| Soldiers Under Command | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 23, 1985 [1] | |||
| Studio |
| |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 45:02 | |||
| Label | Enigma | |||
| Producer | Michael Wagener | |||
| Stryper chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |  
[2] |
| Kerrang! | 
[3] |
| "Jesus Freak Hideout" |
[4] |
Soldiers Under Command is the second release, and first full-length studio album from Christian metal band Stryper, released on August 23, 1985. [5] It was the first Christian metal album to achieve Gold record status, selling more than half a million copies. The album was originally issued on white vinyl. The Live in Japan in-concert video, released in 1986, was filmed on July 8, 1985 during Stryper's tour in support of this album.
A music video of the title track was released.
The inspirational verse for this album is 2 Timothy 2:3-4.[ citation needed]
Track listing
All songs written by Michael Sweet, except where noted.
- "Soldiers Under Command" (Michael Sweet, Robert Sweet) – 5:03
- "Makes Me Wanna Sing" – 2:51
- "Together Forever" – 4:03
- "First Love" – 5:43
- "The Rock That Makes Me Roll" – 4:56
- "Reach Out" (M. Sweet, R. Sweet) – 5:21
- "(Waiting for) A Love That's Real" – 4:36
- "Together as One" – 5:01
- "Surrender" – 4:28
- " Battle Hymn of the Republic" ( Julia Ward Howe) – 2:36
Personnel
Stryper
- Michael Sweet – lead vocals, backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitars, lead guitar solo (4-7)
- Oz Fox – lead and rhythm guitars, lead guitar solo (2-6, 9), backing vocals
- Tim Gaines – keyboards and bass (1-7, 9, 10), backing vocals (8)
- Robert Sweet – drums
Additional musicians
- John Van Tongeren – keyboards, acoustic piano and bass (8)
- Christopher Currell – Synclavier programming (10)
- Doris Castenada – backing vocals (10)
- Linda Mullen – backing vocals (10)
- Tammy Thomas – backing vocals (10)
Production
- Michael Wagener – producer, engineer, mixing
- Bryan Ayuso – album design
- John Scarpati – photography
- Anne Revenge – additional photography
Charts
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Japanese Albums ( Oricon) [6] | 78 |
| US Billboard 200 [7] | 84 |
| US Christian Albums ( Billboard) [8] | 5 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States ( RIAA) [9] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- ^ Christensen, Brett. "Stryper: 'Soldiers Under Command'". Official Stryper Website. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ Henderson, Alex. "Soldiers Under Command - Stryper". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
- ^ Johnson, Howard (October 17, 1985). "Heaven's on Fire". Kerrang!. Vol. 105. London, UK: Morgan Grampian. p. 22.
- ^ "Stryper, "Soldiers Under Command" Review". www.jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
- ^ Christensen, Brett (August 1, 2023). "August 23, 1985, Stryper releases the album "Soldiers under Command"". Official Stryper Website. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
- ^ "Stryper Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ "Stryper Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ "American album certifications – Stryper – Soldiers Under Command". Recording Industry Association of America.
| Soldiers Under Command | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 23, 1985 [1] | |||
| Studio |
| |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 45:02 | |||
| Label | Enigma | |||
| Producer | Michael Wagener | |||
| Stryper chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |
[2] |
| Kerrang! |
[3] |
| "Jesus Freak Hideout" |
[4] |
Soldiers Under Command is the second release, and first full-length studio album from Christian metal band Stryper, released on August 23, 1985. [5] It was the first Christian metal album to achieve Gold record status, selling more than half a million copies. The album was originally issued on white vinyl. The Live in Japan in-concert video, released in 1986, was filmed on July 8, 1985 during Stryper's tour in support of this album.
A music video of the title track was released.
The inspirational verse for this album is 2 Timothy 2:3-4.[ citation needed]
Track listing
All songs written by Michael Sweet, except where noted.
- "Soldiers Under Command" (Michael Sweet, Robert Sweet) – 5:03
- "Makes Me Wanna Sing" – 2:51
- "Together Forever" – 4:03
- "First Love" – 5:43
- "The Rock That Makes Me Roll" – 4:56
- "Reach Out" (M. Sweet, R. Sweet) – 5:21
- "(Waiting for) A Love That's Real" – 4:36
- "Together as One" – 5:01
- "Surrender" – 4:28
- " Battle Hymn of the Republic" ( Julia Ward Howe) – 2:36
Personnel
Stryper
- Michael Sweet – lead vocals, backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitars, lead guitar solo (4-7)
- Oz Fox – lead and rhythm guitars, lead guitar solo (2-6, 9), backing vocals
- Tim Gaines – keyboards and bass (1-7, 9, 10), backing vocals (8)
- Robert Sweet – drums
Additional musicians
- John Van Tongeren – keyboards, acoustic piano and bass (8)
- Christopher Currell – Synclavier programming (10)
- Doris Castenada – backing vocals (10)
- Linda Mullen – backing vocals (10)
- Tammy Thomas – backing vocals (10)
Production
- Michael Wagener – producer, engineer, mixing
- Bryan Ayuso – album design
- John Scarpati – photography
- Anne Revenge – additional photography
Charts
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Japanese Albums ( Oricon) [6] | 78 |
| US Billboard 200 [7] | 84 |
| US Christian Albums ( Billboard) [8] | 5 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States ( RIAA) [9] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- ^ Christensen, Brett. "Stryper: 'Soldiers Under Command'". Official Stryper Website. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ Henderson, Alex. "Soldiers Under Command - Stryper". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
- ^ Johnson, Howard (October 17, 1985). "Heaven's on Fire". Kerrang!. Vol. 105. London, UK: Morgan Grampian. p. 22.
- ^ "Stryper, "Soldiers Under Command" Review". www.jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
- ^ Christensen, Brett (August 1, 2023). "August 23, 1985, Stryper releases the album "Soldiers under Command"". Official Stryper Website. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
- ^ "Stryper Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ "Stryper Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ "American album certifications – Stryper – Soldiers Under Command". Recording Industry Association of America.