Salvation Air Force – Strangers In A Strange Land – 1977

Wikipedia described Salvation Air Force as “Canada’s first Christian rock band”. Well as a Canadian I had never heard of them so my research started. Looking at their history I guess they were a little before my time as I was only 11 years old when this album came out. The band consisted of Michael and Donnie Gossett along with some of the biggest names in Christian music of the time. Unfortunately Michael has now passed but I have spoken at length with Donnie and consider him a friend. He informed me that brothers Alex and Beau MacDougall were instrumental ib the band (see what I did there). Alex was also a member of CCM bands The Way, Daniel Amos, The Randy Stonehill Band, and The Larry Norman Band. Alex continues working on CCM music to this day producing and engineering albums. Beau was a member of Wing & A Prayer, Horizon, The Larry Norman Band, Cliff Richard’s band, Reba Rambo’s band and many other CCM bands. Donnie Gossett has also performed live with Danniebelle, The Imperials, Reba Rambo, Don Moen, Ron Kenoly and continues making music today, you can find his albums on the Interwebs, check them out. All in all reading the credits of this album is like a reading of CCM royalty if there ever was. As for the album it has an easy listening feel but I have been assured the band had a much harder rock sound in the day. Give this album a listen and you will be hearing a piece of CCM history and a very important piece if Canadian CCM history.

Tracklist
1 – I Can Feel His Presence – 2:33
2 – Complete And Alive – 2:45
3 – Don’t Make Me Choose – 5:27
4 – If God Is My Father – 6:25
5 – You’re All I Want – 4:39
6 – It’s Jesus In Me – 4:25
7 – Special Friend – 3:01
8 – You Have Blessed Me – 2:33
9 – Accident – 4:22

Credits
Dana Angle – Producer, Assistant Engineer, Guitars, Background Vocals
Dave Coy – Bass
Sandra Crouch – Background Vocals
Joy Strange Cull – Background Vocals
Mike Escalante – Keyboards
Christine Franklin – Background Vocals
Joe Gallo – Background Vocals
Donnie Gossett – Producer, Songwriter, Arrangements, Guitars, Piano, Vocals
Judy Gossett – Arrangements, Percussion, Vocals
Michael Leon Gossett – Producer, Songwriter, Bass, Vocals
Bruce Herring – Background Vocals
Tom Howard – Keyboards
Peter Johnson – Drums
Buddy King – Engineer, Mixed
Alex MacDougall – Drums, Percussion
Larry Norman – Producer, Songwriter, Arrangements, Background Vocals
John Pantano – Guitar
Al Perkins – Pedal Steel Guitar
Nancye Short – Background Vocals
Jim Stipech – String Arrangements, Conductor
Randy Stonehill – Guitars

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Author: Ray Mansfield

One of the founding cowboys of Real 80s CCM. Been listening to this stuff since 1978.

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