Lazarus (Lazarus album)

According to Peter Yarrow’s liner notes, Lazarus band members Bill, Gary and Carl attended a Peter, Paul and Mary concert in Abilene, Texas, after which they met Peter Yarrow and asked him to hear their tape.  They drove 20 minutes outside Abilene to a small farm house where, sitting on the floor with a single candle light, Bill, Gary and Carl played their tape for Peter.

“When I heard their music it was all clear, I knew the role I was to play in this movie… their songs just made me feel so good. When they sang of Jesus, I really didn’t know where to put it in my brain, so I put it in my heart and accepted their path for them – because they were more loving and more giving for it. When they sang simply about people being with people, they told me the story of their own search for some light.”

— Peter Yarrow, Lazarus album liner notes, August, 1971

Yarrow invited Bill, Gary and Carl to Woodstock, New York, where they lived in his cabin and worked on their self-titled Lazarus album over a period of two years, with Phil Ramone joining them.

Lazarus was one of the first releases on Albert Grossman's Bearsville record label.[4]

Milton Glaser, designer of the poster for Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits and covers for Peter, Paul and Mary albums, designed the Lazarus album cover.

All the songs on Lazarus were written by Billie Hughes, with the exception of "Listening House" and "Doncha Cry", written by Hughes with Gary Dye.

• Bill Hughes: vocals, guitar, violin
• Gary Dye: vocals, piano, organ
• Carl Keesee - vocals, bass

• Cover (Design): Milton Glaser
• Musical Director: Peter Yarrow
• Engineered, Mixed by Phil Ramone
• Photography: Benno Friedman
• Producer: Peter Yarrow, Phil Ramone[5]
• Liner Notes: Peter Yarrow
• Recorded at A&R Studios, New York City

In 1974, The Lettermen released "Eastward" as a single, reaching #16 on the Billboard US Adult Contemporary chart.[6]

Noel Paul Stookey performed Bill Hughes “Blessed” at his Carnegie Hall concert, the recording of which was released by Warner Bros. as "One Night Stand" in 1973.[7]

"Blessed" is included The Giant Book of Christian Sheet Music published by Alfred.[6]

Neal Vitale, The Tech wrote: "Lazarus comes off as one of the freshest, most pleasant albums released in quite awhile. Such cuts as the truly beautiful 'Looking Through,' 'Eastward,' and the hauntingly dark 'Rivers' all add up to an excellent first effort." [4]

Apple Music: "filled with gorgeous vocal harmonies and understated yet stirring acoustic instrumental work. Lead singer Bill Hughes’ high, pure tenor serves as a perfect vehicle for the yearning and reverence embodied in his lyrics." [8]