Bev and Steve are back with another album and another band name. I really don’t understand why they felt it was necessary to have a slightly different name every album. Oh well anyway I think I know what they were thinking for this album. It has several experimental tracks and I think that’s what they were aiming for further demonstrated by the fact they didn’t release any tracks as a singles. While I don’t like it as much as their other work it’s still good and I enjoyed it.
Tracklist 1 – Let There Be Neon – 3:44 2 – Mechanical Ballet – 4:47 3 – Berlin Ballerina – 5:56 4 – Observation – 3:51 5 – Techno Refugee – 4:27 6 – Lunatic Republic – 4:13 7 – When Is Pleasure Pain? – 4:03 8 – Boy – 4:10 9 – Lily Marlene – 1:21 10 – Military Business (Muscle Culture II) – 4:22
Credits Bass – Les Cargo Drums, Percussion – Dolphin Taylor, Gus Hale Horns – John Du Prez Keyboards – David Hewson Vocals – Bev Sage, Steve Fairnie
Companies, etc. Made By – Sounds Marketing System, Inc. Published By – Street Tunes Published By – Street Tunes Ltd. Published By – Westminster Music Published By – Westminster Music Ltd. Published By – Peter Maurice Co. Published By – EMI Music
Whenever you sit down to listen to a Phil & John album you are never really too sure what you are gonna get. Some albums are pop, some are folk, some are humour, and some are worship. To be clear I do like them I just never know what to expect every time I get a new album. Anyway this is a live humour based album and is probably their best work. This is really where these 2 gentleman shined. I of course never got a chance to see them live as I live in Canada but I really wish I could have. If your in a poor mood toss this album on and you’ll find yourself in a much better mood soon.
Tracklist 1 – Oblivious – 2:55 2 – The Boxer – 4:16 3 – Australia Story – 7:14 4 – Homeward Bound – 3:44 5 – Child Of My Time – 5:17 6 – Stay Young – 3:28 7 – Teeth Story – 5:42 8 – The Day The North Left Town – 3:17 9 – Tommy The Tortoise – 5:48 10 – Echoes To Return – 2:40 11 – What Kind Of Love? – 4:13
Credits Design – James Kessell Guitar – John Hartley, Phil Baggaley Mixed By – Neil Costello Photography – Branka Jukić Recorded By – Neil Costello Vocals – John Hartley, Phil Baggaley
In the early 90’s Out Of Darkness was enjoying a resurgence of people listening to their album from 1970. Somehow Plankton records got together with the band and released a 4 track recording of the band live in 1972. It was recorded live at the Celebration Club in Gillingham, England. The quality is actually really good as long as you remember this is a live recording in 1972. This album was a godsend to fans of the band as it gave them 6 more tracks to enjoy.
Tracklist 1 – Walk On The Water – 4:56 2 – Love To Love – 8:12 3 – Worldpool – 10:40 4 – Cocaine – 5:28 5 – Valley (I’m Gonna Follow) – 5:32 6 – Child Of The Universe – 13:18
Credits Artwork – Keith Oliver Band [Out Of Darkness], Bass – Bruce Duncan (tracks: 2, 3, 6) Band [Out Of Darkness], Bass, Percussion, Piano – Carl Grant Band [Out Of Darkness], Drums, Percussion – Tim Anderson Band [Out Of Darkness], Guitar, Vocals, Written-By [All Songs Written By] – Wray Powell Design – Keith Dixon (2), Tim Anderson Engineer – Peter Cornelious Photography By [Cover] – Chris Nicol Post Production [Post Recording Production] – Nigel Palmer
In 1989 Steve Taylor put together Chagall Guevara with the goal of conquering the secular record charts. After a flurry of bass players they finally put out this their first album in 1991. It didn’t do great but I do remember the single “Violent Blue” getting some airplay in my market in Canada. Strangely the entry for the band in Wikipedia states “All of the band members had histories within the Christian music industry, but the band was an effort to depart from the CCM industry. Despite this, the band still performed at the exclusively Christian music festival Cornerstone, and had their music (albeit against their wishes) distributed through Christian bookstores.” This is absolutely and completely untrue. The band had signed a distribution deal with Sparrow records as well as MCA Records. Obviously they knew Sparrow would distribute it in Christian books stores as that’s the only place they distributed to. Even if Steve has encouraged this rumour it is a complete lie. This was the only album from the band and MCA obviously didn’t think the hassle of Steve Taylor was worth it. Personally I moderately like the album but I don’t think it’s very good luck to name your band after a murderous, Marxist, dictator wannabe, just saying.
Tracklist 1 – Murder In The Big House – 3:48 2 – Escher’s World – 4:14 3 – Play God – 3:43 4 – Monkey Grinder – 6:59 5 – Can’t You Feel The Chains? – 3:09 6 – Violent Blue – 4:01 7 – Love Is A Dead Language – 4:10 8 – Take Me Back To Love Canal – 3:18 9 – The Wrong George – 1:58 10 – Candy Guru – 4:07 11 – I Need Somebody – 3:33 12 – The Rub Of Love – 4:13 13 – If It All Comes True – 3:35
Credits A&R – Paul Kremen, Teresa Ensenat Art Direction, Design – Tim Stedman Bass – Wade Jaynes Drums – Mike Mead Engineer [Additional Engineering By] – Matt Wallace Engineer [Assisted By] – Mike Corbett, Roy Gamble, Shawn McLean, Ulrich Wild Engineer [Engineered By] – David Bryson Guitar, Vocals – Dave Perkins, L. Arthur Nichols Management [Lookout Management] – Elliot Roberts, Frank Gironda Mastered By – Bob Ludwig Mixed By – David Bryson, Matt Wallace Photography By – Michael Lavine Producer [Produced By] – Chagall Guevara, Matt Wallace Songwriter [All Songs Written By] – Dave Perkins, Lynn Nichols, Steve Taylor Vocals – Steve Taylor Words By, Music By – Dave Perkins, Lynn Nichols, Steve Taylor
I have to admit that here in Canada we had no idea who Heartbeat was never mind the controversy they caused. This is their 3rd album and I think by now most of the controversy had died down. They still proclaimed to be a charting pop band but really they were a backup worship band that made the majority of their money playing on other peoples albums. This album does not have a secular single release and that’s probably a good thing as it did not deserve to be on the secular charts. As for the album it is primarily a worship album with a couple pop tunes mixed in. The problem with the pop tracks is that the vocals do not fit them. We saw this several times in the 80’s as worship oriented bands tried to do a pop album and failed miserably due to vocals. This album isn’t too bad if you listen to it for what it is and that’s a worship album.
Tracklist 1 – Prelude/Voice To The Nation – 4:04 2 – Heal Our Nation – 4:42 3 – Out Of Your Great Love – 2:09 4 – Dance People Dance – 4:05 5 – Lord, Release My Mouth – 2:25 6 – Dancing In The City – 4:11 7 – Holy Fire – 4:02 8 – Jesus, I Love You – 2:15 9 – Arise – 4:52 10 – Unto You, Oh Lord/Lord Of This Land – 4:48
Credits Bass Guitar – Pete Moore Drums, Percussion, Producer – Ray Goudie Engineer, Producer – Andy Kidd Guitar, Vocals – Ian Townend Keyboards, Vocals – Dave Bankhead Vocals – Dorry Townend, Nancy Goudie, Trish Morgan
This is the second album from Dig Hay Zoose. They were criticized for their first album with the complaint being that it was a Red Hot Chili Peppers clone. I haven’t heard it yet so I can’t comment on that allegation. This album was better received but quite frankly I find the whole thing a little hokey. Actually it’s a lot hokey. The album has a bunch of under 1 minute tracks that are done to try to sound hip and cool. The whole album just screams “Look at us, we’re just like a secular band” Quite frankly they just tried too hard and it just doesn’t come off as entertaining to me. The album has some very well written tracks that might have been interesting but weren’t done “In the style of”. The best music evolves it’s own sound and bands are the same. When you decide how you’re going to sound before the fact it just doesn’t work for me.
I can’t find anything about this band online except that their contact info was based in Montana so I have to guess they were from Montana. Anyway what we have here is an album sound that I’ve heard several times at this point. There were several bands in the 80’s that would have this pop sound with a female vocalist. I am not insulting this recipe it’s just that at this point I’ve seen it many many times. As for this album specifically it’s pretty good. In fact there’s a couple tracks here that are pretty well written. If they had got a second album deal they could have capitalized on their writing but unfortunately for them this was the only album they had.
Tracklist 1 – New Day – 3:59 2 – Heart Beat – 4:03 3 – How Long – 4:22 4 – Cross Road – 4:23 5 – Skybound – 4:23 6 – C’mon Home – 3:03 7 – Little Bit of Heaven – 3:55 8 – Jesus Is Outta Sight – 4:16 9 – Lift Your Eyes – 4:19 10 – Let Love Reign – 4:13 11 – Decision – 0:39
Let it never be said that Phil Driscoll was lazy. He was able to get an album out almost every year. This is his album in 1987. I think Phil and the record label were trying to produce an album that was a little more Pop than he usually does. The album cover shows a much younger Phil than his covers usually did. it should be noted that this album cover portrayed his correct age, he was 40. For some reason they usually portrayed him as much older on his record covers. As is the case with just about every album from Phil this one is fantastic. I will say it again for the record. I do not like most of the songs Phil does BUT his fantastic vocals always sell me on them anyway. This album the standouts are the hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy”, Cool Rain”, and the rocker for this album “Trumpet In A Heavenly Band”.
Tracklist 1 – Make Us One – 3:24 2 – I’ll Be Ridin’ With Him – 4:28 3 – I Can Feel Your Love – 4:35 4 – Wait On The Lord – 5:20 5 – Cool Rain – 4:17 6 – Trumpet In A Heavenly Band – 3:40 7 – All Around The World – 2:55 8 – Standin’ In The Shadow – 3:40 9 – Holy, Holy, Holy – 3:44 10 – The Magnificat – 7:21
Credits Arranged By – Bill Maxwell, Jerry Cleveland, Phil Driscoll Art Direction – McConnell Graphics Backing Vocals – Alfie Silas, Jean Johnson, Rose Banks, Von Faggett Bass – Abraham Laboriel Drums – Bill Maxwell Engineer – Doug Rider Executive-Producer – Dennis Blackburn, Gregory Pope Guitar – Hadley Hockensmith Lead Vocals, Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Phil Driscoll Percussion – Alex Acuna* Photography By – Dean Dixon Piano [Acoustic], Electric Piano, Organ – Harlan Rogers Producer – Bill Maxwell, Phil Driscoll Remix – Bill Maxwell, Doug Rider, Phil Driscoll Synthesizer – Claude Gaudette
This is kind of a mystery release form Randy. It was only released in the U.K. in 1985. I’m only guessing there may have been contractual problem for him in the United States with his record company Myrrh but I really don’t know why. Anyway this is a great EP that I wish I had heard in 1985 but as I was from Canada I never heard it. None of the tracks was ever released in the U.S. until 2006 which I find very odd. These are great tracks that America would have loved. Luckily though Christian Discs re-released in on CD in 2006 along with 2 bonus tracks that we have included. The first bonus track is “Edge Of The World”. It is an alternative and much better version than the one on his 2002 album of the same name. There is also a live version of “I Love You” from his “Born Twice” album.
Tracklist 1 – Everything But Love – 3:24 2 – Empty Eyes – 2:57 3 – She Walked Back Into My Life – 3:57 4 – Dangerous Heart – 4:04 5 – These Lonely Days – 4:29 2006 CD release bonus tracks 6 – Edge Of The World – 4:17 7 – I Love You (Live) – 2:56
Credits Design [Sleeve Design], Layout – Juxtaposition Ltd Engineer [2nd Engineer] – Dan Reed Engineer [2nd Engineers] – Rob Klein, Shantih Haast Engineer [Engineered By], Mixed By – Britt Bacon, Mark Heard Illustration – Eleanor Burkett Layout [CD Re-issue Layout], Design – Jonathan Grassi Liner Notes – Randy Stonehill Musical Assistance [Production Assistant] – Barry “The Bear” Liss Photography By [Sleeve Photography] – Will White Producer [Bonus Tracks Produced By] – Bob Kilpatrick Producer [Produced By] – Barry Miller Kaye Remastered By [Digital Remastering And Touch Up] – Scott Dotta Remix [Remix Engineer] – Mark Heard Written-By [All Songs Written By] – Randy Stonehill
