Ray Mansfield – Page 29

Fresh Claim – Odd One Out – 1987

After the demise of his two previous bands (Sea Stone and Intransit) Simon Law started up Fresh Claim and this is their first album. The name of the band came from a counter at the local unemployment office with the designation “Fresh Claims”. Simon has also established Plankton records which was originally just his own label to release his first band Sea Stone but developed into a full fledged record label. The album is often labelled as alternative but personally I find it to be more New Wave. At times I get a “The Keep” feel from a few tracks but I’m pretty sure this is coincidental as The Keep were only released in Canada and Fresh Claim were from the UK. This is another one I missed in the 80’s and really wish I had heard back then because I absolutely love it.

Tracklist
1 – Strong Enough To See – 3:06
2 – There’s Someone Loving You – 2:54
3 – Sunday Morning Dawn – 4:50
4 – Yesterday’s Hero (Is Tomorrow’s Fool) – 2:51
5 – Enough Is Enough – 3:31
6 – Visions Never Sleep – 3:50

Credits
Bass, Vocals – Derek Llewellyn
Composed By – Derek Llewellyn, Simon Law
Design, Keyboards – Mags Law
Drums – Ali Byworth
Engineer, Producer – Nigel “Chopper” Palmer
Guitar, Vocals – Simon Law

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Scarf Studios
Duplicated By – Selecta Sound

Rushing Wind – Rushing Wind – 1985

We actually don’t know very much about Rushing Wind. I was able to see that member Dave Hodel did have a solo album in 1983 which we are currently hunting for. Other than that I don’t have much info so lets talk about the album. It has a pretty good mid 80’s pop sound. In fact I’m kind of surprised the band didn’t do better. The album was produced by Paul Clark who did an excellent job in my opinion. As near as I can tell the album was self released and distributed. The band did tour in support of the album and here was even a slight scandal involving Dave’s father you was actually the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. It was a nothing burger however so don’t I don’t hold anything against the band. So this is one you should give a listen to in my opinion, it deserves some attention.

Tracklist
1 – Don’t Be Like The World – 3:13
2 – Distinctions – 3:22
3 – Shadow of Your Doubt – 3:01
4 – Giver Of A Bad Report – 3:11
5 – You’re The One – 3:14
6 – Just This Once – 4:12
7 – Give It Away – 3:22
8 – True Love – 3:45
9 – We Wait In Hope – 3:22
10 – Praise – 2:38
11 – Take My Heart – 4:16

Credits
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – John F Shaw
Drums, Percussion, Electric Piano, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Dean Baskerville
Drums, Percussion, Synthesizer, Electric Piano, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Joel F Shaw
Electric Piano, Synthesizer, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Dave Hodel
Engineer – Wally Grant
Engineer [Second] – Terry Lang
Producer, Engineer – Paul Clark
Synthesizer, Electric Piano, Backing Vocals – Rob Farley
Woodwind – Rod Martin

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Weddington Studios
Mixed At – Weddington Studios

Phil & John – Count Me Out – 1983

This was the introductory album from Phil & John. It is probably one of the oddest choices for an premier album in CCM. The entire side 2 of the album is a live recording. Now this may sound like a very strange thing to do but in this case I think it was brilliant. Phil & John really did shine in their live work as they were essentially a comedy team that played music and it really set them apart frm the rest of the industry at the time. I personally love their style which on this album can be best described as 70’s Beatles. Unfortunately I did not give them the the amount of listening time they deserved in the 80’s. If you’ve never heard Phil & John live you should at least listen to side 2 of this album as it’s live where they really shine.

Tracklist
1 – Wasted Years – 2:57
2 – Teenage Millionaire – 3:13
3 – Saturday Night And Sunday Morning – 3:35
4 – You Wouldn’t Let Me Go – 3:25
5 – I Remember – 2:49
6 – Holding On – 4:16
7 – What Do You Do? – 3:10
8 – The Gnome Song – 7:06
9 – Factory Blues – 4:43
10 – Times I Find – 3:45
11 – Watch And Pray – 3:16

Dallas Holm – His Last Days – 1979

This album is actually the sound track to a film/movie about Christ hosted by Dallas. I know absolutely nothing about the film and never saw it or even heard of it until I was researching this album. Obviously it wasn’t much of a success as I would have heard or seen this in 1979. Anyway the album is billed as a Dallas Holm album as opposed to Dallas Holm & Praise though Tim Johnson did join him on the album. The album is pretty standard fare for Dallas with nothing that really stood out to me. Not saying it’s a bad album. In fact for this style it’s excellent.

Tracklist
1 – What Will You Do? – 3:06
2 – Hosanna – 3:54
3 – Do You Believe In Me – 3:28
4 – Father – 5:49
5 – Betrayal Scene (Spoken) – 2:00
6 – Calvary – 3:26
7 – Mary’s Song – 3:40
8 – What Kind Of Man Is This? – 3:52
9 – Rise Again / Hosanna (Reprise) – 6:15
10 – What Will You Do? (Reprise) – 2:15

Credits
Terry Blackwood – Vocals
Bob Clark – Engineer
Jackie Cusic – Vocals
Jon Goin – Guitars
Dallas Holm – Songwriter, Vocals
Ladonna Johnson – Vocals
Phil Johnson – Producer
Tim Johnson – Vocals
Shane Keister – Keyboards
Larrie Londin – Drums
Norman Neeley – Engineer
Steve Schaeffer – Bass
Jack Williams – Orchestra and Choral Arranger

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Greentree Records
Copyright © – Greentree Records
Copyright © – Dimension Music
Published By – John T. Benson Pub. Co.
Recorded At – Great Circle Sound
Remixed At – Great Circle Sound

Artie Dison – Forgiving Eyes – 1989

Awhile ago I reviewed an album by a band called Freeway that had a limited release in Canada. I remember us listening to the album in the 80’s but it wasn’t really our style. Then recently Artie Dison from the band contacted me to let me know he actually had 2 solo albums in 1989 and 1997. This is the 1989 album. Now I’ll be honest, I was not very excited going into this album as his previous work wasn’t my style. Wow was I surprised as this is a fantastic Rock album. This was several years after his Freeway work and boy did he mature. The album almost has a Kansas feel in places but I hate pigeon holing albums. Listen, it’s just a great Rock & Roll album that deserves to be heard. The best track on the album in undoubtedly “What About Home” which has a great message. That said my favourite track is “I Feel Love” which has an excellent commercial radio sound. If you missed this one in the 80’s don’t miss it now.

Tracklist
1 – Lonely Heart – 3:25
2 – Don’t Run – 4:42
3 – What About Home – 6:01
4 – Crying In The Night – 3:48
5 – Conquest Of Love – 2:45
6 – I’ll Show You The Way – 3:42
7 – Forgiving Eyes – 4:31
8 – Mysteries Of The Sky – 3:43
9 – I Feel Love – 3:06

Credits
Art Direction, Design – Pete Claproth
Bass [Additional] – Darrell Cook
Drums [Additional] – Jim Ripley
Drums, Backing Vocals – Donny Henderson
Engineer [Assistant] – Brian Davis, Josh West, Steve Vaughan
Executive-Producer – Lewis McVay
Guitar – Bob Somma
Guitar, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Artie Dison
Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Yabo Obien
Photography By – Dave rigg
Producer, Engineer, Mixed By, Backing Vocals – Tim Jaquette
Synthesizer, Programmed By – Dave Spurr

Companies, etc.
Made By – PDO, USA
Copyright © – Asaph Records
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Asaph Records
Recorded At – Asaph Recording Studio
Mixed At – Asaph Recording Studio

Rick Cua – Midnight Sun – 1989

This was Rick’s last real Rock & Roll album. Subsequent albums to this one too a far more easy listening sound. This however is a pretty good Rock & Roll album and personally is one of my favourite album from him. Rick was joined by his usual studio musicians including Keith Thomas whose keyboard work I always enjoy. I really hate to just classify this as “another Rick Cua” album because it’s quite good but there’s just not a lot to say about this album. Rick had making an album down to an art at this point so you knew you were going to get a great album if you bought one of his albums from this era. Probably the highlight of the album for me is Young Boy Young Girl on which he is joined by Rebecca Sparks wife of Greg Sparks on vocals.

Tracklist
1 – Streetwise – 3:45
2 – I Can I Will – 4:09
3 – Young Boy Young Girl – 4:13
4 – I’ll Be Satisfied – 4:26
5 – Dedicated – 3:33
6 – Somethin’ You Got – 3:35
7 – No Man Will Know – 3:43
8 – Plenty Of Love – 4:11
9 – Tear Down The Walls – 3:17
10 – The Lost Can Still Be Found – 3:30

Credits
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Drum Programming, Percussion, Keyboards [Additional] – Tom Hemby
Arranged By – Tom Hemby
Backing Vocals – Bob Halligan Jr., Jimmy Lee, Kim Fleming, Michael Mishaw, Ron Hemby, Vickie Hampton
Drums, Percussion – Mike Mead
Engineer – Bill Deaton
Guitar – Dave Perkins
Keyboards, Synthesizer – Keith Thomas
Producer – Tom Hemby
Vocals, Bass – Rick Cua
Vocals – Rebecca Ed Sparks

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Reunion Records

David Payton – I Got Wise – 1991

After Mylon LeFevre & Broken Heart called it quits most of the band seemed to disappear. Guitarist David Payton however did release one solo album. It looks like this was a from scratch project as not one of his previous bandmates seemed to be involved. The album is a little scattered with pop, rock, blues, and even a country oriented song. Annoyingly all of these styles are very well done and I think David could have done a whole album in any of these styles. Unfortunately because of all the differing styles the album really doesn’t flow which is an absolute pity because there is some real talent here. Anyway this was all we got from David but it’s well worth listening to, I for one would have liked to hear some more from him.

Tracklist
1 – He Can – 3:36
2 – I Got Wise – 3:41
3 – Preacherman – 3:21
4 – Oh Where Is The Love – 3:52
5 – Where Do I Go From Here – 4:48
6 – For All That You’ve Done – 3:26
7 – Heaven Is Where I’ll Go – 2:58
8 – Great To Be Alive (Feeling) – 4:14
9 – Gospel Light – 4:40
10 – Fire And Brimstone Blues – 5:12

Novella – One Big Sky – 1991

This is the introductory album from Novella. We were first introduced to them on the 1988 Pure Metal sampler, The Axemen. I knew when I heard their track I wanted to hear more. Unfortunately we had to wait until 1991 for that album. It looks like they couldn’t come to a deal with Pure Metal as this album was on Star Song. If you were waiting for this album you weren’t disappointed. It is a solid Rock offering with just a few hints of Metal. I can’t find any info on the origins of the band so we will just have to be happy with listening to the album. My takeaway track is “Lay It On Me”, it’s on my regular rotation.

Tracklist
1 – Do We Just Surrender – 4:37
2 – Running Home – 5:00
3 – Fire Eyes – 6:05
4 – I Need You – 5:16
5 – Whispers In The Night – 4:24
6 – Give Me Love – 4:51
7 – Lay It On Me (Intro) – 0:39
8 – Lay It On Me – 3:49
9 – Who Are We To Say – 4:04
10 – Sweet Rising Sun – 5:08
11 – Big Sky – 5:28

Credits
A&R [A&R Support] – Dez Dickerson
Backing Vocals – Arlene Kinsey, Darlene Haynes, Diedre James
Backing Vocals [Additional], Backing Vocals [Gang “Whoooos”] – Suzanne Pagano
Backing Vocals [Gang “Whoooos”] – Novella
Bass, Vocals – Jon Spinola
Co-producer, Mixed By [Assistant] – Jonathan Pagano
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Adam Gibson
Guitar [On Almost Every Song], Backing Vocals [Gang “Whoooos”] – Steve Paul
Illustration, Artwork [Sculpture], Artwork [Logos] – David DeVries
Keyboards – Plinky Giglio
Layout – Jeff Spencer
Lead Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards – Jonathan Pagano
Mastered By – Dennis Ferrante
Photography – Michael Berry
Producer, Engineer, Mixed By – Plinky Giglio
Vocals [Intro Vocal], Backing Vocals – Henry “Solo” Gilliam
Written-By – John Citorelli, Jonathan Pagano, Steve Paul

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Trax East
Mixed At – Trax East
Recorded At – Omega Mix Recording Studios
Mastered At – BMG Studios, NY
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Star Song
Copyright © – Star Song
Record Company – Star Song Communications
Glass Mastered at – Nimbus, Virginia

Terry Ross Altman – Crosswalk – 1977

Here’s a self produced and released gem from 1977. The album is a mix of Jesus music and progressive rock with one of the more progressive tracks being over 10 minutes long. Interestingly Terry was able to get Greg Hough (Petra) to join him on a few tracks. Greg played the solos, on Anthem and Crosswalk, and a little bit at the end of Let God Arise but other than that the entire album is Terry. The first time I listened to this album I really got that old Petra vibe but after I was lucky enough to have a chat with Terry I decided to re-listen to the album and quite frankly it stands alone. The must hear track is “Theopsychosophy Blues” which is a great fun track and did get some limited airplay. This was all we ever got from Terry who told me he had written a second album but was called to spoken word ministry before the album got any further. Pity, I for one would have liked to have heard more from him.

Tracklist
1 – Anthem – 6:45
2 – Glory In This – 5:33
3 – Theopsychosophy Blues – 1:34
4 – Let God Arise – 6:19
5 – So Much Joy – 2:46
6 – Crosswalk – 6:11
7 – Under Your Hands (Play Me) – 11:07

Credits
Bass – John Nanos
Design – Dona Nanos
Drums – Ed Kotowski
Guitar – Greg Hough
Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals – Terry Ross Altman
Photography By – Henry Posner
Producer [Assistant] – Rich Riehl
Producer [Assistant], Mixed By – Gary Hedden
Saxophone – Jim Koerber
Vocals – Carla Thompson
Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – Claudia Porter
Written-By, Arranged By, Producer – Terry Ross Altman

Mylon & Broken Heart – Crank It Up – 1990

Unfortunately this is the final album for Mylon & Broken Heart. Mylon did put out one more album in 1992 but this was really the last show for them. Mylon was still recovering from his heart attack in 1989 but the band did tour in support of this album so it doesn’t look like it was a messy breakup. Instead it looks like they went out as friends. The band didn’t do much after this though guitarist David Payton did release an album in 1991 which I just got my hands on but have not listened to yet. As for this album it’s yet another excellent Rock & Roll album that we came to expect of them. In fact I think this album may have some of their best Rock tunes. If you only have time for one track I truly recommend “World Changer” which is a kicker Rock & Roll track.

Tracklist
1 – Crank It Up – 3:44
2 – Denomination Demolition – 3:18
3 – New Attitude – 3:53
4 – Letter From The Front – 4:51
5 – Give It Away – 4:27
6 – Shower The People – 4:03
7 – Dancing In The Light – 3:05
8 – Heaven – 4:06
9 – World Changer – 3:39
10 – Going Home – 4:41

Credits
Art Direction, Design – Mike McCarty
Backing Vocals – Michael Gleason
Bass, Vocals – Kenneth Bentley
Drum Programming – Scott Meeder
Drums – Ben Hewitt
Engineer – Jeff Brugger, Joe Neal, Kurt Bush, Larry Rust, Ricky Keller, Russ Fowler, Tag George
Engineer, Guitar – Sonny Lallerstedt
Engineer, Mixed By, Guitar, Bass, Percussion, Programmed By [Keyboard Programming] – Joe Hardy
Guitar, Vocals – Scott Allen, Trent Argante
Keyboards – Oliver Wells
Keyboards, Programmed By – Cheryl Rogers
Keyboards, Vocals – Marshall Pratt
Mastered By – Doug Sax
Percussion – John Hampton
Photography By – Jimmy Collins
Producer – Joe Hardy, Scott Allen
Producer, Vocals – Mylon LeFevre
Vocals [Rock Vocal Ululation And Terpsichore] – The Techless Abandon Men’s Chorus

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Sparrow/Star Song Distribution
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Star Song
Copyright © – Star Song
Published By – Angel Band Music
Published By – Country Road Music, Inc.
Recorded At – Ardent Studios
Recorded At – Twelve Oaks Studio
Recorded At – Southern Tracks
Recorded At – Doppler Studios
Recorded At – Southern Living At Its Finest
Mastered At – The Mastering Lab
Glass Mastered at – Nimbus, Virginia