Ray Mansfield – Page 5

Jeff Scheetz – Woodpecker Stomp – 1990

After the relative success of Jeff’s excellent demo “Warp Speed” Pure Metal records decided it was time for a full album project. This of course is that album. Jeff’s guitar work was on display on his demo but he turned it up even one more notch for this album. The album did well, especially for a metal guitar instrumental album. The single and title track actually was the first instrumental song to make it on to the CCM rock charts. Jeff did carry over some tracks from his demo but most of these are new tracks. Now I’m gonna offer one criticism and I know Jeff’s fans are gonna bash me but here goes. Why an entirely instrumental album? He had Bill Westfall on keyboards who is an excellent vocalist though I suspect Bill wasn’t a Christian and was brought in more as a studio musician for this album so perhaps that idea wasn’t going to work. But it was 1990. There were metal vocalists everywhere and several looking for work at that time. That said Jeff’s vision was a metal acoustic album and that’s what he did and it turned out just fine.

Tracklist
1 – Woodpecker Stomp – 4:07
2 – Neo-Neo – 4:44
3 – Get Busy – 4:32
4 – Parker Street – 1:22
5 – Lost Island – 6:03
6 – House Of Stairs – 4:09
7 – Digital White – 4:15
8 – Lone Wolf – 5:23
9 – Amazing Grace – 4:13

Credits
Bass – Lance Logan
Drums – Kent Burnham
Engineer – Jon Mathias
Guitar – Jeff Scheetz
Keyboards – Bill Westfall
Producer – Jon Mathias

Companies, etc.
Record Company – Re-Flexx Records, Inc.
Licensed From – Pure Metal
Distributed By – Spectra Distribution

The Winans – Introducing – 1981

This is the introductory album from The Winans who at this point considered of 4 members of the Winan family, Ronald, Marvin, Carvin, and Michael. They were “discovered” by Andrae Crouch and he invited them into the studio to record this album. The album is an excellent soul pop album and I really enjoyed listening to it even if this isn’t my preferred style. That said I do have some criticisms for Andrae who produced the album. First of all the tracks are too long, not every track has to be over 4 minutes. I saw this album as having “superstar” production. Well it didn’t. It did have superstar engineering courtesy of Bob Cotton but that’s where it fell apart. I know Andrae was a very good producer at the time but he missed the ball on this one. The album as great as it was did not have any charting singles which was probably not helped by the track lengths. My final complaint abut the album was why on god’s green earth did Andrea pick the snooziest track on the album to put as the lead track. This album has some fantastic rhythm and soul and it should have been on display right from track 1. Instead we have to wait until track 4 to hear it.

Tracklist
1 – The Question Is – 4:40
2 – Self – 3:43
3 – Are We Really Doing Your Will? – 4:13
4 – I Know Someone – 4:03
5 – Goodness, Mercy And Grace – 4:06
6 – Fallow Ground – 4:34
7 – How Good It Feels To Be Loved – 5:37
8 – Flyin’ Away – 5:29
9 – Restoration – 4:39

Credits
Arranged By [Rhythm] – T.J. Keene
Art Direction – Dan Lienart
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Engineer [with Bob Cotton], Mixed By – Peter Haden
Engineer, Mixed By – Bob Cotton
Graphics – Rhonda Dempsey
Guitar – David Williams, Hadley Hockensmith, Wil Keene
Keyboards – T.J. Keene
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Oboe – John Phillips
Percussion – Alex Acuña, David Williams
Photography – David Randle
Producer, Arranged By [Horns], Drums, Percussion, Mixed By – Bill Maxwell
Producer, Arranged By [Vocal & Horns], Mixed By – Andraé Crouch
Saxophone, Arranged By [Horns], Flute – Steve Tavaglione
Trumpet – Allen Gregory
Vocals, Arranged By [Vocal] – The Winans
Words By, Music By – Marvin Winans

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Lexicon Music, Inc.
Copyright © – Lexicon Music, Inc.
Published By – Crouch Music
Produced For – Crouch Productions
Recorded At – Paramount Recording Studios
Mixed At – Paramount Recording Studios
Mastered At – A&M Studios
Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co.

Rhythm & News – Get With The Rhythm – 1990

Rhythm & News were a great a cappella band out of Vancouver Canada. Started by 4 guys in a basement singing along to a boom box they got a few dates performing across Canada. After some very successful small shows they headed into Roy Salmond’s studio to record this album that was also produced and engineered by super producer Roy Salmond. The album has the a cappella mandatory Randy Stonehill track “Shut De Do”. Another fun track is “Pharaoh, Pharaoh” which is a reworded version of Louie, Louie made famous by The Kingsman. It is mistakenly attributed to Chuck Berry but was actually written by Richard Berry but that’s a common mistake. All in all a great album that I missed back in the day so I’m glad I heard it now.

Tracklist
1 – Get With The Rhythm – 2:46
2 – Looking For Love – 2:41
3 – Sittin’ On The Steps – 2:47
4 – Lighthouse – 5:03
5 – Rhythm Thang – 4:10
6 – Real Salvation – 4:03
7 – This Little Light Of Mine – 2:39
8 – Pharaoh, Pharaoh – 2:49
9 – Shut De Do – 2:27
10 – It’s Gonna Rain – 2:22
11 – Lord Of All – 4:47

Credits
Arranged By [Arrangements] – Rhythm & News, Roy Salmond
Design [Cover Design] – Ferris, The Warning Guy, Rick Yeager
Mixed By – Dave Slagter
Performer [Rhythm & News Is] – Brad Strelau, Doug Zimmerman, Kevin Pollard (4), Mark Batten
Photography By – Francis Cheng
Producer, Engineer, Recorded By – Roy Salmond

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Image 7 Music Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Image 7 Music Inc.
Manufactured By – Image 7 Music Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Pressed By – Disque Americ
Recorded At – Whitewater Productions, Richmond, B.C.
Mixed At – Whitewater Productions, Richmond, B.C.
Mastered At – Future Disc
Published By – R&N Boyz Publications

On Fire – Dance Like David – 1990

I simply can not find any information on this project. The album was released on Arcade Records but the album is copyrighted by Maranatha! Music. I can find no connection between the two labels but several Arcade albums have Maranatha! Music copyrights so there is obviously some connection. The project included Carvin/Lawrence Winans but that’s it, that’s all I can find. As for the album it’s a Rap / Hip Hop (90’s Hip Hop) album and quite frankly I don’t think it’s a very good. Admittedly this isn’t my favourite genre but if it’s done well I will still enjoy it. This one left me at the side of the road but maybe people who know and love this genre will be able to better critique the album.

Tracklist
1 – Spirit Of The Lord – 3:26
2 – Dance Like David – 3:47
3 – Stand Up – 3:32
4 – Gettin’ Busy – 3:45
5 – Lukewarm Christian – 3:29
6 – Are You Saved? – 5:06
7 – Whatcha Gonna Do – 4:01
8 – Why – 3:59
9 – Are You Saved (Remix) – 3:38
10 – Tomorrow – 4:41
11 – Prayer – 0:58
Credits
Art Direction – Terry DeGraff
Backing Vocals – Dorian Holley, Louis Price, Oren Waters
Design – Vincent Carino
Engineer [Assistant] – Sally Browder
Executive-Producer – Kim Carino, Roby Duke, Tom Coomes
Guest, Scratches – DJ Dove Of S.F.C., Rucky McKinley
Layout – Susan Steinman
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Mixed By – Doug Rider
Photography By – Brian Ray
Producer – Scott V. Smith
Programmed By [Synthesizers Programming], Sequenced By [Sequencing] – Scott V. Smith
Stylist – Karen Clinkenbeard

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Maranatha! Music
Copyright © – Maranatha! Music
Recorded At – Up All Night Studio, Pasadena, CA
Recorded At – Minds Eye Studio
Mixed At – O’Henry Sound Studios
Mastered At – Bernie Grundman Mastering

Karen Lafferty – Bird In A Golden Sky – 1975

This was Karen’s first album. It is an extremely easy listening 70’s style album that while I didn’t care for these albums they lead the way for the ones I loved. Not that all albums from the 70’s were easy listening but many of them were. Lafferty attended Eastern New Mexico University and actually planned on a secular music career after school. But like so many of the artists we loved she moved to southern California and soon began to perform at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. After a European tour she was signed by Maranatha! Music and the rest is history. This is the first sighting of Darrell Mansfield as this album came out before his album with Gentle Faith. That said he also appeared on Parable’s album “More Than Words” released the same year.

Tracklist
1 – Bird In A Golden Sky – 4:00
2 – Grandma Stout – 2:26
3 – Testimony – 5:48
4 – Garden – 3:16
5 – The Girl – 4:30
6 – Sweet Summer Rain – 3:55
7 – No Time For Jesus – 3:16
8 – Bobbi’s Song – 5:00
9 – Peaceful Mind / Tears Of Love – 7:47

Credits
Artwork [Stained Glass Window] – Neil Cocroft
Backing Vocals – Karen*, Peter Jacobs
Banjo, Mandolin – Fred Fields
Design [Cover] – Neal Buchanan
Electric Bass – Bruce Cotton
Guitar – Fred Fields (2), John Wytoc, Karen
Harmonica – Darrell Mansfield
Keyboards – Peter Jacobs
Lead Vocals – Karen Lafferty
Mastered By [Runout Etch] – Ralph Eck
Oboe – Karen Lafferty
Percussion – Alex MacDougall
Photography By – Dan Agulian, Diana Ham, Neal Buchanan
Producer, Arranged By – Peter Jacobs
Saw – Randy Sykes
Steel Guitar – Al Perkins
Written-By – Karen Lafferty

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Buddy King Studios, Huntington Beach, CA
Mastered At – United Artists Recording Studio
Pressed By – Research Craft
Published By – Karen Louise Lafferty
Copyright © – Karen Louise Lafferty
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Maranatha! Music
Copyright © – Maranatha! Music
Distributed By – Musical Gospel Outreach

Edin-Ådahl – Alibi (Swedish Version) – 1982

This is the Swedish version of the 1983 Edin-Ådahl album Alibi. It actually came out first and was on CBS records. Some of the tracks the music is identical but others were remixed for the English version. Some of the translated song titles are considerable different but as I don’t understand Swedish I don’t know if the lyrics are substantially different. The English version substitutes the track “Idag” with “For The Rain In Your Heart” which is quite frankly a much better song. A couple of the tracks on this version are actually in English. Anyway I really enjoy listening to these albums in other languages as it’s fun to hear songs you know in a different format.

Here is the track listing from both versions;

Swedish English

1 – Hägring (Mirage) 6:00 A4 – Bring Back The Joy 6:01
2 – Observerad (Observed) 5:00 B4 – Send Me, Send Me 5:01
3 – Alibi (Alibi) 3:22 A3 – Alibi 3:13
4 – Spelet (The game) 4:02 B1 – Saviour 3:45
5 – Idag (Today) 5:12 Replaces B2 – For The Rain In Your Heart3:12
6 – Storm In My Heart 3:15 B3 – Storm In My Heart 3:17
7 – Look Out! 4:10 A1 – Wake Up 4:09
8 – Brevet 3:15 A2 – On The Cutting Edge 3:39
9 – Hjälp Dej Själv (Help Yourself) 4:00 A5 – Let All Of The Earth Proclaim 4:20
10 -Hemåt Igen (Home Again) 4:40 B5 – Your Heart Is In His Hands 4:44

Tracklist
1 – Hägring – 6:00
2 – Observerad – 5:00
3 – Alibi – 3:22
4 – Spelet – 4:02
5 – Idag – 5:12
6 – Storm In My Heart – 3:15
7 – Look Out! – 4:10
8 – Brevet – 3:15
9 – Hjälp Dej Själv – 4:00
10 – Hemåt Igen – 4:40

Credits
Arranged By, Producer [Produced By] – Edin-Adahl
Design [Album Design] – Buhland/Gulledge
Engineer [Engineered By] – Lennart Strom, Mats Oberg, Peter Olsson
Executive-Producer – Magnus Erikson
Graphics – Anders Johansson
Instrumentation By – Edin-Adahl
Lacquer Cut By – JL
Mixed By – Edin-Adahl, Peter Olsson
Photography By – Labe Allwin, Lennert Dannstedt
Producer [English Vocals] – Tom Douglas

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – CBS Records AB
Copyright © – CBS Records AB
Mixed At – Polar Studios

Kenny Marks – Fire Of Forgiveness – 1992

This is Kenny’s 6th album. While his style was waning a bit this was still a pretty successful album and one of my personal favourites. Personally I don’t think Kenny got enough recognition as a song writer. Yes I know he was popular among the CCM media but they never really gave his song writing the credit it deserved. This album is more an example of his song writing skills than a great music album. The album did do well though with 2 singles on the CCM charts, I Need A Savior made it to #22 and Like A Father Should Be to #12.

Tracklist
1 – Fire Of Forgiveness (Ashes Of Love) – 5:39
2 – When Love Comes Clean – 4:30
3 – I Need A Savior – 3:16
4 – Turn My World Around – 4:00
5 – Someone To Come Home To – 5:04
6 – Promises To Keep – 4:13
7 – 1932 – 3:33
8 – Like A Father Should Be – 3:19
9 – Tell Me You Love Me – 3:07
10 – Forever Love – 2:50

Credits
Acoustic Guitar – Dave Perkins, Don Potter
Art Direction – Amy Linde
Bass Guitar, Synth [Bass] – Tommy Sims
Design – Tufts Design Studio
Drums – Paul Leim
Electric Guitar – Kenny Greenberg
Engineer [Assistant] – Ed Simonton
Engineer [Lead Vocal] – JB
Engineer [Overdubs] – Bert Stevens, Dennis Ritchie
Executive-Producer – Lynn Keesecker
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Mixed By – Marc DeSisto
Mixed By [Assistant] – Greg Parker
Percussion – Eric Darken, Paul Leim
Photography By – David Roth
Producer – Bubba Smith, Kenny Marks
Recorded By – Brent King
Synthesizer, Organ [Hammond B-3] – Mike Lawler
Twelve-String Guitar [Electric] – Dave Perkins

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word Communications Ltd.
Distributed By – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Recorded At – Treasure Isle Recorders
Overdubbed At – Quad Studios
Mixed At – Mastermix
Mastered At – Mastermix
Manufactured By – JVC

Petra – No Doubt – 1995

This is the 15th album from Petra which is rather amazing when you think about it. Many popular secular bands didn’t even put out this many albums. The album is more pop oriented than their previous album and as such a broader appeal. Strangely the guitars on the album were played by founder Bob Hartman but as he had quit touring with the band so new guitarist David Lichens played the tour and appeared on the album cover and all promotional pictures. Now my criticism. Who thought this album cover was a good idea? The colour is horrible and the artwork is incredibly dull. Looks like the cover was just mailed in if you know what I mean. A part of me feels like the whole project was mailed in. I’m not really hearing anything that jumps out at me as a great track which is really surprising as the Elefante brothers produced and engineered the album. For those of you who say I don’t know anything about music well here’s your proof that you are correct. An album I found to be bland, not bad, was Nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album in 1995 and actually won the Dove Award for Rock Album in 1996. So I admit my taste does not jive with the industry.

Tracklist
1 – Enter In – 5:00
2 – Think Twice – 4:19
3 – Heart Of A Hero – 4:10
4 – More Than A Thousand Words – 4:58
5 – No Doubt – 4:54
6 – Right Place – 3:38
7 – Two Are Better Than One – 3:43
8 – Sincerely Yours – 4:16
9 – Think On These Things – 4:24
10 – For All You’re Worth – 4:14
11 – We Hold Our Hearts Out To You – 4:11

Credits
A&R – Bubba Smith, Lynn Keesecker
Backing Vocals – John Schlitt
Bass – Ronny Cates
Drums – Louie Weaver
Executive Producer – Bob Hartman
Keyboards – Jim Cooper
Lead Guitar – David J. Lichens
Lead Vocals – John Schlitt
Producer – Dino Elefante, John Elefante
Vocals – David J. Lichens, Jim Cooper, Ronny Cates

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Manufactured By – Epic Records
Distributed By – Epic Records
Glass Mastered At – DADC – DIDP-087033

Bryan Harden – Against The Tide – 1988

I can’t really find much info about Bryan. He was on several albums over the years a background vocalist but put out this self released cassette in 1988. It is apparently quite rare and only available on cassette if you can find it. The album is very Easy Listening with a strong emphasis on Bryan’s vocals which are very good but not really my style. Bryan is still performs with The Voices Of Liberty and is the Music Director of the Orlando Presbyterian Church.

Tracklist
1 – New Song – 3:34
2 – God Is – 2:35
3 – A Hiding Place, A Holy Place – 4:41
4 – Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing – 4:18
5 – Against The Tide – 3:48
6 – You’re My Friend – 3:13
7 – Lazarus Arise – 3:51
8 – Exalt Him Evermore – 2:30
9 – I’m Undone – 3:09

Various – California Metal Volume II – 1988

This 1988 Regency Records sampler featured some of the best California Metal bands of the time and some very exclusive tunes. I have listed below where you can find the albums with the songs. Note that the CD and the cassette have one more track than the vinyl version.

Tracklist
1 – Vision – Runaway – Unreleased
2 – Emerald – Traitor – Unreleased until 2001 then bonus track on Armed For Battle re-release CD
3 – Recon – Light The Fire – Only released on a 1989 Demo
4 – Soldier – Borderline – On 1988 album Babylon
5 – Judea – Heart Of Stone – Unreleased Band
6 – Mastedon – Get Up – On 1989 album It’s A Jungle Out There
7 – Ransom – Sin Killer – Unreleased
8 – Emerald – Born To Die – Unreleased until 2001 then bonus track on Armed For Battle re-release CD
9 – Judea – Knock – Unreleased Band
10 – Soldier – Tears – Unreleased until 2002 then bonus track on The Definitive Collection 1985-1989 CD
11 – Recon – Dreams – On 1990 album Behind Enemy Lines – Different Version

Tracklist
1 – Vision – Runaway – 4:56
2 – Emerald – Traitor – 2:39
3 – Recon – Light The Fire – 3:25
4 – Soldier – Borderline – 3:33
5 – Judea – Heart Of Stone – 4:32
6 – Mastedon – Get Up – 3:58
7 – Ransom – Sin Killer – 4:34
8 – Emerald – Born To Die – 4:17
9 – Judea – Knock – 4:24
10 – Soldier – Tears – 3:57
11 – Recon – Dreams – 4:59