Strangely this is the second self titled album Gabriel published. The first one was their first album released on micro label Parable Records but this one was released on Home Sweet Home Records/Word. I still can’t find much out about these guys which is odd as they had 5 albums. So instead of talking about the band we will talk about the album. it has more of an early 80’s keyboard heavy pop sound though it might have been a little late for 1988. While it’s a little heavy on easy listening tracks the pop oriented tracks are really good and definitely get the toes tapping. Bottom line, I quite like this album and I could have found this is my collection back in the day.
Tracklist 1 – Send Me – 3:37 2 – Slippin’ Into Mediocrity – 3:19 3 – Out of the East – 4:19 4 – I Put My Hope – 3:58 5 – A Simple Prayer – 3:30 6 – Heartstrings – 2:45 7 – You Can’t Fool God – 3:00 8 – I Want To Be Your Light – 3:00 9 – That’s How It Is With Truth – 3:44 10 – That Day In Bethlehem – 3:52
Credits Robin Lyle – keyboards, vocals Jeff Walter – vocals, keyboard Robert Noland – drums, vocals Scott Compton – Coordinator, Marketing, Promotion Chris Christian – Executive-Producer Jake Pittman – Producer
This is actually Terry Clark’s first album. He recorded this one with his brother Duane and sister Nancy. Both Nancy and Duane would appear on Terry’s future albums and Duane had an album in the late 90’s. So in the end I classify this as Terry’s first album as it was self released and appears to have been a bit of an experiment. All that said this is a great album, I understand it had no distribution but I wish it would had because I think it would have done well. Terry had just come back from Vietnam before recording this album and he says that he was suffering from PTSD but this album has a great upbeat feel and there was no indication of his troubles. If you’re a fan of Terry you need to listen to this one to see where it all started for him.
Tracklist 1 – That’s Him – 2:09 2 – Nobody Like The Lord – 3:40 3 – Merry Go Round – 2:50 4 – Psalms 92 – 3:51 5 – New Song – 3:08 6 – David’s Song – 3:52 7 – Continuing Help – 3:14 8 – Love Of A King – 4:19 9 – For The World – 3:37 10 – This Could Be The Day – 2:21
Malachia released this demo on vinyl in 1986. All the tracks, except for the narrative track, appeared on their first album released in 1987. There were only about 200 copies of this vinyl pressed so it’s a pretty rare piece of history. That said there are several copies available on Discogs today. The demo was re-released in 2021 on CD so a copy can be had pretty easily now. We’re posting this album as the versions of the songs here versus the album are different but I think they were actually re-mixed and not re-recorded for the 1987 album. If you want to learn a little more about the band read our review of the 1987 album here.
Tracklist 1 – Narration – 0:15 2 – Heaven Or Hell – 3:22 3 – Mark Of The Beast – 3:41 4 – Master’s Call – 5:00 5 – Let It Go – 3:10 6 – Red Sunrise – 3:46 7 – In Christ We Rock – 4:55
Credits Bass – Wade A.Little Drums – Dave Devaughn Executive Producer – Bill Bafford Guitar – Jeffrey James Keyboards – Steve Ayola Producer – Wayde Production Remastered By – Rob Colwell Vocals, Guitar – Ken Pike
Hands down one of the most “important” releases in the history of CCM and one of the best Jesus Music albums ever recorded. Jesus Music grew up in a big with this release and forced the rest of the musicians within the genre to step up with quality songs, productions and performances. It also contains one of the greatest CCM songs ever recorded, and possibly the very best! After touring and performing with some of the best artists in the early Jesus Music scene like Barry McGuire, the three siblings were offered on recording contract of their own on Word’s rock label, Myrrh. Myrhh provided a decent enough budget to enlist the likes of Michael Omartian, David Kemper and a young Michael Been (The Call). Manyof the musicians would also become part of the ground tour band known as “a band called DAVID.” The album starts with what would later become a 2nd Chapter classic, Which Way the Wind Blows. Older sibling Annie Herring wrote much the groups music along with husband Buck, while the vocal duties were shared amongst the three. But for many it would be the lone boy, Matthew Ward, who would amaze the listeners with his unbelievable range. The Devil Lost Again features Matthew and would hint at what would come later for him as a solo artists. The more “rocking” of the three siblings, this song would have fit nicely on a Michael Omartian project and features some guitar work that pushed the envelope for the time. “Love, Peace, Joy” features the trademark tight harmonies that would earn the group their international recognition and would also later draw comparisons to ABBA, and eventually be ripped off by Silverwind. Nothing sounds quite as beautiful as siblings harmonizing and this rings true throughout the project. But the finest two and half minutes in Jesus Music history comes courtesy of the classic “Easter Song.” If ever a song deserved the recognition of the “classic” designation, it is this song. I can’t even imagine just how many times this song has been covered, sampled, sung, recorded or performed in its nearly 40 years of existence. I would venture to guess that only the Hallelujah Chorus has been sung at more Easter services. And it is also a wonderful song. Beautiful, inspirational and dynamic. This album was a game changer and a lasting testament to the legacy of one of the most important groups in CCM history.
Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com
Tracklist 1 – Which Way The Wind Blows – 4:58 2 – Goin Home – 2:48 3 – With Jesus – 2:45 4 – The Devil’s Lost Again – 3:06 5 – Love, Peace, Joy – 2:33 6 – I Don’t Wanna Go Home – 2:28 7 – Easter Song – 2:20 8 – He Loves Me – 5:07 9 – Good News – 3:20 10 – I Fall In Love/Change – 4:22 11 – The Son Comes Over The Hill – 3:23
Credits Bass – Joe Osborn, Mike Been Drums – David Kemper, Jim Gordon, John Guerin, Michael Omartian Guitar – Al McKay, Art Munson, Mike Deasy Organ – Danny Timms, Michael Omartian Piano – Anne Herring, Danny Timms, Michael Omartian, Tom Keene Producer – Buck Herring Strings, Arranged By – Michael Omartian Synthesizer [Arp] – Michael Omartian Written-By – Anne Herring, Buck Herring
The single greatest and most often repeated “urban legend” in CCM history involves a supposed encounter with Jimi Hendrix and Johnny Carson in which it is claimed that Jimi Hendrix claimed that Phil Keaggy was the greatest guitar player in the world. Or maybe it was Dick Cavett and Eric Clapton or perhaps Jimmy Page and… It’s important to note that the only reason the fabled legend has continued to exist (despite Keaggy’s constant denials) is because Phil Keaggy is one of the greatest guitar players in the world. In fact, the proliferation of such a myth can only seem plausible because o0f Keaggy’s sheer mastery of the instrument and his incredible creativity. Now it should be noted that even though the album in question was recorded in the famed Hendrix stomping grounds, Electric Lady Studios, the legendary guitar player passed away two weeks before Glass Harp began recording and Keaggy does not believe Hendrix ever heard Keaggy play. In spite of the legends questionable validity, it must not be discounted what amazing music Keaggy created as part of Glass Harp. One of the original “power trios” in rock music they are often labeled as a psychedelic or progressive rock band when in fact they are closer to a “jam band” popularized by The Grateful Dead, Cream, Blind Faith and most recently Phish. Noted for musical stylistic fusions and original improvisations, Glass harp would and should be considered one of the pioneers of the movement. Built around three very strong musicians, most notably Keaggy, the three albums created by Glass harp are astounding works of creativity, originality and musical mastery. The debut stands out for the more aggressive rock sounds and for leading off with what should be considered the “Stairway to Heaven” of Christian music, Can You See Me. Starting slow and building into two separate instrumental breaks lead by Keaggy’s sizzling and soaring guitar work. It can not be understated just how great this song is and how well it should be regarded by CCM music historians. The whole record is brilliant and moving. It was also very, very “Christian” in its content. There are bold declarations of faith and and Biblical themes despite the placement on a secular label. Oddly enough, this album is often overlooked when people refer to that which can be considered the first “Christian Rock” album. The band would record two more album and right about when many thought they were going to “break through” Keaggy left to concentrate on writing more distinctly Christian songs for the burgeoning Christian music industry. The band has reunited on a few occasions over the years, including one night immortalized in the song, Wish You Were There, from Keaggy’s Town to Town LP.
Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com
Tracklist 1 – Can You See Me – 6:25 2 – Children’s Fantasy – 4:10 3 – Changes (In The Heart Of My Own True Love) – 6:00 4 – Village Queen – 4:00 5 – Black Horse – 2:50 6 – Southbound – 3:50 7 – Whatever Life Demands – 6:30 8 – Look In The Sky – 8:10 9 – Garden – 5:15 10 – On Our Own – 2:30 2005 CD Bonus track 11 – Voice of God Cry Out – 4:10
Credits Arranged By [Strings] – Larry Fallon Artwork [Album Design] – Ernie Cefalu Bass, Vocals, Flute – Dan Pecchio* Drums, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – John Sferra Electric Guitar, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – Phil Keaggy Engineer – Ron Johnsen Liner Notes – Robert Brandt Photography By [Back Cover] – Billy Bass Photography By [Glass Harp Photo Effects] – Bill Levy Producer – Lewis Merenstein Viola [Electric] – John Cale
