February 2023 – Real 80s CCM

Glen Allen Green – Down This Avenue – 1987

Strangely I couldn’t find much info on Glen. He was a songwriter in the early 80’s and wrote some stuff we’ve all heard. He wrote “We Are The Light” by Servant, “Run” by Steve Archer, and “Take The Cross” by Joe English among others. This is actually his second album and again Chris Christian was the executive producer and it was on Chris’s label Home Sweet Home Records. Glen’s first album was full of big names but this one seemed a little more reserved with Glen handling most of the instruments except the guitar and bass tracks. As for the album it’s a fun Pop oriented album and is quite fun to listen to. You may have missed this one in the 80’s so I would suggest you listen to it now.

Tracklist
1 – Love Is Waiting Here – 5:23
2 – Down This Avenue – 4:32
3 – Living For Babylon – 5:05
4 – Eternity – 4:55
5 – Look Up – 4:15
6 – Turn Up The Music – 4:03
7 – A Million Miles Away – 4:54
8 – Out West – 5:15
9 – Famine Of The Heart – 4:45
10 – Not In The Grave – 4:36

Credits
Art Direction, Design – Rod Brown Design
Backing Vocals – Christopher Davis, Grant Cunningham
Bass [Additional Arrangements] – Matt Pearson
Engineer, Drum Programming – Kent Davis
Executive-Producer – Chris Christian
Guitar – Jerry McPherson
Producer, Arranged By, Keyboards, Drum Programming, Backing Vocals – Glen Allen Green

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Home Sweet Home Records, Inc.
Copyright © – Home Sweet Home Records, Inc.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Recorded At – Gold Mine Studio East
Recorded At – Big Planet Studios
Mixed At – Big Planet Studios
Mastered At – Future Disc

Surprise – Reformation – 1990

Reformation is the excellent sophomore studio album by Sydney band Surprise (previously known as Surprise Surprise), released by American record label, Refuge Records. The band was locally managed by David Smallbone who is the father of renowned CCM artist, Rebecca St. James. Out of all the 80s Australian bands I have reviewed so far, this is one of my favourite music finds. In preparing for this review I’ve listened to this album several times, and I still love it. The band’s music style is best described as ‘eclectic’ – ranging from rockabilly (‘Into The Light’), pop, rock, shock rock (‘Jack The Ripper?’), alternative, and even some hard rock/metal. What keeps things interesting is that the band has a male (Alexander MacDonald) and female vocalist (Lisa Parsons). The band are not as direct or in your face when it comes to sharing their Christian faith & worldview as other bands, and yet they share it in creative and sometimes witty/humorous ways. For example, in one of my favourite songs, ‘The Sixty-Six’, when referring to the canon of the Bible, the lyrics are:
I know 66 reasons for all these feelings inside my head.
I’ve seen 39 old ones full of bold ones and what You said.
Be still and know I am God…
I know that 27 speak of heaven, and that You bled.

Another great lyric is: No condemnation in the Him of Hymns, when life ends is when it all begins.

Another highlight are the guest vocals provided by In The Silence’s John Dickson on the track ‘Destroy all Monsters/Carnival Freakout/Onward’ (the ‘Onward’ part of the song is the band’s great remake of the classic hymn ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’).

The 13th track which is a bonus song contains the lyric:
I believe in the canon.
I believe in three-in-one.
I believe in the sixty-six, and the Virgin’s holy Son.

I’m looking forward to giving the band’s debut album, Fish!!!, on Refuge Records another listen.

Contributor – Frank Axel Rasenberger

Tracklist
1 – A-Z – 2:31
2 – Living Is Easy – 3:23
3 – Madder Than Me – 3:58
4 – Destroy All Monsters/Carnival Freakout/Onward – 3:35
5 – Into the Light – 2:32
6 – Jack the Ripper? – 2:29
7 – Slash’n’Burn – 2:41
8 – Voice Inside – 3:15
9 – Victim of Love – 1:50
10 – Look Inside Your Heart – 3:15
11 – The Sixty-Six – 2:15
12 – Come Back Today – 2:58
13 – I Believe (Bonus Track) – 3:03

Credits
Backing Vocals – Allan Dowthwaite, David Welch, Malcolm Kiely
Bass – Malcolm Kiely
Drums – Allan Dowthwaite
Engineer – Dave Simpfendorfer
Guitar – Alexander MacDonald
Keyboards – David Welch
Mixed By – Jeff Todd
Producer – Dave Simpfendorfer, Surprise
Vocals – Alexander MacDonald, Lisa Parsons

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Windwood Studios

Michael W. Smith – Friends Tour Concert – 1985

Recorded live at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA for Michael W. Smith’s 1985 Friends Tour featuring Gary Chapman, Amy Grant and Kathy Triccoli

Tracklist
0:00 – Intro
2:23 – I’m Up
5:32 – Restless Heart
10:13 – Nothin’ But The Blood
13:11 – Could He Be The Messiah
18:25 – Love In The Light
25:27 – A Way with Gary Chapman
29:54 – Wings Of The Wind
35:12 – Psalm 139
38:55 – Thy Word
41:57 – Friends with Amy Grant
45:58 – Find A Way with Amy Grant and Gary Chapman
50:21 – I Know
55:09 – Musical Instruments
57:33 – Sonata in D Major
58:09 – Emmanuel
1:01:50 – Be Strong And Courageous
1:05:30 – You Need A Saviour
1:10:29 – The Race Is On

Credits
Cameraman – Danny Ross, Larry Boothby, Mark Sedgwick, Mark Van Loon, Peter Petro, Ron Kirk
Coordinator [Production] – Debbie Pfaelzer
Crew [Driver] – Dan Dalton, David Alvey, Dennis Mallatt, Glenn Morris
Crew [Maintenance] – Kevin Ossenfort
Crew [Production Assistant] – Denise Smith
Crew [Road Manager] – Jeff Durham
Directed By [Technical Director] – Joe Askins
Directed By [Tour Director] – Malcom Greenwood
Engineer [Audio Assistant] – Michael Figlio, Jr., Mike Copeland
Engineer [In-Charge] – Mike Arnold
Engineer [Remote], Crew [Remote Supervisor] – Dan Crouch
Engineer [Videotape] – Elaine Eliah, Gary Conn, Mike Copeland
Executive-Producer – Dan Harrell, Kitty Moon, Michael Blanton
Film Director – Marc W. Ball
Film Director [Assistant] – Ralph Walker, Jr.
Film Editor – Joe Askins, Larry Boothby, Ralph Walker, Jr., Terry Dull
Film Producer – Kitty Moon
Grip – Melissa Tolle, Melvin Glaize, Michael Moore
Grip [Key] – Steve Beeson
Lighting – Eric Shafferman, Ken Rumgay
Management – Blanton/Harrell, Inc., Dan Harrell, Michael Blanton
Mixed By [Monitor] – Stan Horne
Mixed By [Tour Sound Mix] – Bob Weibel
Performer – Chris Harris, Chris Rodrigues, David Huff, Ed Smartt, Mark Heimerman, Michael W. Smith, Wayne Kirkpatrick
Production Manager [Assistant] – Nyle Wood
Production Manager, Stage Manager – James Taylor
Recorded By, Mixed By – Nick Palladino
Technician [Instrument] – Chris Boland

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Reunion Records
Copyright © – Scene Three, Inc.

Legacy – Legacy – 1988

This may actually be the best Metal band that never got a record deal. Hear me out on this one. They appeared on two Metal compilations, Heavy Righteous Metal,Chapter II and Brave New Music. They opened for Rez Band, Shout, Sacred Warrior, Mylon LeFevre and Allies. They also took second place in the new talent stage at Cornerstone 1989 and won the battle of the bands competition at metal club Alrosa Villa in the winter of 1989. These guys were hugely popular yet a record deal evaded them. They recorded 14 tracks for this demo but only 6 tracks made it and of course it’s almost impossible to find this demo now. That said Eonian Records stepped up in 2010 released all 14 demo tracks on CD. It took 20 years but the guys finally got their music out there.

Tracklist
1 – Salvation Is Law – 4:44
2 – Live It – 4:04
3 – Don’t Run Away – 3:13
4 – Change Of A Broken Heart – 2:54
5 – You Need Love – 4:22
6 – Red, White, And Blue – 5:57

Credits
Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals – John D. Rice
Drums, Percussion [Other Rude Noises] – “Jungle” John Jenkins
Engineer, Producer – Brian Strittenberger
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Fred Blanchard, Matt Rice
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Doug Meacham
Piano, Keyboards – Jeff Koenig

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – The Recording Workshop Studio

Jamie Owens-Collins – Love Eyes – 1978

Jamie Owens-Collins is the daughter of Jimmy and Carol Owens who were pioneers in the CCM movement and some of the first people to bring CCM music into the Church. Jamie had been on several of their children’s albums and this is her first solo album. So we know she had a good head start and the results of this album show that she was ready for the industry. It had 2 singles with the first being “Love Eyes” which made it to #6. “Pleasure Servin’ You” also singled peaking at #13. Pretty good for your first album. It should also be noted that her husband is Dan Collins who was also well known in the CCM industry having appeared on several “The Maranatha Singers” albums.

Tracklist
1 – Love Eyes – 3:42
2 – Daniel – 2:59
3 – Radio Man – 4:07
4 – Hidden Treasure – 2:25
5 – It’s Been Quite A Year – 3:27
6 – Pleasure Servin’ You – 2:50
7 – Only You – 2:32
8 – New Day – 3:35
9 – Waters Of Rest – 2:28
10 – Mighty River – 3:19

Credits
Acoustic Guitar – Al Perkins, Art Munson
Arranged By [Strings], Conductor – Jimmy Owens
Backing Vocals – Dan Collins, Jamie Owens-Collins, Terry Talbot, Tim Archer
Bass – Dennis Kovarik, Jim Fielder
Concertmaster – Sid Sharp
Drums – David Kemper
Electric Guitar – Al Perkins, Art Munson, Rick Vito, Steve Steffy, Tim May
Engineer – Jack Puig, Wally Duguid
Engineer [Assistant] – Greg Thompson
Graphics – Carthy Lamb
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Organ – Richard Souther
Percussion – Steve Forman
Photography By [Back Cover] – Dan Collins
Photography By [Front Cover] – Ron Anderson
Piano – John Hobbs, Pete Hallin, Richard Souther
Producer – Dan Collins
Resonator Guitar [Dobtro], Steel Guitar – Al Perkins
Synthesizer – Richard Souther

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Lexicon Music, Inc.
Copyright © – Lexicon Music, Inc.
Recorded At – Martinsound
Recorded At – Sound Castle Recorders, Los Angeles
Mastered At – A&M Mastering Studios

Hope Of Glory – Second Look – 1977

I really cant find much info on this band which is surprising as they had 5 albums. So I’m left to talk about the album. It’s a seventies sound album that leans worship in some spots and country in others. The jacket brags that Bob Farrell arranged 2 of the tracks which I found rather odd as these guys should have been able to stand on their own reputation by album number 4. Anyway of you like the seventies give this one a listen.

1 – Lifesaver – 3:03
2 – Walkin’ – 2:51
3 – Lost And Found – 5:23
4 – Kiss Of Life – 2:08
5 – Tell My People – 5:02
6 – Hope Song – 3:21
7 – Someone Chased Away The Rain – 4:11
8 – Only Jesus – 5:08
9 – Homespun Harmony – 3:08
10 – Here I Am – 5:14

Chryztyne – Tales Of Paradise – 1993

This appears to be the only album for this German metal band Chryztyne. There isn’t much info out there on the band but we do know that vocalist Frank Schepp was previously in the band Saint Attack. The album isn’t overtly Christian but instead leans towards Christian experiences but to be sure they were a Christian band on a Christian label. As for the album it’s a rather typical metal album for the period and I would rank it slightly above average. It’s relatively well produced but the mix feels a little off to me. The album was only released in Germany, Brazil, and Russia so there’s a good chance you’ve never heard this one. Apparently there was a music video for “Born In The Fire” but I couldn’t find a copy of it anywhere. So if you’re a Christian metal head here’s one you probably haven’t heard and for that reason alone you should give it a listen.

Tracklist
1 – For Me – 4:08
2 – Tell Me Why – 3:50
3 – Danger – 3:45
4 – Remember You – 4:16
5 – Mama Doesn’t Know – 5:00
6 – Stay With Me – 3:55
7 – All That You’ve Got – 4:29
8 – All Day All Night – 3:56
9 – Never – 3:03
10 – Born In The Fire – 3:34
11 – In The Darkness Of The Night – 3:19

Credits
Backing Vocals – Chrissi Rokitte, Isabel Wüst, Sascha Lien
Bass [All Bass Tracks Played By] – Marcus Lafferton
Design Concept [Cover Concept] – Andi Reusch, Chryztyne
Drum Programming [Percussion Programming] – Achim Köhler, Tommy Claus
Drums – Lars Nippa
Guitar – Mathias Loris
Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Thomas Kessel
Layout [Lay-Art (Except] – Jörg Steinmetz
Performer [Bass Player] – Hans-Martin Kaufmann
Photography By [Cover Photo], Layout – Atelier Braun
Photography By [Inlay Photos] – Andreas Dalferth, Brigitte Gonzalez
Vocals, Backing Vocals – Frank Schepp

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Pila Music GmbH
Copyright © – Pila Music GmbH

Leon Patillo – I’ll Never Stop Lovin’ You – 1982

This is Leon’s 4th album and one of his most successful. It spawned the #1 hit “Cornerstone” which was at #1 for a couple months. It also had a #15 hit “John 3:17”. The album was very well recorded but personally I found it a little dull. I know that Leon’s music isn’t my preferred genre but I actually liked some of his other albums. This one is way way easy listening. Personally I love his funk keyboard sound that I heard on other albums. That said this was one of the top CCM albums of 1982 and deserves to be listened to for that reason alone.

Tracklist
1 – John 3:17 – 4:40
2 – Cornerstone – 4:11
3 – Praise Ye The Lord – 4:31
4 – Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord – 4:23
5 – I Surrender – 4:52
6 – I’ll Never Stop Lovin’ You – 4:17
7 – Rise And Be Healed – 4:13
8 – Saved – 4:32
9 – River – 5:08

Credits
Arranged By [String Arrangements] – Herb Jimmerson
Bass – Freddie Washington
Congas, Bongos, Percussion – Ricky Heath
Design – Dennis Hill
Engineer [Assistant] – Biff Vincent
Engineer, Mixed By – Skip Konte
Lead Vocals, Arranged By, Piano, Organ, Synthesizer – Leon Patillo
Mastered By – Rick Donaldson
Photography – Alan Bergman
Producer – Leon Patillo, Skip Konte
Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Paul Jackson, Jr.

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co.
Recorded At – Front Page Studio, Costa Mesa, CA
Mastered At – International Automated Media

Albrecht, Roley & Moore – Starlighter – 1978

AR&M are back with their second album on the new label Spirit and with a Sparrow records distribution deal. Everything was looking up for this album. The band/label put together a killer studio band for the guys and even got Bonnie Bramlett in to sing backup on the song “Carry It On”. The album got the guys their first and only CCM chart single with “Eyes On The Clouds” coming in at #22. The album is definitely a step up from their first album. It has a more Rock feel but don’t be expecting a 70’s rocker, that’s not what these guys did but they did get a few rock riffs onto this album.

Tracklist
1 – Questioning Heart – 2:18
2 – Carry It On – 3:39
3 – Chasin’ The Rain – 3:26
4 – Song Of The Starlighter – 2:56
5 – Eyes On The Clouds – 3:36
6 – Holiday Son – 3:43
7 – One To One – 3:22
8 – Rise Complete My Maiden – 2:46
9 – You Are My Life – 2:43
10 – Benediction – 1:11

Credits
Acoustic Guitar – Bobby Thompson, John Goin, Mike Albrecht, Scott Roley
Backing Vocals – Bonnie Bramlett
Bass – Jack Williams, Joe Osborn, Tommy Cogbill
Bass, Acoustic Guitar – Alan Moore
Design – Lynn Robb, Stan Evenson
Drums – Kenny Malone, Larry Landin
Electric Guitar – Steve Gibson
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – John W. Thompson
Electric Guitar, Mandolin – Pete Bordonali
Engineer – Jim Cotton, Pat Holt
Photography By – Bill Grine
Producer, Arranged By – John W. Thompson
Producer, Arranged By, Keyboards – Shane Keister
Strings – The Shelly Kurland Strings

Companies, etc.
Record Company – Spirit Records Inc.
Distributed By – Sparrow Records, Inc.
Produced For – White Knuckles Productions
Manufactured By – Sparrow Records, Inc.
Copyright © – Sparrow Song
Published By – Spirit Records
Recorded At – The Sound Lab, Nashville
Mixed At – The Sound Lab, Nashville

Valor – Masquerade – 1987

Valor rose out of the ashes of another band named Golgotha. The band was pretty much the same lineup but with Chris Price replacing Todd Price. Chris brought a more thrash sound to the band. Vic Sardon was brought on as a second guitarist to solidify that thrash sound. The band had a pretty good following as Golgotha so they had a head start as they toured and played across the U.S. They actually stayed together for several years and though they never got a real record deal (they did release a full self produced album) they were quite popular. Now it’s well known that thrash bands had a very difficult time with record deals I am kind of surprised that Valor had this problem. Their version of thrash is far more bearable than most. The lyrics are clear and good. The guitar has distinguishable chords and quite frankly this is probably one of the best thrash albums I’ve ever heard. Even if you’re not a fan of thrash I’d really suggest you give this one a quick listen. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Tracklist
1 – Masquerade – 4:26
2 – Fight For Your Life – 2:42
3 – Burn – 5:00
4 – Didn’t I – 4:27
5 – The Flesh Is Weak – 4:11

Credits
Bass, Backing Vocals – Adam Alvarez
Drums – Jim Maxwell
Guitar – Chris Price, Vic Sardon
Vocals – Michael Brueck