Month: April 2022

Erick Nelson – Picking Up The Pieces – 1980

Erick released this greatest hits package in 1980. It features his work as a solo artist as well as his work with band Good News and Michele Pillar. There is one fresh track on the album “Jesus Is Calling”. Of note on the album is his and Michelle’s cover of “LOve Hurts” that we usually identify as a Nazareth song though actually it was first releasd by the Everly Brothers. The following is the original source of the tracks;
1, 5 – Good News – Good News
2 – Various – Maranatha! 2
3, 6 – Erick Nelson – Flow River Flow
4 – The Maranatha Singers – The Praise Album
8, 9, 10 – Erick Nelson And Michele Pillar – The Misfit
11 – Various – Hosanna
Track 7 recorded for this compilation.

Tracklist
1 – Good News – Picking Up The Pieces
2 – Erick Nelson – He Lives
3 – Erick Nelson – Soldiers Of The Cross
4 – The Maranatha Singers – Set My Spirit Free
5 – Erick Nelson and Michele Pillar – Jimmy
6 – Erick Nelson – Flow River Flow
7 – Erick Nelson – Jesus Is Calling
8 – Erick Nelson and Michele Pillar – Martyr Song
9 – Erick Nelson and Michele Pillar – Love Hurts/He Gave Me Love
10 – Erick Nelson and Michele Pillar – The Misfit
11 – Erick Nelson – Fairest Lord Jesus

Credits
Artwork, Design – Neal Buchanan
Bass – Abraham Laboriel, Bill Batstone, Darrell Cook, Erick Nelson, Henry Davis, John Belles
Cover, Photography By – Gary Null
Drums – Bill Maxwell, David Diggs, John Mehler, John Raines, Keith Edwards, Mike Fickling
Electric Piano – Erick Nelson
Engineer – Bill Taylor, Buddy King, Chris Taylor, Dan Willard, Jonathan Brown, Marc Piscitelli
Guitar – Craig Stevens, Hadley Hockensmith, John Wickham, Randy Mitchell
Piano – Erick Nelson, Harlan Rogers
Producer – Erick Nelson, Good News, Harlan Rogers, Jonathan Brown, Lenny Roberts, Peter Jacobs, Tom Stipe, Tom Coomes
Vocals – Erick Nelson

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Recorded At – Buddy King Studios, Huntington Beach, CA
Recorded At – Larrabee Sound Studios
Recorded At – Maranatha! Studio
Recorded At – Mama Jo’s
Recorded At – Whitefield Studios
Remixed At – Maranatha! Studio
Copyright © – Maranatha! Music
Copyright © – Erick Nelson
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Maranatha! Music
Published By – Maranatha Music
Published By – House Of Bryant Publishing

Two Hearts – Stand Your Ground – 1992

Two Hearts are the husband and wife team of Michael Hodge and Carrie McDowell. Michael was a very talented studio musician and Carrie had released an album on Motown records in 1987 and actually had a top 40 hit with “Uh Uh, No, No Casual Sex”. Carrie next showed up in 1989 on a Maranatha! Music sampler with a fantastic cover version of Randy Stonehill’s “Shut De Do” which was the song that started my hunt to learn more about her. This is a solid pop album and Carrie handles most the vocal work and Michael mainly handles the guitar work but does supply some vocals. Definitely well worth a listen if you missed it back in the 90’s.

Tracklist
1 – Hold On Me – 4:03
2 – Celebrate New Life – 3:54
3 – Stand Your Ground – 4:06
4 – Holy Fire – 3:38
5 – Miracles – 3:33
6 – Promise Me Tonight – 4:40
7 – Are You Ready? – 3:29
8 – Heaven Help Me – 3:40
9 – Teach Me How – 3:25
10 – Heaven Help Me (Instrumental Mix) – 2:23

Credits
Art Direction – Buddy Jackson
Backing Vocals – Carrie Hodge, Cris Willis, Guy Penrod, Michael Hodge, Robert Street, Vicky Hampton, Yvonne Hodges
Bass, Drums, Keyboards – Brian Tankersley
Creative Director – Toni Thigpen
Design – L. Franke
Executive-Producer – Jeff Moseley
Guitar, Vocals – Michael Hodge
Keyboards [Additional] – Bo Cooper, Don Koch, John Andrew Schreiner, Michael James, Paul Mills, Phil Kristianson
Lead Vocals – Carrie Hodge
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Photography By – Mark Tucker
Producer – Brian Tankersley
Recorded By, Mixed By – Brian Tankersley

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Star Song
Copyright © – Star Song
Pressed By – Specialty Records Corporation
Designed At – Jackson Design
Produced For – GBT Music
Recorded At – GBT Studio
Recorded At – Quad Recording Studios
Recorded At – Reflections Studio, Nashville, TN
Recorded At – Allies Recording Studio
Mixed At – Mastermix
Mastered At – Mastermix

Avion – White Noise – 1986

Apart from his excellent vocal contribution (as well as some guitaring) on David Zaffiro’s Surrender Absolute (1992) album, from Randall Waller’s second solo album, Midnight Fire, onwards his focus changed from the Christian music market to the mainstream music world. This is clearly evident on Avion’s well-produced second and last studio album, White Noise, released on the mainstream EMI label. Forming in 1981, Avion was an Australian band that was beset with hardship and tragedy of one kind and another. Even though they had a few appearances on Australia’s national music show Countdown, Australian rock historian Ian MacFarlane states that they were ‘met with virtual indifference at home’ (Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop). The great singles the band released suffered from a lack of airplay. Apart from a loyal Sydney fan base, the band’s biggest supporters came from North America who appreciated the band’s melodic, American-influenced AOR. Band member and keyboardist, Evan Murray, died in a car accident in late ’87. The band called it a day soon after. The album contained the following 3 singles – We’ve Got Secrets (1985), Celebration (1986), and Berlin Wall (1987). Berlin Wall addresses the detrimental effect of the wall on the city’s residents that divided Berlin into East and West Berlin. The album has two relationship songs – Elle and Ships. Elle is about a couple where one member is pushing the relationship to the next level before the other member is ready for that level of commitment. Ships is about a song of unrequited love, using the saying ‘Ships passing in the night’ to great effect. One of my favourite tracks, Calm Before The Storm, has the strongest Christian connotations about heaven coming down to earth. The only change in personnel for this album was Paul Gannell who replaced Martyn Toole on guitar.

Contributor – Frank Axel Rasenberger

Tracklist
1 – Celebration – 4:05
2 – Berlin Wall – 3:35
3 – Elle – 3:56
4 – In My Mind – 3:33
5 – Ships – 4:45
6 – We’ve Got Secrets – 3:58
7 – Calm Before The Storm – 4:41
8 – The Next Big Thing – 3:24
9 – On & On – 4:50
10 – Never Too Late – 3:55

Credits
Bass, Backing Vocals – Kendall Waller
Drums, Backing Vocals – John Waller
Engineer – Peter Cobbin, Richard Lush
Engineer [Assisted By] – Tony Espie
Engineer [Assisted By], Mixed By [Assisted By] – Greg Henderson
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Paul Gannell
Lead Vocals, Guitar – Randall Waller
Mixed By – Clive Shakespeare, John Bee, Randall Waller, Spencer Lee
Piano, Synthesizer, Backing Vocals – Evan Murray
Producer – Clive Shakespeare), Peter Dawkins, Randall Waller
Producer, Engineer – Ross Cockle
Producer, Engineer, Mixed By – Peter Blyton
Producer, Mixed By – Avion

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – EMI Studios 301
Produced At – AAV
Engineered At – AAV
Mixed At – Albert Studios

Fletch Wiley – Nightwatch – 1981

I knew Fletch better as a producer than a performer. In fact I had no idea he had even released any albums until I stumbled on this one. While I absolutely love his work as a producer I’m not so excited with his performer role. It’s not that this album is bad it’s just that it’s not that good. I have seen this quite a few times when a producer tries to release their own album. That said the album is a little more easy listening than the cover would imply though the trumpet should have gave it away. The album has covers of both “Are You Ready?” by Pacific Gas & Electric and People Get Ready by The Impressions/Curtis Mayfield. Both covers are okay but nothing special. Of course after Darrell Mansfield covered People Get Ready all other covers pale in comparison.

Tracklist
1 – Fiesta – 6:30
2 – Are You Ready – 3:53
3 – Started Right – 4:01
4 – I Am That I Am – 3:51
5 – Nightwatch – 6:14
6 – People Get Ready – 4:30
7 – Joy Dance – 4:31
8 – On My Way Home – 5:53

Credits
Backing Vocals – Andrae Crouch, Charity McCrary, Howard McCrary, Linda McCrary, The McCrary’s
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – Bill Maxwell
Engineer – Brian Tankersley
Flugelhorn, Trumpet, Flute, Clavinet – Fletch Wiley
Guitar – Hadley Hockensmith, Jerry McPherson
Keyboards – Harlan Rogers, Larry Muhoberac
Mastered By – Greg Calbi
Mixed By – Brian Tankersley, Fletch Wiley
Percussion – Alex Acuña
Producer, Arranged By – Fletch Wiley
Synthesizer – Paul Mills

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Star Song Records
Record Company – Jubilee Communications, Inc.
Distributed By – Word Records

Koinonia – More Than A Feelin’ – 1983

This is the one that started it all for Koinonia. The band formed in 1980 and were probably one of the first Christian bands to play their particular fusion jazz style. While the band were somewhat popular in North America they were huge Scandinavia where their style of music was really well received. Personally I don’t care that much for the style but they do it well and I always appreciate well done music even if it’s not my style.

Tracklist
1 – More Than A Feelin’ – 5:29
2 – Rescue – 4:24
3 – Graceful – 4:32
4 – Cuando – 3:59
5 – Divina – 4:09
6 – Give Your Love – 5:29
7 – Valentine – 5:35
8 – Funky Bumpkins – 4:43
9 – On My Way Home – 5:31

Credits
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums, Percussion – Alex Acuña, Bill Maxwell
Engineer – Bill Schnee
Guitar – Dean Parks, Hadley Hockensmith
Keyboards – Harlan Rogers
Photography By – David Randle
Producer – Bill Schnee
Synthesizer – Michael Omartian
Vocals – Abraham Laboriel, Bill Maxwell, Harlan Rogers, Russ Taff
Woodwind – John Phillips (6), Justo Almario

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Key Of The Moment Music
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Breaker Records
Distributed By – MCA Distributing Corporation

Seawind – Seawind – 1980

This is the 4th studio album from Seawind and strangely enough their second self titled album. I’m a little unsure as to why they have 2 self titled albums. This occasionally happens when the first one was on a small label with limited distribution but their first album was on CTI records which was a pretty good sized label. Anyway that aside Bob and Pauline Wilson give us an excellent Funk album here. The Seawind Horns are featured of course though you may remember them better as the horn section for the Sweet Comfort Band albums of this era. I’ll be honest I’m not really the biggest fan of Bob and Pauline so I wasn’t expecting too much f this album. Boy was I wrong. This is a fantastic Funk album and while that’s not usually my style this one is so good I liked it anyway. So even if Funk isn’t your thing you should give this one a listen. A well done album in any style is always refreshing to hear.

Tracklist
1 – What Cha Doin’ – 4:35
2 – The Two Of Us – 3:49
3 – Love Him, Love Her – 3:26
4 – Everything Needs Love – 5:46
5 – Shout – 4:26
6 – Still In Love – 3:53
7 – Pra Vosé – 4:16
8 – I Need Your Love – 3:54
9 – Long, Long Time – 3:58

Credits
Arranged By [Horn Arrangements] – Seawind
Arranged By [String Arrangements] – Bill Reichenbach, Jerry Hey
Art Direction – Chuck Beeson
Bass – Ken Wild
Concertmaster – Sid Sharp
Drums, Percussion – Bob Wilson
Engineer – Tommy Vicari
Engineer [Assistant] – Erik Zobler
Guitar – Bud Nuanez
Illustration – Chris Hopkins, Willardson And White
Keyboards – Larry Williams
Management [Seawind Personal Management And Direction] – Barry Menes, Blue Johnson
Mastered By – Brian Gardner
Mixed By – Tommy Vicari
Mixed By [Assistant] – Wally Buck
Musician [Guest], Backing Vocals – Carl Carlwell, George Duke, Greg Walker, Josie James, Lynn Davis
Musician [Guest], Guitar – Roland Bautista
Musician [Guest], Keyboards – George Duke
Musician [Guest], Percussion – Airto, Paulinho DaCosta
Musician [Guest], Trombone – Bill Reichenbach
Musician [Guest], Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Jerry Hey
Musician [Guest], Woodwind – Gary Herbig
Other [Pauline’s Wardrobe By] – Shelley Kaleinanionalani Salzer
Producer – George Duke
Vocals, Backing Vocals – Pauline Wilson
Woodwind – Kim Hutchcroft

Companies, etc.
Produced For – George Duke Enterprises
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – A&M Records, Inc.
Copyright © – A&M Records, Inc.
Recorded At – Westlake Studios
Recorded At – Le Gonks West
Recorded At – Sound Labs, Hollywood
Recorded At – Sunset Sound
Recorded At – United Western Studios
Mixed At – Fantasy Studios
Mastered At – Allen Zentz Mastering
Published By – Seawind Music Inc.
Published By – Black Bandana
Published By – Brass Heart Music
Mastered At – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Santa Maria
Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Terre Haute

Pam Mark Hall – Never Fades Away – 1980

This was Pam’s third album and was a bit of a departure from her to previous style to the style we would more closely connect with her. It is a solid early 80’s pop offering though I will say I don’t think she was comfortable with the style as the album is just missing a little something. Of course later Pam would be a master of the pop style and have several successful albums. The album was produced by Fletch Wiley who was producing more worship oriented albums at the time so it was a bit of a new style for him too. Of note on the album Marty McCall helps with duet vocals on “Little Miss Much Afraid”. All in all a pretty good pop album but just missing a bit of edge but don’t be discouraged from listening to it.

Tracklist
1 – Gonna Love You – 2:47
2 – Strength To Be Weak – 4:16
3 – Your Book – 4:15
4 – Little Miss Much Afraid – 3:42
5 – Never Fades Away – 2:52
6 – Who Taught You The Game? – 3:30
7 – Two Worlds – 3:45
8 – Lord Of The Starfields – 4:20
9 – Burning In My Heart – 2:15
10 – If Ever – 3:59

Credits
Backing Vocals – Craig Smith
Bass – Roscoe Beck
Drums, Percussion – Keith Edwards
Engineer – Brian Tankersley
Guitar – Jerry McPherson
Keyboards – Larry Williams
Lead Vocals, Songwriter, Guitar – Pam Mark Hall
Percussion – Fig Newton
Producer, Arranged By – Fletch Wiley
Synthesizer, Engineer – Paul Mills
Tenor Saxophone – Bill Tillman
Vocals, Backing Vocals – Marty McCall

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Sparrow/Star Song Distribution
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Star Song Records
Copyright © – Star Song Records

Randall Waller – Oasis – 1978

Oasis is Randall Waller’s solo debut. It’s the first of two solo albums, released before the formation of Lionheart in 1981, the precursor band to Avion. Being an Australia-only release, the first Randall Waller album most people are familiar with is the outstanding ‘Midnight Fire’ album which was recorded in the US, and produced by the late Jon Linn (guitarist on albums by Larry Norman, Chuck Girard, Randy Stonehill, and Mark Heard). There’s a world of difference between the two. Oasis is mainly aimed for those who are already believers. It contains a numbers of Randall’s original worship songs – You Are The One, Just Can’t Explain, and Praise Song, to name a few. Oasis is a more laid-back, predominantly acoustic/soft rock project. The opening track, Friends In High Places, Storm In The Sky, and I Want You really appeal to the rocker in me, but they are the exception to the overall rule. Randall’s excellent guitaring in Friends In High Places reminds me of guitar greats, the late Gary Moore and Carlos Santana. Other album highlights are Randall’s good remakes of John Michael Talbot’s Would You Crucify Him and Phil Keaggy’s Things I Will Do. Well worth giving this a listen.

Tracklist
1 – Friends In High Places – 7:19
2 – You Are The One – 3:25
3 – Things I Will Do – 3:26
4 – Just Can’t Explain It – 2:15
5 – Would You Crucify Him – 4:48
6 – Foot Of The Mountain/Lord You’re Blowin’ My Mind – 6:01
7 – Storm In The Sky – 5:23
8 – What Must I Do – 2:33
9 – I Want You – 4:41
10 – Praise Song – 1:46

Credits
Alto Saxophone – Michael Houghton
Arranged By – Randall Waller
Bass – Roger Hanlon
Design – Ngaire Waller
Directed By – Steve Wyatt
Drums – Rob McMurry
Engineer – Chris Neal
Flute – Michael Houghton
Guitar – Randall Waller
Lead Vocals – Randall Waller
Piano – Steve Wyatt
Producer – Bob Goodfellow
Synthesizer – Chris Neal

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Airborne Studios

Imperials – Sail On – 1977

This album was the start of the Russ Taff era of the Imperials. I was going to say this this is was unarguably their most successful era but in retrospect they had so many era’s that I”m not sure I can say which is their most successful. I think my favourite era was the Paul Smith era but I think this was due to timing as opposed to quality. My actual only criticism of this album is the cover. I think they were going for the singers in a spotlight on a dark stage but instead it just came out all dark and boring. Not the best artwork in my opinion. The album was produced by Chris Christian who was just really coming into his own at this point and this is a very well produced album.

Tracklist
1 – Water Grave – 3:56
2 – Satisfaction Guaranteed – 3:50
3 – Gotta Watch, Gotta Pray – 3:08
4 – More Each Day – 3:28
5 – There Will Never Be Any Peace – 2:59
6 – Sail On – 3:30
7 – Keep On Walking – 2:52
8 – Sonlight – 3:03
9 – Bread On The Water – 3:08
10 – Try Again – 2:59

Credits
Lanny Avery – Engineer
Brown Bannister – Engineer, Bells
Peter Bordonali – Guitars
Jerry Carrigan – Drums
Annie Chapman – Songwriter
Steve Chapman – Songwriter
Chris Christian – Producer, Arranger, Songwriter, Keyboards, Guitars, Banjo
Steve Gibson – Guitars
Janny Grein – Songwriter
Bill Grine – Songwriter
James Hollihan – Songwriter
Archie Jordan – Arranger
Shane Keister – Keyboards
Kenny Malone – Drums
Armond Morales – Vocals
Farrell Morris – Percussion
Jim Murray – Songwriter, Vocals
Bobby Ogdin – Keyboards
Joe Osborn – Bass
Billy Puett – Horns
Eugene Record – Songwriter
Terry Robinson – Songwriter
Steve Schaeffer – Bass
Don Sheffield – Horns
Sheldon Kurland – Strings
Tim Sheppard – Songwriter
Buddy Skipper – Horns
Shanon Smith – Engineer
Denis Solee – Saxophone
Russ Taff – Songwriter, Vocals
Travis Turk – Engineer
D. Bergen White – Arranger
David Will – Vocals
Jack Williams – Bass
Bobby Wood – Keyboards
Reggie Young – Guitars

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Produced For – Home Sweet Home Productions
Recorded At – Gold Mine Studio
Mixed At – Gold Mine Studio
Mastered At – Masterfonics
Overdubbed At – Sound Stage Studios
Overdubbed At – Jack Clement Recording Studios
Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co.