I Predict 1990

I Predict 1990 is the title of the fourth release and third full-length album by singer-songwriter Steve Taylor. Lyrically, the album explores actions that exploit others to various ends from multiple perspectives. CCM magazine found that the overall theme is that the ends never justify the means.^[2] It was released as a one-off on Myrrh Records instead of Sparrow Records. Taylor has said that the album's title was meant as a parody of a Lester Sumrall TV program and book, I Predict 1986.^[3]

I Predict 1990
Studio album by Steve Taylor
Released	1987
Studio	Music Grinder Los Angeles, California Reelsound Bus Nashville, Tennessee Wayne Cook Studios Los Angeles, California CBS Studios London
Genre	Rock
Length	43:44
Label	Myrrh
Producer	The Beaufort Twins Dave Perkins and Steve Taylor
Steve Taylor chronology
On the Fritz (1985) I Predict 1990 (1987) Squint (1993)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
CCM Magazine	(not rated)[2]

Background

The cover was designed and painted by Taylor's wife, Debi. It was intended to resemble early 20th-century French poster art; however, some Christians felt that it resembled a tarot card, which sparked controversy. Additionally, one televangelist claimed that the image was of Taylor saluting Satan,^[4] and that it additionally contained secret messages and links to New Age philosophy.^[4] These accusations caused some Christian book stores to pull the album.^[5][6]

Per the album's credits, all songs were written by Steve Taylor, except "Babylon" by Taylor and Dave Perkins. The ending theme to "Jim Morrison's Grave" was "borrowed" from Claude Debussy; and the introduction to "Harder to Believe" was "stolen" from Sergei Rachmaninoff.^[7]

The song "I Blew Up the Clinic Real Good" proved controversial. The song's lyrics – a scathing critique of anti-abortion activists who in turn blow up abortion clinics or kill doctors – resulted in Christian bookstores pulling the album, either because the song's critique of the anti-abortion movement offended store owners and customers, or because these same individuals missed the song's satirical point, and believed Taylor advocated such violence. Taylor himself would occasionally call these stores to personally explain the song to them.^[8] Taylor's tour of Australia was canceled due to the controversy around "I Blew Up The Clinic Real Good", largely due to misunderstanding of its satire.^[4]

Disillusioned with the Christian music scene following these and other controversies during the course of his career, Taylor formed the secular alternative rock band Chagall Guevara shortly after the release of the album.^[9]

Track listing

1. "I Blew Up the Clinic Real Good" – 4:12
2. "What Is the Measure of Your Success?" – 4:39
3. "Since I Gave Up Hope I Feel a Lot Better" – 3:29
4. "Babylon" – 4:51
5. "Jim Morrison's Grave" – 4:29
6. "Svengali" – 4:30
7. "Jung and the Restless" – 4:32
8. "Innocence Lost" – 5:03
9. "A Principled Man" – 3:27
10. "Harder to Believe Than Not To" – 4:32

Personnel

Some Band

Steve Taylor – vocals and backup percussion

Dave Thrush – saxophones

Jeff Stone – guitar

Glen Holmen – bass

Jack Kelly – drums

Steve Goomas – keyboards

Gym Nicholson – guitar

Additional musicians

Dave Perkins – additional guitar on all songs except "Jim Morrison's Grave" and "Harder to Believe"

Greg Husted – assorted keyboard tracks and accordion

Papa John Creach – fiddle

Ashley Cleveland – vocal stylings on "Jim Morrison's Grave", "Svengali" and "Babylon"

Annie McCaig – backing vocals on "Success" and "A Principled Man"

Nathan East – bass on "Clinic"

Gary Lunn – bass on "Hope"

Lisa Cates – percussion

Mike Mead – more percussion

Mary Bates – operatic vocal on "Harder to Believe"

Jim Horn – tenor saxophone on "Clinic"

Ross Holmen – French horn

John Andrew Schreiner – synth bass on "Svengali"

Janet Croninger – "Jung" woman

Fred Travalena – "Jung" doctor

Del Newman – orchestration on "Harder to Believe Than Not To"

Production notes

The Beaufort Twins (Dave Perkins and Steve Taylor) – producers and engineers

Dave Perkins – producer, engineer, mixing

Steve Taylor – producer, mixing

David Schober – engineer

Malcolm Harper – engineer

Robert Wartinbee – assistant engineer

Michael Ross – engineer on "Harder To Believe"

Music Grinder, Los Angeles, California – recording location

Reelsound Bus, Nashville, Tennessee – recording location

Wayne Cook Studios, Los Angeles, California – recording location

CBS Studios, London – recording location

Reelsound truck, Austin, Texas (48 track) – mixing location

Bob Ludwig – mastering

Masterdisk, New York, New York – mastering location

• Dave Perkins and Steve Taylor are listed as producers as "The Beaufort Twins." A likely satire of the Mick Jagger & Keith Richards production/songwriting partnership billed as The Glimmer Twins. They got the name from the Blackadder TV show.^[3]