The late 80’s provided the Christian metal scene some fantastic metal bands and this is one of them. Fronted by a female singer they stuck out a bit from the crowd and the fact that she was gorgeous certainly didn’t hamper the band either. Arsenal first appeared on a Regency Records sampler “East Coast Metal”. I am assuming they were well received so the album came about. Unfortunately this is all we got from them as it appears this was a one record deal. This band continues my complete bewilderment of the Christian Metal scene as obviously there was sufficient talent here to merit another album. That said I was not involved with this area of the Christian music scene so I don’t know what kind of sales numbers these albums were getting. Apparently there are demo’s pre and post this album and you can rest assured I’ll be looking for them. I understand that Christine is still strongly involved with music and recent pics of her show that she is every bit as beautiful now as she was when this album came out.
Tracklist 1 – Turn Around – 3:30 2 – Someone Believes In You – 3:38 3 – Armored Choir – 3:39 4 – Coming Back To You – 2:29 5 – Forever Yours – 3:44 6 – The Valley – 3:14 7 – You’re No Good For Me – 3:28 8 – Bishop Of Souls – 3:56 9 – Take It Away – 3:23 10 – The Candle… The Flame – 3:30
Credits Backing Vocals – Dale Tiemann, Doug Kirkland, Russ Kirkland Bass – Kandy Slaughter Cover – Jeff Spencer Drums – Dave Calliano Lead Guitar – J.D. Miller Lead Vocals – Christine Steel Producer, Engineer, Keyboards – Russ Kirkland
Companies, etc. Phonographic Copyright (p) – Regency Records Made By – Disctronics S Distributed By – Word (U.K.) Ltd Recorded At – Papa K’s Produced For – September Music Productions
This was the final album for The Pat Terry Group but Pat Terry would go on to record 3 rocking albums in the 80’s. It is said that Pat was becoming increasingly disillusioned with the CCM industry and felt it was getting too commercial and stifling his songwriting skills. Apparently he wanted to broaden his songs and slightly reduce the JPM content. So this caused the Pat Terry Group to dissolve? Considering he went on to record several solo albums this explanation of the break up makes no sense at all. Personally I think this had more to do with 2 things. First of all Pat wanted to get away from Newpax records and back to Myrrh. Secondly I think Pat thought the other members of the group were holding him back. It’s obvious he wanted to do more Rock & Roll and the 70’s sound the group was doing wasn’t where he wanted to go. Whatever the reason I think he made the right decision as his solo work is fantastic. That said this album was a good close out for the 70’s. It is a good album but was right at the end of it’s appropriate timeline.
Tracklist 1 – One More Try – 3:31 2 – All I Can Be – 3:38 3 – Faith Has Eyes – 2:32 4 – Everyday Man – 4:35 5 – Seen It Now – 3:44 6 – Bring Me To The Balance – 4:02 7 – I Got To Go Down – 4:00 8 – IRIS – 4:21 9 – So Many Reasons – 2:58 10 – The Heart Of His Will – 3:36
Credits Backing Vocals – Al Holley (tracks: B1) Bass Guitar – Randy Bugg Design [Logo] – Rip Carloss Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Marimba, Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Sonny Lallerstedt Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals – Pat Terry Keyboards [Acoustic and Electric] – Tonny Shannon Mastered By – Glenn Meadows Mixed By – Randy Bugg, Sonny Lallerstedt Narrator [Narration] – Randy Bugg (tracks: B1) Recorded By – Randy Bugg, Sonny Lallerstedt
Companies, etc. Recorded At – Twelve Oaks Studio Mixed At – Twelve Oaks Studio Mastered At – Masterfonics Distributed By – The Benson Company, Inc. Copyright (c) – NewPax Records Phonographic Copyright (p) – NewPax Records Designed At – Studio C
This was Bryn’s 3rd album but his first to be released in North America. It’s a rather typical 70’s Jesus music album but Bryn’s vocals do help it stand out. It’s no secret that Bryn is one of my favorite artists so I’m biased in saying this is a fantastic 70’s album. Quick point of trivia is that the Imperials provided some background harmonies which I find odd as this album was actually on A&M records and the Imperials were on Dayspring (Word). Generally speaking Christian labels and secular labels didn’t mix so well but it worked here.
Tracklist 1 – Come See What Love – 4:28 2 – Nothing Without You – 3:41 3 – Woman Friend – 3:00 4 – Moments – 3:00 5 – We’re All One – 4:13 6 – The Grand Arrival – 4:42 7 – Sing To The Lord – 3:42 8 – Full Day – 3:28 9 – Summer Wine – 4:28 10 – Beans On Toast – 4:43
Credits Backing Vocals – Don Everly Banjo – Courtney Johnson Bass – Jessie Boyce, Joe Osborn, John Cowan, Nick Rather, Tommy Cogbill Claves – Jerry Carrigan Drums – Buddy Harmon, Jerry Carrigan, Karl Himmel Engineer – Ronnie Light Guitar – Bill Sandford, Curtis Burch Guitar [High String, Gut String] – Harold Bradley Guitar [High String] – Ronny Light Guitar, Mandolin, Strings [Harpolek], Vocals – Bryn Haworth Keyboards – Bobby Woods, Ron Oates Mandolin – Sam Bush Percussion – Farrell Morris Piano – Bobby Woods, Hargus “Pig” Robbins Producer – Audie Ashworth Remix – Chris Kimsey Saxophone – Andrew Love, Billy Puett Steel Guitar – Buddy Emmons Strings – Shelley Curland Strings Trombone – Dennis Goode Trumpet – George Tidwell, Wayne Jackson Vocals – Halladay Sisters Vocals [Harmony] – The Imperials Written-By – Bryn Haworth
Companies, etc. Phonographic Copyright (p) – A&M Records Ltd. Produced For – Audigram Inc. Published By – Signalgrade Published By – Island Music Ltd. Recorded At – Crazy Mama’s Studios Remixed At – Olympic Studios Remixed At – Basing Street Studios
Q. Stone are an excellent Blues Rock band out of Finland. My first exposure to them was the 1989 Larry Norman album where they played as his backup band. This album actually has a rather odd release history. It was first released in 1988 in Europe and apparently sold well. It was then released in the United States in 1989 on Refuge Records. Apparently it did not sell well. Then in 2000 Larry Norman obtained the rights to the album and released the album on Solid Rock Records. Apparently it sold slightly better under this arrangement. My favourite track on the album actually features Larry, “Sweet Dreams’. I find it humorous that on Larry’s release of this album his track is the lead track but on other versions it is the 2nd track. Anyway, this is probably one of if not the best CCM Blues Rock album of the 80’s though lets be clear there wasn’t a lot of competition.
Tracklist 1 – Sweet Dreams – 3:56 2 – Open Door – 2:34 3 – High Winds – 4:40 4 – You Did It For Me – 5:35 5 – The Blue View – 4:38 6 – And I Wait – 4:35 7 – Give Me Something Else – 4:38 8 – Blues Man – 2:35 9 – Black Water – 2:49 10 – Behind The Bars – 4:32 11 – Tomorrow With You – 3:29 12 – Zack’s Blues – 1:24 13 – Dead Man At Dawn – 4:08
Credits Arranged By [Co-Arranged By] – Q-Stone Bass – Mikko Loytty Drums – Sakke Loytty Edited By, Mastered By – Tom Nunes Engineer – Benny Lundin, Cenneth Almgren, Heikki Silvennoinen Graphics – Wavelength Harmonica – Mikko Kuustonen Harmony Vocals – Larry Norman Keyboards – Harri Taittonen Lead Guitar – Heikki Silvennoinen Mixed By – Bosse Reimer, Larry Norman Producer, Arranged By – Larry Norman Vocals – Heikki Silvennoinen, Mikko Loytty, Larry Norman
Companies, etc. Distributed By – Phydeaux Records Copyright (c) – Phydeaux Records Recorded At – Royal Music Studio
Here is another example of the different presuppositions between this list and the previous blogs list for determining placement. Though significantly more important to the overall progression of the CCM market, the album does not fair as well when compared to multiple releases per artist and exclusive artistic achievement guidelines. That is not so say this is not a great record, God Forbid. This is ana amazing record and no serious collector should have it missing. “Winds of Heaven” is a lighter, sweeter, sometimes melancholy project that is punctuated with worship and promise. But ultimately it came down to impact and lasting impressions and nothing on “A Liturgy” (or too many other albums for that matter) can match what “Awesome God” has meant to a generation of believers despite being an overall stronger project. If the reader is only familiar with the classic worship tune then they are missing a truly great project. On this album Mullins would change how many people approach the Lord every Sunday morning all across the globe. What started out as a quickly penned worship song for a Youth gathering in Michigan became the single most often sung modern worship song in history. It was also listed as the Number One Christian song in history in CCM Magazine’s countdown of the greatest songs. Oddly enough the verse structure and content is nothing like any other worship song and, in fact, does not lend itself to corporate worship. But when the chorus kicks in there is nothing to compare it to. Memorable, large, boisterous, powerful and lasting. Generations later I am firmly convinced this chorus will still be a staple for God’s people in worship. “If I Stand” follows and may be the strongest song on the project. This song ultimately is about the recognition of man’s frailty and God’s loving compassion toward man. It is a story of reliance on the creator by that which is created. Mullins points to the ultimate relationship a man must have…greater than anything he can find on Earth. One other radio hit from the project is “Such a Thing as Glory.” A musical backdrop bordering on world music sets the stage for a lyrical expression devoted to recognizing the great work of Jesus. Other highlights from this album include “…and I Love You,” and “Home.” For those who may dismiss this album as a “one hit wonder” they have truly missed the heart of an artist that was just beginning to hit his stride. After two poorly received projects (though decent releases on their own), this project moved him into a whole new level of acceptance and the Church and music industry is the better for it. The only thing I have noticed in Mullins music is the lack of humor that he so often displayed in concert. In fact, I remember the first time I saw him was when he opened up for Steve Taylor and Amy Grant (seriously, they toured together). He sat down to polite applause and said; “Now, I know most of you don’t know who in the world I am…but, then again, I don’t know who you are either!” That broke the ice with the crowd and he then proceeded to perform a medley of songs he had written for other artist including Amy Grant’s “Sing Your Praise to the Lord.” That, for some reason, is etched in my memory as much as his memorable songs. He is missed.
Contributor David Lowman – https://ccms500bestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist 1 – The Other Side Of The World – 2:43 2 – With The Wonder – 4:25 3 – Awesome God – 3:03 4 – If I Stand – 3:39 5 – Home – 4:01 6 – Such A Thing As Glory – 2:41 7 – . . . And I Love You – 3:46 8 – Ready For The Storm – 3:37 9 – One True Love – 4:03 10 – How Can I Keep Myself From Singing – 3:51
Credits Alan Arnett – Background Vocals Reed Arvin – Producer, String Arrangements, Keyboards, Synclavier Jeff Balding – Additional Mix Janis Broughton – Background Vocals Heidi Brown – Background Vocals Fred Carpenter – Fiddle Susan Coker – Background Vocals Scott Coupland – Background Vocals Steve Cudworth – Songwriter Lyn Curley – Background Vocals Keith Edwards – Drums Jennifer Farrar – Background Vocals Jon Goin – Guitar Allison Gordley – Background Vocals Chris Harris – Background Vocals Paul Harris – Background Vocals Mark Heimermann – Background Vocals Terry Hemmings – Executive Producer Kim Hill – Background Vocals Bonnie Keen – Background Vocals Brent King – Mixed Wayne Kirkpatrick – Background Vocals Bryan Lenox – Background Vocals Lori Loving – Background Vocals Gary Lunn – Bass Pam Mark Hall – Background Vocals Dougie McClain – Songwriter David McCracken – Background Vocals Jerry McPherson – Guitar Marita Meinerts – Background Vocals Carmen Minard – Background Vocals Jeff Moseley – Executive Producer Rich Mullins – Songwriter, Vocals Craig Nelson – Acoustic Bass Pam Ourada – Background Vocals Rafael Padilla – Percussion Cynthia Ratliff – Background Vocals Mark Ratliff – Background Vocals Chris Rodriguez – Background Vocals Melinda Scruggs – Background Vocals Billy Simon – Background Vocals Michael W. Smith – Piano Billy Sprague – Background Vocals Melodie Tunney – Background Vocals Hank Williams – Mastered
Companies, etc. Phonographic Copyright (p) – Reunion Records, Inc. Copyright (c) – Reunion Records, Inc. Manufactured By – Uni Distribution Corp. Distributed By – Uni Distribution Corp. Recorded At – Goldmine Recording Studios Recorded At – OmniSound Studios Recorded At – Spence Manor Mixed At – Mastermix Mastered At – Mastermix Published By – Edward Grant, Inc. Published By – Limetree Publishing, Inc. Manufactured By – DADC Glass Mastered At – DADC – DIDX-010100
This is Pam’s 4th and most successful album. It continued the pop sound she adopted earlier in the decade as opposed to her folk sound in the 70’s. I believe this album was produced with the goal of hitting the CCM charts and in this aspect it succeeded with 3 singles. “Unexpected Places” made it to #11, What Can I Do to #15, and Jordan to #27. That’s a pretty successful album. As usual the singles are just a little too worship oriented for my liking but there are some very good pop tracks on this album and that’s what makes the album worth listening for me.
Tracklist 1 – This Is A Test – 3:19 2 – Jesus In The Street – 3:48 3 – Unexpected Places – 2:50 4 – Never Trade My Love – 4:13 5 – Keeper Of The Vision – 4:40 6 – What Can I Do – 3:30 7 – Jordan – 3:42 8 – Determined – 3:09 9 – The Longing – 4:24 10 – Love Conquers Everything – 3:45
Credits Acoustic Guitar – Craig Bickhardt (tracks: 5) Bass – Michael Rhodes Drums, Percussion – Harry Stinson Engineer – John Wiles Executive Producer – Dan Harrell, Michael Blanton Guitar – Kenny Greenberg Keyboards – Gary Primm Producer – Wendy Waldman Rhythm Guitar – Wendy Waldman (tracks: 9) Saxophone, Recorder – Jim Horn
Companies, etc. Phonographic Copyright (p) – Reunion Records Copyright (c) – Reunion Records Recorded At – Ten Thirty Studio, Nashville Mixed At – Georgetown Masters
This is a fun little EP by a band out of Hawaii and I think they may be the only CCM band I have heard of as being from Hawaii. Anyway it’s a self produced effort and it’s pretty good. Their pop sound is strong and aside from some weak lyrics on a few tracks I really think one of the labels should have picked them up for at least a one album deal. I really like Mariko Martinez’s keyboard work and for that reason alone it should have got a deal. Anyway, they didn’t and this is all we would get from them. So many good bands in the 80’s just never got the chance they deserved. Apparently the cassette version has 4 bonus live tracks but I have read that they are pretty poorly recorded so perhaps it’s best we don’t have that version. Give them a listen, you might be pleasantly surprised at this self produced effort.
Tracklist 1 – Red White And Blue – 4:44 2 – When The Lord Comes Back – 4:04 3 – Not Tough Enough – 4:08 4 – Life With The Lord – 5:04 5 – Power And Might – 3:12 6 – You’ve Got To Know – 5:56
Credits Bass, Vocals – Ronald P. Simmons Drums, Percussion – Bret Kik Keys Keyboards, Synthesizer, Vocals – Mariko Martinez Lead Guitar, Vocals – Robert Giverink Lead Vocals, Guitar – Doug Morris Lead Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards – Dave Chumchal Engineer, Producer – Randy Bluer
Companies, etc. Recorded At – Songwriters Dream Studios Manufactured By – Greenworld Distribution Marketed By – Greenworld Distribution
Metal done just right. The album starts out with a perfect 1984 hard rock anthem, “Rock The Flock.” Along with some melodic metal tunes like “Labor of Love” this album keeps the pace up all the way through. The band’s strong vocals, bold drumming and continuous guitar flourishes make a nice blend. This was the first of only two albums the band put out in the 80s. Although there was room for more, we got all there was of MPB.
Tracklist 1 – Rock the Flock – 3:36 2 – Labor of Love – 3:46 3 – Try to Understand – 4:44 4 – Travel the Rough Road – 4:08 5 – Why Must You Run – 5:34 6 – To the Rock – 3:55 7 – Answer Our Call – 5:21 8 – Riding Out the Storm – 4:50 9 – Sing – 7:09
Credits Charlie Clark – Songwriter, Lead Vocals Rob Clark – Rhythm & Lead Guitars, Vocals Dave Daubert – Drums, Vocals Dean Pellman – Songwriter, Bass, Vocals Andy Strauss – Songwriter, Lead Guitar, Vocals Cedric Winters – Engineer Jim Zimmerman – Producer
