The Sleeve:
The Liner/Sleeve Notes:
“In churches, schools and community auditoriums across the country former drug addicts are shocking audiences with “The Addict”, a dramatization of the life of “junkies”. It is an ad libbed real-life drama acted out by eight former dope addicts portraying all the horrors of drug addiction, the crudeness of instruments used for a “fix”, and the undefinable agony of “withdrawl”. There is also evidence of the transforming power of Christ when, at the close of the play, the chracters recount how Jesus Christ has delivered them.
The true drama started in 1963 (in a rehabilitation camp founded by “Pop” and “Mom” Rosado, pastors of Damascus Christian Church in Bronx, New York) when John Gimenez, a recent convert, conceived the idea for the play.
“We Are doing this drama for two reasons” says Gimenez. “First we are trying to awaken America to this problem and to warn young people of the depravity and death in drug addiction. And second, to correct the false thesis of the medical and other professions that there is no hope of cure for the drug addict. We have not only found the cure, but we have been completely transformed by the power of God. And we want everybody to know about it.”
Each of these men has known the depth of drug addiction in every conceivable form. They have experienced life in prisons, mental and narcotic hospitals, only to return to dope upon their release. As one member of the group puts it: “Drugs made me lose my family, my possessions, everything I had, but I couldn’t quit… until I found Jesus Christ.”
These men sing from the very depths of their hearts with a fervor that can only be described as “pulsating”.
In speaking of the album Kurt Kaiser says: “The record has about it a crudeness that cannot be described, but that you must hear. It has a haunting kind of strength to it, and a very intimate kind of beauty, particularly in some solo spots. This is a record that I can highly recommend because it depicts musically, not finesse, but strength; not nuance, but intimate beauty; not greatness (musically), but a reality in a new found joy that few records we have can equal.”
Personal Review:
Well, I’ve listened to the A-Side completely, and parts of the B-Side, but not entirely. The solo songs are quite good, I can’t say the same about the group songs, they sound off key and out of place. I’m sure back in the 60’s it would’ve had more of an effect on people than it does now. The album is now considered to be more or less a joke, I’d think.
Interesting Facts:
(Not really an interesting fact, but just a picture of the Addicts)
Track Listing:
A1 – We’ve Come This Far By Faith
A2 – I Asked the Lord
A3 – Medley: Noe Dios & How Great is Our God
A4 – I Believe
A5 – Down From His Glory
A6 – The Addicts March
B1 – I’m a Soldier in the Army of the Lord
B2 – It is Well with My Soul
B3 – Without God I Would Be Nothing
B4 – You Are the Finger of God
B5 – Christ is the Answer
Label:
Word
Catalog Number:
WST-8379-LP
Studio Musicians & Other Album Credits:
Gilbert Mesa, Jerry Rutkin, John Gimenez, James Dunleavy, Rudy Rosado, Louie Colon, George Mathews, Frank Rodriquez and Cecil White
Other Albums I Own by The Addicts:
None.
Released:
1965
I listened to this album as a child. The power of those words, the testimony of those men….
I’m sorry you see it as more of “a joke” now.
In this age of Autotune, multimillion dollar studios, and cynicism, sometimes we forget to “hear.” Agreed… They were not the best, or even close. That was not the driving force behind the album.
I believe the meaning of what I had wrote in reference to it being considering a “joke” was misunderstood, I am not saying I think of it as a joke, at the time that I had wrote this article I had only seen other websites mocking it for it’s cover and so forth, and these were people who had not even heard the album. I do agree with what you are saying, they do deliver and powerful testimony, and that a lot of people forget to actually ‘hear’ the meaning behind the driving force of the album. I appreciate your comment and feedback, and will look into writing a new piece on this album. Thank you for bringing it back to my attention.