This is some sort of promotional EP released by Reunion Records to promote Michael W. Smith & Kathy Troccoli. Side A features an eight minute medley of tracks from both artists pieced together. This is actually pretty well done because Michael came back into the studio to write and perform the bridges. Many of these medley tracks from other companies are just faded together but in this case there are actual bridges from one track to the next. Side B has a track from each of their most recent albums at the time.
Tracklist 1 – Medley: Michael W. Smith – Friends Intro Kathy Troccoli – Stubborn Love Michael W. Smith – I’m Up Kathy Troccoli – Long Distance Letter Michael W. Smith – You Need A Saviour Kathy Troccoli – Once In A Lifetime Love Michael W. Smith – Be Strong And Courageous Kathy Troccoli – Holy Holy Michael W. Smith – I Am Sure Michael W. Smith – Friends 2 – Michael W. Smith – A Way 3 – Kathy Troccoli – Long Distance Letter
Paul Clark was one of the most prolific CCM artists of the 1970’s through the 90’s. Strangely he only ever had 3 CCM singles which is absolutely absurd considering the quantity and quality of his work. I think this is my favourite album from him yet. I haven’t listened to then all yet but this one really is my kind of music. Many artists in the CCM industry get more mellow as they go along but not Paul. This is his 10th album and it is a solid pop effort with a great 80’s sound. On the mellow end “As Long As I’m Still Breathing” should have easily singled on the CCM charts especially in 1989. Somehow I missed Paul in the 80’s but I sure like him now.
Tracklist 1 – More Heat Than Light – 5:54 2 – Everywhere I Turn – 3:04 3 – You Can’t Accuse Me – 2:53 4 – I Can Feel Your Heartbeat – 3:02 5 – Marianna – 3:11 6 – So They Say – 4:04 7 – 1NA100 – 3:37 8 – Foxhole Confession – 3:36 9 – Don’t Let Go Of My Heart – 3:36 10 – As Long As I’m Still Breathing – 3:03
Credits Acoustic Guitar – Paul Clark Backing Vocals – Baby Lee, Donald Brown, Don Harris, Paul Clark Bass – Don Harris Drum Programming – Paul Clark, Rod Lincoln Drums – Rod Lincoln Graphics – Network Graphics, Inc Guest [Guest Appearance] – Pat Mastelotto, Steve Farris, Steve George Guitar – Don Harris, Paul Clark, Kevin Rogers Keyboards – Don Harris, Paul Clark Lead Vocals – Paul Clark Mixed By [Mixdown], Engineer – Bill Schnee Percussion, Programmed By – Paul Clark Photography – Paul Clark, Jessica Clark Producer – Paul Clark Programmed By – Don Harris Recorded By, Engineer – Craige Lindesay, Dan Garcia, Gary West, Paul Clark
After three decades of crafting memorable, significant and compelling blues and rock, Resurrection band created a swan song of the highest order. Due in part to reaching out beyond their normal Jesus People USA community for creative support and enlisting Kings X’s Ty Tabor, the band created their one and only “concept” album and it was a striking artistic success. It would be their last. The Kings X influence can be found in the creative process, the vocal delivery and the fuller and more diverse guitar sounds. The album would also feature less of vocalist Wendi Kaiser than any other project. Glenn kaiser takes the reins nearly exclusively and delivers some of his most emotionally compelling performances. Wendi’s limited appearances end up being her best since Mommy Don’t Love Daddy. Lyrically focusing on one man’s realization of the hopelessness around him as he recognizes the decaying world’s fall into the abyss. This leads him on a journey of spiritual awakening and realization of the exclusive hope found only in Christ. Similar to the Old testament Laments, the listener is not spared the descriptions of the ugliness of life. This darker introduction makes the brighter hope even more stunning. One stand out track that cannot be ignored is the impressive acoustic driven Lands End. Limited to a simply acoustic guitar and percussive musical support, Kaiser’s vocals soar above the Celtic leaning melody. A soft recorder’s subtle inclusion is flawless and stirring in its simplicity. The conceptual nature of the album forced the band to perform the album live in its entirety while touring in support of the album. This left some “older” fans longing for some of the earlier “hits,” but worked masterfully live. This would be the last tour in support of an album and now the band plays very limited dates, primarily exclusively at the Jesus People USA directed Cornerstone Festival.
Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com
Tracklist 1 – Parting Glance – 1:10 2 – Across These Fields – 4:20 3 – On The Move – 2:09 4 – Summerthrow – 4:12 5 – At Land’s End – 4:08 6 – Song And Dance – 4:46 7 – In Change – 3:15 8 – The Road – 3:49 9 – Dark Carnival – 2:54 10 – Mirror – 3:57 11 – Another Look – 0:35 12 – Surprised – 5:23 13 – Richest One – 4:07 14 – Across These Fields Reprise – 3:39
Credits Artwork [Cover Art – Detail From Painting By] – Gaylen Stewart Bass, Backing Vocals – Roy Montroy Design – Cornerstone Graphics, Janet Cameron Drums – John Herrin Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards – Stu Heiss Engineer [Assistant] – Marty Phillips (2) Engineer [Engineered By] – Brian “Full Slab” Garcia*, Ed Bialach, Roger Heiss Executive-Producer – Tom Cameron Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Wendi Kaiser Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Dulcimer, Harmonica – Glenn Kaiser Musician [Additional], Panpipes – Eric Clayton Musician [Additional], Percussion [Various Percussion] – Ed Bialach, Roger Heiss Producer [Produced By] – Ty Tabor
We have a great live album from Steve here. While most live albums are a compilation of the best takes from several concerts this one was recorded in just one take in October 1994 in Lancaster Pennsylvania. Even the tracks are in the order played except for “Jim Morrison’s Grave” and “On The Fritz” which were switched around to allow for proper timing on the cassette. Steve even played a couple tracks from his Chagall Guevara band. The fire alarm incident that closes out the album actually occurred at Judson College and was dubbed in. As for the album there’s not much to say other than it’s another example of Steve’s live brilliance and is pretty well engineered for a live album.
Tracklist 1 – Jim Morrison’s Grave – 3:19 2 – The Lament Of Desmond R. G. Underwood-Frederick IV – 4:37 3 – I Want To Be A Clone – 2:05 4 – Escher’s World – 3:33 5 – On The Fritz – 6:31 6 – Bannerman – 3:19 7 – Hero – 5:14 8 – Jesus Is For Losers – 4:13 9 – The Finish Line – 5:41 10 – Violent Blue – 4:29
Credits Art Direction – Buddy Jackson Bass – Wade Jaynes Drums – Chris Kearney Guitar, Backing Vocals – Greg Wollan, Mark Townsend Booking – Jeff Roberts & Associates Crew [Driver] – Dave Fancey, Doug Rioux, Guy Johnson Crew [Merchandise] – Curtis Swartzentruber Design – Karinne Caulkins Engineer [Engineered By], Engineer [Sound], Mixed By – Russ Long Lighting [Design] – Scott Moore Lighting [Operator] – Anthony Kordyjaka Management – Proper Management Management [Proper Management] – Amy Kyker, Glenda McNalley, Jeff Quistad, Nancy Kronemann, Norman Miller Management [Road Manager] – Joe Nero Mastered By – Hank Williams Photography By – Ben Pearson Producer – Russ Long, Steve Taylor Production Manager – Mike Jones Recorded By [Recording Assistance], Engineer [Monitor] – Marc Chevalier Written-By – Steve Taylor
Randy’s star studded 15th album is the one he has said is his proudest moment. It was also the start of his very short lived music label “Street Level Records”. Unfortunately the label didn’t work out and only had one other release from Julie Miller. Helping Randy with his album were Michael W. Smith, Phil Keaggy, Gary Chapman, Riki Michelle, Jerry Chamberlain, Rick Elias, Jerry McPherson, Phil Madeira, Cheri Keaggy, Charlie Peacock, and many others. What a great line up for a new label album. The album has excellent engineering and production and really is a memorable album and I think Randy’s writing and vocals on this albu might be his peak. The album is a little more mellow than I am used to by him but the writing is so good you should barely notice. Definitely a must listen. Editors note – We’ve removed the silence on the closing track so if it sounds different than you remember your memories are correct.
Tracklist 1 – A Promise Made Is A Promise Kept – 5:46 2 – I Turn To You – 3:28 3 – In Jesus’ Name – 4:27 4 – Under The Rug – 3:39 5 – Remember My Name – 4:56 6 – That’s Why We Don’t Love God – 5:17 7 – When I’m Afraid – 3:38 8 – Shadow Man – 3:35 9 – Zurich In The Snow – 0:19 10 – Troubles – 3:22 11 – The Lazarus Heart – 4:26
Credits Acoustic Guitar – Jerry McPherson, Randy Stonehill Acoustic Guitar [Chet Atkins Solid Body Acoustic Guitar/Nylon String] – Randy Stonehill Art Direction [Cover Art Direction], Design – Dietsch & Associates Backing Vocals [Additional Background Vocals] – David Robertson, Gordon Kennedy, Jerry Chamberlain, Phil Madeira, Randy Stonehill, Rick Elias, Riki Michele, Sharon Chamberlain Bass Guitar, Electric Piano [Wurlitzer] – Jimmie Lee Sloas Bass [Fretless] – Mark Hill Drums – Steve Brewster Electric Guitar – Jerry McPherson, Phil Keaggy Engineer [Engineered By] – Richie Biggs Executive-Producer – Ray Ware Layout [Insert Layout], Design – Michael Scanland Communications, Inc. Mastered By – Ken Love Mixed By – Craig Hansen, Richie Biggs Musical Assistance [Production Assistance] – Chris Ross, Pam Kistler Organ, Dobro, Accordion [Squeeze Box] – Phil Madeira Percussion – Eric Darkin Photography By [Cover Photography] – Thunder Image Group Piano, Keyboards – Rick Elias Producer [Produced By] – Jimmie Lee Sloas Soprano Saxophone – Mark Douthit Vocals – Randy Stonehill
One of the most influential and important bands of the 1990’s never really received all the recognition they clearly deserved. Check that: They didn’t reserve anywhere near the recognition they deserved. Borrowing a line from CS Lewis “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe,” the Seattle based quartet created some of the most significant and original music in CCM during their tenure. And no one album encapsulated that important edge quite like Mindsize. The teens that made up the band gave their demo to Randy Stonehill who passed it along to Terry Taylor. Taylor got it into the hands of Mike MacLane at Frontline Records who went after the band immediately. I remember Mike playing the demo for me in his office and I kept bugging him, asking when would the album be coming out! Part grunge, part alternative, part funk and all original and exceptional. From the riff to the last strum the band, with some creative production direction by Terry Scott Taylor, created a debut unlike any other from that era save Mortal’s debut. Someone still has to explain to me how a song like “All Pretty For the TV” can not make a serious ripple on college radio. Its retro funky grooves and alternative driven chorus are the stuff heroes are made of. Aaron Sprinkle guitar ranges from sleek and sexy to fuzzy and rough depending on the mood of the tune. Most often there’s a funky fuzz that dominates the lyrics of doubt, questions and searching. Christianese is limited as the songs (written by mere teenagers at the time) offer more insight than many of their contemporaries without the normal jargon associated with the genre. Is there a better and more fuzzy base line than the one found on “In Love With the Greenery?” The bass is so low at times it is felt more than heard. Utterly brilliant and fearless. “Sometimes Cry” is another song that deserved a wider hearing. Sprinkles weaving and swirling guitar drives one of the best chorus hooks on the entire album. Possibly the finest song on the album and in the entire Poor Old Lu catalog is “Cruciality.” The soulful groove and beautiful melody just works against the grungy guitar and plodding bass. Brilliant songwriting and execution. It is amazing that when one considers a good part of the group was still in their late teens that Taylor’s influence was not overpowering and they maintained their musical vision. This helped them create several more great albums and allowed them to be one of the great bands of the 90’s.
Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist 1 – More – 3:55 2 – All Pretty For The T.V. – 3:29 3 – So Good To See Me – 3:52 4 – In Love With The Greenery – 3:30 5 – Sometimes Cry – 3:47 6 – Do I? – 5:56 7 – Tried & True – 2:59 8 – Cruciality – 4:07 9 – To Be Awake – 4:21 10 – Tigger’s Daily Jog – 0:49 11 – Peapod – 3:54 12 – Shine – 4:11
Credits A&R – Matthew Duffy Arranged By – Poor Old Lu, Terry Taylor Arranged By [Strings] – Aaron Sprinkle Backing Vocals – Aaron Sprinkle, Brandon Thompson, Clark Leake, Derri Daugherty, Nick Barber, Terry Taylor Bass – Nick Barber Cello – Rick Rekedal Design, Layout – Aaron Sprinkle, Marc Ludena Drums, Percussion – Jesse Sprinkle Engineer [Second Engineering] – John Goodmanson Executive-Producer [Reissue] – Jeffrey Kotthoff Guitar, Keyboards – Aaron Sprinkle Lyrics By – Scott Hunter Music By – Poor Old Lu Percussion – Steve Hindalong Photography By [Additional] – Lloyd McCracken Photography By [Band Photography] – Anna Cardenas Producer – Terry Taylor Project Manager [Reissue Direction & Coordination] – Jeffrey Kotthoff, Scott Hunter Recorded By, Mixed By – Derri Daugherty Remastered By – Levi Seitz Technician [Drum Technician] – Aaron Mlasko Violin – Susan Jensen Vocals – Scott Hunter
