Month: August 2026

JAG – The Longest Road – 1990

After Billy Smiley heard John Allan Garies’s demo’s this album came to be. A band name was chosen which I absolutely love, JAG. An excellent play on John’s name. Anyway the album is a rock feel with a distinct White Heart feel. Guitar was handled by J. Paul Brittain who I had never heard of before or since. My only real criticism for the album is I wish they Had turned up the Rock & Roll a little bit. The album get’s a little too mellow in places. Ironically my favourite track is “Shake It Off” which is a relatively mellow track. There is a version of this song out there before Smiley got his hands on it and I’d really like to hear it. Strangely the album starts out with a cover of a Smiley song that was released by the Gaither Vocal Band. It provides an excellent introduction to the album and it’s sound. All in all I loved this album.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLqN9XiqvVk8

Tracklist
1 – Highest Place – 4:06
2 – The Longest Road – 4:32
3 – Smile Minded – 4:54
4 – Shake It Off – 4:52
5 – Empty Spaces, Quiet Places – 6:01
6 – 21 Reasons – 4:34
7 – Father Forever – 3:44
8 – Even The Hardest Heart – 4:29
9 – Follow His Heart – 3:57
10 – The Other Side – 5:15

Credits
Art Direction, Design – Diane Painter
Drums – Chuck Connor
Engineer, Mixed By – Lee Groitzsch
Keyboards – Joel McCreight
Lead Guitar – J. Paul Brittain
Lead Vocals – John Garies
Management – Steady Wind
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Other [Hair/Make-Up] – Kim Hunter
Percussion – Chuck Connor
Photography By – Empire Studio
Producer, Mixed By – Billy Smiley
Recorded By – Duane Evans
Rhythm Guitar – Joel McCreight, J. Paul Brittain

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Spectra Distribution
Produced For – BBK Productions, Inc.
Recorded At – OmniSound Studios, Studio 19, Nashville, EBS Studios, Recording Arts
Mixed At – Warner Brothers Studios, Nashville

Paul Q-Pek – Touch The Ground – 1996

One of the great crimes of 1996 or any other year for that matter was the fact that this amazing record went relatively unnoticed in Christian Music circles. Paul, after leaving his ground breaking band, One Bad Pig, went in a whole new direction musically and one that should have afforded him great success. As the initial release for Dez Dickerson’s (Prince) Absolute Records, Touch the Ground is filled with Peter Gabriel like ethereal whirlwinds of sheer sonic pleasure. It was right smack in the middle of modern music at the time and was easily safe enough even for Christian radio. Paul’s gravelly voice is a pure delight and the content is spot on both musically and lyrically. This album is still in my Zune and the title track and cover of Howard Jones’ “Things Can Only Get Better” have worn extremely well with age. Was it the album cover of a shaved head Paul in a casual suit that threw people? I understand his One Bad Pig following not coming for the ride, but really! Anyway this is a serious AYSO and it’s not too hard to find if you look.

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

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLABpBlagJx_Y

Tracklist
1 – Touch The Ground – 4:03
2 – Things Can Only Get Better – 4:15
3 – Bring Jesus To Me – 4:49
4 – I (Surrender) – 4:51
5 – All Over You – 6:01
6 – Sea Creature – 9:08
7 – If I Were President – 4:36
8 – Capitol Hill – 5:16
9 – Blessed Are The Broken – 4:35
10 – Open The Door – 5:07
11 – Phileo – 6:52
12 – There Is No One Like You – 6:07

Credits
Backing Vocals – Dan Hatcher, Donna Lee, Doug Beiden, Jimmy Marks, Mark Pogue, Mike Bottello, Steve Gruber, Tina Keil, Troy Johnson
Bass – Brent Milligan, Paul Chapman
Bass, Guitar, Backing Vocals – Dez Dickerson
Choir – The BC & M Singers
Drums – Chester Thompson, Dan Needham
Guitar – Brian Wooten, David Zaffiro, Kirk Henderson
Piano – Roger Ryan
Producer – Mark Townsend, Paul Q-Pek, Tedd T
Producer, Executive-Producer – Dez Dickerson
Programmed By [Programming] – Dan Muckala, Mark Townsend
Programmed By [Programming], Organ – Tedd T
Saxophone – Mark Townsend, Marty Paoletta
Trumpet – Eric Beck
Vocals, Backing Vocals – Paul Q-Pek

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Diamante Music Group
Recorded At – 9070 Studios, Brentwood, TN
Recorded At – Channeland Studio, Nashville, TN

Janny – Free Indeed – 1976

Janny is another one of those huge artists that I completely missed. Even throughout this project I still hadn’t heard of her. But for a conversation with friend of the channel Frank Axel I probably would have missed this artist entirely. Okay that aside lets talk about Janny as she was known in the industry. I read a proper bio of her from Tony Cummings over at cross rhythms (https://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/Janny_Grein_Paying_tribute_to_a_Jesus_music_pioneer/44596/p1/) which I would encourage you to read but I will summarize it here. Janny was born in Joplin, Missouri and married photographer Bill Grein. She was working in the Nashville secular music industry but after a chance viewing of King Of Kings she saw the light and started working in the Christian industry. Somehow she ended up being found by Sparrow Records in their early years. In fact this album was one of the first Sparrow albums which explains the appearance of Matthew Ward, Nelly Ward, and Terry Talbot on her album. As for the album with got the period correct 70’s sound and her vocals have a Carol Pope feel that will become stronger in a few albums form now. It’s pretty easy listening but remember this was Sparrow in the early years. Anyway this is where it started for her so if you missed this one give it a listen now.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSEQSOCHvxds

Tracklist
1 – Call Upon Him – 3:54
2 – The Only One – 3:15
3 – Death Has No Sting – 3:59
4 – Doesn’t It Feel Good – 4:38
5 – Free Indeed – 2:13
6 – Glory Hallelujah – 2:52
7 – Stand By Me – 3:00
8 – Confession – 3:00
9 – Call On Jesus – 2:48
10 – Wings Of Eagles – 4:06

Credits
Backing Vocals – Matthew Ward, Nelly Ward, Terry Talbot
Bass – Dennis Parker, Joe Osborn
Drums – Billy Maxwell
Engineer [Remix] – Jay Lewis
Engineer [Tracking] – Jay Lewis, Jonathan Brown
Guitar – Dean Parks, John Talbot
Keyboards, Arranged By – Larry Muhoberac
Producer – Billy Ray Hearn
Written-By, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Guitar – Janny Grine
Written-By, Photography, Art Direction – Bill Grine

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Sparrow Records, Inc.
Copyright © – Mighty Wind, Birdwing Music, Ricci Mareno Music
Record Company – Sparrow Records, Inc.
Manufactured By – Word Records Limited

After The Fire – Der Kommissar – 1982

While we don’t normally upload compilation albums this one is obviously kind of a special case as it the origin of their biggest single Der Kommissar. Unfortunately as you probably know the band split in the fall of 82 while the single was climbing the charts. It was released in both the U.K./Europe and the U.S with some different tracks and different artwork. It was released in the U.S. and Canada using the name After The Fire – ATF as the band did not have a very big footprint in North America. Note that a subsequent pressing in Canada was retitled “Der Kommissar”. It was marketed in the North American market as a debut album which of course it wasn’t. Both versions had material from the band’s prior UK studio albums Laser Love, 80-F, and Batteries Not Included. It did not include anything from Their first album Signs Of Change as CBS/Epic/Sony did not have the rights to that album. That said they curated different songs to fit regional tastes. Unique to the UK Release were older UK synth-pop singles like “Love Signs” and “Joy”. Unique to the US Release they substituted those tracks with “Dancing in the Shadows” (which became the follow-up US single) and heavier synth-rock tracks like “Carry Me Home”, which better matched the American radio format. The U.K. version had the 7″ version of “Der Kommissar” while the U.S./Canada version had the extended 12″ album mix of “Der Kommissar”, which runs at 5:43 and includes extra synthesizer layers and instrumental loops to fit the US dance and club scene.

This release is the U.K version. It should be noted that some fans say that at some point in the pressings for the U.K. release they changed up the versions of Dancing in the Shadows, Starflight and One Rule For You. I can not confirm this but this is the only version I have of the U.K. release. Many fans also preferred the feel of the U.K. release as it obviously used different compression settings.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRidRg-kV6wY

Tracklist
1 – Der Kommissar – 4:07
2 – Who’s Gonna Love You – 4:05
3 – Frozen Rivers – 3:36
4 – Joy – 3:17
5 – Dancing In The Shadows – 3:02
6 – Billy Billy – 4:40
7 – 1980-F – 2:32
8 – Rich Boys – 3:02
9 – Starflight – 4:13
10 – Laser Love – 3:28
11 – Love Will Always Make You Cry – 3:30
12 – One Rule For You – 3:24
13 – Sailing Ship – 3:57

John Allan Garies – It’s Your Choice – 1987

Before JAG there was John Allan Garies. This was his first album and quite frankly he nailed it. It was a self release but I can’t see if it had any distribution so I have no idea if anyone ever heard it. It was very well produced by Dean Harrington from Mylon & Broken Heart who also supplied some of the guitar licks. The album is a great rock pop effort and quite frankly I think it would have sold well if it had a label behind it. Anyway as the story goes he self released this album but when it came time to shop a single he actually cut a new track called “Shake It Off”. One way or another John ended up in Billy Smiley’s tour bus and gave him a tape of that single. Bill liked what he heard and went on to produce 3 albums for what would be known as JAG. Some good news came in 2020 when Girder re-released the album on CD for the masses that never heard it. Even more good news is that as I write this it’s only $5 at Girder music here. https://girdermusic.com/products/john-a-garies-jag-its-your-choice-cd?srsltid=AfmBOorWMHzoA5AIq_V-hCI35YN1g-1NLOEIQAmAoFH5J4FNA_WMlU5d

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUEGjVS9AGQ4

Tracklist
1 – Road To Babylon – 3:51
2 – This Could Be The Day – 3:12
3 – When The Dawn Breaks Thru – 4:35
4 – Free Indeed – 3:14
5 – I’m So Happy – 3:36
6 – He’s Touching Somebody – 3:39
7 – I Hope You Know Him – 4:26
8 – Psalm Of The Heart – 3:43
9 – It’s Your Choice – 3:58
10 – Selah – 4:04
Bonus
11 – JAG and the Bite – Shake It Off – 4:52

Credits
Design Concept [Cover Concept] – John Allan Garies
Engineer [Basic Tracks] – Duane Evans
Engineer [Vocals] – Glen Marchese
Guitar – Dean “Ceedee” Harrington
Keyboards, Effects [Flight Simulator] – Larry “Lars” Rust
Keyboards, Programmed By [Sequencer Programming] – Roger “Wagons Ho” Lowe
Keyboards, Voice [Impressions] – Duane “Deuce” Evans
Mixed By – Harrington, Marchese, Garies
Percussion – “Rockin” Rob Cali
Producer – Dean Harrington
Vocals, Instruments [Jack Of All Instruments, Master Of None] – John Allan Garies
Words By, Music By – John Allan Garies

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – EBS Studios
Recorded At – Grandslam, West Orange, NJ
Mixed At – Grandslam, West Orange, NJ
Published By – Steady Wind Music

Isaac Air Freight – Fun In The Son – 1978

This was the first of a long string of comedy albums from Isaac Air Freight. At this point they were the most known comedians in the genre and also the only recorded Christian comedy troupe. I distinctly remember listening to this album in the early 80’s. We had already discovered Mike Warnke and thought Christian humour was great. So we picked up this Isaac Air Freight album. Unfortunately it didn’t really resonate with us. It was mainly chuckle funny but not laugh funny. Warnke on the other hand was all out laugh funny. That said I wonder now if maybe we weren’t the target audience. Perhaps our parents were the target and not us. I’ll say this though, IAF may not have really resonated with my circle but they were one of the best at what they did and we got many more albums from them.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHyl0lSu4E7M

Tracklist
1 – Let’s Trade Your Salvation – 8:31
2 – Religion Store – 9:15
3 – Rapture Hotline #1 – 0:46
4 – 777 Pearly Gates – 4:15
5 – The Last World Series Report – 4:14
6 – Rapture Hotline #2 – 0:58
7 – Rapture Airlines – 1:32
8 – Bible Junkie – 4:01
9 – Crazy Christians – 1:39
10 – Rapture Hotline #3 – 0:46
11 – Jerusalem Dragnet – 10:02

Credits
Arranged By [Jerusalem Dragnet Theme], Composed By [Jerusalem Dragnet Theme] – Peter Jacobs
Artwork By [Art Direction] – Rick Griffen
Artwork By [Cover Art, Graphics & Layout] – John Benson
Artwork By [Layout Assitance] – Neal Buchannan
Artwork By [Logo] – Tim Barela
Engineer – Dan Willard, Jonathan David Brown
Mixed By – Jonathan David Brown
Other [Sound Assistance] – Patrick Butler, Thom Roy
Photography – Mike Rupp
Producer – Tom Coomes
Troupe – Dan Rupple, Dave Toole, Larry Watt
Voice [Additional Voices] – Cathy Toole, Harold Taylor, Malcolm Wild, Peggy Rupple, Sharee Watt, Thom Roy, The Wailers

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Anaheim Convention Center
Published By – Maranatha! Music
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Maranatha! Music
Copyright © – Maranatha! Music
Distributed By – Word, Inc.

Wings Of Light – Wings Of Light – 1979

As near as I can figure out the Wings Of Light were the “international” wing of the Continental Singers which were an international music ministry group. I’m not really too sure of how this actually worked but that’s not really that important to listen to an album. I get hung up on the minutia of these things. Anyway this is their first of 3 albums and as I understand every album has a different sound and feel. This one has a jazzy pop feel that was certainly right for the time but it doesn’t actually age very well. Most if not all of trhe album are cover songs from other Christian artists some more mainstream than other. The highlight for me was a pretty good cover of Keith Greens “You Put This Love In My Heart”. I’m looking forward to hearing their other 2 albums and we’ll get the here for you soon.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXBO33kwWHos

Tracklist
1 – What A Difference You’ve Made In My Life – 3:50
2 – Doesn’t That Surprise You – 4:48
3 – It’s A Lamp – 2:40
4 – Daystar – 2:48
5 – He Loves You – 5:02
6 – I Can’t See Me Serving Nobody But Jesus – 2:50
7 – You Put This Love In My Heart – 3:28
8 – The Best – 3:02
9 – Pleasure Servin’ You – 3:08
10 – The Serf And The King – 3:34

Credits
Arranged By – Bob Krogstad, Clark Glassman, Terry Winch
Cover, Design [Backliner Design] – Thel Arthur
Engineer, Mixed By – Toby Foster
Executive-Producer – Cam Floria
Performer – Dave Mullins, Ed Deckard, Glenn Holmen, Jeff Taylor (20), Keith Boll, Laroy Cadiz, Larry Tardy, Leann Hendrickson, Mike Ross, Patti Grover, Steve Gabrielse
Performer, Directed By – Fred Heumann
Producer – Paul Stilwell
Producer [Assistance In Production] – Chuck Bolte

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Good Life Records
Copyright © – Good Life Records
Distributed By – Word Records
Printed By – Gothic Press Ltd.
Recorded At – Sound Castle Recorders, Los Angeles
Mixed At – Universal Recording Studio

Wilson McKinley – Spirit Of Elijah – 1971

We recently uploaded the 1972 Wilson McKinley album, Heaven’s Gonna Be A Blast! and people enjoyed it so here is their previous 1971 album. While i don’t think it’s quite as good as their subsequent album I actually still quite liked it. The album includes a updated rock cover of the 1966 Peter Scholtes hymn “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” renamed “One In The Spirit”. It’s a pretty good version though there are errors in the song if you listen carefully. Normally stuff like that would be re-cut but this was a self released album on a tight budget and I don’t care it adds to the album. It’s actually pretty well engineered and produced for the era. Luckily for us it has been re-released a few times on vinyl then finally on CD so there are copies out there.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQHur5qdsFSk

Tracklist
1 – He – 4:08
2 – It’s Up To You – 3:25
3 – Come On Home – 2:52
4 – One In The Spirit – 4:00
5 – Tree Of Life – 3:52
6 – His Eye Is On The Sparrow – 3:03
7 – All My Life – 3:40
8 – Crown Of Glory – 1:30
9 – I Need A Saviour – 3:30
10 – Spirit Of Elijah – 6:08

Credits
Design – Johnny T’s House Of Design
Drums – Tom Slipp
Engineer – Terry Sheets
Lead Guitar, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Mike Messer
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Electric Bass – Jimmy Bartlett
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Rhythm Guitar [Electric], Rhythm Guitar [Acoustic], Lead Guitar, Electric Piano – Randy Wilcox
Liner Notes – Timothy Smith
Mastered By – Dingbat Lacquer Sound Disc
Photography, Layout, Design – Dave Joern

Companies, etc.
Licensed From – Timothy Smith
Licensed From – Tanignak Productions
Recorded At – Sound Recordings
Pressed By – Gotta Groove Records

Sentry – Sick Of The Darkness – 1989

The boys from Quincy Massachusetts are back with an EP to follow up their self released album. While it picks up right where the previous ep left off I think the previous ep was better. For this release I’m just not sold on the vocals and I think I would have pitch shifted them down a bit. I also think many of the tracks are just too long. This is a common mistake by new bands as they often have a verse that a later producer will remove. Most of my criticisms are related to them being a young band and not yet getting proper direction from a industry producer. Lets be clear about one thing however I am sold on Dave McCreary’s guitar work. He’s obviously a talented axe player and I really wish the band had been picked up by a label because there was some real talent here. Unfortunately the band packed it in after this one so we never got to hear their talent directed by an album label. Good news however the entire Sentry catalog was re-released in 2026 by Roxx records and can be purchased here https://roxxrecords.com/collections/2019-releases/products/sentry-anthology-cd-2026-remastered-first-time-on-cd

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZ82e5B7zKY

Tracklist
1 – The Choice – 5:05
2 – Passing Moments – 5:58
3 – Living In A Lie – 4:51
4 – Sick Of The Darkness – 7:24
5 – Hope For You And I – 4:47
6 – Heaven Bound – 4:53

Credits
Bass – Steve Knepper
Drums, Backing Vocals – Jeffrey Stewart
Guitar, Lead Vocals – Dave McCreary
Keyboards – Tim Knepper

Adrian Snell – Alpha And Omega – 1986

This is probably Adrian’s most prophetic album. Adrian himself describes it as “a contemporary oratorio that truly has a message for the world today.” While a little bit of a grandiose description I think it’s fair. The story of this album isn’t so much the album but the tour it spawned. It was first performed in Jerusalem, March 1986 and quickly spread around the world. Adrian made a point of hiring local choirs and performers as the tour went and some of them were pretty big choirs. He is very proud that so many people got to attend the concerts as a performer not just an audience member. So what is the album. Well it’s a Rock opera I guess. It adheres to the scriptures and as such is a rather spiritual experience for the listener. I’m not a big fan of this way of presenting music as I’m rather infantile and just want a song to entertain me and not make me work to enjoy it. That said this album is easy to enjoy if you just want some simple music. I think Adrian hit the balance nicely on this album. He actually re-recorded the album in 2017 and toured it again. You gotta respect a project that is still appealing to audiences 30 years later.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUzfauoCKG5A

Tracklist
1 – Kaddish For Bergen-Belsen – 4:30
2 – The Nations Rage And Fall – 2:34
3 – Nobody Listens – 3:45
4 – Messiah Mask (Pretender To My Throne)/I Am Your God – 5:00
5 – Guns Of Peace – 6:50
6 – No Escape – 4:55
7 – Child Of Darkness – 2:52
8 – I Am Your God – 2:25
9 – Man Of Sorrows – 2:19
10 – I Am The Way – 4:22
11 – Lord Have Mercy – 2:32
12 – Streams In The Desert/And They Shall Prophesy – 4:41
12 – And In That Day – 4:23
14 – He Lives In You – 1:53
15 – Alpha And Omega (The Beginning And The End) – 5:00

Credits
Bass Guitar – Les Moir
Choir – The All Souls Choir, The Worship In Concert Choir
Design, Illustration – James Kessell
Directed By – Victor Kee
Directed By, Conductor [Choirs And Congregation Conducted By], Arranged By [Choir Arrangements] – Noel H. Tredinnick
Drum Programming [Additional], Guitar Synthesizer – Dave Bainbridge
Drums, Drum Programming – Dave Dowle
Electric Guitar, Guitar Synthesizer, Engineer, Producer, Arranged By – Neil Costello
Executive-Producer – David Bruce
Flute, Saxophone – David Fitzgerald
Mastered By [Mastering Engineer] – Dave Aston
Oboe – Debbie Bainbridge
Piano, Keyboards, Producer, Arranged By – Adrian Snell
Programmed By [Keyboards Sampling And Programming], Piano, Keyboards, Producer, Arranged By – Dave Bainbridge
Vocals – Joanne Hogg
Vocals [Additional], Arranged By [Vocal Arrangements] – Julie Moon, Mal Pope

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Copyright © – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Distributed By – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Pressed By – MPO