Ray Mansfield – Page 4

Charlotte – Free – 1987

This is the first album from Charlotte that was released in the U.S. The Swedish version was released in 1985 but it looks like they went back into the studio to do this English version in 1987. The music scores are slightly different but I think it’s due to mixing and not due to rerecording them. There are 2 additional tracks on the English version and the Swedish version actually had 2 English songs. English songs on a Swedish release were not uncommon at the time. Being from Canada I had no idea about the existence of this album or even this artist. I discovered it as I was researching Frank Ådahl and discovered he sang backup on this album. Charlotte actually had several albums including many as a child with her brother Per Höglund. Charlotte’s parents are singers Lotten and Arne Höglund and were also travel evangelists with the Swedish Missionary Association in the early 1970’s. The album is a great Pop album with strong vocals and I really really like it. It’s easily as good as the female pop stuff that was on the lower end of radio playlists in 85/87. No real stand out tracks for me but a great all around album. Charlotte Höglund is currently the pastor of Immanuelskyrkan Church in Stockholm.

The Swedish version is here – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPcTOx34g9XQaZjAdoVEs-h_B1i-1WR_Z

Tracklist
1 – Free – 3:48
2 – Stand Up – 3:15
3 – Who Are You? – 4:08
4 – My Dance – 3:37
5 – Be Still – 3:33
6 – Up To The Stars – 3:41
7 – Love Is The Answer – 4:08
8 – Be A Winner – 3:18
9 – Set Them Free – 4:43
10 – The King – 3:34
11 – End Of The Book – 3:47
12 – All I Needed To Say – 3:21

Credits
Arranged By [Choir Arrangements], Conductor – L.O. Forsberg
Arranged By, Producer, Keyboards – Peter Ljung
Backing Vocals – Björn Ström, Eva Axelsson, Frank Ådahl, Håkon Iversson, Sigvard Dagsland
Bass – Teddy Walter
Design [Album Design] – Anders Bühlund
Drums – Klas Anderhell, Per Lindvall, Åke Sundqvist
Engineer – Lennart Östlund
Engineer [Assistant] – Paris Edvinsson
Engineer, Mixed By – Janne Ugand
Guitar – Henrik Jansson, Håkan Mjörnheim
Photography By – Labe Allwin
Saxophone – Erik Häusler, Johan Stengård

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Cantio Records
Copyright © – Cantio Records
Recorded At – Polar Studios
Recorded At – Atlantis Studio
Mixed At – Atlantis Studio
Pressed By – CD Plant MFG
Glass Mastered At – CDM

Jim and Kim Thomas – Run For The Reason – 1984

This album was a hint of what was to come from Jim & Kim Thomas who would go on to be a band named Say So. I don’t know if this release was a demo or a straight up EP. It was self released and produced by Jim but only one name on the credit list went on to be in Say So, Chris McHugh on Drums. The album definitely has a Say So feel and sound but it’s a little more raw and I love the sound. If you liked Say So give this a listen to see where the idea came from.

Artwork and credits courtesy of Christian tape underground

Tracklist
1 – Run for the Reason
2 – Break Through
3 – Somehow
4 – Made A Change
5 – Straight From The Heart
6 – Christmas This Year

Credits
Jim Thomas – Lead vocals, background vocals
Kim Thomas – Lead vocals, background vocals
John Harrelson – Guitars
Curtis Dowd, Jr. – Synthesizers, piano, Rhodes
Randy Cantor – Synthesizers
Glenn Barratt – Rhodes, percussion, background vocals
Jack Faulkner – Bass
Jim Salamone – Drums, Linn drum
Chris McHugh – Drums

Companies, etc.
Published By – JKT Music Publication

Birtles & Goble – The Last Romance – 1980

This is an album that I had no idea existed until someone brought it to my attention a few weeks ago. This album is Beeb Birtles (Gerard Bertelkamp) and Graeham Goble who were from Little River Band. In 1980 they approached the Manager of Little River Band Glenn Wheatley if they could do an album as a duo using songs they had written that had not been chosen for LRB to do. Apparently the idea caught and the guys went into the studio with a combination of studio musicians and other LRB members. Several of the chosen tracks were of a religious nature and that’s why this ended up on our channel. The album was released by Capitol records but apparently had little or no promotion. The theory goes that Capitol did not want the duo to split from LRB and as such never promotes the album. I can attest to this as my family were huge LRB fans but I have never heard of this album. The album is fantastic. It has a LRB sound in places but other tracks have a more independent sound from the guys. All the tracks were written by the duo with the exception of “He Gives Us All His Love” which was written by Randy Newman. So here is a lost classic that you should hear.

Tracklist
1 – Lonely Lives – 3:31
2 – Last Romance – 3:02
3 – I’m Coming Home – 3:50
4 – I Didn’t Stand A Chance – 3:07
5 – He Gives Us All His Love – 4:56
6 – The Netherlands – 5:02
7 – Into My Life – 5:39
8 – You’ll Never Change Your Mind – 4:07
9 – How I Feel Tonight – 3:25
10 – Whales – 3:57

Credits
Arranged By [Strings] – Rick Formosa
Arranged By [Strings], Conductor [Strings] – Graeme Lyall
Bass – Barry Sullivan, Clive Harrison, George McArdle, Joe Creighton, Michael Clarke
Clavinet, Piano, Synthesizer – Mal Logan
Design – Ian McCausland
Drums – Jerry Kroon
Drums, Percussion – Derek Pellicci, Mark Kennedy
Engineer – Brown Bannister, Ross Cockle
Engineer [Additional] – Ian McKenzie, Jim Barton*, Roger Savage
Flute – Don Burrows
Guitar [Electric Rhythm], Guitar [Lead] – David Briggs
Keyboards – Steve Nathan
Lacquer Cut By – Wally Traugott
Photography By – Derek Hughes
Piano [Acoustic], Keyboards, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Peter Jones
Producer – Beeb Birtles, Ern Rose, Graham Goble
Saxophone – Bill Harrower
Synthesizer [Oberheim] – Alan Zavod
Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – Beeb Birtles, Graham Goble

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Capitol Records, Inc.
Copyright © – Capitol Records, Inc.
Manufactured By – Capitol Records, Inc.
Recorded At – AAV
Recorded At – Goldmine Studio, Brentwood, TN
Recorded At – T.C.S. Studios
Mastered At – Capitol Mastering
Pressed By – Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Los Angeles

Petra – Unseen Power – 1991

Petra was still going strong in 1991 with this their thirteenth studio album. They turned up the Rock and Roll sound on this one and this album has a far more Arena Rock sound than their previous work due in no small part to the production of the Elefante brothers. It is said that Bob Hartman was dragged to this sound by the Elefante brothers but apparently he was happy with the final sound. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album in 1992 and the Dove Award for Rock Recorded Song “Destiny” in 1993. I would never have thought they could have won the Dove award but they did. While “Destiny” won the Dove award I actually prefer “Secret Weapon” which has a great arena rock sound which may have been a little late in 1991 but it’s a great rock anthem. Again Arena Rock is not my preferred genre but this is a great album and I still enjoy listening to it.

Tracklist
1 – Destiny – 4:31
2 – Who’s On The Lord’s Side – 3:53
3 – Ready, Willing And Able – 4:14
4 – Hand On My Heart – 4:26
5 – I Need To Hear From You – 4:04
6 – Dance – 3:45
7 – Secret Weapon – 4:01
8 – Sight Unseen – 3:57
9 – Hey World – 3:51
10 – In The Likeness Of You – 4:51

Credits
A&R – Lynn Keesecker
Arranged By – Bob Hartman, Dino Elefante, John Elefante, John Lawry
Art Direction – Ed Goble, Loren Balman, Patrick Pollei
Backing Vocals [Addtional Background Vocals] – Alfie Silas, Alfred McCrary, Doug Beiden, Howard McCrary, Jamie Rowe, Olivia McClurkin, Perry Morgan, Rob Rock, Ron Gollner, Rose Stone, Sara Tennison, Tony Palacios
Bass – Ronny Cates
Coordinator [Art Production Coordinator] – Amy Linde
Design – Michael Goldenberg, Patrick Pollei, Steve Fryer
Drums – Louie Weaver
Engineer – Dino Elefante, Doug Beiden, J.R. McNeely, John Elefante
Guitar – Bob Hartman
Keyboards – John Lawry
Management – Management-Moress-Nanas-Golden
Mastered By – Chris Bellman
Mixed By – Niel Kernon
Mixed By [Assisted By] – Doug Beiden, J.R. McNeely
Other [Hair] – Helena Occhipinti
Other [Make-Up] – Margaret Kimura
Other [Stylit] – Keiki Mingus
Photography By [Band And Individual Photography] – Jeff Katz
Photography By [Cover Concept Photography] – Neill Whitlock
Producer – Dino Elefante, John Elefante
Vocals – John Schlitt

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.

Exodus – The Turning Point – 1984

The band Exodus started out in 1981 in Oak Ridge TN at a summer camp when Dennis Willard and John Hughes came together to form a band . There were quite a few members over the years but Dennis and John were the steadfast members. The band played the usual local circuit of youth groups and summer camps. Soon they struck a one record deal with Morada Records and headed into Big Mama Recording Studio to record this little known gem. The band supported the album by opening for Mylon LeFevre and Broken Heart, David Meece, Andrus Blackwood and Co. and others. But alas real life caught up to the band so they made their way into the workforce. Tim Fischer and Dave Williams both went on to work for the Department of Energy at the infamous Oak Rudge facility and Jeff Stooksbury went on to be an EMT and firefighter. John Hughes, Dennis Willard and David Williams continue to make music on their record label entitled “Boardroom Records” and have released a few singles over the years. Point of trivia of the band is that an early member Chris Latham was formerly married to Trisha Yearwood. Brushes with greatness. As for the album it is fantastic. I definitely get a Reo Speedwagon feel but with a little less polish which just makes it better and the track, “The Turning Point” is definitely going into my regular rotation. Chances are you missed this one back in the day so give it a listen today, you won’t be disappointed. If you did hear it back in the day you might notice a bit of a different sound for our version as I will admit we have polished it up a bit as the copy we received was fairly hollow.

Tracklist
1 – Greater – 4:00
2 – Every Time – 2:53
3 – Same Old Sign – 2:35
4 – Praise To The Father – 4:19
5 – Here I Am – 4:22
6 – The Turning Point – 3:06
7 – Man With The Key – 3:30
8 – Promised Land – 2:42
9 – Light To The Right – 3:47
10 – You’re The One – 3:27

Credits
Bass, Keyboards, Vocals – Jeff Stooksbury
Drums, Percussion – Tim Fischer
Keyboards, Vocals – John Hughes
Lead Guitar, Vocals – David Williams
Rhythm Guitar, Vocals – Dennis Willard

Sparks – Through Flood & Fire – 1990

This is the second offering from Greg and Rebecca as “Sparks” and what an offering it was. This is the second of two album deal with Reunion Records but I’m going to get straight to the point now. This is such a great album I’m so sad I didn’t hear it is 1990. The song writing is fantastic and Greg’s acoustic guitar work really turned my ears. I don’t really need to say anything more about Rebecca’s vocals as they speak for themselves. It is a little strange to me that they left Joshua’s Song to the final track as in my opinion it’s the best track on the album. Maybe it’s the reward for listening to the while album but personally that would have been the lead track for me. That said the album is structured to get better and better as you listen so maybe that was the strategy. There are definitely a couple tracks here going into my regular rotation.

Tracklist
1 – They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love – 1:08
2 – I Can’t Dance – 3:46
3 – Leaving A Legacy – 4:43
4 – Whisper Your Love – 3:57
5 – The World – 4:10
6 – Jesus Rescues Me – 4:49
7 – Work For Love – 4:32
8 – You Can Count On Me – 4:28
9 – I Would Die (For You) – 4:31
10 – Things Will Be Different – 4:25
11 – Joshua’s Song – 4:18

Credits
Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Vocals – Greg Sparks
Bass – Tommy Sims
Drums – Mike Radowski
Electric Guitar – James Hollihan
Percussion, Lead Vocals – Rebecca Ed Sparks

Companies, etc.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Reunion Records
Copyright © – Reunion Records
Glass Mastered At – DADC
Pressed By – DADC

Found Free – Specially Purchased Individually Wrapped – 1982

This was the last gasp for Found Free. They had a one record deal with Greentree but this album appears to have been self released. I’m a little unsure who was in the band at this point and the liner notes are a little fuzzy. We do know that Greg Sparks and Rebecca Ed were there, but I don’t believe they were married yet and also Keith Lancaster. These 3 would go on to form Bash-n-The Code so I’ve seen it said that this version of Found Free was an early version of Bash. I can’t tell you much more about the history of this album so lets turn to the music. The album is very well produced has a great funk/soul sound. The album is heavy on the harmonies which it hurts it a little in my opinion because there isn’t a stand out vocalist. The album would have been better if they had just let Rebecca sing. Anyway I quite like the album though I don’t think there’s anything here to go in my regular rotation.

Tracklist
1 – It’s So Good – 4:15
2 – Hope – 4:21
3 – Front Lines – 3:59
4 – I Need You Lord – 4:00
5 – Just Like a Child – 3:43
6 – Individually Wrapped – 4:12
7 – Don’t We Need To Know – 4:44
8 – Hold On To Me – 3:21
9 – Sing Solo – 3:25
10 – Miracles – 3:25
11 – It’s So Good (Reprise) – 0:54

Credits
Band – Greg Sparks
Band – Rebecca Ed
Band – Keith Lancaster
Art Direction, Cover – Randy Rogers
Engineer – David Starobin, Glen Barrett, Travis Turk

Connie Scott – Forever Young – 1989

This is Connie’s 7th album and probably one of her best. In the Canadian market she was at the top of the female CCM vocalist market. She returned to the studio with Roy Salmond as her producer. At the time of producing this album Roy was working on two other albums so I am assuming the studio was pretty busy. Many of the same studio musicians are on all three albums and I have spoken with someone who was in the studio at the time and said it was a very positive experience. This album is a great pop album that really displayed what Connie was capable of vocally. It’s easily as good if not better than what was being released in the Canadian market at the time. I do have one small criticism of the album though. It features a cover of Dylan’s forever young which was also chosen as the title track and I simply do not like the arrangement. I know Connie had nothing to do with it and I’m pretty sure it was Roy’s idea but it just doesn’t work for me. I may be biased because it is one of my favourite Dylan tracks but I just think the arrangement needed a little more edge. But my opinion has never made a successful album so I’ll leave it to Roy. The album was only released in Canada and Australia so it appears Sparrow records had abandoned Connie at this point. Too bad because I think this album would have done well in the U.S. market.

Tracklist
1 – Wild Horse Running – 4:20
2 – The World’s Last Night – 3:51
3 – Who Do You Give Your Heart To – 4:22
4 – Will You Follow – 3:48
5 – All That He Wants – 5:27
6 – The Longest Road – 4:49
7 – Cover Feelings – 5:16
8 – When Morning Gilds The Skies – 3:04
9 – The Coming Dawn – 4:32
10 – Forever Young – 3:27

Credits
Chris Cooke – Children’s Chorus
Connie Scott – Vocal Arrangement, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Daryl Bennett – Cymbals, Percussion
Dave Deviller – Guitar, Guitar (12 String Acoustic), Guitar (Rhythm)
Dave Pickell – Piano
Dave Slagter – Mixing
Donny Hackett – Composer
Doug Edwards – Bass
Gary Tole – Engineer, Mixing
Grant Saip – Executive Producer
Gregory Ström – Choir/Chorus
Harris Van Berkel – Guitar
Jim Woodyard – Guitar (12 String Acoustic), Guitar (Acoustic)
Ken “Hiwatt” Marshall – Assistant Engineer
Larry Mah – Assistant Engineer
Mark Gersmehl – Composer
Michael Hart – Dobro, Dulcimer
Miles Hill – Bass
Nancy Yeasting – Art Direction, Design
Nichole Taylor – Children’s Chorus
Peter Wisstoff – Choir/Chorus, Composer, Vocals (Background)
Phil Robertson – Cymbals, Drums
Roy Salmond – Arranger, Choir/Chorus, Composer, Drum Programming, Guitar (Acoustic), Keyboard Programming, Producer, Programming, Vocal Arrangement, Vocals (Background)
Sherie René Scott – Choir/Chorus
Tom Baker – Mastering
Tom Howard – Piano, String Arrangements, String Conductor, Strings

Companies, etc.
Record Company – Image 7 Records Inc
Manufactured By – Image 7 Records Inc
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Image 7 Records Inc
Copyright © – Image 7 Records Inc

Charlie And Jill LeBlanc – Keep Pressing On – 1985

Charlie And Jill LeBlanc are a husband and wife team that have made many albums but I never heard of them. They have self released some where in the area of 10 albums. That’s pretty impressive when you think about it. Most bands might put out the money for one or two albums but not this many. That shows real dedication to the their work. They are still making music and ministering and they “specialize” in grief ministry now unfortunately because of the loss of their son in 2009. As for the album it’s a easy listening offering and honestly I was quite surprised at the quality. This was their first full length album and it’s really good. It’s not my particular style of music but I listened to it a couple times today in the background and found it very soothing. If you want to learn more about their ministry and especially if you’re struggling with grief head over to their webpage – https://charlieandjill.com/

Tracklist
1 – Always Faithful – 4:22
2 – Listen To His Heart – 4:28
3 – If God Be For Us – 3:50
4 – O Give Thanks – 4:14
5 – One With The Lord – 6:38
6 – Keep Pressing On – 3:52
7 – Crucified With Christ – 3:58
8 – Seeing By Faith – 5:08
9 – Born Again – 4:40
10 – Rest In The Lord – 6:06

Credits
Artwork – Bob Levine, Mark Illig, Mark Wiseman, Wiseman Design
Backing Vocals – Charlie And Jill LeBlanc
Bass – Jay Hungerford
Co-producer – Charlie And Jill LeBlanc
Drums – Carl Albrecht
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – John Hayes
Engineer – Curt Taipale, Tom Brooks
Keyboards, Synthesizer – Tom Brooks
Photography By – Rick Meoli
Producer – Tom Brooks
Saxophone – Mike Karpowicz

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Joyful Word Music
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Joyful Word Music
Produced For – Joyful Word Music
Recorded At – New Earth Productions, Inc.
Recorded At – Grace Studios (2)
Recorded At – Earth City Studios, St. Louis, MO

Craig Ginn – Look Beyond – 1988

This is one of the best CCM pop albums I’ve ever heard but I can almost guarantee you’ve never heard it. Let’s start out with a bit of background. Craig Ginn was born in Churchill MB but his music career started in Winnipeg MB. The original Craig Ginn Band started in the mid 80’s with Craig’s wife, Carla, Paul Kutcher, and Sam Kennedy. They were well known in the Winnipeg Christian scene playing coffee houses, youth conventions, and church events. People from Winnipeg will probably remember them appearing frequently at The Heartline Cafe, a coffee house in the basement at Fort Garry MB church.

This version of the band however never recorded in the studio. This version came to an end when Craig moved to Alberta but this wasn’t the end of Craig’s music. I don’t know the backstory but Craig ended up in the studio with producer Roy Salmond at the same time as he was recording albums for Connie Scott and Hope Sterling, both of whom make appearances on this album. Paul from the original band also makes an appearance as well as Craig’s wife of course. From that studio appearance came this album. I do not know how many of these were recorded or distributed but other than this copy I have never heard or seen one and there is no mention of this album anywhere on the entire internet. We added it to Discogs so at least it’s there now. I do know that the lead track made it onto a sampler released by a local radio station in Edmonton AB. The album is very very good and I’m a bit baffled how this couldn’t find a label release. It is pop oriented but Craig’s vocals are fantastic and distinctive enough that I would have thought some record company would have jumped on this especially with Roy Salmond producing it. Unfortunately it didn’t so no one ever heard it. Craig did record a second Christian album which we have but I don’t have a date or any info on that album. Craig continues to make music today. He has two albums that concentrate on his indigenous background and education of indigenous issues through music.

Tracklist
1 – Easily Manipulated
2 – His Promise
3 – It Takes Heart
4 – Is There Someone?
5 – Soothe The Wounds
6 – Never Say It
7 – Real Time
8 – Everything I’ve Got
9 – Restore Me
10 – This Need
11 – Help Me See Through Your Eyes
12 – My Jesus I Love Thee

Credits
Acoustic Guitar, Programmed By, Keyboards, Sequenced By, Backing Vocals, Producer – Roy Salmond
Backing Vocals – Carla Ginn, Cecile Laroche, Connie Scott, Donny Hackett, Hope Sterling, Joani Bye, Paul Kutcher, Pete Wistoff
Bass Guitar – Brian Newcombe, Rene Worst
Drums – Daryl Bennett, Jerry Adolphe
Flugelhorn, Lead Vocals – Craig Ginn
Guitar – Brett Wade, Carl Strempler, Harris Van Berkel
Guitar, Classical Guitar – Dane DeViller
Piano – Dave Pickell
Recorded By, Mixed By – Gary Tole
Recorded By, Mixed By, Mastered By – Dave Slagter
Saxophone – Ian Putz

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Inside Trax Studio
Mixed At – Inside Trax Studio
Produced At – Whitewater Productions, Vancouver, BC