Month: May 2023

Under Midnight – Under Midnight – 1992

This is the first “industrial” album I have heard in the Christian genre. This was a style of music I listened to heavily in the secular world in the mid 80’s. I was surprised that it took until 1992 for this sound to show up in the Christian genre. I’m not saying this was the first in the genre but I can’t find one earlier than this. The album is actually Caesar Kalinowski, and Mark Robertson who were both in The Stand. Caesar was a pretty popular producer in the CCM scene through the 80’s. Anyway we have here an industrial concept album. The album tells a sci-fi dystopian future story and the tracks tell a great story. It solidly stays in the Christian genre including a couple alter calls. I was able to find several reviews from secular reviewers that loved the album and they said they tolerated the Christian content as it was so good. Personally I think it is pretty good and is easily as good as anything secular I listened to in the mid 80’s.

Tracklist
1 – Babylon USA – 4:11
2 – Die To Myself – 4:03
3 – Love, Pain, Truth, Fire – 4:30
4 – New Way – 4:34
5 – Cybervision – 4:42
6 – Learning To Fly – 3:52
7 – Two Worlds, One Cry – 4:53
8 – In A Mirror Dimly – 3:34
9 – Who Am I? – 5:03
10 – Fear And Trembling – 4:35
11 – Yes, I Am – 4:33
12 – Arise – 3:55

Credits
Backing Vocals – Michelle Thompson, Tony Valenziano
Backing Vocals, Vocals [Guest] – Beki Hemingway
Design, Photography By – Lark
Executive-Producer – C.Kalinowski, P. Gavin Morkel
Guitar [Additional] – Kurt Bachman
Producer, Written-By, Performer, Backing Vocals – D.B. Allen, Frankie
Programmed By [Additional] – Luke Mazzeri, Max Hsu
Written-By [Co-Written By] Track 7 – Max Hsu

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Wonderland
Copyright © – Wonderland
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.

Towne Cryer – Against All Evil – 1992

I often hear this album referred to thrash metal but really I think it leans more to dark metal. What makes this band unique is that they had a female vocalist which was quite rare n this genre. For these guys it worked and it worked well. You probably already know that this is not one of my preferred genres. In fact Thrash is one of my most hated but quite frankly there is something different about this album. There are several tracks here that I kind of like. I would like to have heard lead vocalist Gena do some straight up Metal/Hard Rock, I think I would have really liked that.

Tracklist
1 – Shadow Of Death – 3:08
2 – Stone Cold Heart – 3:45
3 – Hound Of Heaven – 4:46
4 – Free – 3:29
5 – Seek Life – 2:54
6 – Time Ran Out – 4:31
7 – Lights – 4:12
8 – Sacrifice Of The Lamb – 5:04
9 – Let Go – 4:07

Credits
Bass – Gary Ottosi
Drums – Ron McClure
Guitar – Jerry Rotz, Steve Metzger
Vocals – Gena McClure

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Nehemiah Records
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Nehemiah Ministries Music
Copyright © – Nehemiah Records

Brush Arbor – Hero – 1981

A quick confession right off the bat. I had no idea Bruch Arbor existed in the 80’s. I don’t know how this is even possible as they were relatively huge. Sure their sound was not what we really liked but we had lots of albums from artists that weren’t really our style. So how did they slip past us? I have no idea. I guess it was just a product of growing up in a small town with one Christian music store so we got what we got. Anyway this is their album for 1981. It’s mainly easy listening with hints of country. All in all a pretty good album.

Tracklist
1 – Only For The Love Of The Lord – 2:42
2 – Come Back Home – 3:56
3 – Witness – 2:36
4 – All I Want To Be – 3:08
5 – Hero – 2:10
6 – Hey There Stranger – 3:42
7 – Running – 3:07
8 – Trust In The Lord – 1:58
9 – God Is Good – 2:58
10 – St. Peter – 2:19
11 – Rescue Me – 3:10

Credits
Acoustic Bass – David Rose
Arranged By – Brush Arbor, John D’Andrea
Art Direction – Paul Gross
Banjo – Jim Rice
Bass Guitar – David Rose
Design Concept – Bill Lightner
Drums – Kevin Watkins
Engineer – Carmine Rubino
Engineer [Assistant] – Jim Crosby
Guitar – Jim Rice, Joe Rice
Lead Guitar – Dale Cooper
Lead Vocals – Jim Rice, Joe Rice
Mandolin – Joe Rice
Mastered By – Bill Lightner
Percussion – Kevin Watkins
Photography By – Lisa Diamond, Phil Fewsmith
Producer – Michael Lloyd
Sleeve – Dennis Hill
Vocals – Dale Cooper, David Rose, Kevin Watkins

Companies, etc.
Record Company – Myrrh Records
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co. – △25044
Published By – Word Music
Published By – Dayspring Music
Published By – John T. Benson Pub. Co.
Published By – House Of Hits
Published By – Happiedayle Music
Published By – Warner-Tamerlane

77s – Eighty Eight – 1991

77s finally give us a live album which was recorded on March 12, 1988 at the Warehouse in Sacramento, CA. The album gives us live versions of all their hits along with a fascinating cover of “Over Under Sideways Down” by the The Yardbirds.

Tracklist
1 – Perfect Blues – 6:00
2 – I Can’t Get Over It – 6:10
3 – Wild Blue – 5:45
4 – Mary And The Baby Elvis – 4:25
5 – Closer – 5:23
6 – Where It’s At – 4:53
7 – The Lust, The Flesh, The Eyes & The Pride Of Life – 3:57
8 – Over Under Sideways Down – 2:56
9 – Mercy Mercy – 11:15
10 – You Don’t Scare Me – 12:20
11 – I Could Laugh – 12:30

Credits
Bass Guitar – Mark Harmon
Bass, Guitar, Voice – Jan Eric
Coordinator [Project Conceived and Coordinated by] – Shalom Aberly
Drums [Forever Pounding & Thrashing] – Aaron Smith
Grand Piano – David Leonhardt
Keyboards, Guitar, Voice – Mark Tootle
Mixed By – Steve Griffith
Organ [Hammond B-3] – Roger Smith
Post Production – Kirt Shearer
Producer – Mike Roe
Recorded By – Daryl Zachman
Voice, Guitar, Harmonica [Mouth Organ] – Mike Roe

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Brainstorm Artists International
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Brainstorm Artists International
Published By – Fools Of The World Ltd.
Published By – 7 And 7 Is Music
Published By – Yardbirds Music Ltd.
Recorded At – The Warehouse, Sacramento
Mixed At – The Music Annex
Produced For – Gaga Productions
Produced At – Paradise Studios, Sacramento, CA
Mastered At – Fantasy Studios
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.

Heirborn – Undercover Christian – 1981

This is the second album from a band hat I never heard of. Yes there are lots of bands I never heard of but these guys albums were released on Canadian label “New Born Records” sister label to Tunesmith. I thought my group of friends and I had every release by them but we sure didn’t have either of these guys albums. Anyway all that aside I can’t find any info on this band other than they were out of the Spokane WA area. That’s it, that’s all I got. The album is a pretty good 70’s sound and is well worth a listen if that’s your preferred genre. Sorry but that’s all I have for this one.

Tracklist
1 – One Way Road – 3:00
2 – Born To Fly – 4:20
3 – You Shall Be Saved – 3:00
4 – Falling – 3:15
5 – The King and the Lion – 4:58
6 – Undercover Christian – 4:15
7 – Love Won’t Stop – 5:40
8 – Down On Your Knees – 4:44
9 – Psalm 151 (Instrumental) – 2:56
10 – Through My Tears – 2:28

Twila Paris – Knowin’ You’re Around – 1980

This is Twila’s first album. Well that’s not entirely true she actually had a self released kids album all the way back in 1965 recorded when she was 5 years old. She said in an interview that when she was a teenager her friends would torment her by playing the album, but this is essentially her first album. It’s pretty well what you would expect for a first album from a female artist in 1980 but I do need to give Twila credit in that she was involved in the song writing. Generally first album female artists have all the tracks written for them but not in this case. If you’re a fan of female 80’s artists then this one is for you.

Tracklist
1 – Spring Water – 2:46
2 – Angel Band – 3:09
3 – I’ll See You Sunday – 3:55
4 – Knowin’ You’re Around – 3:28
5 – Morning Sunrise – 1:57
6 – I’m Singing Again – 3:13
7 – Turn Around – 2:58
8 – Victory Song – 3:05
9 – Elijah – 2:50
10 – Sing Me A Lullaby – 4:18

Credits
Drew Barlow – Engineer
Stephanie Boosahda – Background Vocals
Wayne Boosahda – Producer
Cornerstone Strings – Strings
Larry Dalton – Piano
Mike Demus – Electric & Acoustic Guitars
Bob Farrell – Background Vocals
Rocky Gribble – Electric Guitars
Sandra Halgendale – Oboe
Jim Hochanadel – Acoustic Guitars, Saxophone
Maurice Love – Bass
Glenn Meadows – Mastered
Twila Paris – Songwriter, Keyboards, Vocals
Kenny Sarkey – Producer, Engineer, Mixed, Keyboard, Acoustic Guitars, Arp Omni, Mini Moog, Orchestra Bells, Background Vocals
Julianne Siens – Background Vocals
David Stearman – String Arrangements, Acoustic Guitar
Rhenda Edwards Tull – Background Vocals
Genevieve Winkenbach – Harp
Steve Wright – Drums, Percussion

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Benson Music Group, Inc.
Copyright © – Benson Music Group, Inc.
Published By – Singspiration Music
Distributed By – Benson Music Group, Inc.

Morningstar – Heart Of A Servant – 1985

Here’s another rarity from the 80’s. It’s a great AOR album but was released on tiny label Straight Ahead Records and I can’t see if it had a distribution deal. As such it isn’t very well known. I find this quite odd because John Andrew Schreiner is in the lineup and he was legendary. You may not recognize the name but he wrote many of the hits you know from CCM and worked in the studio with many many bands you are familiar with. I would have figured with a name like that on the album some larger label would have wanted this release but nope. Furthermore it was co-produced by Tim Archer. It’s actually the second album from Morningstar and by the way don’t confuse them with Morning Star who were a different band. Anyway you probably missed this one in the 80 so you should give it a listen if you like your music a little mellower.

Tracklist
1 – Where Could I Go – 4:07
2 – You’ve Got To Love Somebody – 4:01
3 – Read It For Yourself – 2:32
4 – Time’s A Wastin’ – 4:22
5 – In The World – 2:48
6 – Heart Of A Servant – 3:26
7 – Friend Of A Friend – 3:40
8 – Angel Of Light – 3:00
9 – Move On Up The Mountain – 3:34
10 – Serving You – 3:07

Credits
Backing Vocals – Denise Graves, Gary Floyd, Gene Miller, Steve Archer
Backing Vocals, Producer, Executive Producer – Tim Archer
Bass – Keith Nelson, Tim Jaquette
Drums, Percussion – Dave Spurr
Guitar – Prince Robinson
Guitar, Percussion – Bob Somma
Keyboards – John Andrew Schreiner
Performer – Al Ray Hebert, Chris Springer, Jeff Meador, Jesse Conte, Juddy Harris, Lee Matthews, Rickey Baxley
Producer – Dan Cutrona

Geoff Mann – Psalm Enchanted Evening – 1986

Geoff Mann is rapidly becoming one of my favourite 80’s artists that I didn’t even know existed in the 80’s. The information on this album is pretty scant and I don’t even know where it was released though I am assuming the UK. As for the album I guess it could be best described as conceptual New Wave though your description might be different. It only came out on LP but was re-released in 1994 on a compilation disc. Strangely the re-release was actually missing the track “Peacemeal” but it was included on the re-release of Chants Would be a Fine Thing in 2004. The album appears to be entirely Geoff and Dave Mortimer but we do know Steve Millie did step in to do the Bass track on “Creation”. So if you are a fan of New Wave and you missed this one in the 80’s I strongly suggest a listen to it now.

Tracklist
1 – Creation – 3:50
2 – Dance – 6:29
3 – Gethsemane – 4:15
4 – Waves – 8:04
5 – Peacemeal – 8:40
6 – Flowers – 11:38

Credits
Electric Guitar – Dave Mortimer
Electronic Drums – Geoff Mann
Guitar – Dave Mortimer
Producer – Geoff Mann
Synthesizer – Geoff Mann
Voice – Geoff Mann

Companies, etc.
Recorded – Pullman Studios, Manchester.
Record Company – Wobbly Records

Chase – In Pursuit – 1993

This was the one and only album from Chase from Upstate New York. It was released on Salt Incorporated Music,which was a sublabel of Rick Cua’s UCA Records Ltd. The album is best described as an AOR album with some Arena Rock tracks. It was very well produced thanks to Bill Baumgart who was one of the best producers in the CCM genre. The only real connection to the 80’s for this album is the sound. I know the album is a one off but these guys were great. I would love to hear more but this is all we get and none of the band members appear to have done any other projects. I guess my only concern with the album is that this sound might have been a little late for 1993 but I don’t care. Only have time for one track? Give “Don’t Shut Me Out” a listen.

Tracklist
1 – Keeping My Mind – 4:48
2 – Spectrum Of Emotion – 4:11
3 – I Am Living You – 4:23
4 – Love Is The Reason – 5:14
5 – Don’t Shut Me Out – 4:22
6 – Have You Got Some Time – 4:33
7 – Get It Right – 4:46
8 – In Your Arms – 4:19
9 – ‘Til The End Of Time – 4:25
10 – You Will Be The One – 4:20

Credits
Art Direction – Mark Combs
Bass – Ron Chase
Co-producer, Engineer – David Johnsen
Drums – Jay Corey
Lead Guitar, Vocals – Virgil Burdick
Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar – Scott Lowmaster
Mastered By – Hoyt Dooley
Photography By – Scott Miller Photography
Producer – Bill Baugmart

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Salt Incorporated Music, Inc.
Copyright © – Salt Incorporated Music, Inc.
Distributed By – Nelson Word Ltd.
Made By – Nimbus
Recorded At – Masterview SoundCrafts
Recorded At – Highpass Productions
Recorded At – Cloudburst Productions
Mixed At – Cloudburst Productions
Mastered At – Disc Mastering

Take 6 – Take 6 – 1987

This is the first album from Take 6 and I believe it’s the only A Capella album we’ve uploaded to YouTube. The group started out in 1980 when Claude McKnight started to assemble a group of singers who would be know as Gentleman’s Estates Quartet. Once the band was complete they changed their name to Alliance. When they signed with Reprise Records/Warner Bros. in 1987, it was discovered that there was another group with the same name. So the band sat down and picked a new name using the level of laughter as the deciding factor and Take 6 was born. The band won two Grammy awards for this album, Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Duo Or Group, and Best Soul Gospel Performance By A Duo, Group, Choir Or Chorus. Humorously the song that won Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Duo Or Group only made it to #25 on the CCM charts. If this isn’t proof of the idiocy that was the CCM charts then I don’t know what further proof I would need.

Tracklist
1 – Gold Mine – 3:52
2 – Spread Love – 3:29
3 – If We Never Needed The Lord Before (We Sure Do Need Him Now) – 4:59
4 – A Quiet Place – 2:43
5 – Mary – 3:31
6 – David And Goliath – 4:25
7 – Get Away, Jordan – 4:23
8 – He Never Sleeps – 3:10
9 – Milky-White Way – 4:47
10 – Let The Words – 0:55

Credits
Arranged By – Mark Kibble, Mervyn Warren
Art Direction, Design [Cover] – Kav Deluxe
Engineer – Don Cobb
Executive-Producer – Jim Ed Norman
Hair – Jeffrey Johnson
Lacquer Cut By – Denny Purcell
Make-Up, Stylist [Wardrobe] – Vanessa Ware
Management – C.H.O.I.C.E., Nashville
Mastered By [Originally] – Denny Purcell
Mixed By – C. McKnight, D. Cobb, M. Kibble, M. Warren
Percussion [Finger Snaps], Effects [Sound] – David Humphries
Photography By – Jeff Katz
Producer – Claude V. McKnight III, Mark Kibble, Mervyn Warren
Vocals – Alvin Chea, Cedric Dent, Claude V. McKnight III, David Thomas, Mark Kibble, Mervyn E. Warren

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Reprise Records
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – WEA International Inc.
Copyright © – Reprise Records
Copyright © – WEA International Inc.
Copyright © – Mervyn Warren Music
Copyright © – Claude V. Music
Copyright © – Warner-Elektra-Asylum Music, Inc.
Copyright © – Winston Kae Music
Copyright © – Lexicon Music, Inc.
Produced For – JEN Productions, Inc.
Recorded At – Digital Recorders
Mixed At – Digital Recorders
Mastered At – Georgetown Masters
Published By – Winston Kae Music
Published By – Warner-Elektra-Asylum Music, Inc.
Published By – Mervyn Warren Music
Published By – Claude V. Music
Published By – Lexicon Music, Inc.
Pressed By – Specialty Records Corporation
Record Company – Warner Communications