The Innocence Mission

The Innocence Mission is a band centered on the husband-and-wife songwriters Karen Peris (vocals, guitar, keyboards), and Don Peris (guitars, vocals). The original band, including Mike Bitts (bass) and Steve Brown (drums), was formed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in the early 1980s when the members met during a Catholic school production of "Godspell". Although all members of the band have contributed musically, Karen Peris does most of the group's writing.

Their debut EP, "Tending the Rose Garden", was released in 1986. The song "Trust" was a hit on Christian radio, while "Can't Anybody Stay Together" made the playlists on mainstream Adult Contemporary and CHR stations. Their eponymous debut album, released in 1989 (A&M Records), was produced by Larry Klein, then-husband of Joni Mitchell, and recorded in the couple’s basement recording studio. The album peaked on the "Billboard" charts at #167 in 1990, and the album’s second track, "Black Sheep Wall", released as a single in 1989, peaked at #22 on "Billboard"’s Modern Rock Tracks. The album’s fifth track, "Clear to You", was used on the soundtrack of the pilot episode of "Beverly Hills 90210". Klein also produced their 1991 follow up, "Umbrella".

Their third and final A&M album, "Glow", released in 1995 (A&M Records), Was produced by Dennis Herring, who had previously produced two records for Camper Van Beethoven. This album is a departure from Klein's heavier production style. Whereas the first two releases may have brought to mind The Sundays and The Cocteau Twins with their moody keyboards, Herring's lighter touch gave more emphasis to the group's guitar work and to Karen's vocals and lyrics.

"Glow" contains songs that appear on the soundtracks of the films "Empire Records" and "Dream for an Insomniac", as well as the television series "Party of Five". The album’s second track, "Bright as Yellow", peaked on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks at #33.

In 1999 the band recorded for a new label, Badman. Additionally, drummer Steve Brown left the band to pursue a career as a chef. On the subsequent album, "Birds of My Neighborhood", Brown played drums and brushes on "Snow," but otherwise the group became a trio. Now bereft of drums, their sound took an even more acoustic direction. Some songs featured just Don and Karen, and a few, such as "She May Turn Around", featured only Karen's voice and instrumentation.

The 2000 release of "Christ Is My Hope", featuring religious music that had inspired them over the years, was independently released on their own website. "Small Planes", released in 2001, featured outtakes from "Glow" and "Birds of My Neighborhood". "Befriended" was their next "proper" album, in 2003.

In 2004, the Innocence Mission released "Now the Day Is Over", a collection of lullabies. Except for "My Love Goes with You", all songs are cover versions, such as a stripped-down vocal and piano rendition of Henry Mancini's "Moon River". "We Walked in Song" was released in 2007.

Don Peris has recorded three solo albums, "Ten Silver Slide Trombones" in 2001, "Go When the Morning Shineth" in 2006, and an instrumental solo guitar Christmas album, "Brighter Visions Beam Afar", in 2007.

Discography

ingles

* 1989 "Black Sheep Wall" (#22 on US Modern Rock Tracks chart).
* 1989 "I Remember Me"
* 1989 "Wonder of Birds"
* 1991 "And Hiding Away"
* 1991 "Sorry and Glad Together"
* 1995 "Bright as Yellow"
* 1995 "Keeping Awake"
* 1995 "Everything's Different Now"
* 1999 "The Lakes of Canada"
* 2001 "Today"
* 2004 "One for Sorrow, Two for Joy"
* 2007 "Song from Holland" (available on iTunes)

External links

* [http://www.theinnocencemission.com Official Homepage]
* [http://www.imdiscog.com The Innocence Mission Discography 3.0] -- An Innocence Mission discography, news and fan site.
* [http://www.angelfire.com/indie/impryan/im.html The Innocence Mission: A fansite.]
* [http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/ourcourtyard The Innocence Mission's "Courtyard" (Fansite).]
* [http://www.donperis.com Official Homepage for Don Peris.]
* [http://www.lilysonmain.com Lily's On Main - Steve Brown's Restaurant in Lancaster, PA.]
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