Author: Ray Mansfield

One of the founding cowboys of Real 80s CCM. Been listening to this stuff since 1978.

Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil – Goliath – 2014

Steve Taylor returned to the studio in 2014 with a new band. Joining him was John Painter (Fleming & John), Peter Furler (Newsboys), Jimmy Abegg (A Ragamuffin Band) and, Danny Seim. The album was very well received by critics and fans. It sounds Like Steve picked up right where he left off in the 80’s and is far better than his work in the 90’s. If you loved his 80’s stuff you’ll love this album as It is perfectly produced and mixed (Bob Ludwig).

Tracklist
1 – Only A Ride – 2:23
2 – Double Negative – 3:37
3 – Goliath – 2:49
4 – Moonshot – 2:57
5 – Rubberneck – 2:49
6 – The Sympathy Vote – 2:53
7 – Standing In Line – 3:54
8 – In Layers – 3:51
9 – Happy Go Lazy – 3:34
10 – A Life Preserved – 3:59
11 – Comedian – 6:27

Credits
Bass, Cello, Baritone Saxophone [Bari Sax], Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax], Alto Saxophone [Alto Sax], French Horn, Trumpet, Instruments [Anything Else Lying Around], Backing Vocals [BGVs] – John Mark Painter
Booking – H2O Agency, Scott Huie Co-producer, Mixed By – Danny Seim Design [Album Design] – Jimmy Abegg Drums, Backing Vocals [BGVs] – Peter Furler Executive-Producer – Larry VanArendonk, Martin Turner (5), Nancy VanArendonk, Richard Bickersteth, Rick Law Guitar, Backing Vocals [BGVs] – Jimmy Abegg Illustration [Insert Illustration] – Buddy Jackson Keyboards [Additional Keyboard Flourishes], Effects [Miscellaneous Wizardry] – Danny Seim Lyrics By – ST
Management – Nick Barre, Proper Management
Mastered By – Bob Ludwig
Music By – ST&TPF
Other [Breathalyzer] – Brendan Jones
Other [Condoleeza] – Steve Keller
Other [Jenga] – Stephen Parolini
Other [Turbinado] – Phillip Holmes
Other [Vodaphone] – Tim And Val Hudson
Other [Zeitgeist] – Sam Sacco
Photography By – Frank Ockenfels III
Producer – Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil
Recorded By – John Mark Painter
Recorded By [Danny Seim Overdubs] – Danny Seim
Vibraphone [Vibes] – Luke Yang
Vocals, Piano [One Hand Piano] – Steve Taylor

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Splint Entertainment
Copyright (c) – Splint Entertainment
Mastered At – Gateway Mastering
Recorded At – IHOF Studio
Published By – Soylent Tunes
Published By – Foiler Music
Published By – Plaid Jams
Published By – Twin Angels Music
Glass Mastered At – The ADS Group

Watchmen – Fear No Evil – 1987

Watchman formed in Tacoma Washington in 1984 and briefly called themselves Crosswalk before going with Watchman instead. This was their introductory demo released in 1987. It has a strong commercial sound and I noticed that several reviewers at the time compared them to Dio. There are strong keyboards which always sounds a little off to me when listening to a metal album. The standout thing on this demo for me was the quality of the production. It is very well engineered and I’d actually like to know who mixed and produced it. It sounds very well done to me and if they did it themselves they deserve credit for it. Anyway we have here 7 commercial oriented metal songs and a ballad. Regency Records must have liked it as much as I did as they signed them to a record deal after the demo.

Tracklist
1 – Fear No Evil – 4:55
2 – Tug Of War – 3:18
3 – Set Free – 4:12
4 – The Healer – 3:33
5 – Kingdom Come – 4:57
6 – Power From The Lamb – 4:23
7 – Christian Soldier – 3:18
8 – His Song – 5:00

Credits
Vocals – Greg Sweet
Keyboards – Kevin Antholt
Bass – Doug Larson
Drums – Kevin Whisler
Guitars – Dave Van Liew

Salmond & Mulder – Hoping & Coping – 1981

Vancouver Canada’s Salmond & Mulder are joined by Faye Mulder and Gayle Chambers for their third album. Full disclaimer they themselves describe this album as follows. “It is basically a worship album, focusing on wholeness in Christ and the struggle to hold that truth preeminent in our lives”. They achieve this outshout even vaguely venturing into even a hint of Rock & Roll. In all fairness that description is on the back of the album so hopefully you caught it before buying this album and expecting like their last album. I’m not saying this is a bad album in fact it’s pretty good but it is a worship album and not consistent with their previous work.

Tracklist
1 – Growing Richer – 3:07
2 – Looking At The Sun – 2:50
3 – Never Doubt – 1:32
4 – Father I Know – 4:18
5 – Hoping And Coping – 4:42
6 – Imnunurnmi – 2:52
7 – Give Me The Courage – 3:35
8 – Moving On – 4:55
9 – You Are My Wholeness – 2:55
10 – May The God And Father – 1:15
11 – You Are The Lord – 1:48

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Image VII Records Inc.
Copyright (c) – Image VII Records Inc.
Published By – Image VII Music

Good News – New Life – 1972

I will have to admit when i grabbed this album I was not too optimistic. It is on the BBC home label and The Salvation Army holds the copyright on the alum. Then there’s the album cover which shows the band all wearing suits. So it was with great trepidation that I listened to this one. Well my fears were completely unfounded. This is a great 70’s Rock & Roll album. This album goes one step further than most Jesus music albums of the period. The guitar work at times convinced me I might be listening to Keith Richards, but alas I’m listening to some guy called Kevin Burton who would never do any other published work. This is probably one of the best rocking Jesus Music albums of the period and it now falls in as one of my favourites of the era.

Tracklist
1 – Spirit – 4:21
2 – Go Peacefully – 3:17
3 – New Life – 4:53
4 – Shape Of Things To Come – 3:12
5 – Best Way Of All – 3:08
6 – You Need My Lord – 2:43
7 – Everybody Sing – 3:07
8 – Maureen & Billy – 4:05
9 – Looking Good – 2:59
10 – I Am Much More – 4:06
11 – Long Lost Cause – 3:40
12 – Kum Bay Ya – 3:04

Credits
Bass Guitar, Vocals – Lio Fivaz
Composed By, Arranged By – Bill Davidson
Coordinator – Sylvia Cartner
Drums, Vocals – Roger Woodrow
Lead Guitar, Piano, Vocals – Kevin Burton
Lead Vocals, Guitar, Piano – Bill Davidson
Producer, Liner Notes – Ralph Rolls
Sleeve, Design, Photography By – Andrew Prewett
Vocals, Tambourine – Ellen Schram

Companies, etc.
Copyright (c) – The Salvation Army
Copyright (c) – BBC London

Servant – Light Maneuvers – 1984

This was the 5th studio album from Servant and their first with Myrrh records. As Myrrh was a much larger label than Servant’s two previous labels this was a highly anticipated album. The album did not disappoint. In my opinion it was much better produced and while it definitely took a turn to the pop side of the industry I think that style suited them and this may be my favourite album by them. It spawned two CCM singles with “We Are The Light” making it to #16 and “Surrender” making it to #30.

Tracklist
1 – Poolside Logic – 3:25
2 – Surrender – 4:42
3 – We Are The Light – 4:30
4 – One At Heart – 4:30
5 – Neighborhood – 3:55
6 – Born In The Fire – 3:48
7 – Battlecry – 3:53
8 – Courage To Burn – 4:27
9 – Zero Minus One – 4:15
10 – War Dance – 3:56

Credits
Art Direction – Joan Tankersley
Artwork [Retouching] – Beverly Gilbert
Bass – Rob Martens
Drums – David Holmes
Engineer – Mike Fraser
Engineer [Assistant] – Allon Brooks
Executive-Producer – Lynn Nichols
Keyboards – Matthew Spransy
Layout – Lori Cooper
Lead Guitar – Bruce Wright
Mastered By – Bob Ludwig
Mixed By – Bob Rock, Mike Fraser
Percussion – Chris Taylor
Photography By – Craig Stewart
Photography By [Back Cover] – Rob Jaffe
Photography By [Back Cover] – Chris Briscoe
Producer – Bob Rock
Vocals – Bob Hardy, Sandie Brock

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Word, Inc.
Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co.

Hank Laake Band – Life and Death – 1983

This 1983 release from The Hanke Laake Band definitely had a Hard rock edge. Though I’ve seen the comparisons to Def Leopard I don’t quite agree. The vocals do get a Def Leopard sound in production, but the music itself is far more rock and roll than heavy metal. Hanke Laake was from Iowa, but he chose to record and release his albums through Tunesmith Records from BC Canada. Hanke Laake was the lead singer and drummer which wasn’t that common. Point of trivia is that Hanke Laake has since converted to Judaism and moved to Israel. He no longer performs music.

Track Listing:
1 – Time To Rock – Written-By – Hank Laake, Terry Fitzsimmons – 4:05
2 – What’s Wrong With Me – Written-By – Hank Laake – 3:45
3 – Sin’s A Losing Game – Written-By – Dan Brown , Hank Laake – 4:12
4 – Life And Death – Written-By – Hank Laake – 3:55
5 – Don’t Walk Away – Written-By – Hank Laake, Terry Fitzsimmons – 4:15
6 – Celebrate – Written-By – Hank Laake – 3:42
7 – We Are Free – Written-By – Dan Brown, Hank Laake – 3:48
8 – I’m In You – Written-By – Hank Laake – 4:42
9 – For Free – Written-By – Hank Laake, Terry Fitzsimmons – 4:25
10 – New Freedom – Written-By – Hank Laake, M. Donner – 3:53

Credits:
Bass – Dean Stokka
Cover – Mason Bros. Studio
Drums – Hank Laake
Guitar – Dan Brown, Terry Fitzsimmons
Lead Vocals – Hank Laake
Photography – Mason Bros. Studio
Producer – Hank Laake, Josef Laake
Vocals – Dean Stokka, Terry Fitzsimmons

Sammy Hall – Dream Sessions – 1985

At this point in his career Sammy was comfortable with releasing albums on his own label. He must have been getting fairly good distribution as he chose to take this path with his career. Lots of others tried to go this route with relatively little success. This is a good easy listening album. It is well produced and the quality of tracks is top notch. That said I think Sammy was a little stuck in the 70’s still as this album has a 70’s feel. It’s a good feel, but it was a little outdated.

Tracklist
01 – Dream Session – 2:59
02 – Take Me Back – 3:52
03 – Mary Ann – 3:43
04 – I Feel A Hurt Coming On –
05 – Why – 3:20
06 – Am I Right – 4:03
07 – See You At The Top – 3:14
08 – Cryin’ In The Rain – 3:31
09 – Let’s Get Together – 2:29
10 – The American Trilogy – 5:16

Lightforce – Battlezone – 1987

This was the first full album release from Lightforce but it was self released. I’m not really sure where the line is between a demo and a self released album but anyway I digress. Originally this was released on cassette only but a vinyl version appeared in 2019 courtesy of Soundmass records. It was also included in a 2003 compilation entitled 1986 To 1989. This album has a pretty raw feel which I believe was entirely intentionally. Though this is an early version of Mortification the Lightforce had their own sound and it is a little more commercial. While metal is not one of my preferred styles of music I quite liked the track “Reigning With The King”, I think it cold have been a pretty popular track if it had wider distribution.

Tracklist
1 – Choose To Win – 4:31
2 – Evil Desires – 2:54
3 – Reigning With The King – 5:40
4 – Eyes of Destruction – 5:42
5 – I Won’t Conform – 2:41
6 – The Day Is Near – 2:34
7 – Battlezone – 2:44
8 – Fast Lane – 3:52

Credits
Bass – Steve Rowe
Cover, Layout, Design – Scott Waters
Drums – Errol Willenberg
Guitar – Cameron Hall
Vocals, Keyboards – Steve Johnson

The Archers – Fresh Surrender – 1977

This really was the album that put The Archers on the map. Billy Masters and Nancy Short were out and Janice was finally officially in though she had been with the band on tour for quite awhile at this point. The album took a far more upbeat style that was very well received as was Janice. I’m pretty sure that hair sold a few albums in the male listener market. (Hand Up) The studio was filled with A list musicians and the the quality reflects that. The album had an astounding seven charting singles and was nominated for A Dove award but lost out to Dallas Holm and Praise. Really? OH those were some pretty terrifying times for the Gospel Music Association. Anyway give it a listen, if you’re a Jesus Music fan you’ll like it.

Tracklist
1 – I Need You – 3:33
2 – Fresh Surrender – 3:55
3 – With Every Breath I Take – 4:28
4 – Water Into Wine – 3:16
5 – Give Him Praise – 4:48
6 – I’m Gonna Rise – 3:12
7 – Change – 3:31
8 – Sanctified Life – 3:33
9 – Make Me An Instrument – 4:41
10 – You Know The Future – 4:23

Credits
Arranged By [Instrumental] – Larry Muhoberac, The Archers
Arranged By [Vocals] – The Archers
Bass – David Hungate, Reinie Press, Wilton Felder
Concertmaster – James Getzoff
Drums – Dennis Holt, Jim Keltner, Mike Baird, Paul Leim
Engineer – Billy Taylor, Dennis Drake, John Guess, Larry Emerine, Steve Maslow, Wally Duguid
Guitar – Ben Benay, Dean Parks, Fred Tackett, Lee Ritenour, Tony Sena
Keyboards – Larry Muhoberac, Phil Kristianson
Lead Vocals – Janice Archer, Steve Archer, Tim Archer
Orchestrated By – Larry Muhoberac
Strings – James Getzoff

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Lexicon Music, Inc.
Published By – Lexicon Music, Inc.
Published By – Benson Pub. Co.
Published By – Libris Music
Recorded At – Western Recorders
Recorded At – Studio 55, Los Angeles
Recorded At – Hollywood Sound Recorders
Recorded At – Devonshire Studios
Recorded At – Mama Jo’s
Mastered At – Capitol Mastering

Phil Keaggy – Love Broke Thru – 1976

This is Phil’s second solo album. It is still very revered to this day partly because of the track “Love Broke Thru”. The track was actually written by Keith Green and Randy Stonehill for Keith Green. Strangely Keith Green wanted Keaggy to release it before he did and so it was. The track “Time” features Keaggy’s innovative guitar technique of “violin-like swelling” which I can honestly say I don’t like but it is very well liked by actual musicians which I am not. The track “As The Ruin Falls” is actually an arrangement of he C.S. Lewis poem of the same name. Guest appearances include Michael Omartian on keyboards, Annie Herring (2nd Chapter Of Acts), Matthew Ward, and Mylon LeFevre doing some background vocals.

Tracklist
1 – Love Broke Thru – 3:30
2 – Take Me Closer – 4:57
3 – As The Ruin Falls – 4:31
4 – Wild Horse – 4:16
5 – Disappointment – 2:39
6 – Time – 6:47
7 – Portrait – 2:03
8 – Just The Same – 3:43
9 – Things I Will Do – 3:14
10 – Abraham – 3:32

Credits
Arranged By [String Arrangements] – Michael Omartian
Backing Vocals – Annie Herring, Matthew Ward, Mylon LeFevre
Bass – Leland Sklar
Contractor [String Contractor] – George Poole
Design – Linny Cobb
Drums – Jim Gordon
Engineer, Producer – Buck Herring
Executive Producer – Scott Ross
Flute – Don Menza
Guitar [All Guitars] – Phil Keaggy
Horns – Bill Baker, Marshall Cyr
Keyboards [Aarpvark] – Michael Omartian
Percussion – Herring, Hopper, Keaggy*
Photography [Back Cover, Label And Sleeve Photography] – Peter K. Hopper
Photography [Cover Photography] – Ted Len
Piano, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Organ – Larry Knetchel*

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – New Song Productions
Copyright (c) – New Song Productions