Creeping Up on Jesus

Creeping Up on Jesus is the second studio album from Scottish pop band The Big Dish, which was released by Virgin in 22 August 1988.

The album spawned three singles; "European Rain" and "Faith Healer" were released in the United Kingdom, while "Life" was released in the United States. "European Rain" reached No. 78 in the UK Singles Chart in August 1988.

Background
In a 1988 interview with Record Mirror, Lindsay said of the album, "What's new about the stuff we're doing now is that it has a warmer, more direct feel to it. Swimmer was a bit too cold and distant... too over-produced. The new LP sounds more like a band effort."

Critical reception
On its release, Music & Media praised Creeping Up on Jesus for having "one of the best titles of the year", but felt the material was "too much of a pale imitation of their debut album to cause any great fuss". They recommended "Burn" and "European Rain", and described the band's sound as "a cross between Deacon Blue and Danny Wilson". Billboard noted the band's return "with a brace of folk-edged tunes at times reminiscent of Lloyd Cole."

Barry Young of The Press and Journal considered the album to contain "a series of thoughtful, gentle and appealing tracks, none of which would be out of place in the singles chart". He added, "Light and airy, without being shallow. Music to drive through the country by." George Bryne of the Irish Independent praised the album for being "chock-full of highly-melodic hooks and memorable choruses" which "improves on the seamless pop of their debut".

Scott Benarde of The Palm Beach Post wrote, "Lindsday is a talented writer and arranger. His songs sound like triumphant declarations and hopeful prayers. The songs on the band's second release play like cool, refreshing breezes against sweat-soaked skin." Paul Wagner of the Santa Cruz Sentinel commented, "Scottish pop offering mid-tempo rhythms, clear lyrics, lots of songwriting craft, but an as-yet-undistinguished sound and feel."

In a retrospective review, Richard Foss of AllMusic considered the album's material to contain "some good, catchy, intelligent songs here", but felt they were "buried under several layers of studio gloss", with Lindsay's vocals "competing with too much atmosphere". He added, "A few tracks succeed through sheer gifted songcraft and heartfelt performances, but only enough to show that this good band could have been great."

Personnel
The Big Dish
 * Steven Lindsay – vocals, guitars
 * Brian McFie – guitars
 * Raymond Docherty – bass

Additional musicians
 * Craig Armstrong, Paul Wickens, Michael Montes – keyboards
 * Blair Cunningham, Charlie Morgan – drums
 * John Thirkell, Gary Barnacle, Pete Thoms – horns

Production
 * Bruce Lampcov – producer (tracks 1-8), engineer (tracks 1-8)
 * Paul Wickens – producer (tracks 9-10), engineer (tracks 9-10)
 * The Big Dish – producer (track 2)
 * Kenny MacDonald – engineer (track 2)
 * Pete Jones, Lance Phillips, Jeremy Wheatley – assistant engineers

Other
 * Gary Wathen – art direction
 * VIVID I.D. – design
 * Ewan Fraser – photography
 * Walker Evans – original church photography