August 2024 – Real 80s CCM

DC Talk – DC Talk – 1989

DC Talk started in 1987 by Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait, and Kevin Max Smith though the real story started the year before when Toby and Michael performed the song Heavenbound for their fellow students at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. The song was a huge hit and the band immediately sold out 3000 copies of their actual first demo “Christian Rhymes to a Rhythm” (Coming soon to the channel). Kevin subsequently joined the band and they recorded a 10 track demo. It was also very successful and some how Eddie DeGarmo over at ForeFront Records heard of them and decided to rerelease their demo minus 2 tracks as their first album. This is that first album. It was very popular as I guess the industry was looking for a new sound. While there were rap groups before them none of them had quite this sound.

Tracklist
1 – Heavenbound – 3:53
2 – Gah Ta Be – 3:58
3 – Final Days – 4:08
4 – The King (Allelujah) – 4:10
5 – Spinnin’ Round – 3:48
6 – Voices Praise Him – 3:51
7 – Time Ta Jam – 2:02
8 – He Loves Me – 5:11

Credits
Cover, Design – Jon Timian
Engineer, Mixed By – E. Q. Monroe, Richard Hartine, Ron W. Griffin
Executive-Producer – Dan R. Brock
Human Beatbox – Mike Valliere
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Photography By – Jon Timian, Steve Eastham
Producer – Ron W. Griffin, Toby McKeehan
Rap – Toby McKeehan
Vocals – Kevin Smith, Michael Tait

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Starsong Communications
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – The ForeFront Communications Group, Inc.
Copyright © – The ForeFront Communications Group, Inc.
Recorded At – Horizon Recording Studios
Recorded At – OmniSound Studios
Recorded At – Crosstown Recorders
Mastered At – Mastermix
Published By – Up In The Mix Music

Jon Gibson – Standing On The One – 1983

Not many people know that Jon Gibson actually had a secular release before he moved to the Christian genre. Jon was already knee deep in the secular music industry when he became a Christian in the early 80’s. Because of this he went ahead and released this soulful secular release on Constellation Records. The album didn’t do that well but Constellation did spend the money for a music video which we will upload to our music video channel. Jon was torn between his faith and the secular music industry and decided he needed to perform Christian music so this was his only secular album and he went on to join with Frontline Records in 1985.

Tracklist
1 – Start It All Again – 4:55
2 – She Told Me So – 5:33
3 – Standing On The One – 4:47
4 – That Ain`t No Way To Live – 3:12
5 – Are You Gonna Stay With Me Again – 4:35
6 – I Love Her Anyway – 3:48
7 – It’s True – 3:07
8 – So In Love With You – 4:37
9 – Nation In Need – 3:50
10 – She Told Me So (Radio Mix)

Credits
Ben Bridges – Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic)
Bill Wolfer – Composer, Fender Rhodes, Keyboards, Producer, Programming, Soloist, Synthesizer
Bily Greary – Vocals
Brenda MeKeel – Composer, Shouts, Vocals
Carrie Lucas – Composer
Chris Whorf – Art Direction
Clifford Colter – Composer, Piano
Crystal Blake – Vocals (Background)
Ed Sanders – Composer, Engineer, Mixing
Ernie Watts – Sax (Alto), Soloist
Greg Doty – Guitar
Harry Maslin – Shouts, Vocals
Herb Trawick – Shouts, Vocals
Irvin Dugan – Vocals
Joey Gallo – Synthesizer, Synthesizer Bass
Johanna Vigoda – Vocals
John “4 Daddman” Robinson – Drums
John Robinson – Drums
John VanNest – Shouts, Vocals
Jon Gibson – Composer, Primary Artist, Vocals (Background)
Jonathan Moffett – Drums
Ken Rarick – Composer
Larry Williams – Sax (Alto)
Marvin Morrow – Composer
Micki Free – Guitar
Nathan Watts – Bass, Guitar (Bass)
Phillip Ingram – Vocals (Background)
Sneaky Pete – Guitar (Steel)
Stephen Geyer – Composer
Stewart Whitmore – Digital Engineer
Tom Slocum – Shouts, Vocals
Tony Lewis – Drums
W.G. Snuffy Walden – Guitar
Wayne O. Millstein – Percussion, Vocals

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Constellation Records
Copyright © – Constellation Records
Manufactured By – Elektra/Asylum Records
Distributed By – Elektra/Asylum Records
Designed At – Art Hotel
Recorded At – Allen Zentz Recording
Recorded At – Image Recording Studios
Recorded At – Digital Magnetics
Mixed At – Image Recording Studios
Mastered At – Allen Zentz Mastering
Mastered At – Sheffield Lab Matrix – △4912
Pressed By – Allied Record Company – B-18366
Pressed By – Allied Record Company – B-18367

Full Armor – Limited Edition 1988 4-Song E.P

This is all we got from Full Armor which is a total shame because these guys were pretty good. They were a metal band leaning to more glam part of the genre. They had this one 4 song EP and an appearance on a metal sampler “White Metal Invasion” the next year. Now I’d like to tell you more about the band but I can’t because I can’t find any info on them. This is complicated by the fact that there are at least 2 modern Christian bands with the same name but they do not have the same members. So we are left with the EP which may be a good thing because you can just enjoy some really good metal.

Tracklist
1 – White Knights – 2:45
2 – His Love – 4:14
3 – Start – 4:44
4 – Too and Fro – 3:55

Credits
Vincent Van Voltenburg – Voices, keys
Rex Michaels – Guitars, keys
Dion James – Bass
T.T. Townsend – Drums

Companies, etc.
Engineered – Mars studio.

Jeff Scheetz – Woodpecker Stomp – 1990

After the relative success of Jeff’s excellent demo “Warp Speed” Pure Metal records decided it was time for a full album project. This of course is that album. Jeff’s guitar work was on display on his demo but he turned it up even one more notch for this album. The album did well, especially for a metal guitar instrumental album. The single and title track actually was the first instrumental song to make it on to the CCM rock charts. Jeff did carry over some tracks from his demo but most of these are new tracks. Now I’m gonna offer one criticism and I know Jeff’s fans are gonna bash me but here goes. Why an entirely instrumental album? He had Bill Westfall on keyboards who is an excellent vocalist though I suspect Bill wasn’t a Christian and was brought in more as a studio musician for this album so perhaps that idea wasn’t going to work. But it was 1990. There were metal vocalists everywhere and several looking for work at that time. That said Jeff’s vision was a metal acoustic album and that’s what he did and it turned out just fine.

Tracklist
1 – Woodpecker Stomp – 4:07
2 – Neo-Neo – 4:44
3 – Get Busy – 4:32
4 – Parker Street – 1:22
5 – Lost Island – 6:03
6 – House Of Stairs – 4:09
7 – Digital White – 4:15
8 – Lone Wolf – 5:23
9 – Amazing Grace – 4:13

Credits
Bass – Lance Logan
Drums – Kent Burnham
Engineer – Jon Mathias
Guitar – Jeff Scheetz
Keyboards – Bill Westfall
Producer – Jon Mathias

Companies, etc.
Record Company – Re-Flexx Records, Inc.
Licensed From – Pure Metal
Distributed By – Spectra Distribution

The Winans – Introducing – 1981

This is the introductory album from The Winans who at this point considered of 4 members of the Winan family, Ronald, Marvin, Carvin, and Michael. They were “discovered” by Andrae Crouch and he invited them into the studio to record this album. The album is an excellent soul pop album and I really enjoyed listening to it even if this isn’t my preferred style. That said I do have some criticisms for Andrae who produced the album. First of all the tracks are too long, not every track has to be over 4 minutes. I saw this album as having “superstar” production. Well it didn’t. It did have superstar engineering courtesy of Bob Cotton but that’s where it fell apart. I know Andrae was a very good producer at the time but he missed the ball on this one. The album as great as it was did not have any charting singles which was probably not helped by the track lengths. My final complaint abut the album was why on god’s green earth did Andrea pick the snooziest track on the album to put as the lead track. This album has some fantastic rhythm and soul and it should have been on display right from track 1. Instead we have to wait until track 4 to hear it.

Tracklist
1 – The Question Is – 4:40
2 – Self – 3:43
3 – Are We Really Doing Your Will? – 4:13
4 – I Know Someone – 4:03
5 – Goodness, Mercy And Grace – 4:06
6 – Fallow Ground – 4:34
7 – How Good It Feels To Be Loved – 5:37
8 – Flyin’ Away – 5:29
9 – Restoration – 4:39

Credits
Arranged By [Rhythm] – T.J. Keene
Art Direction – Dan Lienart
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Engineer [with Bob Cotton], Mixed By – Peter Haden
Engineer, Mixed By – Bob Cotton
Graphics – Rhonda Dempsey
Guitar – David Williams, Hadley Hockensmith, Wil Keene
Keyboards – T.J. Keene
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Oboe – John Phillips
Percussion – Alex Acuña, David Williams
Photography – David Randle
Producer, Arranged By [Horns], Drums, Percussion, Mixed By – Bill Maxwell
Producer, Arranged By [Vocal & Horns], Mixed By – Andraé Crouch
Saxophone, Arranged By [Horns], Flute – Steve Tavaglione
Trumpet – Allen Gregory
Vocals, Arranged By [Vocal] – The Winans
Words By, Music By – Marvin Winans

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Lexicon Music, Inc.
Copyright © – Lexicon Music, Inc.
Published By – Crouch Music
Produced For – Crouch Productions
Recorded At – Paramount Recording Studios
Mixed At – Paramount Recording Studios
Mastered At – A&M Studios
Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co.

Ashley Cleveland – Big Town – 1991

I remember hearing about this blond with a monster voice that had appeared on “everybody’s” albums, and regularly with one of my musical heroes, John Hiatt had signed a mainstream record deal with Atlantic. But nothing prepared me for the pushing play on my CD players and the a capella vocal strains of “Soon and Very Soon” busted through the clutter of modern music with sledge hammer. Damn, what a voice! Then i was even more pleasantly surprised to discover an album rich in textures, loaded with incredible talent and filled with brilliantly conceived and produced songs. There is really not a dud on the entire project. Of course Cleveland could also sing Presbyterian Book of Church Order and make it sound like Maggies Farm. I soon discovered Cleveland was an artist and not just a voice; a singer-songwriter with credentials to spare. But still I come back to that voice. Throwing out comparisons and superlatives will do her pipes no justice. A wonderful combination of Joplin passion, Slick rock cred and a bluesy, smokey vibe that is unmatched. In all honesty this should not have been the only album of hers to make list and that oversight is purely mine. That notwithstanding her debut here stands out heads and shoulders above most of her contemporaries and like nothing else in CCM at the time. I highly recommend her recent traditional blues and Gospel projects as well.

Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/

Tracklist
1 – Soon And Very Soon / Big Town – 5:10
2 – Love On The Mainline – 4:59
3 – Willy – 4:40
4 – I Could Learn To Love You – 7:14
5 – Tentative Man – 4:00
6 – Angel – 4:41
7 – Up From The Ether – 5:31
8 – We Can Dance – 4:40
9 – I’ll Call You – 5:41
10 – Walk To The Well – 5:22
11 – Rebecca – 5:19

Credits
Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – Ashley Cleveland
Bass – Glenn Worf
Drums, Percussion – Craig Krampf
Electric Guitar – Kenny Greenberg
Keyboards – Bill Cuomo
Mastered By – Doug Sax
Mixed By – Craig Krampf, Niko Bolas
Producer – Craig Krampf, Niko Bolas
Recorded By – Niko Bolas

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Atlantic Recording Corporation
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – WEA International Inc.
Copyright © – Atlantic Recording Corporation
Copyright © – WEA International Inc.
Made By – WEA Musik GmbH
Mastered At – The Mastering Lab
Pressed By – Record Service Alsdorf

Rhythm & News – Get With The Rhythm – 1990

Rhythm & News were a great a cappella band out of Vancouver Canada. Started by 4 guys in a basement singing along to a boom box they got a few dates performing across Canada. After some very successful small shows they headed into Roy Salmond’s studio to record this album that was also produced and engineered by super producer Roy Salmond. The album has the a cappella mandatory Randy Stonehill track “Shut De Do”. Another fun track is “Pharaoh, Pharaoh” which is a reworded version of Louie, Louie made famous by The Kingsman. It is mistakenly attributed to Chuck Berry but was actually written by Richard Berry but that’s a common mistake. All in all a great album that I missed back in the day so I’m glad I heard it now.

Tracklist
1 – Get With The Rhythm – 2:46
2 – Looking For Love – 2:41
3 – Sittin’ On The Steps – 2:47
4 – Lighthouse – 5:03
5 – Rhythm Thang – 4:10
6 – Real Salvation – 4:03
7 – This Little Light Of Mine – 2:39
8 – Pharaoh, Pharaoh – 2:49
9 – Shut De Do – 2:27
10 – It’s Gonna Rain – 2:22
11 – Lord Of All – 4:47

Credits
Arranged By [Arrangements] – Rhythm & News, Roy Salmond
Design [Cover Design] – Ferris, The Warning Guy, Rick Yeager
Mixed By – Dave Slagter
Performer [Rhythm & News Is] – Brad Strelau, Doug Zimmerman, Kevin Pollard (4), Mark Batten
Photography By – Francis Cheng
Producer, Engineer, Recorded By – Roy Salmond

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Image 7 Music Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Image 7 Music Inc.
Manufactured By – Image 7 Music Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Pressed By – Disque Americ
Recorded At – Whitewater Productions, Richmond, B.C.
Mixed At – Whitewater Productions, Richmond, B.C.
Mastered At – Future Disc
Published By – R&N Boyz Publications

On Fire – Dance Like David – 1990

I simply can not find any information on this project. The album was released on Arcade Records but the album is copyrighted by Maranatha! Music. I can find no connection between the two labels but several Arcade albums have Maranatha! Music copyrights so there is obviously some connection. The project included Carvin/Lawrence Winans but that’s it, that’s all I can find. As for the album it’s a Rap / Hip Hop (90’s Hip Hop) album and quite frankly I don’t think it’s a very good. Admittedly this isn’t my favourite genre but if it’s done well I will still enjoy it. This one left me at the side of the road but maybe people who know and love this genre will be able to better critique the album.

Tracklist
1 – Spirit Of The Lord – 3:26
2 – Dance Like David – 3:47
3 – Stand Up – 3:32
4 – Gettin’ Busy – 3:45
5 – Lukewarm Christian – 3:29
6 – Are You Saved? – 5:06
7 – Whatcha Gonna Do – 4:01
8 – Why – 3:59
9 – Are You Saved (Remix) – 3:38
10 – Tomorrow – 4:41
11 – Prayer – 0:58
Credits
Art Direction – Terry DeGraff
Backing Vocals – Dorian Holley, Louis Price, Oren Waters
Design – Vincent Carino
Engineer [Assistant] – Sally Browder
Executive-Producer – Kim Carino, Roby Duke, Tom Coomes
Guest, Scratches – DJ Dove Of S.F.C., Rucky McKinley
Layout – Susan Steinman
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Mixed By – Doug Rider
Photography By – Brian Ray
Producer – Scott V. Smith
Programmed By [Synthesizers Programming], Sequenced By [Sequencing] – Scott V. Smith
Stylist – Karen Clinkenbeard

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Maranatha! Music
Copyright © – Maranatha! Music
Recorded At – Up All Night Studio, Pasadena, CA
Recorded At – Minds Eye Studio
Mixed At – O’Henry Sound Studios
Mastered At – Bernie Grundman Mastering

Karen Lafferty – Bird In A Golden Sky – 1975

This was Karen’s first album. It is an extremely easy listening 70’s style album that while I didn’t care for these albums they lead the way for the ones I loved. Not that all albums from the 70’s were easy listening but many of them were. Lafferty attended Eastern New Mexico University and actually planned on a secular music career after school. But like so many of the artists we loved she moved to southern California and soon began to perform at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. After a European tour she was signed by Maranatha! Music and the rest is history. This is the first sighting of Darrell Mansfield as this album came out before his album with Gentle Faith. That said he also appeared on Parable’s album “More Than Words” released the same year.

Tracklist
1 – Bird In A Golden Sky – 4:00
2 – Grandma Stout – 2:26
3 – Testimony – 5:48
4 – Garden – 3:16
5 – The Girl – 4:30
6 – Sweet Summer Rain – 3:55
7 – No Time For Jesus – 3:16
8 – Bobbi’s Song – 5:00
9 – Peaceful Mind / Tears Of Love – 7:47

Credits
Artwork [Stained Glass Window] – Neil Cocroft
Backing Vocals – Karen*, Peter Jacobs
Banjo, Mandolin – Fred Fields
Design [Cover] – Neal Buchanan
Electric Bass – Bruce Cotton
Guitar – Fred Fields (2), John Wytoc, Karen
Harmonica – Darrell Mansfield
Keyboards – Peter Jacobs
Lead Vocals – Karen Lafferty
Mastered By [Runout Etch] – Ralph Eck
Oboe – Karen Lafferty
Percussion – Alex MacDougall
Photography By – Dan Agulian, Diana Ham, Neal Buchanan
Producer, Arranged By – Peter Jacobs
Saw – Randy Sykes
Steel Guitar – Al Perkins
Written-By – Karen Lafferty

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Buddy King Studios, Huntington Beach, CA
Mastered At – United Artists Recording Studio
Pressed By – Research Craft
Published By – Karen Louise Lafferty
Copyright © – Karen Louise Lafferty
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Maranatha! Music
Copyright © – Maranatha! Music
Distributed By – Musical Gospel Outreach

Edin-Ådahl – Alibi (Swedish Version) – 1982

This is the Swedish version of the 1983 Edin-Ådahl album Alibi. It actually came out first and was on CBS records. Some of the tracks the music is identical but others were remixed for the English version. Some of the translated song titles are considerable different but as I don’t understand Swedish I don’t know if the lyrics are substantially different. The English version substitutes the track “Idag” with “For The Rain In Your Heart” which is quite frankly a much better song. A couple of the tracks on this version are actually in English. Anyway I really enjoy listening to these albums in other languages as it’s fun to hear songs you know in a different format.

Here is the track listing from both versions;

Swedish English

1 – Hägring (Mirage) 6:00 A4 – Bring Back The Joy 6:01
2 – Observerad (Observed) 5:00 B4 – Send Me, Send Me 5:01
3 – Alibi (Alibi) 3:22 A3 – Alibi 3:13
4 – Spelet (The game) 4:02 B1 – Saviour 3:45
5 – Idag (Today) 5:12 Replaces B2 – For The Rain In Your Heart3:12
6 – Storm In My Heart 3:15 B3 – Storm In My Heart 3:17
7 – Look Out! 4:10 A1 – Wake Up 4:09
8 – Brevet 3:15 A2 – On The Cutting Edge 3:39
9 – Hjälp Dej Själv (Help Yourself) 4:00 A5 – Let All Of The Earth Proclaim 4:20
10 -Hemåt Igen (Home Again) 4:40 B5 – Your Heart Is In His Hands 4:44

Tracklist
1 – Hägring – 6:00
2 – Observerad – 5:00
3 – Alibi – 3:22
4 – Spelet – 4:02
5 – Idag – 5:12
6 – Storm In My Heart – 3:15
7 – Look Out! – 4:10
8 – Brevet – 3:15
9 – Hjälp Dej Själv – 4:00
10 – Hemåt Igen – 4:40

Credits
Arranged By, Producer [Produced By] – Edin-Adahl
Design [Album Design] – Buhland/Gulledge
Engineer [Engineered By] – Lennart Strom, Mats Oberg, Peter Olsson
Executive-Producer – Magnus Erikson
Graphics – Anders Johansson
Instrumentation By – Edin-Adahl
Lacquer Cut By – JL
Mixed By – Edin-Adahl, Peter Olsson
Photography By – Labe Allwin, Lennert Dannstedt
Producer [English Vocals] – Tom Douglas