Month: June 2025

Stephen Wiley – Rap It Up – 1988

Just a heads up that I’m going to be a little critical of the Stephen Wiley Lore first off. I keep reading that Stephen had the Christian Rap album with Bible Break in 1985. Okay but Bible Break wasn’t an album it was a single and there are rap singles before his. For example Ketty Lester had a rap song on her 1984 album I Saw Love. When it comes to the titles of first Rap Album that goes to Roy Suthard’s Plain White Rapper by my research. Thanks to Christian Tape Underground for enlightening me to that album which is rare but does exist. So on to the album now. As I said this was Stephen’s first album and Brentwood Music went out on a limb on this one. I do find it kind of humorous that they actually put “Christian Rap Music” on the cover. I don’t know if they did it as a warning or a guide but there it is. Anyway the album is kind of fun. I’m not as fan of rap but as I have matured in age I have kind of started liking the 80’s rap. As such this album kind of grew on me and I’ll admit I listened to it a few times. What the 80’s really needed was a Stephen Wiley mashup with Resurrection Band. Think Aerosmith/Run DMC. Now that I would have loved.

Tracklist
1 – Intro Rap – 0:32
2 – Heroes – 4:26
3 – Big Man – 3:41
4 – Best Friend – 5:42
5 – The Rock – 3:30
6 – Where Will I Go? – 3:38
7 – Stand (Ephesians 6:10-20) – 3:08
8 – Why I Rap – 3:02
9 – Fourth Man (Daniel 3) – 7:49

Credits
Art Direction – Dill Beaty
Backing Vocals – Glenda Barclay, Kim Lucas
Engineer – Bret Teegarden
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Music By – Bret Teegarden, Mike Barnes
Producer – Mike Barnes
Producer, Performer – Stephen Wiley

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Brentwood Music, Inc.
Copyright © – Brentwood Music, Inc.
Recorded At – B.T. Productions
Mixed At – B.T. Productions
Mastered At – Mastermix

Arc – Power Transfer – 1986

This is going to be one of my quickest band reviews ever because I can not find anything about about this band. This is not the U.K. band of the same name. This Arc was from Allegan Michigan and had 2 albums. They described themselves a group “comprised of 12 – 14 talented college age individuals” but we have no idea who these 12 – 14 people were. So that’s all I got on them so lets get on to the album. This is an album of cover songs and boy are they varied. I was not expecting a cover album with covers from both Stryper and The Winans. That said these guys/gals make it work. While the style overall is pop they turn up the rock a bit for the Stryper track and turn it down for The Winans. The album actually has a pretty good flow and is really well done for a self released covers album. I definitely think it is worth a listen. Here is a list of the tracks and who first released them;

You’re Alright – Michael W. Smith
The Rock That Makes Me Roll – Stryper
Always – Tim Miner, Tim Miner
He is All You Need – Rob Frazier
Tomorrow – The Winans
You Know What’s Right – Rob Frazier
Stolen Love – Rob Frazier
My Soul Desire – Deniece Williams
What You Need – The English Band
Surrender – Allies

Tracklist
1 – You’re Alright – 4:26
2 – The Rock That Makes Me Roll – 5:02
3 – Always – 3:42
4 – He Is All You Need – 4:08
5 – Tomorrow – 3:40
6 – You Know What’s Right – 2:43
7 – Stolen Love – 2:54
8 – My Soul Desire – 4:01
9 – What You Need – 3:10
10 – Surrender – 4:07

Credits
Producer – Roger Byrd
Vocals and Instruments – Arc
Arranged by – Marv Hollenbeck, Kevin Smith
Engineer – Mark Aspinall

Companies
Recorded and production – Pinebrook Studios
Art – D. Liverett Graphics

Derek Lind – Mixed Blessings – 1986

This is another 80’s artist that I never heard of but it doesn’t look like any of his albums were ever released in Canada. This is his first album and didn’t get much exposure but wow it really should have. Derek is yet another one of those Christian artist that just didn’t get the recognition they deserved. His music should have been distributed far and wide but that’s not how the CCM industry worked at the time. Though few of us heard this album the people who ran music festivals must have because Derek was invited and appeared at all the top Christian festivals of the era. As for the album it has a folksy blues feel with the best tracks leaning towards the blues side. I tried to pick a favourite track but there are just too many I liked and the album deserves to be listened to in its entirety. Derek has a few more albums from this era and I can’t wait to hear them. When we get them we will be uploading them for you also.

Tracklist
1 – Wasteland – 2:22
2 – Stick To The Surface – 2:04
3 – Thank You Lord (You’ll Be The First To Know) – 3:08
4 – New Zealand Day – 2:58
5 – Without You – 3:41
6 – A Man Like Me – 4:02
7 – Hit The Road – 2:49
8 – Nobody Knows (But You) – 4:04
9 – You Are My Song – 2:24
10 – One Righteous Man – 2:03
11 – Rusty Nail – 2:09
12 – For A Friend – 4:56

Credits
Bass, Guitar, Tuba, Producer – Pale Sauni
Blues Harp – Brendan Power
Drums, Percussion, Producer – Kevin Adair
Engineer – Phil Yule
Pedal Steel Guitar – Red McKelvie
Piano, Synthesizer – Bruce Bremner
Saxophone – Brian Coldham
Written-By, Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Producer – Derek Lind

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Drum Beat Music – SODE 258

Jim Thomson II + Preflyte – Message at 33⅓ – 1979

Jim Thomson is one of the most prolific artists you never heard of. He claims to have over “100 releases and production or writing credits for about 30 other artists”. I don’t know if he means 100 songs or albums but he has way over 100 songs so he must mean albums. Anyway this is where it started for him and what a start it was. It was a self released effort released in his own country of Canada but he had a great group of studio musicians to augment his own band. The album was produced and engineered by Ron Moore and the production has more of an early 70’s sound than 79. Ron heavily split up the instruments heavily to left or right sides of the stereo track. This kind of production was more common during the origins of stereo but by 1979 was more rare. Anyway it works really well and really accentuates the seventies sound of the album. Point of trivia is that this is one of the earliest albums featuring John Lawry (Petra). This is a great 70’s album with very limited distribution so if you like 70’s style music this one is for you. If you only have time for one track head down to track 9 “Oh Lord” which is my choice for best track.

Tracklist
1 – Be My Song – 0:42
2 – I’ve Got Jesus – 3:09
3 – Lonely One – 2:58
4 – New Song – 1:56
5 – Blend – 4:19
6 – Train For Thought – 2:54
7 – Eternal Light Brigade – 5:12
8 – Come Follow – 3:34
9 – Oh Lord – 2:55
10 – Showdown – 2:18
11 – You Are The Song – 2:21
12 – Be My Song (Reprise) – 1:15

Credits
Bass – Stephen Romanow
Cello, Mandolin – Dorothy Nielsen
Drums – Barry Salmon
Electric Guitar [Rhythm] – Kevin Rogers
Keyboards, Strings – John Lawry
Producer [Assistant], Engineer – Ron Moore
Trumpet, Percussion – Danny Srnec
Vocals – Joe Paquette
Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – Jim Thomson II
Vocals, Percussion – Danny Thomson

Little Anthony – Daylight – 1980

This is Little Anthony from Little Anthony & The Imperials who were huge in the 60’s. As we’ve seen frequently once the record deals dried up Little Anthony turned to a gospel label. I’m not criticizing him as it he deserves a new record deal as this guy can sing. This is the first of two gospel albums Anthony would do but the next one wouldn’t be for another 15 years. As I’ve said many times this just isn’t my style of music but I always appreciate the quality vocals albums like this have. Anthony was a fantastic singer but not a songwriter so this album is entirely written by others. Interestingly he does a cover of Per-Erik Hallin’s Gospel Train which I guess is pretty good versio0n but I really prefer the original. Brown Bannister produced the album and B.J. Thomas listed as an Executive-Producer. All in all a pretty good soul album and if you like that style this is a must listen.

Tracklist
1 – Love’s The Only Way To Survive – 2:30
2 – Your Love – 2:58
3 – You Only Get Out Of Life What You Put In – 3:25
4 – Walk On Water – 3:40
5 – Reach Up – 3:46
6 – Love Was Born For Me – 2:48
7 – I’ll Be Thinking Of You – 3:36
8 – My Best Friend – 2:57
9 – You Came Just In Time To Love Me – 3:45
10 – Gospel Train – 3:09

Credits
Engineer – Bob Cotton
Engineer, Mixed By – Jimmy Burch
Executive-Producer – B. J. Thomas
Producer – Brown Bannister, Milton Blackford

Companies, etc.
Manufactured By – MCA Records, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Songbird Records
Copyright © – Songbird Records
Pressed By – MCA Pressing Plant, Pinckneyville
Recorded At – Gold Mine Studio
Mixed At – Gold Mine Studio
Mastered At – Masterfonics

Triumph – Cry Freedom – 1989

This is the second album from U.K. band Triumph. There is not much info out there on these guys or perhaps their is but due to their choice of names it’s impossible to find. The album was produced by Norman Barratt and because of this I couldn’t wait to listen to it. This is an excellent album. It leans new wave with hints of progressive rock think The Cult light perhaps. The unfortunate part of this 80’s CCM project is that I have to listen to many many albums that just aren’t my style or preferred genre so I get pretty excited when I find a new to me album that I like. This is one of those albums. I’m a little unclear if this album was released in North America but I don’t think it was. Feel free to correct me though.

Tracklist
1 – Run With The Wind – 3:51
2 – Son Of Man – 3:50
3 – I Am Waiting – 4:17
4 – It Is Finished – 5:09
5 – Paid On The Nail – 5:36
6 – Cry Freedom – 4:36
7 – Never Trust A Stranger – 3:21
8 – Take My Life – 4:52
9 – Liberty – 4:00
10 – I Will Rise – 5:25

Credits
Jim Ritchie – Lead vocals, bass, percussion
Gordon Cowan – Keyboards, backing vocals
George McConnachie – Drums, percussion
Murray McEwen – Guitars
Andi Tooth – Drums, percussion
Norman Barratt – Producer
Ted Blakeway – Producer

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Gerth Medien GmbH
Distributed By – Grandslam Europe
Licensed From – Pulse Records

Pat Terry – Pat Terry – 1974

Pat Terry entered the music game early in life. He started a band at age 12 that they say stayed together until he finished high school. But after high school it was time to play the game a little more seriously. This is probably the Pat Terry album you’ve never heard. Before the success of The Pat Terry Group Pat actually self released this solo album to very little fanfare. I would assume however that this album led to his deal with Myrrh records the next year. The album has a pretty typical seventies sound though it leans a little more rock than common Jesus music of the era. I say leans towards Rock, not Rock & Roll as this is mainly a pretty soft rock album. I really can’t find much info on this album so I can’t tell you much more. Anyway you probably missed this on so give it a listen and you can hear the origins of The Pat Terry Group.

Tracklist
1 – If You Listen/Power/Introduction – 3:59
2 – Same Sweet Song – 3:54
3 – Iris – 3:36
4 – Seen It Now – 3:34
5 – That’s The Way – 3:24
6 – I Can’t Wait – 3:22
7 – I’ve Been Waiting To Tell You – 2:59
8 – Jesus – 2:44
9 – I Did It – 2:34
10 – Just For You – 2:33
11 – Never Pay The Price – 2:28

Credits
Backing Vocals – Sonny Lallerstedt, Stan Ruffin
Bass – Randy Bugg
Design [Logo] – Joe Estes
Engineer – Stan Dacus
Guitar – Pat Terry
Lead Guitar – Sonny Lallerstedt
Mellotron – Tony Shannon
Percussion – Stan Ruffin
Photography By – Tim Terry
Piano – Pat Terry
Synthesizer – Pat Terry
Vocals – Pat Terry
Written-By – Pat Terry

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Pat Terry
Recorded At – LeFevre Sound Studios
Mixed At – LeFevre Sound Studios

Horizon – Futuristic Triangle – 1993

This is the first album from Sammy Hall and his 2 sons using the band name Horizon. I don’t know who played what instrument as Sammy didn’t document it on the album information. This album is made up of secular cover tracks with the exception of Amazing Grace. We have here the following covers;

Hold On Tight to Your Dream originally by ELO
In My Life originally by The Beatles
Back to Paradise originally by 38 Special
Some Gave All originally by Billy Ray Cyrus
To Love Somebody originally by Bee Gees
Against the Grain originally by Garth Brooks
Homeward Bound originally by Simon & Garfunkel
Bridge Over Troubled Water originally by Simon & Garfunkel

I’m guessing this was just a fun project for Sammy and his sons as they just self released it and if they took it too serious it would have been licensing nightmare. But remember this was 1993 and the record companies hadn’t lost their minds over licensing yet. Horizon would go on to record several more self released albums similar to this one.

Tracklist
1 – Hold On Tight to Your Dream – 3:04
2 – In My Life – 2:25
3 – Back to Paradise – 3:46
4 – Some Gave All – 4:08
5 – To Love Somebody – 3:41
6 – Against the Grain – 2:21
7 – Homeward Bound – 3:17
8 – Bridge Over Troubled Water – 4:46
9 – Amazing Grace – 1:03

Credits
Sammy Hall
Monte Hall
Brannon Hall

Cliff Richard – Now You See Me… …Now You Don’t – 1982

I do believe the only artist on this list to be officially “knighted” is Cliff Richard. Not bad for a pop star and teen heart throb from the 1950’s and 60’s. Then again John Lennon was a fan and he is said to be the first real “rock star” from Great Britain. Sir Cliff Richard has also been a devoted Christian and has recorded several Gospel themed albums. The one in question here is the very best as it is simply a pop album with Gospel themes rather than a Gospel album that tries to sound pop. The album is also unique in that it also generated a comeback of sort for the artist in his native land after several years of unsuccessful pop albums. NYSMNYD went Gold in England and had several radio hits on both side of the Atlantic. Released in 1982 Christian music was constantly gravitating toward “pop stars” who professed a Christian belief (Bob Dylan, Joe English), but this album never saw Christian distribution and many missed this great album. Thief in the Night is much heavier song musically than the normal Richard bubble gum and is the center piece to the whole project. It rocks and like the rest of the albums sounds like it was influenced by Mark Williamson and Chris Eaton. The album has a bit of an Ambrosia feel with silky, pop driven rockers and big ballads meant for radio consumption. But the rockers stand out like the previously mentioned Thief in the Night and the bombastic Son of Thunder. “Little Town” Chris Eaton arranged version of O Little Town of Bethlehem would also be recorded by Amy Grant and Michael W Smith. Richard’s version would be the best. One last song of note is the song Christian radio gravitated to; Water is Wide is a stunningly beautiful remake of the traditional tune. Simply, if not a bit over-produced, the song would chart on CCM radio and be Richards only real CCM hit. He would later do a duet with Van Morrison that would also hit CCM radio.

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

Tracklist
1 – The Only Way Out – 3:20
2 – First Date – 3:33
3 – Thief In The Night – 3:50
4 – Where Do We Go From Here – 2:53
5 – Son Of Thunder – 3:58
6 – Little Town – 4:03
7 – It Has To Be You, It Has To Be Me – 4:17
8 – The Water Is Wide – 3:50
9 – Now You See Me, Now You Don’t – 3:00
10 – Be In My Heart – 4:38
11 – Discovering – 4:50

Credits
Autoharp – Craig Pruess
Bass Guitar – Andy Pask, Mark Griffiths, Mo Foster, Paul Westwood
Bells [Sleigh Bells] – Craig Pruess
Design – Cream
Drum Programming – Craig Pruess
Drums – Dave Mattacks, Graham Jarvis
Electric Piano – Graham Todd
Electric Violin – Paul Hart
Engineer Assistant – Tony Richards
Engineer – John Kurlander
Engineer – John Walker
Engineer Assistant – Steve Cook
Engineer [Strawberry] – Keith Bessey
Guitar – Bill Roberts, John Clark, Mart Jenner
Harmonium – Craig Pruess
Mastered By – Gordon Vicary, Keith Bessey
Mixed By – Keith Bessey
Mixed By [Assisted By] – Howard Gray
Photography By – Brian Aris
Piano – Craig Pruess, Graham Todd, Peter Skellern
Producer – Cliff Richard, Craig Pruess
Saxophone – Mel Collins
Sequenced By – Craig Pruess
Synthesizer – Craig Pruess, Dave Cooke
Vocals, Backing Vocals – Cliff Richard
Wind Chimes – Craig Pruess

Companies, etc.
Marketed By – EMI
Distributed By – EMI
Manufactured By – EMI
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – EMI Records Ltd.
Printed By – EMI Services Benelux B.V.
Recorded At – Abbey Road Studios
Recorded At – Strawberry Studios
Mastered At – The Town House
Mixed At – The Town House

Reneé Garcia – Living In The Vertical – 1987

This is the first of 2 solo albums from Reneé. I first saw this album posted in our Facebook group and found it in the stack so gave it a listen. It was described in that post as the “CCM Madonna”. While I generally don’t agree when people compare artists on this one I feel the poster was correct. This album has a definite Madonna pop dance style sound but quite frankly Reneé’s vocals are better. Honestly though I was never a fan of Madonna’s vocals. Anyway a little back ground on Reneé is that she was born in Indiana and moved to Nashville in her mid 20’s. She actually sang backup on several Amy Grant tours before this album so she had some good exposure in the industry. Chris Eaton produced the album and he is well known for “finding” a lot of his projects but I don’t know if this project was his idea or the record companies. Anyway this is a great album and really should have been much better known but perhaps it was just a little late in 1987 for this sound.

Tracklist
1 – More Than Fascination – 4:30
2 – Running From A Legacy – 4:15
3 – I See Love – 5:30
4 – Deepest Love – 6:23
5 – Living In The Vertical – 4:10
6 – I’ve Got My Eye On You – 4:20
7 – The Bounce – 3:57
8 – Imagination – 4:35
9 – I Want To Be Used For You – 4:27

Credits
Administrator [Covert Operations] – Terry Hemmings
Art Direction – Bill Brunt Designs
Backing Vocals – Chris Eaton, Mark Williamson, Reneé Garcia
Bass [Fretless] – Steve Greetham
Cymbal [Additional] – Lang Bliss
Drums, Bass, Programmed By [Percussion], Keyboards – Chris Eaton
Engineer – Laurence Burrage, Steve Boyce-Buckley
Engineer [Additional] – David Holmes, John Revenhall, Jon Sweet
Executive-Producer – Dan Harrell, Jeff Moseley, Michael Blanton
Guitar – Neil Costello
Lead Guitar – Peter Brooks
Mastered By – Glenn Meadows
Mixed By – Glenn Tommey, Raine Shine
Photography By – Peter Nash
Producer – Chris Eaton
Programmed By [Additional Keyboards] – Richard Osborne
Rhythm Guitar [Additional] – Richard Osborne
Saxophone – Martin Green

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Reunion Records
Copyright © – Reunion Records
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Made By – Discovery Systems – 18A0100B
Recorded At – The Justice Room
Recorded At – Square One Studios
Recorded At – Swot Productions
Mixed At – Crescent Studios
Mastered At – Masterfonics