December 2019 – Page 3

Amy Grant – A Christmas Album – 1983

Amy Grant did a few Christmas albums in the past, this one is from 1983.

Tracklist
1 – Tennessee Christmas – 4:33
2 – Hark! The Herald Angels Sing – 2:54
3 – Preiset Dem Konig! – 1:37
4 – Emmanuel – 2:52
5 – Little Town – 2:45
6 – Christmas Hymn – 2:38
7 – Love Has Come – 4:05
8 – Sleigh Ride – 3:34
9 – The Christmas Song – 3:46
10 – Heirlooms – 3:47
11 – A Mighty Fortress/Angels We Have Heard On High – 5:01

Credits
Acoustic Guitar – Dean Parks (tracks: A1)
Acoustic Guitar, Steel Guitar, Backing Vocals – Gary Chapman (tracks: A1)
Backing Vocals – Amy Grant (tracks: A1), Bill Champlin (tracks: A4, B1), Carmen Twillie (tracks: A4, B1), David Page (2) (tracks: A5), Debbie Hall (tracks: B2), Edie Lehman* (tracks: B2), Richard Page (tracks: A5), Sandy Hall* (tracks: B2), Steve George (tracks: A5), Tamara Champlin (tracks: A4, B1)
Bass – Mike Brignardello (tracks: A1, A2, A4, A5, B1 to B4)
Bells [Sleigh] – Paul Leim (tracks: A5, B2)
Choir – Hollywood Presbyterian Choir (tracks: A2, A6, B5)
Concertmaster – Gavyn Wright (tracks: A1, A5, A6, B1 to B5)
Directed By – Fred Bock (tracks: A2, A6, B5)
Drums – Paul Leim (tracks: A1, A2, A4, A5, B1, B3, B4)
Guitar – John Goin* (tracks: A1, A2, A4, A5, B1 to B4)
Horn – The Martyn Ford Orchestra (tracks: A2), Tom McAninch (tracks: A5, A6, B5)
Horns – The Nashville Contemporary Brass Quintet (tracks: A5, A6, B5)
Keyboards – Shane Keister (tracks: A1 to A5, B2)
Percussion – Farrell Morris (tracks: B1 to B3), Lenny Castro (tracks: A4), Victor Feldman (tracks: A2, A5, A6)
Percussion [Wood Blocks] – Paul Leim (tracks: B2)
Piano – Michael W. Smith (tracks: A2, A5, A6), Shane Keister (tracks: B1, B3, B4)
Producer – Brown Bannister
Shaker – Victor Feldman (tracks: A1)
Strings – The Martyn Ford Orchestra (tracks: A1, A2, A5, A6, B1 to B5)
Synthesizer – Michael W. Smith (tracks: A4, B1, B2)
Vocoder – Michael W. Smith (tracks: B4)
Woodwind – The Martyn Ford Orchestra (tracks: A2, A6, B4)

Sweet Comfort Band – Sweet Comfort – 1977

Sweet Comfort Band started out in 1973 and Maranatha! Records gave them their first recoird deal in 1977. The album was more Rock oriented than most of the Jesus Music of the time period. The Thomson brothers along with Bryan Duncan and Randy Thomas were on to a good thing. Even if you’re only familiar with their later work you’ll hear the same quartet song back here where it all started. The Maranatha! deal only lasted for this album (they fled the Rock & Roll CCM scene in terror) but Light Records stepped in for the next album. Again this is the one where it all started and it started well.

Tracklist
1 – It’s So Fine (Soul Tune Boogie) – 2:58
2 – Ryan’s Song – 4:05
3 – Childish Things – 2:42
4 – Let It Go – 2:26
5 – Your Life – 2:24
6 – Somebody Loves You – 2:56
7 – His Name Is Whispered – 3:11
8 – God’s Got A Plan – 3:08
9 – Get Ready – 3:01
10 – When I Was Alone – 3:37

Credits
Art Direction – Neal Buchanan
Bass – Kevin Thomson
Design [Album Design] – Greg Laurie
Drums – Rick Thomson
Engineer – Jack Joseph Puig, Jonathan David Brown
Graphics – Greg Laurie
Graphics [Logo] – Rick Griffin
Guitar – Randy Thomas
Horns, Arranged By – Glen Myerscough
Keyboards – Bryan Duncan
Organ – Martie Echito (tracks: A5, B1)
Percussion – Alex MacDougal (tracks: A2, B1, B4)
Photography By – Ray Westbrook
Producer – Jonathan David Brown, Tommy Coomes
Tenor Saxophone – Glen Myerscough
Trombone – Thurman Green
Trumpet – Allen Gregory
Violin – Bruce Hoag (tracks: B5)
Vocals – Bryan Duncan, Randy Thomas, Rick Thomson

Companies, etc.
Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Santa Maria
Copyright (c) – Maranatha! Music
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Maranatha! Music

Checo Tohomaso – Keep In Touch – 1985

Checo Tohomaso was a studio and touring musician for several R&B stars throughout the 70’s and 80’s. He has worked with the likes of Marvin Gaye, The Commodores, and Lionel Ritchie. He was in the band “Nova” who had a successful non gospel album in 1980. In 1985 Checo decided to release his own gospel album. Chico performed all the instruments on the album making it truly a solo effort. The album was well received and in his travels after putting out the album he ended up in Vancouver Canada for Expo 86. He continues his ministry in Vancouver Canada doing both music teaching as well as preaching the gospel.

Tracklist
1 – Come On Children,Let’s Praise The Lord – 3:35
2 – Magnify The Lord – 3:56
3 – If You Ask Anything – 3:46
4 – Love,Joy,Peace,Kindness – 2:40
5 – Keep In Touch – 4:50
6 – True Love – 3:58
7 – Sing Hallelujah,Praise The Lord – 3:02
8 – Psalm 121 – 4:21
9 – Don’t Let The Devil Rip You Off – 3:50
10 – Thank You Jesus,I’m Free – 3:00

Credits
Bass – Checo Tohomaso
Co-producer – Robert Benson
Engineer – Robert Benson
Lead Vocals – Checo Tohomaso
Percussion – Checo Tohomaso
Photography – Rob D’Estrubé
Piano – Checo Tohomaso
Producer – Checo Tohomaso
Synth – Checo Tohomaso

The Awakening – Sanctified – 1987

The Awakening were a group of lads from southern Ontario Canada. They came together in 84/85 and started doing some recording. In 1986 they set out to record a demo album later entitled “Two Worlds”. It was recorded in 16 tracks which was rare for a demo of that period by some unknown Canadian Christian band. The whole album was produced for $14,000. The boys went out and supported the album playing gigs where and when they could selling the demo album along the way. In early 1987 Reunion Records contacted the band with an interest in signing them. After a successful signing the band recorded two alternative tracks for the album but the other tracks were all just remixed from their demo. I believe that attests to the quality of that demo. This album is the result of all that work and it is an excellent New Wave/Pop album. This is another one I missed in the 80’s which is a pity because it is so good.

Tracklist
1 – You Can’t Hide – 4:06
2 – All You Need To Know – 3:33
3 – My Only Hope – 2:49
4 – Two Worlds – 5:04
5 – Distant Light – 4:09
6 – Turn Them Away – 3:28
7 – Fireside – 5:16
8 – The Only Way – 4:33
9 – The Forest – 5:32

Credits
Art Direction, Design – Heather Brown
Bass – Allan Powell
Co-producer – Glenn Koehler
Drums, Vocals – Mike Powell
Engineer – Andrew Horrocks, Lloyd Walker
Executive Producer – Dan Harrell, Jeff Moseley, Michael Blanton
Guitar, Vocals – Andrew Horrocks
Lead Vocals, Keyboards – Ian Tanner
Photography By – Deborah Samuel
Producer, Engineer – Richard J. Hutt

Pat Terry – Film At Eleven – 1983

Mark Heard produced this Pat Terry album, and if you like Mark’s own albums then you’ll probably like this one too. The harmonies and chorus work is very reminiscent of Mark’s Stop The Dominoes album.

Having said that, Pat Terry has his own contribution to the CCM genre here. He is a witty lyricist and a good musician.

Film At Eleven features a solid collection of songs that can stick with you, starting from catchy, quirky tunes like “Cats and Dogs” and “Yard Sale” to contemplative pieces like “Growing Up and Growing Old.”

Every song on this album is a thoughtful piece if you’re listening.

The style is a little more rock than what the typical country music sound was at the time, but a little less rock than the popular hits. I think this in-between status probably held this album back from broader success.

Pat is an accomplished songwriter, having had songs recorded by Mark Heard, Mylon Lefevre, The Oak Ridge Boys, Tanya Tucker, Kenny Chesney, Travis Tritt, B. J. Thomas and many others.

Pat released seven albums under “The Pat Terry Group” in the 1970s before doing three solo albums in the 1980s.

You can also hear Pat on the Mark Heard tribute album from 1993 “Strong Hand of Love.”

Still going strong, Pat’s most recent album was released in 2018.

Tracklist
1 – Cats And Dogs – 3:18
2 – Yard Sale – 4:20
3 – The World Around Us – 2:58
4 – Change Takes Time – 3:15
5 – In My Dream – 4:32
6 – Common Bond – 3:17
7 – Shadows – 5:12
8 – Growing Up And Growing Old – 3:52
9 – Christ Alone Will Wear The Crown – 4:40

Credits
Acoustic Guitar – Pat Terry
Backing Vocals – Mark Heard (tracks: A3,B2,B4)
Bass – Billy Batstone
Drums [And “Giant Hamster Cage Drums”] – John Mehler
Electric Guitar – Pat Terry
Engineer – Mark Heard
Engineer [Assisting] – Mike Ross, Wally Grant
Guitar – Mark Heard (tracks: B1)
Handclaps – Mark Heard, Pat Terry
Harmonica – Pat Terry
Mastered By – Steve Hall
Mixed By – Mark Heard
Musician [Assorted Techno-Musical Contributions] – Mark Heard
Organ [Hammond] – Carl Pickhardt (tracks: B1,B3)
Percussion – Harry Stinson
Piano – Pat Terry
Producer – Mark Heard, Pat Terry
Programmed By [E-mu Systems Emulator, Voice Programming And Arrangements For Emulator] – Tom Howard
Slide Guitar – Pat Terry
Snare [Marching] – John Mehler (tracks: B2)
Synthesizer [Korg Polysix] – Pat Terry
Vocals – Pat Terry

Companies, etc.
Record Company – Word, Inc.
Recorded At – Weddington Studios
Mixed At – Weddington Studios
Mastered At – Future Disc
Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co. – △25998
Copyright (c) – Word, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc.
Published By – Word Music (2)
Published By – Bug & Bear Music

Inner Lite – Rockin’ The Faith – 1986

This demo appears to be all we got from Inner Lite and I don’t really know much about them. It’s a standard heavy metal album with the quality of the band being pretty good. The production quality isn’t the best but that could be because of the source being a cassette. None of the band (or producer) went on to do anything more that I can find so this will go down as one of those late 80’s Heavy Metal projects that didn’t take off.

Tracklist
1 – Live Eternally
2 – Open Your Eyes
3 – Rockin’ The Faith
4 – Perfect Love

Credits
Bass, Backing Vocals – Dan “Z-Man” Castro
Drums – Chris Powers (7)
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Nick Powers (3), Shiro Nobunaga
Lead Vocals – Billy Birkholz
Producer – Randy W. Brewer

Stryken – First Strike – 1987

Stryken appeared in 1986 with a self released 12″ of Rock on/Surprise. They followed this up with this self released album in 1987. The band were originally called Stryker but changed their name for reasons unknown. The band was Dale Streiker (vocals, lead guitar), Stephen Strieker (vocals, rhythm guitar), Joey Knight (drums), and Ezekiel Vade (bass guitar) though these names were all apparently stage names. In 2006 the album was released on CD by Girder records with “Surprise” as a bonus track. In 2009 Girder Records in conjunction with Retroactive Records released a CD Collectors Edition with 10 bonus tracks. Personally I liked these bonus tracks more than I liked the original album. The original album was a decidedly heavy metal affair but the bonus tracks had a far more commercial metal sound. In 1987 the band was detained by police at a Mötley Crüe concert in San Antonio, Texas for causing a disturbance. Apparently they went to the front of the stage with a large wooden cross while clad in full body armor attempting to spread an evangelical message. They were released without charge. The lead singer of the band (Stephen Hopkins) went on to be a Pastor in Texas and fathered 16 children.

Tracklist
1 – Crush The Head Of Satan
2 – One Way
3 – The Answer
4 – State Of Emergency
5 – First Strike
6 – Rock On
7 – The Young Men Have A Vision
8 – Riot
2006 CD Bonus Track
9 – Surprise
2009 Collectors Edition Bonus Tracks
10 – Blitzkrieg
11 – Look Away
12 – I’m Alright
13 – Need Your Love
14 – Circus Man
15 – Right Of Way
16 – Cross The Line
17 – Played
18 – It’s Over

Credits
Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals – Ezekiel Vade
Drums [Thunder Drums], Backing Vocals – Joey Knight
Engineer – Kevin Myers
Producer – Stryken
Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards – Stephen Streiker
Vocals, Lead Guitar – Dale Streiker

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Third Coast Sound
Recorded At – Studio West, Austin, TX.
Recorded At – Studio D, Austin
Mixed At – Studio D, Austin

2nd Chapter of Acts – Hymns – 1986

In 1986 2nd Chapter of Acts did something a little different for CCM at the time. They released an album of hymns. The hymns were updated so we could enjoy the harmonies of the band. The album was well received and in fact well enough that a second album of hymns was released in 1988. The hymns were updated enough to include more modern instruments but not enough to change the basic structures of them. It sounds strange to say but this was actually a little daring to do in CCM music at the time but it all worked out and actually turned out to be a great idea.

Tracklist
1 – All Creatures Of Our God And King – 2:58
2 – My Jesus I Love Thee – 4:52
3 – Great Is Thy Faithfulness – 4:04
4 – Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee – 2:40
5 – Crown Him With Many Crowns – 3:46
6 – Take My Life And Let It Be (Nottingham) – 1:45
7 – Holy, Holy, Holy – 5:33
8 – Fairest Lord Jesus – 3:47
9 – O The Deep, Deep Love Of Jesus – 4:08
10 – How Great Thou Art – 5:22
11 – He Has Formed Me – 1:39

Credits
Arranged By [Instrumental Arrangements] – John Andrew Schreiner
Arranged By [Vocal Arrangements] – 2nd Chapter Of Acts
Art Direction, Concept By [Cover Concept] – Buddy Owens
Artwork [Back Cover] – Marty Justice
Artwork [Calligraphy] – Michael Stevens
Bass – Lee Jones
Design – Bradley Grose
Drums – Dennis Holt
Engineer – Greg Hunt
Guitar – Will McFarland (tracks: B2)
Keyboards – Schreiner*
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Photography By [Altered Polaroid Photographs By] – Michael Going
Producer, Engineer – Buck Herring

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Live Oak Records
Copyright (c) – Live Oak Records
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Made By – Discovery Systems
Recorded At – Easter Song Studios
Mixed At – Easter Song Studios