Baptism by the sea |
Freddie Piro had by this time contacted several large record companies. In an attempt to expose both Love Song's name and their message, the group was booked into the Troubadour in Hollywood Representatives from Atlantic and Columbia Records came from as far away as New York to see Love Song play. They were impressed not only by the music but by the lyrics as well, and these record executives were confronted with the truth of Jesus Christ, perhaps for the first time:
We're all gathered here Because we all believe If there's a doubter in the crowd We ask you not to leave Give a listen to His story Hear the message that we bring Feel the faith swell up inside you Lift your voice with us and sing Accept Him with your whole heart And use your own two hands With one reach out to Jesus And with the other, bring a friend |
What could be easier, more direct, more inviting? Love Song related Truth in simple, poetic lines, interwoven through beautiful melodies. And in the process of communicating that Truth, Love Song carried its audiences into the very presence of God.
Typical of the concert experiences which filled Love Song's schedule was a week long engagement at the University of Texas. "Probably one of the heaviest concerts we ever played happened during this week in Texas," recalls Chuck. "On the last day, we had a formal concert in the inside ballroom The music was incredibly anointed, and, at the close of the concert, I'll never forget what happened. We had ended the set with 'Jesus Is Standing Here,' and the Spirit was so thick and heavy that, when the tune was over, nobody could say anything for about a minute. That's really a long time to have total silence. It was so beautiful and so perfectly still that you could feel the presence of the Lord."
A change in personnel came in the summer of 1971, about a year and a half after the group had formed. John Mehler and Fred Field left Love Song and moved to Northern California where they formed a group called Noah. Naturally, without a drummer and a lead guitarist, adjustments had to be made within the structure of Love Song’s material.