The Sharons, 1970 LP: Someone To Turn To - A2 Dream World

In the Greenbelt Live! booklet Malcolm Dony gives a brief history of the British contemporary Christian music scene. The earliest groups utilized the post-Mersey pop style known as “beat music”. They tended to combine up-front gospel lyrics with three-chord bashes, usually one or two years behind the times. “Mostly it was dreadful” he says. Well, that seems to describe this Scotland foursome to a tee, though in my opinion they’re far from dreadful. From a technical standpoint there’s a lot purists can find fault with: the garagy, almost non-existent production, the vocals mixed too high in parts, simplistic lyrics. Actually I find these to work to the album’s advantage, giving it an ultra-basement feel and capturing the era wonderfully. This is one of the earliest sounding things I’ve heard. The label says 1970 which would actually make it one of the final entries in the dated Christian beat scene, but it sure sounds more like 1966. Electric guitar, some distortion, big drum sound, organ, with shades of The Standells, The Troggs, The Kinks, and a host of other British invasion bands. ‘You Must Believe Me’ would fit snugly on a Rhino Nuggets compilation. A classic low-tech vinyl document of Britain’s early Jesus music scene. (Ken Scott - Archivist) The Sharons LP: Someone To Turn To Released: 1970 Label: Emblem Records ‎ Format: Vinyl, LP, Album Country: UK Genre: Rock Style: Beat, Religious, Gospel Colin MacKenzie: Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Lead Vocals, Harmonica Ernie Shering: Bass Guitar, Vocals Colin Bookless: Organ, Piano Dougie Shering: Drums Producer – John McLarty Recorded By – John McLarty, Walter Paterson Record Company – Emblem Records Ltd. Printed By – E.J. Day Group Layout – W. J. Savage Liner Notes – Maurice Gunn-Russell Sleeve Art – Davis Publicity Tracklist A1 I Never Thought About It Before A2 Dream World A3 Is Life A Drag? A4 Little Olde Lady A5 Someone To Turn To A6 Judy B1 The Greatest Sin B2 Believe B3 He's Coming Again B4 All You've Gotta Do (Is Pray) B5 Judgement Day B6 You Must Believe Me

Added 24 May 2026