This is a very simple 2 side 2 track cassette that was sold by DC Talk before Kevin Max even joined the group. It is purported to have sold 3000 copies when Toby and Michael performed the song Heavenbound for their fellow students at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1987. It was copied countless times and spread through the CCM industry and the band shortly after prepared a proper 10 track demo.
This album has a but of a strange history. It was recorded at Greenbelt obviously but Larry Norman released it in 2005 on his label. I don’t think Larry actually had the rights to this recording. Yes it was recorded back when Larry and Randy were getting along but in 2005 they were not doing business together. I have no idea how Larry decided he had the rights to this album but who knows what was said back in 1979. That said after Larry passed suddenly Randy owned the rights and released it himself in 2021. Anyway the version you will listen to here is a hybrid I worked over offering the best versions in my opinion. !979 was a great year in CCM music and this album displays that.
Tracklist 1 – Intro-One True Love – 4:41 2 – Keep Me Running – 5:43 3 – Teen King -4:09 4 – Lung Cancer – 4:26 5 – Venezuela – 3:10 6 – Through The Glass Darkly – 5:53 7 – The Great American Cure – 4:26 8 – You Really Got Me – 3:06 9 – Trouble Coming – 4:44 10 – Good News – 4:47 11 – Let That Tape Keep Rolling – 6:09
This is the first album from Gary. He had already written the hit song for Amy Grant “Fathers Eye’s” so it was natural for him to get an album deal to try to recreate that success. But first lets talk a minute about Gary’s back story. Born in Waurika, Oklahoma he actually grew up in De Leon, Texas. His Father was a pastor at an Assemblies Of God church. After high school he attended Southwestern Bible College and after graduation he moved straight to Nashville. He was almost immediately hired as a guitarist for famed 60’s and 70’s CCM band The Rambos. Gary’s music writing received some attention and his first success was his song Father’s Eyes which Amy Grant performed on her 1979 album “My Father’s Eyes”. Somewhere about the time of this album he started dating Amy also and they would get married the following year. Amy actually appears on this album on the track “Anywhere” which is a duet between them. Also of interest on the album are Degarmo & Key who as well as producing the album played instruments and sang backing vocals. This album had one top 10 single with “Sincerely Yours” peaking at #4. 1981 was a good year for Gary as he also won the dove award for songwriter. Anyway as far as the album is concerned it is an easy listening effort that while not my style is definitely a great album.
Tracklist 1 – No Time At All – 4:18 2 – I Wanna Be Loved By You – 3:40 3 – Love Is A Name – 3:46 4 – Open Up My Eyes – 3:50 5 – Sincerely Yours – 3:07 6 – The Secret Of Love – 4:05 7 – Anywhere – 3:37 8 – I’d Really Like To Tell You – 3:45 9 – Feelin’ Right – 3:11 10 – One Hope – 3:54
Credits Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Andrew Love Arranged By [Strings], Arranged By [Horns] – Carl Marsh Backing Vocals – Gary Pigg, Jack Holder, Jimi Jamison Baritone Saxophone – Gary Topper Design [Album Design] – Bill Brunt Drums – Chad Cromwell, John Hampton Guitar [Solo] – Jack Holder Lacquer Cut By [L.Nix in runouts], Mastered By – Larry Nix Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals – Gary Chapman Photography By [Album] – Mike Borum Piano, Electric Piano – Keith Thomas Producer [Executive Producer] – Dan Harrell, Dan Raines, Mike Blanton Producer, Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals – Dana Key Producer, Organ, Synthesizer – Ed DeGarmo Producer, Twelve-String Guitar, Bass – Joe Hardy Strings – The Claude O’Donnell Strings Vocals – Amy Grant
This has to be one of the most mysterious albums I have come across and it is without a doubt the strangest album from Randy. It is his one and only album with Refuge Records. Randy put this album out in 1987 but his previous album was in 1981 on Spirit Records. A 6 year gap in albums when you are at your height is bizarre enough but then this album got completely ignored by the entire industry. I know it didn’t sell well as it took us a long time to find a copy so maybe Refuge just didn’t distribute it very well but that is strange too as Randy was a very highly respected artist. There is also radio silence on this album with no one talking about it. The internet’s a big place but this album takes an incredibly small space on it. In fact there’s very little info on what Randy was doing at this point in his career. The album itself is actually very very good and is probably now my favourite album from him. I would say the single is “The Day Death Died” which is a great rock & roll track. Probably his hardest track ever. The other highlight of the album is probably the only CCM track about Santa Claus but be warned it is a very sad song actually about abortion. That said it is a stunningly good track.
Tracklist 1 – Amazing Grace – 1:15 2 – Hearts On Ice – 3:22 3 – Grumble Alley – 3:30 4 – Ti Chapé-Kum Ba Ya – 4:33 5 – Eyes Of The Heart – 3:34 6 – Streets Of Mercy – 2:57 7 – I Wish It Were Only Make Believe – 3:55 8 – No Cross, No Crown – 3:04 9 – The Day Death Died – 3:52 10 – Nuclear Hymn – 3:27
Credits Acoustic Guitar, Cover [Concept] – Randy Matthews Art Direction, Design – Jeff Spencer Backing Vocals – Anthony Nelson, Demetrius Alexander, Duane Hamilton, Eddie Williams, Grace Rosenburger, Greg Tornquist, Kim Hill, Monty Matthews, Robbie Anderson, Roger M. Major Booking – Barbara Matthews Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Greg Tornquist Engineer – Gary Wysocki Engineer, Remix – John W. Thompson Keyboards, Acoustic Guitar – John W. Thompson Management – Dave Peters II, Image Communications International Photography – Peter Nash Producer – John Thompson
If you’re looking for some Funky Jazz this is the album for you. This was the second and last album from Messenger. I checked and none of the members of the band seem to have done anything more except for Rick Riso who had 2 albums in the 80’s and one in the 90’s. He also had a whole bunch of albums with his wife. Other than that I couldn’t really find out much about this band. Like I say the album has a Jazz infused Funk feel and is actually really well done. Pity this band didn’t keep on as they did know what they were doing.
Tracklist
1 – Bringin’ The Message – 2:57
2 – Our Love Will Grow – 4:40
3 – Livin’ In Love – 2:44
4 – Pressin’ On – 3:47
5 – Song In The Night – 3:51
6 – Changin’ Me – 4:16
7 – All You Need – 3:20
8 – I Still Love You – 5:08
9 – Now Is The Time – 3:16
10 – Home To You – 4:25
Credits
Acoustic Bass – Dave Marotta
Arranged By – Messenger
Arranged By [Strings] – Clark Gassman
Arranged By [Vocals] – Si Simonson
Artwork, Design – Thel
Backing Vocals – Rebecca Sue Sherburn
Drums – Mike Feller
Electric Bass – Dave Marotta
Executive-Producer – Bill Cole
Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Jerry Hey
Keyboards – Si Simonson
Lacquer Cut By [KP in runouts] – KP
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Guitar – Rick Riso
Percussion – Fred Petry, Mike Feller
Producer – Rick Riso, Si Simonson
Saxophone – Kim Hutchcroft
Strings – L.A. Superstrings, Sidney Sharp
Tenor Saxophone – Larry Williams
Trombone – Bill Reichenbach
Vibraphone – Larry Troxel (tracks: B5)
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Lexicon Music, Inc.
Published By – Lexicon Music, Inc.
Recorded At – Martinsound
Recorded At – United Western Studios
Mastered At – Capitol Mastering
I’ve had this album sitting around for awhile (5 years) and not listened to it. For some reason I had visions of this being an easy listening album. Yes it does lean easy listening but there are some great tracks on this album. “Walking in the Light” is a great little rock & roll track that deserves a second listen. Also “Wait Just a Minute” is definitely a radio ready 80’s pop tune. This was the second self released album for David and now I’m looking forward to the first one. This album would be his last 80’s album but he went on to record 8 more albums over the years including as recently as 2023.
1 – Star of the East – 4:28 2 – The Battle – 4:20 3 – Standing Together – 3:24 4 – Don’t Lose Heart – 3:14 5 – Walking in the Light – 4:19 6 – Wait Just a Minute – 5:36 7 – I Believe – 2:54 8 – Wanderer – 4:43 9 – Breaking Away – 5:48
I can not find anything about this band nor can I find that any of the members did any other recorded work. So given that lets just talk about the album. This is a Jesus music album but not like most of them This one has a far more rock sound. There are hints of The Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd all through the album and quite frankly this is one of the best Jesus music albums I have stumbled on. It was actually on a real label, Mag Records, but this is the only one from them that they released. It was 1980 however and Jesus music was on it’s way out for a more 80’s pop sound. Too bad we didn’t get more from these guys and I feel they could have probably progressed like SCB into an excellent 80’s band.
Tracklist 1 – King Of My Dreams – 2:54 2 – Come Closer – 4:05 3 – Because I Love You – 3:06 4 – Delight – 2:40 5 – An Appeal – 3:19 6 – No Apologies – 3:33 7 – I Still Believe – 2:28 8 – Find Your Way – 3:58 9 – He’s Coming – 2:41 10 – It’s Yours Not Mine – 1:33
Credits Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – Lonnie Klepper Drums, Strings, Keyboards, Vocals – Wayne Hagar Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – Dennis Baker
Companies, etc. Manufactured By – Recording Services Of W.N.C. – RSR-1114
This is Raymond McDonald’s second album and this one got picked up by Crystal Lewis and her husband Brian Ray’s record label Metro One. On his first album he dabbled with a Stevie Ray Vaughan sound but this album he really embraced it. Now I’m not saying the whole album is SRV sounding in fact it’s not but the best tracks have an SRV vibe. That is except for the best track “It’s Only Tuesday” which has a blues sound all it’s own. Unfortunately this is the last album we would get from Ray but the good news is that he still posts of himself on YouTube as the Sr. Pastor at The Vineyard Church of Conroe. He picks up the guitar and leads the congregation in some fantastic rock licks now and then. This is well within my top 50 CCM albums.
Tracklist 1 – Underneath Your Mighty Blood – 3:45 2 – My Answer – 4:06 3 – It’s A Loving Thang – 4:16 4 – You All Along – 4:33 5 – Cadillacs To Heaven – 3:16 6 – You’ve Gone Bitter – 2:51 7 – Where The Highway Turns – 6:40 8 – In The Way Up Down The Road – 4:36 9 – Swing #9 – 3:06 10 – It’s Only Tuesday – 2:44 11 – God Is So Good – 7:23
Credits A&R – Tim Taber Acoustic Guitar – Chris Lizotte Art Direction – Sheri Neville Bass Guitar – Bobby McDonald Drums, Percussion – Kevin Jarvis Engineer – Ken Woodward Engineer [Additional] – Leo Song Engineer [Assistant] – Marianne Kleine Executive-Producer – Chris Wimber Lead Vocals, Guitar – Raymond McDonald Mastered By – Robert Vosgien Mixed By – Michael Dumas Producer [Additional], Organ [B-3], Piano – Ralph Jordan Producer [Assistant] – Bobby McDonald, Kevin Jarvis Producer, Art Direction – Raymond McDonald
In 1997 Billy self released this live album of all his best songs. It was recorded Live between October 16th to 24th at University Baptist Church Ft Worth, Wilshire Baptist Church Dallas, Riverbend Church Austin, Custer Road United Methodist Church Plano, and on August 24th 1996 at First Baptist Church Duncanville. The album has 18 tracks which is a really good value for a self released album. Producer Billy Crockett says on the liner notes that the album was kept “raw and real”. Personally I think it’s very well recorded, engineered and produced but I know what he meant in that the album is just basic instruments and is relatively acoustic. So if you like Billy this is a definite must listen.
Tracklist 1 – How Good You Are – 4:10 2 – Walkin’ Home – 4:06 3 – The Bottom of Life – 3:34 4 – Couch Potato – 4:17 5 – The Wake Up Song – 2:47 6 – Song and Dance – 4:01 7 – 41 Lawnmowers – 5:02 8 – All Together – 5:16 9 – Storybook Dreams – 4:23 10 – The Crockosaurus – 1:28 11 – Bogart’s Independence – 3:17 12 – Elena – 6:46 13 – The Time is Now – 4:16 14 – Portrait of Love – 4:39 15 – Love Carrier – 3:57 16 – Best of Friends – 5:06 17 – Thankful Boys and Girls – 4:20 18 – A Father’s Love – 2:39
Credits Accordion, Vocals – Jim Rommel Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals – Billy Crockett Mastered By – Sam Loy Mixed By – Gordon Garrison Producer – Billy Crockett Recorded By – Gordon Garrison Vocals – Milton Brasher
DC Talk started in 1987 by Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait, and Kevin Max Smith though the real story started the year before when Toby and Michael performed the song Heavenbound for their fellow students at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. The song was a huge hit and the band immediately sold out 3000 copies of their actual first demo “Christian Rhymes to a Rhythm” (Coming soon to the channel). Kevin subsequently joined the band and they recorded a 10 track demo. It was also very successful and some how Eddie DeGarmo over at ForeFront Records heard of them and decided to rerelease their demo minus 2 tracks as their first album. This is that first album. It was very popular as I guess the industry was looking for a new sound. While there were rap groups before them none of them had quite this sound.
Tracklist 1 – Heavenbound – 3:53 2 – Gah Ta Be – 3:58 3 – Final Days – 4:08 4 – The King (Allelujah) – 4:10 5 – Spinnin’ Round – 3:48 6 – Voices Praise Him – 3:51 7 – Time Ta Jam – 2:02 8 – He Loves Me – 5:11
Credits Cover, Design – Jon Timian Engineer, Mixed By – E. Q. Monroe, Richard Hartine, Ron W. Griffin Executive-Producer – Dan R. Brock Human Beatbox – Mike Valliere Mastered By – Hank Williams Photography By – Jon Timian, Steve Eastham Producer – Ron W. Griffin, Toby McKeehan Rap – Toby McKeehan Vocals – Kevin Smith, Michael Tait
