Well here’s the 1983 offering from the Talbot brothers. It’s pretty standard fare for them but there is a highlight on this album. The title track actually has an Eagles feel and it sounds like something from back in their Mason Proffit days. It’s actually good enough for me to add it to my regular rotation. The music may be Eagles but the lyrics are typical of what you would expect form them. That said this may actually be one of their best tracks since the Mason Proffit days.
Tracklist 1 – No Longer Strangers – 4:08 2 – He Is Risen – 2:42 3 – We Will Rise – 4:07 4 – Silence – 3:34 5 – Nature And Grace – 3:30 6 – Holy Father – 3:37 7 – Isaiah 58 – 5:06 8 – Lady Poverty – 4:10 9 – Hear Us Oh Lord – 4:10 10 – Few Be The Lovers – 4:22
Credits Arranged By [Orchestra] – Lee Holdridge Bass – Abraham Laboriel Cover – Stan Evenson Design Cover [Coordination] – B. Charlyne Hinesley Drums – Bill Maxwell Engineer – Darrel Powell, Mike Ross-Trevor Executive-Producer – Billy Ray Hearn Guitar, Vocals, Co-producer, Arranged By [Vocals] – John Michael Talbot, Terry Talbot Mastered By – Ken Pennell, Steve Hall Orchestra – National Philharmonic Orchestra Of London Performer – National Philharmonic Orchestra Of London Photography By – Mark Hanauer Written-By – John Michael Talbot, Terry Talbot
Australian band, Glass Canoe’s one & only self-titled album was released by 2 different record labels – Australian label Nightlight Records in 1991 and South African label Transistor Music in 1992. The song order varies considerably, with the South African release (which we have uploaded) having 2 extra tracks – The Tempest and She Heals Me. Peter Beveridge, who is an artist in his own right, was at the production helm and it shows. Lead vocalist, Tony Williams, released his own self-titled EP back in 1987. Acoustic and electric guitarist, David Holmes, released his debut solo album, Taking Ground, in 1991. Bass guitarist, Andrew James, was one of the original members of Australian mainstream band Midnight Oil. Other band members were Phil Saddleton on drums, and Colin Webber on keyboard. Give this album a listen if you like the pub/club rock of bands like Priority Paid and Surprise. The album has some great rock anthems (Kingdom of Nothing) and rock ballads (She Heals Me). Recommended tracks: Violence of Love and Days of our Youth.
Tracklist 1 – Fierce – 4:03 2 – Violence Of Love – 3:40 3 – Days Of Our Youth – 3:44 4 – The Tempest – 3:21 5 – Fire – 4:18 6 – Dancing In The Teeth Of Catastrophe – 4:05 7 – Kingdom Of Nothing – 3:38 8 – Still The Night – 3:43 9 – World Gone Crazy – 3:36 10 – She Heals Me – 4:10 11 – Umbrella – 3:36 12 – Wayfarers – 4:38
Credits Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar – David Holmes Arranged By [Brass], Keyboards, Sequenced By – Colin Webber Bass Guitar – Andrew James Blues Harp – Jim Conway Co-producer – Glass Canoe Drums, Drum Programming – Phil Saddleton Engineer – Colin Webber Engineer, Mixed By – Guy Gray Harmony Vocals – Shauna Jensen Harmony Vocals, Saxophone, Flute, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Sequenced By, Arranged By – David Butts Keyboards, Sequenced By, Arranged By – Peter Beveridge Mandolin, Violin – Wayne Goodwin Mastered By – Don Bartley Producer – Peter Beveridge Written-By, Lead Vocals, Piano, Keyboards – Tony Williams
Companies, etc. Marketed By – Transistor Music Distributed By – Tusk Music Licensed From – Jewel Music (Australia) Pty. Limited Printed By – Interpak Recorded At – Nightlight Studios Recorded At – EMI Studios 301 Recorded At – Rich Studios Mastered At – EMI Studios 301
There are only two artists in the history of CCM that I wish would come out from hiding and release a new album. The first is Steve Taylor and i understand the whole “trying to make a movie” clap trap, but enough already! The second is David Edwards and I would prefer the latter to the former if I had to choose just one to release an album. Two rock efforts, a lullaby album and a collection of Christmas carols is simply not enough; especially when the artists is simply this amazing. The debut album will be discussed later. Here we will look at the sophomore release that suffered from no sophomore jinx. A little darker, more musically refined and chock full of pop music goodness, this album will go down as the greatest crime in CCM history. He should have been a rock star and this album should have made him a household name. Hell, there’s even a great wedding song and that always meant success in the early 80’s in CCM! Musically that album is a bit the Knack and a bit Billy Joel. More rock than new wave and more smart than quirky. Perhaps it was all those songs about “love” on the album that caused it’s doom; just like one sweet little lady told me when she wanted to return the album to the store I was working at by asking “what does love have to do with Jesus anyway?” Edwards walks the listener through the many feelings, struggles and circumstances that come about when love is either absent or twisted. “Anything But Love” describes how lust clouds the heart from seeing reality, while “Someone to Trust” pictured the opposite reality. It’s a great wedding and I should know, it was in mine! “The Feeling Part” addresses the mistake Christians make by not addressing the reality of romance and feelings in relationships, both with God and with one another. “How Could You Throw It All away?” should have made Edwards a star. sadly it just kicks off side 2 with a great reminder that love is worth holding on to. “Break the Big One” deals with the scar of abortion when sexual love is removed from its Biblical context of marriage. The album closes with two songs that, though not connected on the recording, are completely inseparable. “Girls Like You” expresses the anger of a broken heart and the vindictive feelings associated with being the “dumped.” Kind of like the losers version of Ben Fold’s “Song for the Dumped.” “Girls” is followed by possibly Edwards’ finest composition, “A Fools Condition.” The song recounts the story of a young (naive?) and sexually tempted boy who falls for and is captured by a dead and decaying woman who only possesses a beautiful outer appearance. Borrowing from the writings of George MacDonald (this wouldn’t be the last time), Edwards’ protagonist is consumed by the appearance and loses his soul as a result. Brilliantly conceived, wonderfully presented and utterly unforgettable. I went nearly two decades unable to listen to it until Edwards released the album himself on CD, and was singing along by the first line. This album is the definition of an AYSO!
Contributor – David Lowman https://ccms500bestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist 1 – Anything But Love – 3:43 2 – Someone To Trust – 3:09 3 – The Feeling Part – 4:55 4 – Watch Over Your Heart – 3:19 5 – How Could You Throw It All Away – 4:37 6 – Break The Big One – 3:38 7 – Put Me Down – 3:06 8 – All I Want – 3:10 9 – True Confession – 2:50 10 – Girls Like You – 2:18 11 – A Fool’s Condition – 5:17
Credits Acoustic Guitar – David Edwards Alto Saxophone – Irv Cox Arranged By, Programmed By [Synthesizer], Backing Vocals, Written By, Composed By – David Edwards Art Direction – Barbara LeVan Backing Vocals – Randy Stonehill, Suzan Curly Bass, Backing Vocals – John Trujillo Cello – John Walz Drums, Percussion – Rick Geragi Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Dan Jacob Marimba – Guy Shiffman Mastered By – Bernie Grundman Piano – David Edwards Producer, Keyboards, Arranged By, Programmed By [Synthesizer] – Barry M. Kaye Recorded By, Mixed By – Britt Bacon Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Alto Saxophone – Jay Leslie
Companies, etc. Phonographic Copyright – Word, Inc. Copyright – Word, Inc. Published By – Mountain Park Music Published By – Dayspring Music Recorded At – Skyline Recording Mixed At – Skyline Recording Mastered At – A&M Mastering Studios Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co. 25877
