling the net I came across a YouTube page where the writer (a Lutheran pastor), mentioned owning this album and made the following statement.  No idea if it is true:  "Mark was a Messianic Jew - and this is reflected in the music - it was the also an introduction to the complex ongoing Christian/Jewish relationship."  It would certainly help to understand the song.

4.) Gonna Be There Soon (Howard Mark-Mandel) -  4:19 rating: **** stars

I'll admit 'Gonna Be There Soon' was a pretty song.  The ballad showcased Mark-Mandel and Helms sweet interwoven vocals, a full band arrangement (complete with brief electric guitar solo) and orchestration.  The lyrics were "uplifting", but unlike most of the album, soft-pedaled the pair's religious beliefs.  

(side 2)
1.) You Are (Nancy J. Helms) - 4:28 rating: *** stars

Opening up with some nice jangle guitar, 'You Are' was the album's most "commercial" sounding performance and served as Helms' best performance.  Yeah, the non-secular lyrics weren't going to appeal to everyone, but the tune was pretty good.

2.) Become Ye One (Nancy J. Helms) - 2:53  rating: *** stars

Powered by Mark-Mandel's pretty keyboards and backing vocals 'Become Ye One' sported another pretty melody.

3.) It Shall Be (Howard Mark-Mandel) - 4:19 rating: **** stars

If you could ignore the lyrics the title track was the album's most rock-sounding performances.  Complete with full band arrangement this one another one where their "rapture" was almost convincing.  Well, the band sounded goof and at least they seemed to have fun recording the track.

4.) Sing Halleluia (Howard Mark-Mandel - Joel Chernoff) - 6:35 rating: **** stars

The album's most "churchy" sounding song, 'Sing Halleluia' showcased Mark-Mandel's piano and voice.  The song has always sounded vaguely ominous to my ears.  Kind of a Mike Oldfield 'Tubular Bells' vibe going on during the extended instrumental section.  Extra star for the  cool "Gregorian chant" backing vocals.    

© Scott R. Blackerby July, 2024