Modern Mission was a little known mid 80’s New Wave band. The album is very strong lyrically with some very “challenging” lyrics. Brian Quincy Newcomb of CCM wrote that the band “may only do one thing, but they do it quite well.” The members of the band are somewhat cryptic as only one member was identified by his real name. The album credits state that John Mehler was involved in the project.
Tracklist
1 – The Race
2 – Time Is Running Out
3 – Stick To Your Guns
4 – Through The Fire
5 – Hide My Heart
6 – Never Let Me Go
7 – Magazine
8 – Time To Fight
9 – When Heaven’s Crying
10 – Believe In You
Credits Arranged By – John Mehler, Modern Mission Producer – Gord Driver* Recorded By, Mixed By – Gord Driver*
Credits Arranged By – John Mehler, Modern Mission Producer – Gord Driver Recorded By, Mixed By – Gord Driver Vocals – Iggy Guitar – Dave Newman Bass – Sugarbear Drums – Zac
This was the first of 2 albums from the Barratt Band. The band featured Tim Hatwell from After The Fire and Norman Barratt from Gravy Train. It was rounded out by Russell Caldwell and Dave Morris. This album was probably one of the best British CCM albums from the early 80’s. It has a strong Pop Rock feel and really should have made it onto secular radio especially with Norman Barratt’s vocals being so strong. The band along with Alwyn Wall warmed up for Larry Norman’s 1981 live Friends on Tour album.
Tracklist
1 – The Only One
2 – Not The Way
3 – Your Love
4 – Playing In The City
5 – Coming Of The Man
6 – Bad Mean World
7 – My Spirit’s Free
8 – Voice In The Night
9 – Never Seen Your Face
Credits
Bass Guitar – Tim Hatwell
Drums – Russell Caldwell
Keyboards – Dave Morris
Keyboards [Additional] – Walter Bollard
Written-By – Tim Hatwell (tracks: 7)
Written-By, Guitar, Vocals – Norman Barratt
Amaziah were a late 70’s hard rock band out of the UK. The album was first released in a very short run in the UK. It was then picked up by Tunesmith records in Canada and released in North America. I would describe the album as having a seventies hard rock sound but it did have some progressions into 80’s rock. What’s most notable about this album is it’s history. The UK release is very rare as has been rumoured to sell for over $1000. The Canadian version had a different cover and was initially pressed on red vinyl by Tunesmith for reasons unknown. Later a regular black vinyl was released. The band represented on the Canadian cover was not actually the format that recorded the album. This was attributed to the band having a heavy turnover. In 2011 Born Twice records re-released the album on CD along with 4 Demo tracks.
Tracklist
1 – Way, Truth, Life
2 – Say Goodnight
3 – No 1
4 – All Is Peace
5 – Night Walker
6 – Slowly
7 – Peace
8 – He Is Lord
Credits
Bass Guitar, Vocals – Paul Loader
Drums, Vocals – Phil Williams
Keyboards – Dave Steel
Lead Guitar, Vocals – Jeremy Coad
Lead Vocals – Derek Elliott
Producer – Eric Cribb
Producer, Vocals [Additional] – Keith Loring
Rhythm Guitar, Vocals – Richard Grinter
Armada was/is a hard rock band out of Michigan. They formed in 1975 under the name Archangel and also appear to have used the name Prophet Song before settling on Armada. This was their demo and was sold in cassette form at their concerts. It is a fantastic hard rock album. If you read my reviews you know that often I am critical of self produced albums/demos. Not on this one though. The production isn’t super polished, but that’s a good thing. This is a raw Rock & Roll band and this demo captures that sound perfectly. They have re-released this album on CD but this is a copy of the cassette reworked as best I could. I see that they are occasionally referred to as a Metal band but they aren’t really and as I said this is good old Rock & Roll album. I think the lead track could have singled on secular radio, but of course it wouldn’t have due to the usual religious paranoia of radio at the time.
Tracklist
1 – Let God’s People Go
2 – Witness
3 – Turn Around
4 – Streetwise
5 – Rock’n
6 – Shelter
7 – You’d Better Believe It
8 – Cutting It Close
9 – Turning Point
Credits
Lead Vocals – Rick Ledesma
Lead & Rhythm Guitars – Dave Dawdy
Bass Guitar – Randy Carlson
Drums, Lead Vocals – John Heald
Produced, Engineered, Mixed – Mark Miller
Carson Cole was only 15 when he released this album. Not many people get an album deal at 15 but Cole had something New Born Records (Tunesmith under another name) were looking for. I think the album is fantastic for someone his age and it shows real maturity. Now I think the album is a little scattered with different styles and sounds, but it really is a pretty good album. I am begging someone in current country music to cover the tune “Slow Down” which is even more relevant today as it was in 1980.In my research of Carson Cole I found a mention in one of his Bio’s that lists a 1982 or 1984 album “The Disguise” on Frontline Records. Frontline did not release any albums until 1986 so I am a little confused at this release which I can’t find anywhere. If you want to learn more about Carson read my review of his next album “Mainstreet” when I release it.
Tracklist
1 – Take It Or Leave It – 4:30
2 – The Answers – 5:30
3 – Cure For The World – 5:50
4 – Slow Down – 2:11
5 – Thank You – 3:50
6 – Let Your Yes Be Yes – 4:00
7 – Refine Me – 3:45
8 – I’ve Been Mistaken – 3:10
9 – Strengthen Me – 6:22
10 – I’ve Heard Them Say – 2:55
Credits
Arranged By, Producer, Songwriter, Guitar, Drums – Carson Cole
Backing Vocals – Faye Webber, Neil Hanson (2)
Bass – Terry Collison
Co-producer, Keyboards – Dwayne Harder
Concept By [Album Concept] – Curtis Baron
Cover – Kathy Malanovich
Engineer – Don Soucy, Gerry Golla
Guitar – Doug Scarrow, Tom Chunick
Orchestra – Saskatoon Street Symphony
Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Studio West Canada Ltd.
Mixed At – Damon Sound Studios
Copyright (c) – Innovative Music Publishing
Before there was “After The Fire” there was Narnia. Tim Hatwell, Peter Memory Banks, and John Russell all seem to have started here. Lead singing duties were handed over to Pauline Filby who had released a solo album in 1969. Now don’t think you are going to hear a version of ATF here because you’re not going to. This is a straight out Jesus Music album and Pauline’s singing in no way resembles anything ATF ever did. This album has very strong vocals and though sometimes they seem a little strangely performed it all works well after a few listenings. It’s always nice to go back to the roots of 80’s bands but sometimes those roots will leave you a little confused.
Tracklist
1 – You’d Better Believe It – 3:12
2 – Muddy Ground – 3:52
3 – The Juggler – 3:51
4 – Agape – 5:49
5 – To A Fountain – 3:19
6 – Miracle Of Birth – 4:08
7 – In The Forest – 3:03
8 – Boogie For Narnia – 2:37
9 – Living Water – 5:41
Credits
Bass Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Tim Hatwell
Design [Sleeve Design] – Bernard A. Cope
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Kenneth ‘Ginger’ Dixon
Engineer – Nick Sykes, Robin Thompson
Keyboards, Acoustic Guitar – Peter Banks
Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Recorder, Vocals – John Russell (7)
Producer – Tony Hooper
Vocals – Pauline Filby
Written-By – Welch (tracks: A1), Tom Paxton (tracks: A1)
Written-By, Arranged By – Narnia (2) (tracks: A2 to B5), Pauline Filby (tracks: A2 to B5)
Companies, etc.
Copyright (c) – United Artists Music Ltd.
Copyright (c) – World Music (UK)
This was Sheila’s 5th album as she kept up her rapid pace of releasing albums. Unfortunately, this pace would come back to haunt her health. This album has a strong Pop feel and sound. The songwriting from Graham Kendrick compliment this style and this album is regarded as one of her most lyrically strong albums. As good as the album is it only had one single on the CCM charts. “Surrendering” only peaked at #21 but it was on the charts for 22 weeks, which is usually a strong start for a single. Helping Sheila with backing vocals on the album were artists Cliff Richards and Mark Williamson.
Tracklist
1 – Triumph In The Air – 4:36
2 – Don’t Turn Your Back On Jesus – 3:07
3 – Deeper Meaning – 3:58
4 – Stealin’ The Feeling – 3:12
5 – Surrendering – 4:30
6 – Somebody – 4:12
7 – No Alibi – 4:20
8 – Growing Up To Be A Child – 3:48
9 – Golden Rule – 4:15
10 – Children Of The King – 4:48
Credits
Keith Bessey – Assistant Producer, Engineer
Mel Collins – Saxophone
Teri DeSario – Songwriter
Chris Eaton – Songwriter, Background Vocals
Rick Fenn – Guitar
Graham Jarvis – Drums
Graham Kendrick – Songwriter
Judd Lander – Mouth Harp
Annie McCaig – Background Vocals
Craig Pruess – Producer, Rhythm Orchestral and Electronic Arranger, Keyboards, Electronics, Brass, Percussion
Bill Purse – Songwriter
Cliff Richard – Background Vocals
Mo Turner – Background Vocals
Sheila Walsh – Songwriter, Lead and Background Vocals
Mark Williamson – Background Vocals
This little gem of a 7″ has an unreleased song “Just Where It’s At Tonight” and a alternate mix of “Sin”. We only got one album from Andy McCarroll & Moral Support so it’s a real treat to find another song.
Tracklist
A – Just Where It’s At Tonight
B – Sin
Credits
Bass – Alan Gillespie
Drums – Ian Sloan
Guitar – Jimmy Davis
Keyboards – William Hilary
Producer – Andy Kidd
Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards – Andy McCarroll
This Carman release from 1985 is one of his albums that stands out. Not so much because of the music but because of one song. The title track is more of a spoken word story than a song that people either loved or hated. Personally I was neither here nor there on it. The track did single at #28 but only stayed on the charts for 8weeks. The real single was Revive Us, Oh Lord which actually climbed to #2 and was on the charts for 24 weeks. Fear Not My Child also singled climbing to #24. There were a couple names on the backing vocals, Marty McCall from Fireworks and Paul Smith of the Imperials. The CD has a bonus track “Love Can” (included here). It was put as the second last track of the CD as I’m guessing they wanted the title track as the last track on both the CD and the Vinyl.
Tracklist
1 – Prepare To Die – 5:20
2 – Abundance Of Rain – 3:36
3 – Revive Us, Oh Lord – 3:47
4 – A Little Bit More Conviction – 4:34
5 – It Happened To Me – 3:24
6 – The Destination Is There – 3:57
7 – Fear Not My Child – 4:55
8 – Love Can – 5:40
9 – The Champion – 8:39
Credits
Arranged By [Strings] – Bruce Koblish (tracks: 7), Ronn Huff (tracks: 5, 9)
Art Direction, Design – Joan Tankersley
Backing Vocals – Bonnie Keen, Marty McCall, Melody Tunney*, Patti Morris, Paul Smith (22)
Bass – Jimmie Lee Sloas (tracks: 1), Mike Brignardello (tracks: 2 to 9)
Coordinator [Choir] – Dan Jones (tracks: 9)
Coordinator [Producer’s Assistant] – Brett Perry
Drum Programming [Linn Drum] – Mark Hammond
Drums – Mark Hammond
Engineer [Assistant] – Allan Henry, Bill Heath, Danny Mundhenk, Jeff Coppage, Ken Criblez
Executive-Producer – Lynn Nichols
Graphics – Lori Cooper
Guitar – Greg Jennings, Jon Goin
Guitar [Solos] – Jon Goin
Keyboards, Programmed By [Synth Programming] – Keith Thomas
Percussion – Terry McMillan
Photography By – Aaron Rapoport Photography
Producer, Arranged By – Keith Thomas
Programmed By [Emulator] – Neal Merick
Recorded By, Mixed By – Jeff Balding
Saxophone – Mark Douthit
Sleeve [Logo Design] – Patrick Pollei
Strings – The Nashville String Machine
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Word, Inc.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Manufactured By – Word Communications Ltd.
Manufactured By – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Made By – JVC
Recorded At – Emerald Sound Studios
Recorded At – Bullet Recording
Recorded At – Goldmine East, Brentwood, TN
Recorded At – Hummingbird Studio, Nashville, TN
Mixed At – Bullet Recording
Published By – Some-O-Dat Music
Published By – Dayspring Music
Published By – Birdwing Music
Published By – Word Music
ApologetiX offer up another great album with a “Bad” theme. More great 80’s parodies and some 70’s and 90’s as well. Fun stuff as usual from these guys. Per the Band
“This CD ends with two football spoofs. One reimagines the story of the Good Samaritan; the other was written for a Steelers Christian men’s event we played in 2015. We hope you’ll take them in the humorous spirit in which they were intended. If not, you take sports more seriously than we do. And that’s too bad.”
Tracklist
1 – Bad Foreign Girls (Parody of “Fat Bottomed Girls” by Queen)
2 – She’s Got Cooties (Parody of “She’s a Beauty” by The Tubes)
3 – Dumb Questions (Parody of “Come Dancing” by The Kinks)
4 – Embarrassing Moments (Parody of “American Woman” by The Guess Who)
5 – Soakin’ in the Lord’s Book (Parody of “Smokin’ in the Boys Room” by Brownsville Station)
6 – The War in You (Parody of “The Warrior” by Scandal featuring Patty Smyth)
7 – Bad Things for a Good Time (Parody of “Nothin’ but a Good Time” by Poison)
8 – It’s a Long Way to the Dock (if You Wanna Stop in Rome) (Parody of “It’s a Long Way to the Top (if You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll)” by AC/DC
9 – Everybody Burps (Parody of “Everybody Hurts” by REM
10 – Campaign to Jehovah (Parody of “Champagne Supernova” by Oasis
11 – Bible O’Really (Parody of “Baba O’Riley” by The Who)
12 – On the Road Away from Home (Parody of “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver
13 – Steelers Make it Tough (Parody of “Feel Like Makin’ Love”) by Bad Company
