THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 8, 1994 TAG: 9410070111
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
LET'S GET one thing straight. It is not incongruous for a group of born-again Christians to sing about ``Janie Baker's Love Slave.''
The Shenandoah hit states the case: ``Hey, listen, I'm a love slave - I'm crazy about her - I love this gal.'' That recitation was courtesy of lead singer Marty Raybon, calling from his Muscle Shoals, Ala., abode.
``Hear those lyrics? Nothing wrong with 'em,'' he said. ``The title does sound risque, but the storyline is right down our alley.''
Heartbreak Alley in Newport News will host Shenandoah on Tuesday. You will hear some good music, but you won't hear songs about cheating or drinking.
``There are so many better things to sing about,'' Raybon said.
Check the rest of the Shenandoah hit list: ``The Church on Cumberland Road'' ``Sunday in the South'' ``Next to You, Next to Me'' and ``If Bubba Can Dance.''
A lot of those songs are performed before nightclub audiences.
``It doesn't bother us a bit playing clubs,'' Raybon said. ``We're Christians who play country music. We like folks to come out and have a good time.''
It's straight country music - no gospel, no preaching.
``There is,'' Raybon said, ``an uplifted spirit.''
The spirited Shenandoah, a decade old so far as public acclaim is concerned, has won its share of accolades and gold. They are going to try for more with ``Vicinity of the Heart,'' an album to be released Nov. 14.
Raybon's next trip into a studio will be for Sparrow Records, which specializes in gospel.
``I'm fixing to do a couple of solo albums,'' Raybon said. ``I hope to get it done by the first of the year.''
As a group, Shenandoah cut only one gospel song. ``Wednesday Night Prayer'' is on the group's first album.
``I mean this from the farthest depths of my heart,'' Raybon said. ``I'm not ashamed of the gospel, but we can reach more people the way we do it.''
That means no preaching, just good, clean country music.
``I wouldn't want my three young-'uns to go to a show where they talk about drinking and carrying on. Young'uns are welcome to our shows,'' Raybon said. ``The entire band is saved, most of us when we were younger. Jim (Seales) got saved after we started playing together.''
The band members live in Muscle Shoals, except for drummer Mike McGuire, who lives in New York with his bride and childhood sweetheart, Teresa Blake, one of the stars of the soap, ``All My Children.''
All of the Nashville politics are met with a shrug by Shenandoah.
``We've been at it for 10 years without getting caught up with the political side of the industry,'' Raybon said. ``We just try to cut some good records.'' ILLUSTRATION: JUST THE FACTS
SHENANDOAH
Where: Heartbreak Alley, Newmarket North Shopping Center, Newport
News
When: Doors open at 6 p.m. Tuesday; show begins at 9 p.m
Tickets: $7.50, available at the door
Call: 245-3313
by CNB