Wide-Eyed Wonder


Wide-Eyed Wonder is the fourth studio album from Christian alternative rock band The Choir, released in 1989.

Recording history

The band added its first female member in Robin Spurs, who joined The Choir as their new bassist after a stint with local Los Angeles band The Toasters.
In the year that Wide-Eyed Wonder was recorded, drummer and songwriter Steve Hindalong and his wife Nancy had their first child, Emily. Most of the songs on the album deal with Hindalong's joy over new fatherhood or the importance of family life.
After assisting with the recording of Chase the Kangaroo, Mark Heard came on board to produce two tracks for the album, including the band's first cover song, "Behind That Locked Door", by ex-Beatle George Harrison. This choice didn't sit well with many critics at the time, who pointed out that the song didn't fit with the rest of the record. The Choir never recorded another cover song until after Mark Heard's death, when they contributed their version of "Tip of My Tongue" to two tribute albums dedicated to him. Several years later, they covered "Baby, It's Cold Outside" for their Christmas album Peace, Love & Light.
In October 2016, The Choir announced that the original Wide-Eyed Wonder-era line-up, complete with Robin Spurs on bass, would reunite and tour in Spring 2017, performing the album in its entirety. A remastered version of the album on both CD and vinyl was released April 22, 2017 with revised cover art.

Track listing

All lyrics by Steve Hindalong. All music by Derri Daugherty and Hindalong, unless otherwise noted.
  1. "Someone To Hold On To" – 3:50
  2. "To Cover You" – 2:31
  3. "Robin Had A Dream" – 4:17
  4. "Spin You Around" – 4:11
  5. "When She Sees Me" – 4:11
  6. "Wide Eyed Wonder" – 3:35
  7. "Happy Fool" – 3:29
  8. "Car, Etc." – 6:17
  9. "Behind That Locked Door" – 3:02
  10. "To Bid Farewell" – 4:38
  11. "Car, Cont." – 1:03

    Personnel

The Choir
Additional musicians
Production
's promotion of Wide-Eyed Wonder included a Christian radio special, advertisements in Christian magazines, promotions in Christian bookstores, and the band's first CCM Magazine cover story. The Choir produced two music videos and a making-of documentary in conjunction with the album. The band openined for Russ Taff on a national tour.
Daugherty's grandmother, in a still taken from the Wide-Eyed Wonder documentary, was featured on one of the shirts offered on the band's tour with Russ Taff.

Covers

The song "To Cover You" was later re-recorded by Derri Daugherty with The Lost Dogs on the band's 2004 album, MUTT.