The Turning (album)

The Turning
Studio album by Sam Phillips
Released	1987
Studio	Sunset Sound Factory, Los Angeles Sunset Sound, Los Angeles Mad Hatter, Los Angeles Mama Jo's, Hollywood Eagle Audio, Fort Worth, Texas Capitol Studios, Hollywood
Genre	Rock
Label	Myrrh, DCC Compact Classics
Producer	T Bone Burnett
Sam Phillips chronology
Black and White in a Grey World (1985) The Turning (1987) Recollection (1987)
Alternative cover
The 1998 DCC re-release

The Turning is the fourth album by Leslie Phillips originally released in 1987 on Myrrh Records. It was later re-released in 1997 under the name of Sam Phillips.

This album marks the first time that Phillips worked with producer T Bone Burnett. The two would marry not long after the release of this album and Burnett would go on to produce more albums for the singer. The Turning stands out as a turning point in Phillips' career as a singer and songwriter; on one side, the cheerful, upbeat pop-rock albums that she recorded in the early 1980s, and, on the other, the quirky 60's music influenced rock and folk albums, with a much darker and more poetic tone lyrically. Most critics would agree that Phillips' songwriting abilities grew by leaps and bounds beginning with The Turning. Others might even say that this album was a pinnacle that has yet to be topped by the artist.

This album was listed at No. 8 in the book CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music (Harvest House Publishers, 2001).

Track listing

All songs written by Leslie Phillips, except where noted.

Side one

1. "River of Love" (Phillips, Burnett)
2. "Love Is Not Lost"
3. "The Turning"
4. "Libera Me" (Burnett)
5. "Carry You"

Side two

1. "Beating Heart"
2. "Expectations"
3. "Down"
4. "Answers Don't Come Easy"
5. "God Is Watching You" (Burnett)

Personnel

• Leslie Phillips – vocals, synthesizers, drum programming, harmonies, go–go dancing
• T Bone Burnett – guitars, drum programming, harmonies, producer
• Mickey Curry – drums
• Jerry Scheff – bass
• David Miner – bass on "Love Is Not Lost."
• John Andrew Schreiner – synthesizers
• Alex Acuña – percussion
• Ralph Forbes – drum programming
• Dawn O'Hanlon – harmonies
• Tonio K. – harmonies
• Peter Case – harmonies
• Tom Willett – executive producer
• Tchad Blake – mixing
• Sunset Sound Factory, Los Angeles– recording location
• Sunset Sound, Los Angeles – recording location
• Mad Hatter, Los Angeles – recording location
• Mama Jo's, Hollywood – recording location
• Eagle Audio, Fort Worth, Texas – recording location
• Capitol Studios, Hollywood – recording location
• Stephen Shelton – recording engineer
• Larry Hirsch – recording engineer
• Bobby Hickey – recording engineer
• Bill Jackson – recording engineer
• Steve Ford – recording engineer
• Tchad Blake – recording engineer
• Judy Klapp – recording engineer
• Mike Kloster – recording assistant
• David Knight – recording assistant
• Chris Bellman – mastering
• Bernie Grundman Mastering – mastering location
• Michael Hodgson – art direction and design
• Dennis Keeley – photography
• Pete Caravolais – photography assistant
• Tony Proctor Lambe – hair and make–up