Priority (Imperials album)

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Priority
Studio album by
The Imperials
Released1980
StudioJennifudy Studios, Los Angeles, California
Genre
Length39:39
LabelDaySpring/Word Records
ProducerMichael Omartian
The Imperials chronology
Christmas with the Imperials
(1980) 		Priority
(1980) 		The Very Best of the Imperials
(1981)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Priority is the 27th studio album by the Christian music group The Imperials, released in late 1980 on DaySpring Records.[2] It is the second album that the group has collaborated with well-known musician/producer Michael Omartian, their first being their previous album One More Song for You (1979). In 1982, the Imperials won their fourth and, to date, final Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational at the 24th Grammy Awards[3] and at the 13th GMA Dove Awards, they were named Group of the Year and Priority was named Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year. Lead singer Russ Taff won his second Dove Award for Male Vocalist of the Year, winning back-to-back.[4] Prior to the award ceremonies, Taff had left the group in 1981 to begin his solo career and started work on his debut album Walls of Glass (1983) before being replaced by Paul Smith as the new lead singer. Priority gave the Imperials their second number-one album on Billboard magazine's Top Inspirational Albums chart.

Track listing[edit]

All music and lyrics by Michael and Stormie Omartian, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Trumpet of Jesus" 3:46
2."Finish What You Started"Russ Taff, Tori Taff, M. Omartian4:05
3."I'd Rather Believe in You" 3:37
4."Any Good Time at All" 4:02
5."Be Still My Soul"R. Taff, T. Taff3:51
6."There's No Time Till You Take It" 4:09
7."Pieces" 4:06
8."Into My Life"Beeb Birtles4:42
9."Seek Ye First" 5:00

Personnel[edit]

The Imperials

  • Russ Taff – lead vocals
  • Jim Murray – tenor, vocals
  • David Will – baritone, vocals
  • Armond Morales – bass, vocals

Musicians

Production

  • Michael Omartian – producer, arrangements
  • John Guess – engineer, remixing
  • Ken Perry – mastering at Capitol Mastering (Hollywood, California)
  • Yvonne Garcia – production coordinator
  • Bob Anderson – layout, photography

Charts[edit]

Chart (1981) Peak
position
US Top Inspirational Albums (Billboard)[5] 1

Radio singles[edit]

Year Singles Peak positions
CCM AC[6] CCM CHR[7]
1981 "I'd Rather Believe in You" 3 5
1981 "Finish What You Started" 2 2
1981 "The Trumpet of Jesus" 1 1
1981 "Be Still My Soul 7 19

Accolades[edit]

Grammy Awards

Year Winner Category
1982 Priority Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational

GMA Dove Awards

  • 1982 Group of the Year
Year Winner Category
1982 Priority Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year
1982 Russ Taff (lead singer) Male Vocalist of the Year

References[edit]

  1. ^ The Imperials – Priority at AllMusic
  2. ^ The Imperials: One More Song for You. DaySpring Records. 1979.
  3. ^ "24th Annual Grammy Awards". February 24, 1982.
  4. ^ "Dove Awards Past Winners". Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  5. ^ "Inspirational LPs" (PDF). Billboard. March 21, 1981. p. 81.
  6. ^ Brothers, Jeffrey Lee, ed. (2003). CCM Hot Hits: AC Charts 1978 - 2001. AuthorHouse. p. 120. ISBN 1-4107-3294-0.
  7. ^ Brothers, Jeffrey Lee, ed. (1999). CCM Hot Hits: Christian Hit Radio - 20 Years of Charts, Artist Bios and More. CCM Books. p. 96. ISBN 0-8230-7718-7.
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