Month: January 2024

Fireworks – Live Fireworks – 1980

Awhile ago I reviewed a Fireworks album and I was whining how easy listening it was. Someone challenged me to listen to this album if I wanted some Rock & Roll. So here it is and yes there is definitely some great Rock & Roll here. Marty was sure on his game this day. Recorded live at the Lord’s Chapel-Nashville in Tennessee this one took me totally by surprise. I must admit I have a whole new opinion of Fireworks now and I will definitely be enjoying this album in the future.

Tracklist
1 – Rescued – 3:25
2 – Listen – 4:30
3 – Target Practice – 2:48
4 – Someone’s Got A Hold On Me – 3:30
5 – Toll Free – 3:25
6 – Good Thing – 3:09
7 – Rusty Burdens – 3:31
8 – It All Comes Down To You – 3:37
9 – Ready For The Best Of You – 3:46

Credits
Bass – Bob Sinkovic
Coordinator – Vickie McCall
Drums, Percussion, Engineer – Lanny Avery
Engineer – Bill Deaton, Jimmy Burch, Joe Wilson
Executive Producer – Chris Christian
Guitar, Harmony Vocals – Jerry Gaston
Harmony Vocals – Mary Avery
Lead Vocals, Piano, Percussion – Marty McCall
Mastered By – Jim Loyd
Producer – Fireworks

Companies, etc.
Pressed By – MCA Pressing Plant, Pinckneyville
Mastered At – Masterfonics
Recorded At – The Lord’s Chapel
Recorded By – Fanta Professional Services
Marketed By – Sparrow Records

Ishmael And Andy – Ready Salted – 1973

As near as I can tell this is the first album from both Rev. Ian Smale (Ishmael) and Andy Piercy. As such this is an important album in my After The Fire tentacles project. I read that Andy and Ishmael were very good friends and they did more projects like this at the time. They actually had self released a 45 the year before this album but strangely neither of those tracks made it to this album. This was one of the first releases on Myrrh which was called Myrrh Gold at the time. Side 2 of the album might have been recorded live or perhaps just had applause mixed in I’m not sure. Anyway the album mainly consists of them each on an acoustic guitar. As for style it leans more toward Ishmael’s style with a heavier folk influence. The intro track is also probably the best track on the album. Anyway so here’s where two of my favourite artists started out. Also note that Ishmael re released the album on CD at some point and added a 12th track which we have included.

Tracklist
1 – Salt & Light Company – 3:35
2 – Psalm 139 Vs 6-12 – 4:35
3 – Paddy – 5:00
4 – Son Of God – 2:58
5 – Who Is He? – 4:35
6 – Hallelujah Chorus – 3:07
7 – We Got Jesus,We got Joy – 2:36
8 – Schitzo – 2:57
9 – Charisma – 2:50
10 – All Gods Children – 2:16
11 – I’m So Happy – 4:07
12 – The Lords Army – 1:34

Credits
Design, Photography – Bernard A Cope
Engineer – Lea Nicholson, Nic Kinsey
Engineer [Cutting] – John Wadley
Performer – Andy Piercy, Ishmael, Littlehampton Youth For Christ
Producer – Bobbie Graham

After Eleven – It’s About Time – 1989

Here’s another one of those mystery 80’s cassettes. This one has a great late 80’s alternative feel and sound and is well produced and engineered. This is all we got from them and it doesn’t look like any of the members went on to do any other published projects. So this is one we have to enjoy as a standalone and wonder why we never got more.

Tracklist
1 – You Don’t Know Me – 4:25
2 – Lightning – 3:50
3 – Nothin’ To You – 3:06
4 – Private 1 – 4:02
5 – Overflow – 4:16
6 – Running Out – 3:36
7 – Black And White – 4:05
8 – Nova Huta – 4:39
9 – St. Peter’s Village – 3:34
10 – Beach Tags – 4:48

Credits
Bass, Vocals – T. William Gallagher
Drums, Percussion – Mike Ling
Guitar, Vocals – Doug Davidson

Peter York – Close To The Bone – 1983

Peter had performed as a studio musician in the 70’s and 80’s and in his whole career he appears on over 100 albums. Strangely though this is his only personal album. You may know Peter better as the CEO of Sparrow Records and Capitol Christian Music Group. He was involved with Sparrow records in some form for 37 years and just retired in 2020. Anyway back to the album. It was only released in Australia and only on cassette so I am guessing most people have never heard it. It was recorded in 1983 after Peter was able to find a benefactor to pay for the studio time. Peter put together a pretty good team of relatively unknown studio musicians and the album turned out great. I’m actually quite confused that this album didn’t get picked up as it is really good and as Peter was connected in the industry. Oh well thankfully the album is on the internet for us to enjoy today.

Tracklist
1 – Key To My Heart
2 – I’m Alone
3 – Lovely Smile
4 – It’s All Right
5 – On This Day
6 – Noonkanbah
7 – Close To The Bone
8 – Blow Your House Away
9 – Willie’s Blues
10 – So Good To Be Alive

Credits
Martin Zammit – drums
Duane Mitchell – bass.
Graham McCoy – guitar
Jordie Young – flute, vocals
Les Price – keyboards
Rowan Shinkfield – bass on “Willie’s Blues”
Peter Fiddler – guitar on “Blow Your House Away”

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Just Life
Copyright © – Hedgehog Music
Distributed By – Just Life (Australia)
Recorded At – David Briggs Productions

Jeff Scheetz – Warp Speed – 1988

The story goes that Jeff cut this album/demo in 3 days to demo his guitar work. The story is that it was picked up by a Mexican label and then he got a record deal with Pure Metal records but in reality the timeline doesn’t work so I have no idea how that all worked. I do know that in 2005 this album along with his second album “Woodpecker Stomp” were released as a single CD. As for what we have here is some excellent heavy guitar work. The album is an instrumental which is a little disappointing because there’s some great tracks here but it was recorded as a demo so I understand why. Many people consider Jeff one of the best guitarists in the genre and I have to admit listening to this album will probably support that view.

Tracklist
1 – St. Valentine – 3:46
2 – Warp Speed – 3:44
3 – The Black Cat – 0:42
4 – Tornado Alley – 4:04
5 – Shark Attack – 3:32
6 – Lone Wolf – 5:46
7 – Amazing Grace – 3:38

Credits
Bass – Eddie Pruitt
Drums – Gabriel Anthony
Engineer – Alan Pangelinan
Guitar, Producer – Jeff Scheetz
Keyboards – Eric Greif
Producer – Eric Greif