Ray Mansfield – Page 113

Steve Camp – Shake Me To Wake Me – 1985

This is Steve’s 7th studio album and his second with Sparrow Records. Sparrow was a good move for Steve as they let him turn up the volume and fun. This is a great pop album and was a pleasant surprise at the time as many of us were afraid of Steve going straight worship. The album spawned 3 singles with “Stranger to Holiness” doing the best climbing to #5 on the charts. “Surrender Your Heart” made it to #33 and “Even Now” Made it to #31. As usual most of the tracks were far to poppy for CCM to allow them on the charts. I would be interested to see how the real singles did on California Christian radio. As usual Steve’s album had all sorts of special appearances including Marty McCall (Fireworks), Dann Huff (Whiteheart), Rob Frazier (who also helped with some writing and producing), and Dave Perkins.

Tracklist
1 – Help Is On The Way – 4:08
2 – Lazy Jane – 3:20
3 – Surrender Your Heart – 4:44
4 – Bad News For Modern Man – 4:57
5 – Stranger To Holiness – 4:24
6 – On The Edge – 3:52
7 – Asleep In The Light – 4:01
8 – Shake Me To Wake Me – 4:32
9 – Going Through The Motions – 4:07
10 – Even Now – 3:59

Credits
Backing Vocals – Carol Buckley, Gary Pigg, Marty McCall, Susie Allenson
Bass – Neil Stubenhaus
Drums, Drum Programming [Linn] – Paul Leim
Engineer [Assistant @ Bill Schnee] – Dan Garcia
Engineer [Assistant @ Bullet] – Alan Henry, Bill Heath, Chris Hammond, Dan Mundhenk, Randy Holland, Willie Pevear
Engineer [Assistant @ Sunset] – Peggy Mac, Stephen Shelton
Engineer, Mixed By – Terry Christian
Executive-Producer, Management – Steve Wyer
Guitar – Dann Huff
Guitar, Soloist [Lead Guitar] – Michael Landau
Keyboards – Alan Pasqua
Mastered By – Herb Melton, Steve Hall
Photography By – Raul Vega
Producer [Lead Vocals], Backing Vocals, Arranged By [Backing Vocals] – Rob Frazier
Producer [Lead Vocals], Synthesizer, Arranged By [Synthesizer] – John Rosasco
Producer, Mixed By, Backing Vocals, Arranged By [Backing Vocals] – Steve Camp
Saxophone – Jim Horn
Soloist [Lead Guitar] – Dave Perkins
Synthesizer – James Newton Howard, Smitty Price
Synthesizer, Programmed By [Fairlight] – Rhett Lawrence

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – The Sparrow Corporation
Mixed At – Sunset Sound
Recorded At – Sunset Sound
Overdubbed At – Sunset Sound
Overdubbed At – Bill Schnee Studios
Overdubbed At – Weddington Studios
Overdubbed At – The Sound Factory
Overdubbed At – Bullet Recording
Mastered At – Future Disc
Pressed By – KM Records Inc.

First Strike – Rock of Offence – 1984

This is another album that leaves me stranded on the intersection confused whether to pick the Hard Rock road or the Metal road. To me it’s in the style of Def Leopard and other very commercial Heavy Metal. However you want to catalog it they did it well and this is an album that would easily be in my top 200. Rock Of Offense was the first and only full-length release from First Strike who were a band out of Sacramento, California and formed in 1979. I personally can’t stand the album cover and I’ve read that the band was of this opinion also. Point of trivia about this album is that it was produced by Michael Roe who is a member of the 77’s.

Track Listing:
1 – Out of Control – 3:03
2 – Hurt by Love – 3:00
3 – I Want You – 3:52
4 – Loneliness Kills – 3:41
5 – Hard Times – 3:21
6 – Slow Poison – 5:31
7 – Your Love – 4:06
8 – Dirty Loving – 3:25
9 – Prisoner – 3:24
10 – Money – 3:35

Credits:
Pat Boylan – Songwriter, Guitars, Background Vocals
Johnnie Delaney – Songwriter, Drums
John Golden – Mastered
Steve Griffith – Assistant Producer, Engineer, Background Vocals
Tony Gunn – Vocals
Tim Larkin – Songwriter, Guitars, Background Vocals
Mary Neely – Executive Producer
Michael Roe – Producer, Background Vocals
Chris Salmon – Songwriter, Bass
Eric Volz – Executive Coordinator, Background Vocals
Daryl Zachman – Engineer

4•4•1 – 4•4•1 – 1984

This was the first album from 4•4•1 though they did have a demo I haven’t found yet. They formed in 1983 in Arcadia, California and did their first demo in 1984. They sent it to Randy Ziegler from the now famous (in CCM circles) at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa among others. Randy liked what he heard and brought the band in to play warm up for Undercover and a others. This single “Break Out” reportedly debuted at #1 in California CCM radio station KYMS. I’m not real confident on this however as that is a pretty rare feat. Outside of California the album wasn’t initially well known but as news of it leaked across the country more copies had to be printed. Anyway what we have here is a great New Wave / Pop album. It should appeal to fans of either style.

Tracklist
1 – Judgement Game – 3:41
2 – Love’s Irony – 3:14
3 – Fish On The Car – 4:28
4 – Mom And Dad – 3:26
5 – Show Me – 5:47
6 – Break Out – 3:00
7 – In His Presence – 4:34
8 – Looking At You – 3:27

Credits
Backing Vocals – Bruce Swift, Kenny Samuels
Bass – Glenn Holland
Cymbal – Steve Giali
Drums – Steve Giali
Engineer – Doug Doyle
Guitar – John Giali, John McNamara
Guitar [Addtional] – Doug Doyle (tracks: B1)
Harmonica – Darrell Mansfield
Keyboards – Glenn Holland
Keyboards [Additional] – Rob Watson (tracks: B1)
Performer [4•4•1 Is] – Glenn Holland, John Giali, John McNamara, Steve Giali
Producer – Doug Doyle
Saxophone – Alan Palmer
Timbales – Terl Bryant
Vocals – John McNamara

Kaiser Mansfield – Trimmed and Burnin’ – 1990

Without a doubt this is the best Christian blues album of all time. We all knew Mansfield’s blues abilities but I for one was impressed with Kaiser’s abilities. Kaiser’s voice is absolutely perfect for blues. Most of the album is cover tunes from Rev. Gary Davis, Blind Willie Johnson, Rev. Gary Davis, and James B. Vaughan. Kaiser however did write 6 tracks for the album and they fit in perfectly. If one knew nothing about the blues you would have a difficult if not impossible pick out the Kaiser written tunes. The album is an acoustic effort only featuring Guitar, Dobro, Harp, and Standing Bass. This album should be required listening for any Christian rock fan.

Tracklist
1 – Great Change Since I’ve Been Born – 3:12
2 – Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burnin’ – 2:53
3 – Shaky Ground – 4:22
4 – Nobody’s Fault But Mine – 3:08
5 – Go Tell Pharaoh – 1:53
6 – You Got To Move – 2:18
7 – In The Light Of The Morningstar – 2:45
8 – Celestial Shore – 4:50
9 – Jesus Is Comin’ Soon – 3:20
10 – God Don’t Never Change – 2:35
11 – What You Did – 5:11
12 – I Belong To The Band – 3:10
13 – You Got To Die – 4:41
14 – Cornerstone – 1:33
15 – We Shall See The King – 3:58

Credits
Design [Cover Design] – Cornerstone Graphics, Janet Cameron
Dobro, Guitar – Rob Glickman
Engineer – Ed Bialach, Roger Heiss, Roy Montroy
Mixed By – Roger Heiss
Photography By – Mike Tabor, Terry Wheeler
Vocals, Guitar, Dobro, Dulcimer, Blues Harp [Very Little Harp] – Glenn Kaiser
Vocals, Handclaps [Clapped, Stomped], Blues Harp [Blew Serious Harp] – Darrell Mansfield

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Grrr Records
Copyright (c) – Grrr Records
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Pressed By – Disctronics USA – 112929
Published By – Grrr Music
Published By – EMI Robbins Catalog Inc.
Published By – Chandos Music Inc.
Published By – Tradition Music

Mass – Take You Home – 1988

This was the third album from Mass and their first on Enigma. Actually it’s an EP not an album but who cares. Again Mass was not a Christian band per se but a band of Christians and the track “Holy One” should leave no doubt. I rate this album as one step above the commercial metal of the day. Enigma loved their metal bands so Mass was a natural fit but personally I believe Mass’s music wasn’t aimed at the commercial crowd but instead it was aimed at real fans of the genre.

Tracklist
1 – Pedal To The Metal – 3:45
2 – Can’t Get Enough – 3:01
3 – Want It Back – 2:56
4 – Over You – 4:00
5 – Take You Home – 2:53
6 – Holy One – 6:02

Credits
Art Direction – Lisa Sutton
Bass – Kevin Varrio
Cover [Art] – David Lomeli
Cover [Back Photo] – Dan Muro
Design [Logo] – Nic Luciano
Drums – Joey “Vee” Vadala
Engineer [Assistant], Engineer [Additional] – Nelson Ayers
Guitar – Gene D’Itria
Management – Hernando Courtright, Stuart Weintraub
Mastered By – Jack Skinner
Other [Production Assistant], Other [Preproduction] – Hirsh Gardner
Producer, Engineer, Mixed By – John Rollo
Producer, Written By, Arranged By, Lyrics By – Mass
Vocals – Louie St. August

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Medusa Records
Copyright (c) – Medusa Records
Recorded At – The House Of Music, New Jersey
Mixed At – The House Of Music, New Jersey
Mastered At – Sterling Sound
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus, Virginia

The Imperials – This Year’s Model – 1987

This was The Imperials first album after the departure of long time tenor Jim Murray and lead singer Paul Smith. Apparently their departure made for a rather odd decision for this album. It is much more youth oriented, and in fact you could argue it was a total pop album. This caused all sorts of consternation from their regular fans who were expecting another worship oriented album. I actually snicker at how they would have reacted on their first listen to this album. The album is well done and actually quite enjoyable. Let’s face it these guys knew what they were doing and probably could have put out a top notch heavy metal album. Try envisioning that for a minute. But alas the new pop sound must not have sold well as the next album they were right back to their worship oriented sound. Pity actually, this was a good album.

Tracklist
1 – Holding On (First Love) – 5:22
2 – Fallin’ – 4:03
3 – Warriors – 4:54
4 – How Do I Get You? – 5:38
5 – Wings Of Love – 4:38
6 – Power Of God – 4:07
7 – Outlander – 6:47
8 – Get Ready – 4:38
9 – Devoted To You – 3:44

Credits
Arranged By [Rhythm Track] – Keith Thomas (tracks: A1, A2, B1)
Art Direction – Joan Tankersley
Artwork [Jacket Concept] – Joan Tankersley, Lynn Nichols
Bass – Jimmie Lee* (tracks: A2, B4)
Drum Programming – Keith Thomas (tracks: A1, A2, B1)
Drums – Paul Leim (tracks: B4, B5)
Engineer [Second] – Bill Whittington, Danny Johnston, J.T., Spence Chrislu, Wade Jaynes
Executive Producer – Lynn Nichols
Guitar – Mark Grendel (tracks: A2 to A4), Tom Hemby (tracks: B2, B4, B5)
Keyboards – Keith Thomas (tracks: A1, A2, B1, B4, B5), Shane Keister (tracks: A4, B4)
Lyrics By – Chris Eaton (tracks: A3, B3), Jimmie Lee (tracks: A2, B4), Ron Hemby (tracks: B2, B5)
Mastered By – Doug Sax
Mixed By – Nick Froome
Mixed By [Assistant] – Ed Goodreau, Rob Jaczko
Music By – Chris Eaton (tracks: A3, B3), Jimmie Lee (tracks: A2, B4), Keith Thomas (tracks: A1, B1)
Photography By [Back Cover] – Aaron Rapoport
Photography By [Front Cover] – Ellen Schuster
Producer – Brown Bannister
Programmed By [Fairlight] – Carl Marsh, Peter Kaye, Rhett Lawrence, Shane Keister
Programmed By [Synclavier] – Steve Schaffer
Recorded By [Overdubs] – J.B., Jeff Balding
Recorded By [Rhythm Tracks, Assistant] – Joe Schiff
Recorded By [Rhythm Tracks] – Steve McMillan
Synthesizer [Fairlight Iii] – Carl Marsh (tracks: A1, A3)

Barry McGuire – Cosmic Cowboy – 1978

Barry McGuire regularity put out an album a year and sometimes two. Generally when an artist does this we end up with albums full of “Filler” material. This is especially true when the artist is writing their own material. In this case i is quite the opposite. The album has lots of great tracks and Barry wrote every track except “Good News Shoes”. This album spawned the #1 hit “Cosmic Cowboy” which holds the record for most weeks at #1 on both the AC and CHR charts. Point of trivia, I did not know is that his guitarist and song writing partner Mike Deasy was actually a member of The Coasters (Yakety Yak). Not many guest stars this album but Michael Omartian did play some keyboards.

Tracklist
1 – Cosmic Cowboy – 4:45
2 – What Good Would It Do – 3:21
3 – The Presence – 2:55
4 – Walkin’ – 3:58
5 – Flying Merry-Go-Round – 4:03
6 – Mystery Of Life – 3:05
7 – Good News Shoes – 2:28
8 – My King – 3:15
9 – You An’ Me – 2:39
10 – White Swan – 3:23
11 – Face To Face – 3:05

Credits
Arranged By – Mike Deasy
Arranged By [Strings] – David Diggs
Artwork – John Lykes
Backing Vocals – Barry McGuire (tracks: B5), Bili Thedford (tracks: B5), Mike Deasy (tracks: B5), Sherlie Matthews (tracks: B5), Venetta Fields (tracks: B5)
Baritone Saxophone – Fred Selden
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Design – Stan Evenson
Drums – Bill Maxwell
Engineer, Mixed By – Wally Duguid
Guitar – Mike Deasy
Pedal Steel Guitar – Al Perkins
Percussion – Fred Petry
Piano – Harlan Rogers
Producer – Billy Ray Hearn
Synthesizer [Oberheim] – Michael Omartian

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Sparrow Records, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Sparrow Records, Inc.
Distributed By – Prim
Manufactured By – Prim
Printed By – General Printing AB
Recorded At – Buckskin Studio
Mixed At – Buckskin Studio
Mastered At – Capitol Mastering

Renaissance – Never Have To Run – 1984

When I was handed this album it came with a warning. So with great trepidation I started to listen to it. It has one of those annoying 30 second instrumental opening tracks (I’ve always hated that). First real track, ok, good keyboards, nice guitar riffs, decent vocals then there was the lyrics. Let’s just say this album is lyrically challenged. Now I want to be clear, the music is good, the vocals are good and the ideas for the songs are actually good. I think they just needed to have some help on the lyrics as they are a little simplistic. That said I really like some of the ideas they had with the songs and I’ll admit after listening to the album 3 or 4 times it actually grew on me. The production quality is actually pretty good for what appears to be a self produced album. The cover is a little confusing as it shows a cute girl but there is no girl in the band. Cute girl on the cover are you out there? The band themselves were from Ohio and I can’t find any info on them. So I suggest listening to the album but don’t expect anything spectacular. It’s just a simple fun album.

Tracklist
1 – Scenes – 0:42
2 – Preacher Man – 3:33
3 – Our Own Way – 4:10
4 – Life – 4:38
5 – Lonely People – 3:03
6 – Games – 2:54
7 – Just Passin’ Thru – 2:36
8 – Blues – 3:29
9 – Allright By Me – 4:18
10 – Live For Him – 5:37

Credits
Chris Liechty – Drums
Ken Richer – Lead & Backup Vocals, Keyboards
Gareth Miller – Guitar
Lane Roth – Bass, Backup Vocals
Walt Guy – Producer
Renaissance – Producer

The Keep – Never Surrender – 1985

The Keep were a Winnipeg Manitoba Canada Band that self recorded and produced this album. It was picked up by Tunesmith records who were well known for finding unknown bands back then. They did achieve some success in the Canadian market but should have been far wider known in Christian music. A full U.S. release would have probably made these guys a youth group name. Excellent guitar riffs and above normal lyric quality are all over this album. While it leans to Rock it’s actually a difficult album to categorize. Not because of different track styles, but because of the very style itself being difficult to categorize. Trivia is that the bands original name was Scepter but had to be changed due to a name conflict with another Christian band. Full disclaimer these guys are a hometown band for me so I do have some bias, but it’s a deserved bias.

Tracklist
1 – Discovering Allies – 4:05
2 – Forgiven Again – 4:10
3 – If Your Heart Isn’t In It – 3:12
4 – Pilgrims Progress – 3:00
5 – The Star – 5:20
6 – Good Guys – 3:45
7 – Hang On – 3:30
8 – Nero – 4:25
9 – The Lord Is My Shepherd – 2:08
10 – Eye In The Sky – 4:40

Credits
Joseph Madden – Lead Guitar, Rythym Guitar, Vocals, “Radio Show Host”, Producer
Wendell Koop – Vocals, Rythym Guitar, “Radio Show Guest”, Producer
Gilbert Vielfaure – Drums
Darrell Reimer – Bass Guitar
Gord Kidder – Harp solos on “Allies”and “Shepherd”
Tamera Barkman – “Caller on line 3”
Dave Zeglinski – telephone, wind, all backwards messages, Producer

Danger Zone – Danger Zone – 1985

This was the only album we got from Danger Zone. It had 4 members, two girls, Christine Huf, and Nagari Job and 2 guys, Steve Huf, and Tim Huf. I have no idea what the relationship is of the 3 Huf’s. Actually I know very little about the band other than they hailed from Australia. The album was produced by Peter Beverage which explains the excellent production quality. The album was released in the United States on Refuge Records. I may not know much about who they are but they put out a fun synth oriented pop album and I would have liked to have had this one in my collection back then.

Tracklist
1 – The Danger Zone – 3:54
2 – Cry For Love – 4:05
3 – Stop And Listen – 4:12
4 – Counterfeit City – 3:48
5 – Perfect Love – 4:26
6 – No Turnin’ Back – 4:34
7 – Exciting Love – 3:27
8 – The Winners – 4:10
9 – Love You – 3:13
10 – Leaving It Up To You – 3:20
11 – Streams In The Desert – 3:42

Credits
Engineer – Paul Rich (2)
Performer [Dangerzone Is] – Christine Huf, Ngari Job, Steve Huf, Tim Huf
Producer – Peter Beveridge

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – The Benson Company, Inc.
Recorded At – Wireless Set Studios
Mixed At – Wireless Set Studios