This is another of those rather oddball albums that don’t sound like they belong on the channel but have a story behind them. In the summer of 1988 someone thought these guys would be a great addition to the Greenbelt festival. As poor a decision as it seemed it turned out to be brilliant as these guys were a huge hit. They didn’t have an album yet so they rushed into the studio so they could get their music out to their fans. The Woebegone Brothers are actually brothers and they say they were influenced by 50’s Rock & Roll stars and developed a style they call “gospel skiffle” I’m thinking more 40’s country personally but it’s a great sound and the whole story is a great piece of CCM history.
Tracklist 1 – Gospel Train – 4:43 2 – Sinner Man – 2:55 3 – Gonna Live The Life – 2:49 4 – Well Well Well – 3:03 5 – Jordan River – 2:15 6 – Mean World – 3:25 7 – Walk All Over Heaven – 4:26 8 – Trying To Get To Heaven In Due Time – 2:37
Credits Design [Cover Design] – Paul Clowney Engineer – Andy Thornton Photography By – Trevor Williams Vocals, Double Bass – Nigel Griffiths Vocals, Guitar – John Griffiths Vocals, Harmonica, Drum, Guitar – Glyn Griffiths
This is the first album from Brian White And Justice. There’s not much info out there on the band but Brian White is very well known in Nashville. The band appears to be a bunch of session musicians so I’m not entirely sure if there was a “Justice” band. As for Brian he is a very well known song writer in Nashville in both Christian and Secular genres and I guarantee you’ve heard his work with over 400 recorded songs. As for the album it’s pretty good. Brian’s voice is strong and holds solid through all the tracks. I’m not really too sure how to classify the album but it leans AOR with a couple good rocking tunes. Definitely an album that should be heard.
Tracklist 1 – Livin’ In The Sight Of Water – 5:44 2 – You Can Get There From Here – 3:38 3 – You’ve Got To Hold On – 4:59 4 – Radical Love – 3:00 5 – I Need To Know You’re There – 3:38 6 – Love Will Find A Way – 4:36 7 – Out Of The Wilderness – 4:45 8 – Tonight – 4:45 9 – You’ve Got To Believe – 4:56 10 – Long Lost Friend – 3:47 11 – Lead The Way – 4:25
Credits Accordion – Tim Lauer Backing Vocals – Billy Simon, Jimmy Marks, Mark Pogue, Scott Walters, Tom Lane Bass – Mark Burchfield, Matthew Pierson Drums, Percussion – Bobby Blazier Executive-Producer – Elisa Elder Guitar, Sequenced By – Dennis Dearing Keyboards, Organ [B-3] – Jeffery Roach Producer – Dennis Dearing Sequenced By – Bill Randall, Bo Cooper Vocals, Backing Vocals – Brian White
I’ll be straight up and admit that Bryn is one of my favourite artists period. Unfortunately we had almost no exposure to him in Canada until his The Gap album. While huge in the U.K. American record companies didn’t think his appeal would spread to our side of the ocean. This is one of the greatest tragedies of the CCM industry as Bryn deserved as wide an audience as possible. I didn’t even get to hear most of his work until we undertook this project but now I get to enjoy all his albums. Every one of Bryn’s album has a track that stands out to me personally. This album it is “Were You There” which showcases his slide guitar technique which is one of the best in the industry in my opinion. While actually a traditional this particular arrangement is probably the best treatment this song ever got. Many artists of Bryn’s skill level have kind of abandoned Christian music but not Bryn. His faith is still the center of his music.
Tracklist 1 – Give Thanks – 3:27 2 – Lord I Love Your Word – 4:25 3 – Were You There – 2:01 4 – Let Us Humbly Worship Jesus – 1:43 5 – Make Us Holy – 5:33 6 – Awake O Zion – 2:18 7 – I Found A Love – 3:06 8 – We Give Thanks – 2:46 9 – More Than A Tent – 4:26 10 – He Is Lord – 2:54 11 – Strong Wall – 3:09 12 – What Kind Of Love Is This – 3:48
Credits Bass – Dave Markee, Terry “Tex” Comer Drums – Fran Byrne, Henry Spinetti Engineer – Dave Charles, Paul Cobbold, Rob Andrews Flute, Saxophone – Steve Gregory Guitar – Alan “Bam” King Guitar, Vocals – Bryn Haworth Keyboards – Pete Wingfield Mixed By – Paul Cobbold Painting [Front Cover Painting] – Robin Clifton Photography By – Tony Neeves Producer – Bryn Haworth
Here’s a Canadian artist that got one album out there in the mid 80’s thanks to his own hard work and financing. As a teen Martin played in coffee houses, churches, and many youth groups around Southern Ontario and upper New York State. Martin worked as a foot courier for a Toronto legal firm and was able to save $15,000 in 1985. Believe me that was no small feat in 1985. Instead of buying a cool car he headed to Rene Brossard’s studio and cut this album which shows an incredible dedication to his music. He subsequently appeared as the opening act for the likes of Twila Paris, Phil Keaggy, Daniel Band, Rick Cua, and others. He also played a side stage at the very first Kingdom Bound concert. It is rumoured that Larry Norman stopped to listen to him which was a proud moment for Martin as Larry was one of his favorite artists. As for the album it is a really good album and I can’t help but with some good distribution it might have been known to more of you reading this. It has a pretty good pop rock feel and the lead track sets the album up perfectly. Martin continues to make great music and you can visit his YouTube channel below
Tracklist 1 – Scapegoat Song – 2:20 2 – Who Will Tell Them – 4:19 3 – On And On – 3:55 4 – Line Of Vision – 4:09 5 – Their Own Bible – 4:00 6 – In The Future – 4:01 7 – Counterfeit Christian – 3:39 8 – In Loving Memory – 4:36 9 – Friends Like You – 4:25
Credits Cover – James Clow Engineer – David Musial, Yuri Jorbachow Lead Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Producer, Engineer – Martin Barret Producer, Arranged By, Mastered By – René Brossard
Companies, etc. Recorded At – Boss Productions Recorded At – Trackmaster Audio Recorded At – Master’s Workshop
You may not know the name Dave Thrush but I guarantee you know the sound of Dave Thrush. He gained his most recognition for his Saxophone work on all of Steve Taylor’s albums as well as touring with him. He was actually a high school friend of Steve’s and was with Steve from his first demo until the band broke up. He also appeared on other albums but we mostly know him from Steve’s work. In 1995 Sparrow released this solo album from him. It was actually nominated for a Dove Award in the category of Instrumental Album but lost out to a far more inferior album. Quite frankly this is a tough category and it seems like it was/is always given to a piano player. Anyway this is not your average CCM album of the period as it is mainly a saxophone based instrumental album, though the track “Jesus Is The Answer” has vocals from Chris Willis and is as good if not better than anything out at the time. There is also a great Sax cover of “El Shaddai” which should resonate with Amy Grant fans. Quite frankly this is a pretty good album. It’s not really my style but I’ve left it playing in the background a few times while I worked and I grew to quite like it. Oh and a quick sidenote, this is probably one of the best album titles ever. Apparently Dave has a Christmas album and I’ll see if I can upload it for next Christmas.
Tracklist 1 – El Shaddai – 4:07 2 – His Strength Is Perfect / Hiding Place – 4:33 3 – Say The Name – 5:30 4 – Lamb Of God / How Beautiful / He Is Exalted – 5:03 5 – People Need The Lord – 4:56 6 – The Greatest Thing – 3:58 7 – There Is A Redeemer – 4:05 8 – I Will Be There – 4:24 9 – Friends / Great Is The Lord / Hosanna / How Majestic Is Your Name – 6:46 10 – Jesus Is The Answer – 4:57 11 – Tomorrow – 3:58 12 – We Will Stand – 4:43
This is the only album we got from Shelley and this one off appears to be a Michael Knott project. He produced the album for his own record label which unfortunately went bankrupt shortly after this release. He actually put together a killer studio band be sure to check the credits on our website. The album falls in the easy listening category but I think her real skill was writing. It’s not often you see an introductory album from an unknown artist that has all original material. Other than that I don’t have much to tell you about this artist.
Tracklist 1 – Love Is – 3:39 2 – Carry Me Away – 3:45 3 – Don’t You Worry – 3:01 4 – You & I – 4:07 5 – Song In The Distance – 3:48 6 – Dreaming Awake – 4:02 7 – Parallels – 3:52 8 – Time – 4:05 9 – Talk With You At Midnight – 3:20 10 – Dreams – 3:28
Credits Acoustic Bass – Glen Holmen Acoustic Guitar – Greg Flesch, Shelley Rogers, Mike Knott, Jeffrey Thomas Alto Saxophone – Dave Thrush Arranged By [Cello Arrangement] – Michael Hackett Art Direction – Coffee Bay Bass – Glen Holmen, Mike Sauerbrey Bass [Six-String Bass] – Dave Hackbarth Classical Guitar – Jeffrey Thomas Classical Guitar – Mike Knott, Shelley Rogers Drums – Chuck Cummings, Steve Hindalong E-Bow – Greg Flesch Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Dave Hackbarth Electronic Wind Instrument [Wind Syntesizer] – Dan Michaels Engineer – Christopher Colbert Engineer – David Hackbarth Keyboards – Dave Hackbarth Keyboards, Sound Designer [Treatments] – Michael Hackett Lyrics By, Music By – Shelley Rogers Mastered By – Doug Doyle Music By – Michael Knott, Mike Sauerbrey Percussion – Steve Hindalong, Mike Knott Photography By – Colleen Hammond Producer – Dave Hackbarth, Michael Hackett, Mike Knott Saxophone – Dave Thrush Written-By – Shelley Rogers
Companies, etc. Distributed By – Spectra Distribution Recorded At – Neverland Mixed At – Neverland Mastered At – Digital Brothers
This was the last album we got from Denny and it’s what you would expect from a last album from him. I will say that I strongly prefer his vocals as his career went on. His singing really matured. Otherwise the album is relatively mellow with the exception of “Here Comes The Light” which is easily the best track on the album. Unfortunately we would lose Denny in 2002 to a heart attack. Too bad because I think there was more material in him and I can easily imagine a blues album from him like many 80’s CCM artists have done. Rest in Piece Denny, see you on the other side.
Tracklist 1 – Hiding Place – 4:32 2 – You Mean Everything – 4:29 3 – Count On His Love – 3:58 4 – Holding On – 4:07 5 – Here Comes The Light – 3:24 6 – You Keep Running – 3:35 7 – Trust – 3:55 8 – He Took Hold – 4:11 9 – Sing And Shout – 3:51 10 – Gentle Is His Hand – 3:55
Credits Arranged By – Denny Correll, Larry Brown Arranged By [Special] – Alan Lundgren Art Direction, Design – Brian Barrington Backing Vocals – Bob Carlisle, Bob Dorman, Denny Correll, Devon Mead*, Mickey Rooney, Jr., Tim Correll Bass – Charlie Souza, Larry Brown Drums, Percussion – Larry Brown Guitar – Eric Turner Keyboards, Programmed By – Denny Correll Mastered By – Bernie Grundman Photography By – Nicola Dill Producer, Mixed By, Engineer – Larry Brown Saxophone – Dave Thrush, Wayne Wayne
This is the one that propelled Sandi into one of the greatest female CCM artists of all time. The track “We Shall Behold Him” was written by Dottie Rambo would win him 2 Dove Awards for Song of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. It also became Sandi’s signature song that she performed in every concert until her retirement form touring in 2016. The album also features an excellent duet with Russ Taff, “The Home Of The Lord”. This album would also be start of Sandi’s domination of the Dove Awards Female Vocalist of the Year which she would win for the next 11 years. I actually didn’t know that until I was doing the research on this album. That’s quite the accomplishment. This album was actually re-released twice, once in 1987 and again in 1991. Those two releases actually replaced the cover with a painted portrait of Sandi but I prefer the original cover. Anyway if you’re a Sandi fan this is obviously one of your favorites and if you didn’t listen to this one back in the 80’s because it wasn’t your style give it a listen now. You will likely appreciate it as one of the great CCM albums of the 80’s.
Tracklist 1 – Down In My Heart – 2:40 2 – Keeper Of The Well – 3:07 3 – Love Overflowing – 3:45 4 – So Far – 3:22 5 – When The Time Comes – 4:59 6 – The Home Of The Lord – 3:15 7 – Somebody Believed – 2:56 8 – In His Hand – 3:20 9 – We Shall Behold Him – 5:49 10 – I Will Praise Him – 3:11
Credits Alan Steinberger – Synthesizer Bill K. Myers – Artwork, Design, Illustrations Billy Puett – Horn Bob Clark – Engineer, Overdub Engineer, Remixing Brent King – Engineer Brent Rowan – Guitar Chris Banniger – Engineer Claire Cloninger – Composer Cozette Byrd – Vocals (Background) Darrel Powell – Engineer David Diggs – Arranger, Composer, Track Arrangement David Huntsinger – Keyboards, Piano, Piano (Electric), Piano (Grand) David Lyndon Huff – Percussion David T. Clydesdale – Arranger, Composer, Conductor, Orchestral Arrangements, Orchestration Dawn Rodgers – Composer Denis Solee – Horn Don Hart – Horn Arrangements, String Arrangements Don Sheffield – Horn Dottie Rambo – Composer Doug Benge – Arranger, Vocal Arrangement, Vocals (Background) Ernie Collins – Horn Farrell Morris – Percussion Fred Satterfield – Drums, Percussion Gary Chapman – Composer Gary Dunham – Composer George Tidwell – Horn Hank Williams – Mastering Jimmie Lee Sloas – Bass John Bolt – Engineer, Overdub Engineer John Helvering – Vocals (Background) Keith Thomas – Arranger, Keyboards, Track Arrangement Mark Hammond – Drums Michael W. Smith – Composer Neal Joseph – Arranger, Producer, Remixing, Track Arrangement, Vocal Arrangement, Vocals (Background) Paul Johnson – Brass Arrangement, Bass Arrangement Phil Johnson – Vocals Randy Hammel – Organ, Organ (Hammond), Synthesizer Robert Mason – Composer Ron Harris – Composer Rosemary Dunham – Composer Russ Taff – Vocals Sandi Patty – Arranger, Assistant Producer, Composer, Duet, Primary Artist, Production Assistant, Track Arrangement, Vocal Arrangement, Vocals, Vocals (Background) Scott Hendricks – Engineer, Overdub Engineer Steve Dokken – Bass Steve Green – Vibraphone, Vocals (Background) Steve Moore – Vocals (Background) Steven Schaeffer – Bass
The background story on the band is quite interesting actually. David actually played in an early version of Quiet Riot as a replacement for Randy Rhoads when he left to join Ozzy’s band. Kevin Dubrow (Quiet Riot) actually produced Brighton’s first demo, and the band began playing at the Whiskey A Go Go, The Troubadour, The Starwood, Madame Wongs West, The Roxy, Gazzarri’s, and many others. This led to them winning the nation wide talent search “Rock To Riches.” While the prize for this was a recording deal it never worked out and the band went another direction. That single “Take Another Look” was released on a radio station sampler which we can not find. The band went on to record “Stay With Me” which appeared on a Myrhh sampler and climbed to the top 10 on Christian radio. At this point the band recorded this demo which would eventually morph into their first and only album. Anyway that’s a brief history of the band. I have more info on the band but these reviews are supposed to be relatively short LOL.
Tracklist 1 – Promise Of Love – 3:47 2 – On Any Sunday – 3:45 3 – Love To Me – 3:49 4 – Women With Guns – 3:01 5 – Wash Me In The Rain – 4:00 6 – Boulevard – 3:16 7 – Cursing The Night – 3:48 8 – Run Through The Flames – 4:11
Credits Vocals, Guitar, Producer – David Brighton Bass, Background Vocals – Mark Robertson Drums, Vocals – Steven W. Latanation Guitar – Dave Wronski
Dana had 30 albums through here career most of which were gospel. This was her 9th album but only her second album with Word records. I listened to this album to see if I recognized anything because I couldn’t recall her name. I don’t recognize anything on the album but it’s a pretty easy listening album and I doubt I would have listened to it back in the day. Still I was wondering why I don’t know about an artist with 30 albums. On doing some research into Dana I discovered why. She was a Catholic artist and while Word was always happy to sign Catholic artists they didn’t really promote them outside of the Catholic community. This Catholic detail also meant she was unlikely to find her way onto a CCM chart and she never did. ANYWAY, all that aside this is a great easy listening gospel album that people who like this style should listen to. Dana was a great artist that deserved more exposure in the CCM genre.
Tracklist 1 – Let There Be Love – 3:04 2 – I Saw My Lord This Morning – 4:00 3 – Oh Lord – 4:15 4 – Christ Is My Light – 2:49 5 – Ag Criost An Siol – 4:17 6 – Run That Race – 3:25 7 – Hosanna – 3:14 8 – Diamond In The Rough – 3:33 9 – Portrait Of Jesus – 3:25 10 – Hallelujah – 3:42
Credits Arranged By, Keyboards, Guitar – Peter Moss Bass Guitar – Bill Walker Design – 2D Drums – Will Hill Engineer – Alan Jakoby, Nicholas Froome Engineer [Assistant] – John Canham Guitar – Derek Griffiths, Mitch Dalton Keyboards – David Firman Leader [String Section] – Gavin Wright Photography By – Brian Aris Piano – Brian Miller Producer – Kurt Kaiser Tenor Saxophone – Geoff Driscoll Trombone – Pete Thoms Trumpet – Steve Sidwell
