Ray Mansfield – Page 2

One Bad Pig – Swine Flew – 1990

So awhile ago I was discussing One Bad Pig with a friend and we were trying to decide if it was all a joke. Were they really just mocking Christina music scene? I mean they weren’t very good at it but many bands aren’t very good when starting out. Paul Q-Pek eventually put out a solo album that was far better than what the band was producing and in a different style. Then there was the whole Lust Control fiasco that in my opinion had no place in Christian music. In the end we decided they were probably the real deal and really wanted to do something different than everyone else. This is their 2nd album on a real label and the quality really improved on this album though the studio personal was the same as their previous album. I think the band starting taking things seriously between their previous studio visit and this one. There were a few real highlights on this album including a cover of Petra’s Judas Kiss featuring Bob Hartman on guitar as well as an appearance from Phil Keaggy on Desperation. They also did a cover of Larry’s Christmas Time which was not a highlight of the album in my opinion. I’m kind of surprised Myrrh let it go on the album as it is just not very good. I did prefer this album to Smash because honestly you could at least make out most of the vocals on this one. At this point this album would be my pick for their best one.

Tracklist
1 – See Me Sweat – 2:38
2 – Altar Ego – 4:09
3 – Hey Punk – 1:40
4 – Red River – 5:04
5 – Bowl Of Wrath – 2:15
6 – Big Stomach – 3:39
7 – Christmas Time – 4:15
8 – Judas’ Kiss – 3:24
9 – Desperation – 4:36
10 – Thrash Against Sin – 1:31
11 – Swine Flew – 3:33
12 – When Your Love Died – 5:29
13 – We Want You – 3:55

Credits
Art Direction – Roz Roos
Art Direction, Design, Illustration – Nick Newton
Backing Vocals – Billy Smiley, David Mullen, Jeff Barkley, John Allan Garies, John Kunz, Lee “Mad Dog” Groitzsch
Bass Guitar, Vocals – Streak Wheeler
Drums, Vocals – Philip Owens
Engineer – Lee Groitzsch
Engineer – John Kunz
Guitar, Vocals, Sounds – Paul Q-Pek
Mastered By – Daniel Hersch
Mixed By – Billy Smiley, Lee Groitzsch
Photography By – Alan Dockery
Producer – Billy Smiley
Vocals – Carey Womack

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Recorded At – Digital Recorders, OmniSound Studios, Uptown Nashville
Mastered At – DigiPrep
Published By – Smiling Swine Music, Word Music, Phydeaux, Dawn Treader Music
Glass Mastered At – DADC – DIDX-007321

Refugee – Life Goes On – 1992

There is going to be a fair amount of educated guessing going on about this band because I can not find any information on this band. The band consisted of Shawn Shepherd Lead Vocals, Mike Albrecht Guitar, George Cline Bass, and Tom Albrecht Drums. This is the only album they ever released and I can’t see that it ever got some distribution so it’s little known. The album was recorded at Jess Redmon’s studio and produced by him. Jeff was the keyboard player for Alpha Centauri and contributed keyboards to this project. I’m sure there is more information on the CD booklet but unfortunately our scan of it is unreadable. The album is a great Hard Rock album and I loved it on my first listening. But the real star of this album is the cover. Now I know that’s really odd to say but here’s why. I have a stack of probably 1000 albums to go in this project so when I reach in it’s tough to find a great rock album. That said one look at this cover and I was pretty sure this was going to be a rock album and not worship music. So many rock albums end up with horrible covers that don’t attract my eye and they get missed. This album cover sold the band. So one of the stars of this album is actually Art Director RoseAnne Buerge. If this album had some proper distribution her artwork would have got it into many CD players in the day. Great work RoseAnne.

Tracklist
1 – Life Goes On – 4:23
2 – Open Your Heart – 4:24
3 – Slave To Emotion – 4:58
4 – Rescued – 5:08
5 – Ride The Wind – 4:02
6 – Big Bang – 5:20
7 – Calling – 3:48
8 – Surrender All – 5:03
9 – Johnny – 3:22
10 – Sometimes Love – 5:48
11 – Paradise – 4:03

Credits
Art Direction, Design – RoseAnne Buerge
Backing Vocals – Refugee
Bass – George Cline
Drums – Tom Albrecht
Guitar, Keyboards – Mike Albrecht
Photography – Peary Schroeder
Producer – Refugee
Producer, Engineer – Michael S. Wight
Producer, Engineer, Mixed By, Keyboards – Jess Redmon
Vocals – Shawn Shepherd

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Zephyr Records
Copyright © – Zephyr Records
Recorded At – Blue Zephyr Music
Glass Mastered At – DADC – DIDX-017481

Paul Janz – Trust – 1992

This was Paul’s last album. I’m a little confused by this album as his previous 3 albums were on A&M and were pretty successful all things considered. But this album was on Attic Record who weren’t a mall label but weren’t of the level to have an album from Janz. Furthermore the album was financed by FACTOR which is a Canadian public/private fund for emerging Canadian artists. Janz certainly didn’t fit this profile. The whole thing is really confusing. As for the album it’s all there. Great songwriting, great song and great musicians BUT the album i just missing something. It just doesn’t have the pop of his previous album. Paul produced it himself so maybe he jut wasn’t quite ready to move into that roll. Anyway this marked Paul’ departure from the music business. He went into teaching eventually becoming a Professor Emeritus of Philosophical Theology and Head of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at King’s College London. He has since retired from that position and I’m unable to find what he is doing today. He had a son who was up and coming in the music industry but unfortunately he passed away in 2016.

Tracklist
1 – Workin’ For My Baby – 4:08
2 – Calling My Personal Angel – 5:08
3 – King Pin Fool – 4:27
4 – Wind Me Up – 4:23
5 – Prince Of Pain King Of Fools – 4:20
6 – You’re Never Alone – 4:46
7 – Take Me Back (On The Docks) – 4:35
8 – Amazon Rain – 4:46
9 – Always – 4:29
10 – Get Arrested – 4:26
11 – Light A Candle In Your Heart – 3:27
12 – Praying – 3:52

Credits
Arranged By [Vocal Arrangement By] – Larry Nickel
Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Colin Janz, Dee Daniels, Joanni Taylor, Kelsey Janz, Pat Wright
Bass – Miles Hill
Design – Ralph Alfonso
Drums – Michael Root
Engineer [Technical Engineer] – Ashley Clarke
Guitar – Tim McKenzie
Management – Michael Godin Management Inc.
Mastered By – George Graves
Performer [Performance] – MEI Vocal Jazz
Photography By – Lincoln Clarkes
Producer, Vocals, Piano, Synthesizer, Drum Machine [Machine Drums] – Paul Janz
Recorded By, Mixed By – Patrick Glover
Saxophone – Tom Colclough
Vocals [Inspired Singing] – Pat Wright, The Total Experience Gospel Choir
Written-By – Elizabeth Janz, Paul Janz

Companies, etc.
Glass Mastered At – Cinram
Funded By – FACTOR
Distributed By – Attic Records Limited
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Attic Productions Limited, Paul Janz
Copyright © – Attic Productions Limited, Paul Janz
Licensed From – Attic Productions Limited, Paul Janz
Published By – All That Janz, East Broadway Music, Pondwater Music, Zoological Music, Irving Music Of Canada Ltd.
Recorded At – Mission Control Studio
Mixed At – Mission Control Studio
Mastered At – The Lacquer Channel

Traxter – Rock ‘N Race – 1991

Traxter was formed in 1987 in Bakerfield CA. Now Bakersfield certainly wasn’t exactly known for the Metal scene but upon studying this band I found out that there was actually a pretty strong Christian metal scene in the community. Traxter played heavily in the area and saved up their money to record this album. It has a glam rock feel and is actually pretty good. It was mixed but not produced by Bill Baumgart and the mix is pretty good. I wish Bill had produced it because this is an album that needed to be heard. My only criticism of the album is that the guitars should have been brightened and the keyboards turned down a notch. The Christian market struggled with Metal bands that relied on keyboards unlike the secular market that loved it. Anyway that aside this is a great album that I quite enjoyed even if it’s not my preferred style. This was the only album the band put out in the day but they did get back together in 2024 to finish up an album that had been stalled back in the 90’s. That album was finally released in 2026 as well as a re-release of their original album. Both are available on Roxx records website so if you like what you hear support the band and their record company by picking it up https://roxxrecords.com/

Tracklist
1 – Holy Rockin’ – 3:54
2 – Mr. Love – 7:19
3 – Turn and Face – 3:44
4 – Come to Open Arms – 7:36
5 – The Flight – 1:44
6 – J.S.N. – 4:54
7 – Honest Report – 4:54
8 – Evil Day – 4:23
9 – The Day – 6:19
10 – Traxter – 6:53

Credits
Bass – Bobby Del Ray
Drums – Darrin Lee Kirkindoll
Engineer – Mark Davis (41)
Executive-Producer – Barry Hinesley
Guitar – Leonard Bennett
Keyboards – Birch Caffee
Lead Vocals, Guitar – Terrance Steven Fisher
Mixed By – Bill Baumgart
Mixed By, Engineer – Dave Jahnsen
Producer – Traxter

Companies, etc.
Manufactured By – American Helix – E30880

Phil Driscoll – Sound The Trumpet – 1982

To say that I love Phil’s music would be an understatement. While I’m a Rock & Roll guy Phil has consistently stuck in my top 10 artists for most of my life. As part of this project we classify music by style. Rock, Reggae, Easy Listening etc. There are a few artists that just don’t fit in these catch all categories. Larry Norman for example is a category of music all his own and gets classified as such. Phil is another one of those artists that just doesn’t fit in other categories and as such his style category is just, Phil. This was his first of many albums with Sparrow records and while this album didn’t do exceptionally well it would pave the way for a run of very very successful albums. By the way did you think Phil was just a boring trumpet player? Well he wasn’t and isn’t but especially wasn’t. He has both Cocaine possession convictions as well as tax evasion. I get the feeling that Phil is a pretty edgy guy outside of the studio and I for one would love to spend a day just hearing his stories.

Tracklist
1 – He Is Jehovah – 4:30
2 – Jesus What A Wonder You Are – 8:01
3 – We Shall Behold Him – 6:40
4 – My Jesus I Love Thee – 4:23
5 – Sing Hallelujah – 5:22
6 – Oh Magnify The Lord – 4:34
7 – Thou Art Worthy – 5:17
8 – Because He Lives – 6:12

Credits
Arranged By [All Strings, Horns And Background Vocals] – Lari Goss
Arranged By [Basic Rhythm Tracks] – Lari Goss, Phil Driscoll
Bass – Ricky Keller
Coordinator [Cover Coordination] – B. Charlyne Hinesley
Cover – Steve Breitborde
Drums – Buster Phillips
Engineer [Rhythm Tracks] – Kent Holmes
Engineer [Strings, Horns, Background Vocals] – Chip Young
Guitar – Mike Deasy
Piano – Lari Goss
Producer – Lari Goss, Phil Driscoll
Remix – Jack Gilmer, Phil Driscoll
Synthesizer – Alan Steinberger
Trumpet, Lead Vocals – Phil Driscoll

Companies, etc.
Produced For – Mighty Horn Records
Recorded At – Forward In Faith Production Studios
Recorded At – Young ‘Un Sound, Nashville
Remixed At – Cartee III Recording Studio
Lacquer Cut At – Future Disc
Designed At – Stan Evenson Design, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Mighty Horn Records
Published By – Jehovah Jirah Music, Dawn Treader Music, John T. Benson Co., New Song Ministries, Fred Bock Music Company, William J.Gaither Music

Carman – Some-O-Dat – 1982

This is essentially Carman’s first album though yes I know he had a previous release but many people don’t even know it exists. this album was actually cross released on CBS record’s Epic and Priority labels. It was initially released as a self titled album but later adopted the name of the single, “Some-O-Dat”. I’m actually a little confused by this album. Who was it being marketed to? The youth or our parents or our grandparents? I mean I know some albums were successfully marketed to both our parents and us but I just don’t get it on this album. There are at least 3 different styles on this album and they just don’t work together. If you listen to Carman’s first album it has a rhythm and a sound that could have been successfully cross marketed to us and our parents. But this album is all over the place and this is further confusing because it was produced by Michael Lloyd who was one of the best. Anyway so it you like Country, 50’s style rock, traditional worship, or 60’s novelty songs you will probably like 1 or 2 tracks on this album. Good luck.

Tracklist
1 – Bethlehem – 2:54
2 – Overcoming Child – 3:05
3 – The Master’s Hand – 4:42
4 – Some-O-Dat – 3:10
5 – A Love As Yours – 4:41
6 – I’m Saved – 2:32
7 – Just Believe – 5:04
8 – Washed In The Blood – 3:40
9 – God, God, God – 3:41
10 – I Praise You – 4:41

Credits
Arranged By [Additional], Guitar, Synthesizer – Michael Lloyd
Arranged By, Keyboards – David Wheatley
Backing Vocals – Brett Hudson (2), Mark Hudson, The Waters
Bass – Dennis Belfield
Drums – Ron Krasinski
Guitar – Jay Leach, Joey Neuman*, John Goux
Percussion, Backing Vocals – Randy Foote
Strings – Sid Sharp

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – CBS Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – CBS Inc.
Manufactured By – Priority Records
Manufactured By – CBS Inc.

The Paul Q-Pek Band – Demo – 1987

Now I’m going to preface this “review” is that I have always had questions about the sincerity of the Piglets. I still don’t know if they were serious or were mocking the entire industry. This demo is part of my evidence. Paul Q-Pek obviously had a love for alternative music as indicated by this demo before One Bad Pig and his solo album later on. In both of these albums he leaned more to alternative. It should also be noted that piglet drummer Phillip Owens was also on this album. While this demo was incredibly rare one of the tracks made it onto Doug Van Pelt Cool Tunes album. As I understand it this track, Kingdom Come, was extremely well liked. Anyway I absolutely love this demo. It ha a great sound for 1987 and I would have eaten it up back in the day. Apparently there are more demos out there and I hope we can find them. I apologize in advance for the sound quality or lack thereof. I did my best to clean up this copy of a copy of a cassette.

Tracklist
1 – Truth Be Told – 4:05
2 – Kingdom Come – 3:47
3 – Mrs. Lowery – 0:31
4 – Tear Down The Walls – 4:26
5 – Boxes – 2:04
6 – The Healing – 6:12

Credits
Paul Q-Pek – Lead vocals, guitar, keyboards
Sam Nunes – Bass, vocals
Michael Willoughby – Keyboards, vocals
Phillip Owens – Drums, vocals
Maury Millican – Guitar on “Tear Down the Walls”
A bunch of strange people taking up space in the studio – The “Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey!” Chorus

Sentry – Breakin’ Free – 1988

If you aren’t from the Massachusetts area you may not have heard of these guys but if you were around in the late 80’s in that area you knew these guys and probably loved them. Sentry we’re an Arena Rock band from Quincy, Massachusetts that got together in the early 80’s. The original members were Dave McCreary on lead vocals and guitar, Steve Knepper on bass, Tim Knepper on keys, and Tim Jenkins on drums. In 1985 Jeff Stewart, replaced Tim Jenkins on drums. The band played the live scene up and down the east coast and that arena rock sound sold well in nightclubs of the era. This is the first of 2 demo’s for them. It represents their sound very well and is well mixed and produced though held back a bit by the quality of the cassettes. It was re-released in 2026 as part of a band anthology thanks to Roxx Records and can be purchased on their website; https://roxxrecords.com/

Tracklist
1 – Shout The Word – 4:45
2 – Real Love – 4:37
3 – To Go My Own Way – 5:20
4 – Shattered Lives – 4:17

Credits
Bass – Steve Knepper
Drums, Backing Vocals – Jeffrey Stewart
Guitar, Lead Vocals – Dave McCreary
Keyboards – Tim Knepper

Farrell & Farrell – Superpower – 1989

This was the final album from Bob and Jayne. I find it apropos that we are releasing this album just as Bob has passed away. Our circle growing up always had a strange relationship with Farrell And Farrell. They definitely weren’t our preferred genre but because of their live album we still loved them. Not the albums, just that album. I said it was a rather odd relationship and it was. For some reason we loved that live album and I have always had a personal theory that Bob was actually a rocker. Though Bob didn’t play guitar on that album he did do the arrangements for Leonard Ahlstrom who did and there is tons of Rock & Roll riff’s on that album. I have also heard it here and there in Bob’s playing so I truly believe he was a Rock & Roll artist in hiding. Anyway this was their final album and tour as Bob wanted to move behind the board and handle production, something that really worked out for him. As for this album it is probably their best Pop album and they absolutely nailed it. The album has excellent engineering and production, a sign of what was coming in Bob’s skill set. Again not particularly my preferred style but I still really enjoyed this album. As we say good bye to Bob give it a listen and read between the lines, he was a real rocker.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXeno_Ic2CzI

Tracklist
1 – Superpower – 5:01
2 – It’s Gonna Take Love – 3:32
3 – Eyes On You – 3:52
4 – Heart Of The Homeless – 3:53
5 – Follow You – 4:44
6 – Graphic – 3:56
7 – Takin’ It Home – 5:16
8 – Eternity In Their Hearts – 3:22
9 – Find The Way To Love – 4:13
10 – Every Day Of Your Life – 3:26
11 – Crowns – 3:27

Credits
Tom Hemby – producer, keyboards, guitar, sequencing, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, music
Mike Demus – producer, keyboards, guitar, sequencing, music
Bob Farrell – executive producer, lead vocals, background vocals, cover concept, lyrics, music
Bill Deaton – engineer, mixer
Chris McCue – drums
Keith Edwards – drums
Mark Douthit – saxophone, soloist
Buddy Greene – harmonica
Donna McElroy – background vocals
Kim Fleming – background vocals
Vicki Hampton – background vocals
Chris Harris – background vocals
Chris Rodrigues – background vocals
Greg Guidry – background vocals
Dave Robbins – background vocals, lyrics, music
Van Stephenson – background vocals, lyrics, music
Kip Raines – background vocals
Jayne Farrell – lead vocals, background vocals, cover concept
James Chesser – cover concept
Terri Short – cover concept, art direction
Ron Williams – photographer
Dennas Davis – design, illustration
Jeff Roberts – booking agent
The Rycheners – general helper
Spencer Campbell – bass guitar
Gary Lunn – bass guitar
Ed DeGarmo – lyrics, music
Dana Key – lyrics, music

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word Records Limited, Word (Uk) Ltd.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Produced For – Vertical Productions
Published By – Summerdawn Music, Word Music, WB Music Corp., Uncle Beave Music, Warner-Tamerlane Music Corp., Edward Grant, Inc., Puxico Music, DKB Music

RPM – Phonogenic – 1984

This is the follow up album to their mildly successful debut. Even though it had some success the band was dropped by EMI America. The band was smart enough to hire Peter Paterno who at the time was a little known attorney. Peter went on to be a giant in the industry getting several large bands signed. Anyway Peter git RPM an audition with Warner Bros. The showcase went well and the band received a phone call shortly that competed the deal. The record people wanted the album recorded in LA but the band preferred the U.K. The record company agreed and the album was recorded at Sarm West Studios in Notting Hill. The band was able to use Gary Langan as the producer and that was a big deal. Gary thought they had a number one album on their hands but alas, they didn’t. The single was “It’s Only Water” which had aa real “Owner Of A Lonely Heart” feel which Langan had engineered. I think it’s a fantastic song but I think it flew a little too close to the previously mentioned song. I think the whole album is great and I would have loved it had I heard it at the time. I didn’t because it didn’t get a Canadian release. Unfortunately this would be it for RPM which is too bad, they had a good thing going.

Tracklist
1 – Man Overboard – 3:48
2 – Head In The Sand – 4:33
3 – Savoir Faire – 3:30
4 – Ceylon Ceylon – 4:41
5 – Piece Of Glass – 5:34
6 – Pay Attention To Me – 4:20
7 – No One Answer – 4:57
8 – It’s Only Water – 5:42
9 – The Curtain’s Gonna Fall – 6:48

Credits
Bass, Keyboards – Jimmie Lee Sloas
Drums – Tommy Wells
Guitar, Synthesizer [Guitar] – Mark Gendel
Producer – RPM (6)
Producer, Engineer – Gary Langan
Vocals – Robert White Johnson

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Copyright © – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Pressed By – Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Winchester
Published By – Toyzongz Music, Dog Face Music, Welbeck Music Inc., Rajmahal Music
Recorded At – Sarm West Studios
Mixed At – Sarm West Studios
Mastered At – The Town House