MP3:
01. Love Will Find a Way (3:35)
02. And When All Is Said and Done (2:55)
03. Holy, Holy, Holy (2:45)
04. Loco Boy Made Good (3:55)
05. Anything Worth Doin' Is Worth Doin' Right (4:02)
06. There Is a Way (4:12)
07. Turn Around and See (2:51)
08. Fresh Start (3:31)
09. One Song (4:09)
10. You've Gotta Hear It To Believe It (3:06)
When I came across the "Fresh Start" 7" at my local library, I was pretty sure I had found the greatest record ever recorded. But I was a bit saddened that a search on the web for the artist's name, "Thomas Stephen Smith," brought up next to no information. What I didn't realize is that his name is actually spelled "Thomas Steven Smith" and that Mr. Smith recorded an entire album with the same name as its lead single. Interestingly, the labels on both the 7" and the LP spell his middle name "Stephen," but the cover of the LP uses the (presumably) correct spelling of "Steven."
Thankfully, my ol' buddy Paul surprised me with this gem for my birthday last month. BEST GIFT EVER. Let me tell you right now: the album is every bit as good as I had hoped it would be. What I loved most about the 7" was that it sounded like the theme to a non-existent 80s sitcom, perhaps a spin-off of Perfect Strangers that didn't involve Urkel. In addition to the title track, I think tracks 1, 4, and 6 would all make fine sitcom themes.
Rest assured, I'm doing some research and trying to piece together a full history of TSS. I've even contacted a church mentioned in the liner notes, but alas, haven't heard anything back from them.
- Contributed by: Ryan MacMichael
Images: Front Cover, Back Cover, Label Side One, Label Side Two, Lyrics Side One, Lyrics Side Two
I was in Family Matters, not Perfect Strangers. Also, Louis Vitton handbag Cherry Bucket delivered to anywhere.
Posted by: Urkel | November 22, 2007 at 11:00 AM
Thanks for clearing that up, Urkel. I thought i was going to have throw down. Urkel in Perfect Strangers? Don't be reediculus
Posted by: Balki | November 22, 2007 at 11:36 AM
Yes, Urkel, but Family Matters was a spin-off of Perfect Strangers, and that was the reference I was making.
Don't test me on crappy 80s sitcoms!
Posted by: Ryan | November 22, 2007 at 11:51 AM
I believe this is Thomas "Moose" Smith. He released another couple of records on Christian labels in the late 70's. He also played on a nice folkrock Christian record out of North Carolina in the early 70's that I used to have. I have long forgotten the name of the group though.
Posted by: Darril | November 23, 2007 at 10:48 AM
I make industrial videos and often have to insert some kind of music when viewing rough cuts, prior to buying generic background music. Sometimes I put something as god-awful/wonderful as that and sometimes even play it for clients. I'm definitely using Fresh Start. It sounds even better than some of the generic music we pay craploads for.
Sometimes it backfires, when the client asks for the music I preview clips with, proving that Baby Boomers and other capitalist pigs have no sense of irony.
Posted by: rich | November 23, 2007 at 02:14 PM
I believe that Moose AKA Stephen AKA Steven are all in fact pseudonyms for the big dog himself, Bill Clinton. Skeptical? Exhibit A.
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/3/2007/07/a94bb8ba21cc28f6d662f86db0669a51.jpg
Eerie, isn't it? Is there any sax playing on the 7"?
Posted by: K | November 23, 2007 at 02:35 PM
Your pal Tom Steve Smith's got a little ditty in this Christian songbook "Contemporary Piano" currently being sold on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/PHIL-KEAGGY-Evie-IMPERIALS-Dallas-Holm-WAYNE-WATSON_W0QQitemZ230120957207QQihZ013QQcategoryZ38105QQcmdZViewItem
Posted by: Bren C. | November 24, 2007 at 01:56 PM
Oh yes, and for $5 you can buy his off-off-Broadway album, "Can You Tell Me The Zip Of That Far Away Land," here:
http://www.geocities.com/wayneb36301/grublet.html
It's located a little over halfway down the page. :)
Posted by: Bren C. | November 24, 2007 at 01:58 PM
moose smith had an LP "Call of the moose" the album cover has him laying ona piano ina full body fur suit with aq flower in his mouth, it's a classic record and he had a huge Christian radio hit with a song from it called "Rejoice, rejoice" ABOUT THE PRODIGAL SON STORY.hope this helps. ithink he's in minnesota
Posted by: kmcmart | November 24, 2007 at 02:15 PM
Thanks for all the great info, guys... I'll add it to what my research has turned up thus far.
Bren -- I've actually e-mailed that guy about the record, but it's been more than two weeks with no response.
Posted by: Ryan | November 25, 2007 at 04:27 PM
I beleive this guy sings on TBN Tribity Broadcasting Network....He seems familiar. Its that releigious station with the Pink haired lady and Creflo Dollar...its like all mansion ish looking with the gold couches and chairs...
Posted by: amanda | December 07, 2007 at 10:03 PM
Love Will Find A Way is taped before a live studio audience!
Posted by: Scott Mercer | December 10, 2007 at 07:56 AM
"Moose" Smith,,,,,,played keyboards, vocals, backup guitar, even bass on his bottom organ keys very good,,,,,,the group was "The New Directions" back in the early 1970's
a group of college Christian students out of Burlington NC. They also had a spinoff group called " Damascus Road " which played more rock type music for the contemporary concerts
of the 70's depending on the stage. I heard his testimony on the 700 club, yes, Pat Robertson out of Portsmouth Va.
The New Directions came on saturdays Tv under the 700 club side programs.
Duffy Roberts was the drummer in this group.
J.L. Williams was over the musical group called "The New Directions"
and he still resides out of Burlington NC with a Christian website.
But the 70's long gone and I heard Moose worked at Portsmouth Va 700 club
under Pat Robertson for awhile. Somewhere I read where Moose directed part
of the orchestra/music at 700 club for a while. Did he go back to Minnesota?
I remember him saying he was from up north. Somewhere on my old cassettes
I have his testimony on TV. Dang good music he played and his voice
kinda reminded me of Dr John. I'm looking for his old albums music too!
John
Posted by: Moose Smith | May 06, 2008 at 09:26 PM
Does anyone know where I might find Moose. I'm a documentary film maker and want to explore the possibilities of doing a piece on him. Thanks. Leonard www.creativemotionmedia.net email momedia@sbcglobal.net
Posted by: Leoanrd Chamblee | February 18, 2009 at 09:22 AM
Yeah, we would like to know what's happened to ol' Moose, also. He used to come around OKC "on tour" (solo) and sang (and fellowshipped) at the "Jesus Light Club". One time he gave our family the above mentioned album, with him on the piano, titled simply "Moose". Over the years I've often thought of words from one song, "Billy Joe and Lucy Jean", "she got down on her knees, to get out of God's way". This was Moose's version of the story of the two men praying, that is in the Gospels. (One humbly, on arrogantly).
Another great song no one mentioned off that album is "Get Out of That Crib!".
Any of you who haven't enjoyed this music, you need to find it and get started!
Posted by: L. Morgan | June 01, 2009 at 08:05 PM
Moose lived down the street in Tulsa while I was growing up. After the 700 Club gig, he directed music at our church during the 80's. He moved to Nashville, and I last saw him almost 20 years ago. He was attending Scotty Smith's church, where many of the Christian musicians attend, and was teaching music in school. I haven't seen him in many years, but was searching for him on the internet and ran across this discussion.
Posted by: Brent | February 07, 2010 at 12:15 AM
haha he's my teacher at school... I got bored and decided to look him up. He teaches piano at a school.
Posted by: Josh | February 11, 2010 at 11:15 PM
He lives in Franklin Tennessee and teaches piano. I took music recording taught by him when I was in high school. He teaches at Franklin high
Posted by: Jack | May 13, 2010 at 10:08 AM
He also teaches history, I'm in his class
Posted by: seth | April 19, 2012 at 02:13 PM