Kathleen Colleen ‘Kathy’ Troccoli was born on June 24, 1958
in Brooklyn, New York. She lost her Dad
to colon cancer when she was fifteen and then lost her Mom to breast cancer in
1991. Kathy gained recognition when she
opened for CCM group GLAD in 1980. Her
debut album was 1982’s STUBBORN LOVE. In
1991 she released PURE ATTRACTION and had a Top 20 mainstream pop hit with
‘Everything Changes’. LOVE & MERCY
(1997, Reunion) was her seventh full length album. It was produced by Peter Bunetta and Rick
Chudacoff. In the liner notes Kathy shares:
“God is moving among His people...And it is the supreme blessing of my life to
be a part of what He is doing through music...My desire is that the music on
this album will move you closer to the Lord...and I also pray that you will let
God so move in your heart to share His life and Word with those waiting to
receive it. They will thank you
forever”. At the time, Kathy was a
strong supporter of The American Bible Society.
The opening adult contemporary ballad ‘I Call Him Love’ was
penned by Ty Lacy, Joanna Carlson, and Kevin Stokes. It offers these words of testimony: “I call
Him love, I call Him mercy/I called Him out of my darkness and pain and He
answered my need/I call Him love, I call Him healing/He is the One who has
filled me with hope and restored life to me/I call Him love”. The easy listening ballad ‘Water into Wine’
declares God’s goodness: “You turned the water into wine/Looking back I see the
many times/You made the simple things divine/With a touch of Your hand/You
changed this heart of mine/You turned the water into wine/Your still, small
voice will speak the truth/Your love alone will see me through”.
‘Love One Another’ is one of four songs Kathy co-writes on
the album. This one is with Bill Cuomo
and Robert White Johnson. It is an
upbeat pop number encouraging unity in the Body of Christ: “And I know that it
grieves His heart when His people stand apart/Cause we’re the only Jesus they
will see/Love one another and live as one in His Name/We must love one
another/We can tear down walls by His grace/Love is patient, love is kind/Love
is faithful all the time”. Guests on
this great song include: Carman, Sandi Patty, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith,
Vestal Goodman, and Kevin Smith.
Jacquelyn Gouche-Ferris wrote ‘How Would I Know’, a beautiful
inspirational ballad that comes from a mature spiritual perspective: “If it
wasn’t for the times that I was down/If it wasn’t for the times that I was
bound/For all the times that I wondered/How I would ever make it through/All of
the times that I couldn’t see my way/And I had to turn to You/How would I know
You could deliver?/How would I know You could set free?/If there had never been
a battle/How would I know the victory?” Brad Cole plays piano.
‘A Baby’s Prayer’ is a moving song, I believe from the
perspective of an aborted baby: “Cause if I should die before I wake/I pray her
soul You’ll keep/Forgive her Lord, she doesn’t know that You gave life to me/On
the days when she may think of me/Please comfort her with the truth/That the
angels hold me safe and sound/Cause I’m in heaven with You/I’m in heaven with
You”. ‘He’ll Never Leave Me’ is yet
another ballad, this time penned by Dawn Thomas. It speaks of God’s faithfulness: “He’ll never
leave me/I know how much He loves me/He’ll always stand beside me/Even when I
fall/He’ll be there to defend me/When I’m wrong forgive me/He’ll never hold my
past against me/But he’ll be there when I call/I’ll never be lonely/When the
nights get long, He’ll hold me/He promised He’d be with me/And that’s how I
know/He will never leave me (2X)”.
‘All Glory to God’ is a somewhat soft praise and worship
tune: “All glory to God/All honor is His/No other is worthy of His Name/All
glory to God/I’ll always be His/Forever I’ll live to sing His praise/Every day
I know I’m blessed/Just to know my heart/It rests in the hands that gave me
life”. Scott Brasher programs the
strings and keyboards on the pretty ‘Faithful to Me’. It finds the vocalist intimately conversing
with God: “I know that one day I will look at You/And I long to see the
pleasure in Your eyes.../I’ll die for You, the One that I adore/That someday I
may hear the words I hold so dear/’Well done My child/You have believed/You’ve
been faithful to Me (2X)’”.
‘Call Out to Me’ written by Diane Warren and featuring Michael
Thompson on guitars, is a splendid, upbeat pop highlight! It’s catchy and all about friendship: “Call
out to me/When nights are cold and loneliness has got the best of you/Call out
to me/When you’re feeling down/I’ll be around, I’ll be right next to you/Remember,
if you need love/I’ll be right there (2X)/Just call out/Call out to me”. Madeline Stone and Allen Shamblin wrote ‘Help
Me God’, a song that acknowledges need, straight up: “Help me God, I’m scared
and I’m unprepared to face the night alone/Hear me, hear my prayer/My soul it
aches and I’ve nowhere to go/Help me God”.
In some ways Kathy Troccoli has a voice you would expect to
hear on Broadway. She sings with such
passion and longing. These aren’t just
meaningless lyrics she is delivering. This
is an album of personal testimony. The
songs speak of God’s love, mercy, healing, and faithfulness. There are also a couple of good songs about
human relationships, including one on abortion that is non-judgmental. This album will appeal more to the 30 and
over crowd I would say. It leans heavily
towards the easy listening side of things musically, but there are a couple of
exceptions. Fans of Sandi Patty may want
to check this one out. I’m rating LOVE
& MERCY 93%. For more info visit:
www.kathytroccoli.com.