This is Pete’s second album and his first with small label Chrism. There’s not really much to say about this album. It is the standard easy listening/AOR album of the time but I’m not denigrating Pete at all. He does what he does well but with most albums of this style it’s hard to make them stand out. One stand out though is the song Up And Down. It was well ahead of it’s time and I would have loved to hear someone cover it in the 80’s. Imagine a DA version, would have loved that.
Tracklist
1 – Loving The Lonely Nights
2 – Praise Song
3 – Heavenly Places
4 – I’m So Glad That You Waited
5 – Did You Ever Want To Fly
6 – Up And Down
7 – It Took Only Once
8 – The Call
9 – Someday Soon
10 – I’m Gonna Live Forever
Mike Pendleton joins the Rose brothers for the second album from Mad at the World. This album picks up where their first one left off. On this album their sound did evolve however and on some tracks we can here a tint of The Cult and/or The Cure. The Depeche Mode sound is still the mainstay of the album and you can’t help but hear it. The album reached number 38 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Christian Chart.
Tracklist
1 – Fearfully And Wonderfully – 3:50
2 – Flowers In The Rain – 4:15
3 – Why – 4:36
4 – Puppet Strings – 4:17
5 – No Mistakes – 3:18
6 – Wait – 3:29
7 – I Don’t Wanna Go There – 3:17
8 – Faith Is A Perfect Road – 3:36
9 – In My Dream – 3:51
10 – Lovelight In The Midnight – 5:08
11 – This Lie – 3:30
12 – Dancing On Your Grave – 5:58
Credits
Art Direction, Design – Ed McTaggart
Band [Mad At The World Is], Keyboards – Mike Pendleton
Band [Mad At The World Is], Vocals, Drum Programming – Randy Rose
Band [Mad At The World Is], Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar [Guitars], Drum Programming – Roger Rose
Design Concept [Cover Concept By] – Brian Kay, Ed McTaggart
Graphics [Logo Colorization By] – Brent Gordon
Illustration [Rose By] – Roger*
Photography By, Illustration [Cover Illustration By] – Bob Rowe
Producer [Produced By] – Roger Rose
Screen Printing [Litho-Prep By] – Orbis
Songwriter [All Songs Written By], Arranged By – Roger Rose
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Frontline Records
Copyright (c) – Frontline Records
Distributed By – The Benson Company
Recorded At – MATW Studios
Mixed At – MATW Studios
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus
Published By – Broken Songs
This 1985 release from Darrell is probably one of if not his best album. This album definitely had a hard rock feel that made it stand out from his previous albums. While it is difficult to name singles on any christian album this album had plenty. Darrell brought in some outside talent for this album. Guitarist Paul Gilbert joins the band for two tracks, “After The Storm” and “Jesus Will Reign”. Harmonica player Rod Piazza joins in on “Don’t Let Them Stand In Your Way”. I always found it interesting that one of the greatest harmonica players in the world would invite another harmonica player to work on his album. The album was re-released in 1987 on CD but does not appear to have been remastered as I found a noise that is both on the vinyl and CD release. As it is on a silent section it would have been removed in a remaster. The album was yet again re-released in 2012 but this time as an Expanded Edition. It includes 7 bonus live tracks recorded at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa California in 1988. These tracks appear all be from Darrell’s 1988 “Live” release which is an album I’ve never even seen for sale.
Tracklist
1 – Thunder ‘N Lightning – 4:46
2 – After The Storm – 4:42
3 – Runnin’ – 2:57
4 – Give It Up – 3:41
5 – Bible Study – 4:21
6 – Jesus Will Reign – 4:29
7 – Tokyo – 3:46
8 – Don’t Let Them Stand In Your Way – 3:46
9 – Waiting – 6:02
Expanded Edition Bonus Tracks
10 – Lay Down This World – 3:31
11 – No More Blues – 4:08
12 – Runnin’ – 2:45
13 – Thunder ‘N Lightning – 5:22
14 – Heaven Southwestern – 9:14
15 – Jesus Will Reign – 4:31
16 – Bible Study – 8:41
Credits
Backing Vocals [Additional] – Kenny Samuels*
Bass – Darrel Cooke*
Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals – Jeff Nicholson (4)
Drums, Backing Vocals – Greg Eckler
Drums, Percussion – Terl Bryant
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Bob Anglin, Eric Turner (2)
Harmonica – Rod Piazza (tracks: B3)
Lead Guitar – Paul Gilbert (tracks: A2, B1)
Lead Vocals, Harmonica – Darrell Mansfield
Mastered By [Runout Etching] – JM*
Painting – Rick Griffin (2)
Producer – Darrell Mansfield, Doug Doyle, Eric Turner (2)
Producer, Engineer – Wally Grant
Companies, etc.
Recorded At – 3-D Studios, Costa Mesa CA.
Mixed At – 3-D Studios, Costa Mesa CA.
Mastered At – Motown Recording Studios
Axia was a great Swedish metal band and this EP was their entry into the market. The EP was released in very limited numbers but the band re-released it in 2009 on CD. If you liked their 1988 self titled release you’ll like this EP. It has a bit of a rawer sound but it suits the band well.
Tracklist
1 – Increasing Action – 2:29
2 – Forced Into Darkness – 4:38
3 – Never Ending Love – 3:33
4 – The Savage Ramblers – 3:07
Credits
Peo Pettersson – Vocals
Morgan Blomquist – Guitars
Niclas Ericson – Bass
Michael Alexandersen – Drums
Before there was Bride there was Matrix. Matrix put a lot of effort into getting their music out regardless of a record deal. They actually produced 4 Demo’s before getting a record deal and this is #2 of those 4. This demo had a couple tracks that would later be released as Bride. I listened to both the demo and album versions of “Heroes”, and “All Hallow’s Eve” and I think I prefer the raw sound of the demo versions to be honest. All in all this is a very good sounding Demo and must have been a great prize to have at the time. Of course now it’s almost impossible to come by but luckily Bride re-released all their demo’s on CD in 2001.
1 – Heroes – 3:29
2 – Fright – 3:26
3 – Remember Me – 4:22
4 – Now You See Me (Now You Don’t) – 3:08
5 – All Hallow’s Eve – 2:37
6 – Slippin’ into the Light – 2:58
7 – We Are Going to Make It – 3:37
8 – Look at Me Now – 4:11
9 – He’s the Flyer – 3:42
10 – What Must I Do – 3:56
This is Adrian’s 3rd album and it continues the style he became famous for. It is easy listening with a hint of Jazz. Adrian was becoming fairly well known by this album but hadn’t yet adjusted to a style that was easier for the public to identify with. Unfortunately, when artists put out so many albums with such a similar style it is hard to point out anything that is unique about the album. This is one of those times.
Tracklist
1 – Reach Me – 3:57
2 – Peace Be With You – 2:26
3 – Through The City Noise – 3:30
4 – Judas – 4:30
5 – Travelling – 3:38
6 – That’s Me In The Corner – 2:25
7 – Turn Your Vengeance – 6:40
8 – Losing – 5:10
9 – Children Of The Dream (Psalm 126) – 3:42
10 – Listen To The Peace – 4:45
Credits
Acoustic Guitar – Adrian Snell
Arranged By [Strings, Brass & Harp] – Bill Thorp
Bass – Gerry Page
Drums – Keith Entwistle
Engineer – Andy Kidd, Helmut Kaufmann
Graphics – Phil Thomson
Illustration – Eugene Press
Keyboards – Adrian Snell
Photography By [Cover Portrait] – Audrey Cox
Photography By [Inside Cover] – Phil Thomson
Producer – John Pantry
When Crumbächer dissolved members Stephen Crumbächer and Christopher Duke went on to record this album and called in David Huff from White Heart to help them out on drums. The album has more guitar than their releases as Crumbächer but Stephen’s signature keyboards are still there though with more piano than usual. As I listened to it I couldn’t help feeling like it was Crumbächer all grown up. The songs are much better both lyrically and musically. That said the album just didn’t hold my interest like the previous Crumbächer albums did but it’s a good album and deserves a listen.
Tracklist
1 – Worlds Away – 4:18
2 – Heavy Rhythm – 4:15
3 – Summer Children – 3:25
4 – The Last Time – 5:07
5 – Desert Lightning – 4:09
6 – Latter Rains – 6:35
7 – Hooks – 4:04
8 – No Kind Of Magic – 4:11
9 – Perfect Crime – 3:00
10 – Tears Of Joy – 4:32
11 – Rock In The Heart Place – 4:20
12 – Over & Over, On & On – 3:50
Credits
Acoustic Guitar – Christopher Duke
Art Direction – Ed McTaggart
Design – Joe Potter
Drums – David Huff
Electric Guitar – Christopher Duke
Engineer – Eric Kibbe
Keyboards – Stephen Crumbächer
Piano – Stephen Crumbächer
Producer – Christopher Duke, Stephen Crumbächer
Vocals – Stephen Crumbächer
Companies, etc.
Distributed By – The Benson Company, Inc.
Recorded At – Mixing Lab A
Recorded At – Mixing Lab B
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
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
