Month: May 2026

The Maranatha Singers – The Praise Album – 1974

This is not the type of album we would normally upload as it is more Worship oriented. That said The Maranatha Singers are part of CCM history. If you don’t know The Maranatha! Singers were the in-house choir of praise & worship label Maranatha! Music and featured many artists that we would know better for their future Rock oriented releases. On this album alone are Chuck Girard, Erick Nelson, John Mehler, and many more. This album turned into a series of 20 albums but this one is rather famous for the Karen Lafferty song “Seek Ye First”. So while this may not be what we usually listen to it’s still an important piece of CCM history.

Tracklist
1 – Heavenly Father – 3:39
2 – Father I Adore You – 2:31
3 – Praise The Lord – 4:50
4 – Praise The Lord Together – 1:15
5 – Thy Loving Kindness – 2:12
6 – Set My Spirit Free – 3:43
7 – Bring My Body Closer – 3:28
8 – Love (One Another) – 3:02
9 – Seek Ye First/Matt 6:33 – 2:45
10 – Cause Me To Come 2:36
11 – Holy, Thou Art Holy – 2:36
12 – Peace Give I To Thee – 3:03

Credits
Arranged By [String And Horn Arrangements] – Pete Jacobs
Design [Album Design], Artwork By – Kernie Erickson, Neal Buchanan
Horns – Bob Lund, Brooks Grier, John McIntyre, Kris Holmes, Ron Minor
Mastered By – Doug Sax
Musician – Bill Bradford, Bill Sprouse, Bruce Herring, Chuck Girard, Dana Angle, Dave Rios, Denny Stahl, Erick Nelson, Ernie Rettino, Gary Arthur, Jan Luxumbourg, Jay Truax, John Mehler, John Wickham, Karen Lafferty, Linda Broadbent, Marsha Stevens, Mike Fickling, Nancy Hawthorne, Pete Jacobs, Russ Stevens, Terrye Coelho, Tom Stipe, Tom Coomes, Wendy Carter
Photography By [Cover Photo] – David Burgin
Producer – Tom Coomes
Strings – Al Barr, Bobby Bruce, George Poole, John Santulio, Mark Kovacs, Nate Gershman, Walt Wiemeyer

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Maranatha! Music
Recorded At – Buddy King Studios, Huntington Beach, CA
Mastered At – The Mastering Lab

Nia – Carry Me – 1989

Here we go with another European artist I never heard of. This is actually her third album, but she has several more, making her an artist I should have heard of. I have not listened to her first 2 albums yet, but this one is great. It’s a solid female pop album that leans a little more easy listening. No, it’s not a bunch of number one hits, but it is good. Nia is a great singer, and these are some great songs here. I have no idea who wrote them because there are no credits on the album, and information about this album is pretty sparse. This, however, was her last album until 1997, as the industry became difficult for her. She was hit with a plethora of rumours that we will not repeat, but Nia says they were all untrue, but they tarnished her view of the industry. She did overcome this nonsense and released another album in 1997 and several after that.

Tracklist
1 – Christian – 3:58
2 – Seek – 4:02
3 – Don’t Look Down – 3:19
4 – Rumours – 2:45
5 – The Way Ahead – 2:42
6 – Covered – 3:36
7 – Tears That Fall – 2:56
8 – Carry Me – 3:47
9 – Pray For Me – 3:37
10 – We Will Love You – 3:17

Credits
Bass – Tim Harries
Drum Programming – Martin Neil
Drums – Carl McGregor
Guitar – Ian Price
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Nia
Producer, Arranged By – Steve Thompson

Companies, etc.
Licensed To – Mega Production – MPCD 202
Distributed By – Grand Slam Europe

Bruce Cockburn – In The Falling Dark – 1976

In the falling Dark was Bruce Cockburn’s seventh album and, at the time, also his best work. There are few songwriters that compare to Cockburn and he was it his finest on this project. Cockburn’s songwriting mystique is so legendary that when I have ever mentioned to a singer-songwriter that their work reminds me of Cockburn there is uniform rejection of the comparison as though no one feels the right to be mentioned in the same breath. It is the songwriting that set this album apart from those that preceded and many that followed its release. Cockburn’s faith also becomes a central focus on several of the songs including the album’s lead track, Lord of the Starfields. The song would actually be covered later by The Imperials! There is also a great sense of balance on the project, both lyrically and musically. Many Cockburn albums can be consumed with either dark and provocative content or light and joyful reprises. Here there is a wonderful balance of both and the album is better for it. The latter is represented by the wonderful “Little Seahorse” and the majestic and unforgettable, “I’m Gonna Fly Someday.” The latter remains one of Cockburn’s finest works to this day. “Silver Wheels” is an example of one of the great Cockburn trademarks. He has, through the years, created a lyrical rhythm where there appears to be too many words for the melody and must quickly, like double time, squeeze in every word before losing his breath and the refrain ends. The technique would show up over and over throughout the years. The song would also become a hit for Cockburn. Finally the album contains a true Cockburn classic in “Gavin’s Woodpile.” The over 8 minute quietly acoustic tune id just a staggering work in songwriting. the ability to captivate and mesmerize the listener with limited instrumentation for over 8 minutes is a tribute to the amazing artist Cockburn was and has remained.

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

Tracklist
1 – Lord Of The Starfields – 3:22
2 – Vagabondage – 4:17
3 – In The Falling Dark – 4:50
4 – Little Sea Horse – 4:30
5 – Water Into Wine – 5:30
6 – Silver Wheels – 4:41
7 – Giftbearer – 4:39
8 – Gavin’s Woodpile – 8:00
9 – I’m Gonna Fly Some Day – 4:02
10 – Festival Of Friends – 4:38

Credits
Acoustic Bass – Michel Donato
Art Direction – Bart Schoales
Drums – Bob Disalle
Engineer – Ken Friesen
Guitar – Bruce Cockburn
Management [Direction] – B. Finkelstein
Percussion – Bill Usher
Photography By [Back Cover Photo] – Ted Grant
Photography By [Front Cover Photo] – Arnaud Maggs
Producer – Gene Martynec
Translated By [Traduction Par] – Marcel Moussette
Voice – Bruce Cockburn
Words By – Bruce Cockburn
Written-By [All Songs], Music By – Bruce Cockburn

Companies, etc.
Published By – Golden Mountain Music Corp.
Recorded At – Eastern Sound
Manufactured By – CBS Records Canada Ltd.
Distributed By – CBS Records Canada Ltd.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – High Romance Music Ltd.
Mastered At – Masterdisk