Ray Mansfield – Page 112

Liberation Suite – Liberation Suite – 1975

This album was the worlds introduction to Liberation Suite. Originally from Texas they actually moved to the United Kingdom after signing with Myrrh Records. This album, was released in 1975 and their careers took off. In support of this album they toured with Malcolm and Alwyn, Barry McGuire, and Jamie Owens. I remember first hearing this album in the early 80s and was surprised by the Rock and Roll sound on some tracks. Though the band was known as a Jesus Music band they actually leaned to Rock & Roll on several tracks on this album. The thing that stands out on this album to me is the use of a horns section. At times you would swear your listening to the “Tower of Power” but nope it’s just the guys in the band. This album may be my favourite use of a horn section in CCM music.

Tracklist
1 – Led To Roam – 2:48
2 – Run, Run, Lucifer – 4:43
3 – My Lord Is A Remedy – 3:06
4 – Oh Lord, You Know (That I Feel So Fine) – 4:07
5 – Reachin’ For The Sky – 4:18
6 – More Than A Matter – 3:58
7 – Presence Of The Lord – 4:21
8 – Hearken – 5:52
9 – I Wanna Be With You – 3:59

Credits
Bass Guitar, Alto Saxophone, Vocals – David Bynum
Coordinator [Album Co-ordination] – Miles McKee
Design [Cover Design] – David Casey (3)
Drums, Congas, Vocals, Cover [Cover Concept] – Randy Hill
Engineer [Engineered By] – Gerry Kitchingham
Guitar [Guitars], Keyboards, Synthesizer [Moog And String Synthesizers], Vocals – Barry Bynum
Instrumentation By, Arranged By – Liberation Suite
Photography By – John Leigh (2)
Producer [Produced By] – John Pantry
Trombone, Harmonica, Vocals – Howard Lyon
Trumpet, Flute, French Horn, Vocals – Paul Lyon

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word Music (UK)
Copyright (c) – Word Music (UK)
Recorded At – R.G. Jones Studios
Printed By – Garrod & Lofthouse International Ltd.
Made By – Garrod & Lofthouse International Ltd.

Brent Lamb – One Man – 1986

Brent Lamb was an accomplished song writer before he started his singing career. This album was a follow up to his Tug Of War album. This album has a very strong tech feel but maintains a Rock & Roll base. If I had to describe it I would say it’s Sweet Comfort Band on steroids. All in all it’s a pretty good album and makes me want to hear more from him.

Tracklist
1 – One Man
2 – Destination Home
3 – The Seasons Of My Soul
4 – A Dime A Dozen
5 – Ambush
6 – Line Of Fire
7 – I Love You Anyway
8 – Crazy Mad Man
9 – Tell My Why
10 – All That I Can Be

Credits
Arranged By, Producer – Phil Naish
Backing Vocals – Brent Lamb, Gary Pigg, Marty McCall
Bass – Mike Brignardello
Drum Programming [Machine] – Gary Lunn
Drums – Mark Hammond
Engineer, Mixed By – Jeff Balding
Guitar – John Goin
Guitar [Additional And Solos] – Dann Huff
Keyboards – Phil Naish
Programmed By [Synthesizers] – Jeff Balding, Phil Naish

World Theatre – World Theatre – 1989

This was the one and only album from World Theatre. The lead vocalist and apparent leader of the band Tim McAllister was also in a band called Flock 14 who released an album in 1987 with a similar sound and feel. That sound is solidly New Wave. I hate to do this but you should be hearing The Cure in most of their work. This is an album I didn’t listen to until this year (2019) and I’m sad I missed it when it came out.

Tracklist
1 – If I Stumble – 4:34
2 – This Talk – 3:53
3 – Gently Down (Last Thursday) – 3:48
4 – Water Spill – 3:29
5 – Dream It’s Safe – 4:52
6 – Monday – 4:22
7 – 10 Tears – 4:14
8 – Takes So Long – 3:24
9 – Pain, Desire, Faith – 5:14

Credits
Guitar – Gary Egger, Jim Abegg
Lap Steel Guitar, Vocals – Paul Stewart
Mixed By – Gene Eugene
Piano, Bass Guitar, Keyboards – Linford Detweiler
Producer – Tim McAllister
Snare, Hihat, Bass, Cymbal, Tom Tom – Bill Bullock
Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Drum Programming, Bass – Tim McAllister

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Sparrow/Star Song Distribution

Various – Adventures in the Land of Big Beats & Happy Feets – 1989

This has to be the worst sampler in the history of Christian music. It’s not the songs that are bad, they are great songs from great artists. It’s what they did with them that is the problem. Let me explain. This album is constructed as follows. The opening, ending, and all odd number songs are studio dance beats attributed to non existent bands. All of the even songs are well known songs by well known artists BUT they have been “remixed and extended”. Now first of all this album came out in 1989 and the secular music scene was done with cheesy two bit extended dance tracks. But for whatever reason Word Records chose at this late time to jump on a bandwagon that had already left the building. So here we go. Every song we have heard of before on this album is an “extended remix”. I use the term “extended remix” term loosely as these are without a doubt the worst remixes I have ever heard. So what we have here is the business idea of re releasing the same content over and over again only this time they pretended to dress it up as something new. What a disaster. OK listen to the album once and forget about it, that’s what I did.

Tracklist
1 – Rakim D. & The Garden Beats – Prologue – 2:03
2 – Imperials – Fallin’ – 4:18
3 – Bunny Whop And The Hip Hop – Baow Baow Baow – 1:06
4 – Philip Bailey – Thank You – 5:29
5 – Randy McNally & The Road Dogz – Rappin’ Detail – 1:12
6 – Amy Grant – Wise Up – 6:28
7 – Billy B. & The Beez Nees – No Bout Adoubt It – 1:11
8 – Steve Taylor – Svengali – 5:46
9 – Billy B. & The Beez Nees – Doutout – 0:57
10 – Kim Boyce – I Just Want To Celebrate – 5:16
11 – The Nerf Wilson Ensemble – Tee Vee Whiz – 0:51
12 – Ideola – Jericho – 4:28
13 – The Nerf Wilson Ensemble – Gee Tee Vee – 1:12
14 – Russ Taff – I’ve Come Too Far – 5:39
15 – Snappo Schultz – BBBBBeatitudinal – 1:16
16 – Sheila Walsh – Ship Of Love – 7:00
17 – Snappo Schultz – BBBBBeatitudinal – Part II – 1:01
18 – Randy Stonehill Cold Rock The Groove – 4:35
19 – Rakim D. & The Garden Beats – Epilogue – 0:42

Credits
Art Direction, Design – Bradley Grose
Compilation Producer – Leon Mulczk
Coordinator [Cover] – Laurie Fink (2)
Executive-Producer – Tom Willett
Music By [Link Music By] – Lee Cahuenga (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19)
Remix [Re-mixes], Edited By [Edits] – Lee Cahuenga
Written-By [Links Written By], Producer [Links Produced By] – Linx, Inc. (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19)

Companies, etc.
Record Company – Word, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word Records Limited
Distributed By – Word (UK) Ltd.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.

Zion – Thunder from the Mountain – 1989

This was the one and only album from Zion though there was a release in 2007 by Retroactive Records that I know nothing about. The band seemed to revolve around Rex Scott who joined X-Sinner after this project. This album really dances back and forth between Heavy Metal, Arena Rock, and Hard Rock. This dance however does not hurt the album. It is actually quite good and has a nice rhythm and is a good representation of Rex Scott’s various vocal skills.

Tracklist
1 – Who Pulls The Strings
2 – Kick In The Gates
3 – Is It A Crime
4 – Help Me
5 – Thrillseeker
6 – Sold You A Lie
7 – Roll The Rock
8 – Less Of Me
9 – He Loves You

Companies, etc.
Produced At – Extra Sensory Productions
Recorded At – Extra Sensory Productions
Produced At – MacDonald Recording
Mastered At – Motown Recording Studios
Copyright (c) – Image Records (11)
Copyright (c) – Rock For Eternity Music
Manufactured By – American Helix – E6726

Credits
Arranged By, Guitar, Vocals – Rex Scott
Art Direction, Design – Alex Van Amerongen
Bass – Jeff Johnson (tracks: 1 to 6, 9)
Bass, Backing Vocals – Marlin Saner
Drums – Tommy ”Gun” Bozung
Edited By [Digitally] – Jason Brown
Engineer, Orchestrated By – Charles Meserole
Executive Producer – Dorn Reppert, George Peper III
Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals – David Moore
Mastered By – John Matousek
Other [Additional Backing Vocals] – David Schueller, Joe Bolock Jr., Joe Bolock Sr., Paula Meserole
Photography By – Doug Reichert
Producer, Arranged By – David Zaffiro

911 – Time Will Tell – 1986

911 was a band formed in Las Vegas in the late 70’s by Cathi Demman, her husband at the time, her brother and sister, and Brother in Law. Yes it was a real family affair. They originally used the name “Son Song Band” but changed their name to 911 relatively quickly. This is their one and only album which was well received but not well enough for Exile Records to record a second album.

Tracklist
1 – Time Will Tell – 3:45
2 – Do You? – 3:22
3 – Believe – 2:48
4 – Is It Any Wonder? – 2:12
5 – A Memory – 3:41
6 – Where Are You Now? – 4:01
7 – Too Cool – 3:23
8 – Pick Me Up – 2:57
9 – East From West – 4:30
10 – Are You Willing? – 3:25

Credits
Jeff Lams: Arranger, Keyboards, Synthesizers
Mark Wiegand: Vocal Arranger, Songwriter, Keyboards
Cathi Demman: Songwriter, Lead and Background Vocals
Cristina Stretz: Lead and Background Vocals
Kiko Campo: Lead and Background Vocals
Hap Smith: Guitar
John Klingbiel: Bass
Brian Hicks: Keyboards, Synthesizers
Nelson Kole: Keyboards, Synthesizers
Eric Stretz: Songwriter, Drums

Various – Jubilation! – 1975

This 1975 Myrrh Records sampler had some of the early 70’s best Jesus Music. Strangely, it had the exact same name (Including the exclamation mark) of an album released the same time from The Kingsmen. The album only had one unreleased track, Larry Norman – Dear Malcolm, Dear Alwyn. Larry did finally release the track in 1993 on the So Long Ago The Garden re-release as a bonus track.

Include below is the info on which album the songs were released on

Tracklist
1 – Barry McGuire – Enter In – 5:35 – Seeds
2 – Lamb – The Sacrifice Lamb – 5:09 – Lamb
3 – The Sonlight Orchestra – Easter Song – 2:45 – Love Songs And Other Greats
4 – Randy Matthews – Johnny – 3:30 – All I Am Is What You See…
5 – Petra – Back Sliding Blues – 4:31 – Petra
6 – Walt Mills – You Got The Power – 2:55 – Sincerely, Walt Mills
7 – Ron Salsbury And J.C. Power Outlet – I Choose To Follow You – 5:15 – Forgiven…
8 – Evie – Clean Before My Lord – 3:05 – Evie Again
9 – Parchment – Light Of The World – 4:00 – Light Up The Fire
10 – The Pat Terry Group – I Can’t Wait – 3:42 – The Pat Terry Group
11 – 2nd Chapter Of Acts – I Fall In Love/Change – 4:22 – With Footnotes
12 – Ray Hildebrand – Didn’t He – 5:08 – Special Kind Of Man
13 – Honeytree – Heaven’s Gonna Be A Blast – 2:22 – The Way I Feel
14 – Aleksander John – Days Go By – 3:15 – Days Go By
15 – Love Song – A Love Song – 1:46 – Love Song
16 – Larry Norman – Dear Malcolm, Dear Alwyn – 2:36 – Unreleased until 1993
17 – Malcolm & Alwyn – Tomorrow’s News – 3:30 – Fool’s Wisdom
18 – Ken Medema – Come Let Us Reason Together – 3:35 – Fork In The Road
19 – Chuck Girard & Love Song – Think About What Jesus Said – 4:54 – Final Touch
20 – Marijohn – Where I’m Going – 3:58 – Where I’m Going

Torn Flesh – Crux Of The Mosh – 1989

Torn Flesh was a thrash metal band out of Chesapeake, Ohio. I searched my memory banks and can say this is the only band I have ever heard of from there secular or Christian. The members of this band had started an organization called “Psalms 150 Ministry” and were ministered on the streets of Huntington, WV (Just across the river from Chesapeake) and were getting a lot of recognition for their successful efforts. At some point they decided that starting a thrash metal band would be a great help in their proselytizing. This album was a result of that effort. The album had some success, but it appears not enough for a second album.

Tracklist
1 – Torn Flesh (Crux Of The Mosh)
2 – End The Fight
3 – World Pollution
4 – Dead To The World
5 – Fire Escape
6 – Happy Birthday
7 – Kill The Dead
8 – Gay Rights?
9 – Man’s Best Friend
10 – Innocent Eyes
11 – Hollywood Heaven
12 – The Ultimate Finale

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Narrowpath Records
Copyright (c) – Narrowpath Records
Distributed By – Pure Metal

Credits
Bass – Mike Holbroo
Drums – Jim Brown
Guitar – Aaron Brown, Jason Matthews
Vocals – Greg Hudson

Chuck Girard – Chuck Girard – 1975

This is the first solo Christian album from Chuck Girard. He had a successful secular career in the 60’s playing with the Castells and later the Hondells and sang lead on the Hondells single “Little Honda”. However, in the 70’s Chuck was looking for something a little more satisfying. He was a part of the Jesus music era and was in a band called Love Song until 1974. He then released this album and it did well for the time. Most believe his song from this album “Sometimes Alleluia” to be his best song ever.

Tracklist
1 – Rock ‘N’ Roll Preacher – 2:44
2 – You Ask Me Why – 3:14
3 – Evermore – 3:26
4 – Quiet Hour – 3:27
5 – Everybody Knows For Sure – 4:30
6 – Galilee – 3:19
7 – Tinagera – 3:47
8 – Lay Your Burden Down – 5:18
9 – Slow Down – 4:08
10 – Sometimes Alleluia – 5:28

Credits
Bass – Joe Osborne, Joe Puerta
Drums – Burleigh Drummond, Jim Keltner
Guitar – David Pack, Dean Parks
Harmonica – Tommy Morgan
Piano – Christopher North, David Paich
Producer – Chuck Girard

Truth – Still the Truth – 1986

Truth are one of the stranger bands in CCM. They started in 1971 with 15 members malking thwm more of a choir than a band. Later the band expanded to 22 members but you can’t really tell as this album sounds like a typical 5 piece band. According to John Roger Breland the choir/band’s name stands for “Trust, Receive, Unchangeable, True Happiness [in Jesus]”. The band was active until 2001 and released 47 albums in their time.

Tracklist
1 – What Can I Do
2 – Wonderful Invention
3 – He Is Able
4 – The Spirit Of David
5 – Undivided
6 – Do What
7 – The Highest Call
8 – Have You Heard
9 – I’ll Remember You To The Father
10 – Lamb Of God

Credits
Arranged By [Vocals] – Steven V. Taylor
Bass – Mike Brignardello
Directed By – Roger Breland
Drums – Mark Hammond
Engineer [Additional Engineering] – Steve Fralick, Tom Harding
Executive-Producer – Dan Cleary
Guitar – Jon Goin
Horns – The Truth Brass
Keyboards – David Huntsinger
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Mixed By – Brent King, Steven V. Taylor
Percussion – Brent King, Steven V. Taylor, Terry McMillan
Performer [Member] – Alan Nowell, Berneé Tuttle, David Cleveland, Ed Seidenkranz, Gina Angiulli, Joy Young, Ken Reich, Kevin Newton, Lisa Pieper, Mark Harris, Mike Eldred, Mike Thomas, Mike Walker, Paul Glasgow, Phil Peters, Shari Beeman, Tim Marshall, Travis Laws, Wes Tuttle
Producer – Steven V. Taylor
Programmed By [DX-7 Programming], Keyboards [Additional] – John Slick
Recorded By – Brent King, Michael Psanos*
Strings [Played From Synclavier Digital System] – Reed Arvin