# Russ Taff (album)

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
Russ Taff is the third album by Christian singer/songwriter Russ Taff, released in late 1987 on Myrrh/Word Records. Taff covers two songs: "Down in the Lowlands" by Charlie Peacock and "I Still Believe" by the Call, plus a 40-second snippet of the American negro spiritual "Steal Away". Taff also records "Breathe Life into Me", which would later be a UK Top 30 hit and US R&B hit in 1988–1989 by British singer Mica Paris. Russ Taff reached number two on the Billboard Top Inspirational Albums chart. The album won a GMA Dove Award for Rock Album of the Year at the 20th GMA Dove Awards and earned Taff a Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Performance, Male at the 31st Annual Grammy Awards.

## Personnel

* Russ Taff – lead vocals, backing vocals (3, 8, 11)
* Robbie Buchanan – synthesizers (1-6, 8-11), acoustic piano (2, 3, 5, 11), Hammond B3 organ (3, 11), PPG bass (5)
* Greg Husted – Hammond B3 organ (1, 6)
* Eric Persing – synthesizer programming (2)
* Alan Pasqua – synthesizers (3, 4, 6)
* James Hollihan – guitars (1, 3-6, 8-11), slide guitar solo (5), acoustic slide guitar (7), acoustic piano (8), guitar solo (9-11), acoustic guitar (11)
* Lynn Nichols – acoustic guitar (1)
* Dave Perkins – acoustic guitar (1), guitars (1, 2, 6), guitar solo (1), backing vocals (2, 11), additional synthesizers (2)
* Dann Huff – guitars (2-5, 9, 10)
* Neil Stubenhaus – bass (1, 2, 6, 9)
* Mike Brignardello – bass (3, 11)
* Nathan East – bass (4, 10)
* Jackie Street – bass (8)
* Mel Watts – drums (1, 6, 8)
* Scott Musick – drums (2, 9)
* Paul Leim – drums (3-5, 10, 11)
* Lenny Castro – percussion (1, 4, 5, 8, 11)
* Koji Egawa – door percussion (4)
* Joe Porcaro – timpani (5)
* Jeff Porcaro – hi-hat (6)
* Mark Douthit – sax solo (3), soprano saxophone (4), saxophone (8, 9)
* Clarice Devisschu – backing vocals (4)
* Vince Ebo – backing vocals (4, 9)
* Charlie Peacock – backing vocals (4, 9)
* Rebecca Sparks – backing vocals (4)
* Jack Joseph Puig – ethnic vocals (4)
* Mark Williamson – backing vocals (6, 8, 10)
* Annie Stocking – backing vocals (9)
The 'Boys Choir' on This Love is Strong"
* James Hollihan, Lynn Nichols, Greg Sparks, Russ Taff, Steve Taylor and Mark Williamson
Chant on "(Living on the) Edge of Time"
* James Hollihan, Lynn Nichols, Dave Perkins, Jack Joseph Puig and Russ Taff

### Production

* Lynn Nichols – executive producer, cover design concept
* Jack Joseph Puig – producer, recording, mixing
* Steve Ford – assistant engineer
* Koji Egawa – assistant engineer
* Wade Jaynes – assistant engineer
* Julie Last – assistant engineer
* Bert Stevens – assistant engineer
* Billy Whittington – assistant engineer
* Steve Hazelton – technical assistance
* Mike Wambsgans – technical assistance
* Doug Sax – mastering at The Mastering Lab (Hollywood, California)
* Joan Tankersley – art direction, cover design concept, logo design
* Patrick Pollei – logo design
* Phillip Dixon – photography
* Zack Glickman – management

## Charts

| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
| US Inspirational Albums (Billboard) | 2 |

### Radio singles

| Year | Singles | Peak positions | Peak positions |
| Year | Singles | CCM AC chart | CCM CHR chart |
| 1988 | "Walk Between the Lines" | 1 | 1 |
| 1988 | "Believe in Love" | 11 | 16 |
| 1988 | "Breathe Life into Me" | 11 | - |
| 1988 | "Down in the Lowlands | - | 6 |
| 1989 | "I Still Believe" | 5 | 5 |
| 1989 | "Healing Touch" | 38 | - |

## Accolades

GMA Dove Awards
| Year | Winner | Category |
| 1989 | Russ Taff | Rock Album of the Year |
| 1989 | Russ Taff | Recorded Music Packaging of the Year |