Ray Mansfield – Page 53

4•4•1 – Sacrifice – 1988

There is kind of an interesting story behind this album. The band actually split in 1987 but John McNamara and Glenn Holland continued writing material. With the blessing of the departed members they came to an agreement with Ojo Taylor and Gene Eugene at Broken Records for a third album. Gene Eugene produced (assisted), mixed, and engineered the album. The new version of the band even did a small tour with Glenn’s brother Kenny on drums and John Gaudesi on guitar. As for the album well quite frankly it just isn’t the original version of the band. I did not know about all the personnel changes in the band before I listened to the album and thought it just didn’t sound right and after some research I discovered why. Really this album should be evaluated as a stand alone group. It’s a lot darker then their previous work but is a solid new wave album. I think it should definitely be given a listen but remember your listening to a very modified version of the band.

Tracklist
1 – Judas Kisses – 4:48
2 – Oh No – 4:33
3 – Push (These Walls Down) – 3:59
4 – Sacrifice – 3:58
5 – Beautiful Places – 3:10
6 – This Is Love – 3:16
7 – Death Of Innocence – 4:31
8 – Pray For Rain – 4:50
9 – Don’t Make Me Cry – 3:40
10 – What Am I To Do? – 3:20
11 – Standing On The Edge – 4:44
12 – Push (Reprise) – 1:39
13 – Untitled Hidden Track – 0:30

Credits
Arranged By [Additional Arrangement Ideas] – Gene Eugene
Art Direction, Design – Norman Fog
Bass, Keyboards – Glenn Holland
Drums – Kenny Holland
Mastered By – John Matousek
Photography By – Brian Ray
Producer [Produced By] – Gene Eugene, Glenn Holland, John McNamara
Recorded By [Additional Recording By] – Dave Hackbarth
Recorded By, Mixed By – Gene Eugene, Glenn Holland
Songwriter [All Songs Written By], Arranged By [All Songs Arranged By] – Glenn Holland, John McNamara
Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – John McNamara

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Brainstorm Artists International Inc.
Copyright © – Brainstorm Artists International Inc.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word Records Limited
Recorded At – Neverland
Mixed At – Neverland
Mastered At – Motown/Hitsville U.S.A. Recording Studios
Published By – Brainstorm Artists
Published By – Leisure Boys Music
Published By – Maranatha! Music

David Mullen – Faded Blues – 1991

This is David’s second album and it is really really good. Now for a minute here I’m going to go on a rant about the CCM charts. I have often said they had no idea what they were doing on their charts but this album is the absolute proof. CCM magazine said this album had one single that only made it to #37 for 2 weeks, “To Be With You “. Meanwhile it won the Dove award for Best Rock Album and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop Gospel Album. Obviously the rest of the industry saw something CCM Magazine didn’t. Anyway, this is a great AOR album and there’s actually a couple tracks on here that are pretty Rock & Roll and if we ever start a radio station there’s at least 2 tracks that will be in our regular rotation.

Tracklist
1 – Faded Blues – 3:50
2 – After The Hurricane – 5:14
3 – Libby – 4:23
4 – Functional Faith And Clothing – 1:28
5 – Papa – 3:50
6 – To Be With You – 4:24
7 – Under The Same Sun – 4:02
8 – Alone – 4:54
9 – Water Into Wine – 4:39
10 – Long Road – 5:13
11 – Solid As A Rock – 5:05
12 – Don’t Let It Go To Your Heart – 4:42

Credits
A&R – Danny Kee
Acoustic Guitar – Scott Denté
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar – Kevin Twit
Art Direction, Design – Elvis Wilson, Laura LiPuma
Backing Vocals – Chris Rodriguez, Kathy Burdick, Kim Fleming, Vicki Hampton
Bass – Michael Rhodes
Drums – Mickey Curry
Electric Guitar – Kenny Greenberg
Electric Guitar, Soloist – Kevin Dukes
Engineer [Additional] – Jim Demain*
Horns – Jim Horn, Muscle Shoals Horns
Keyboards – Dennis Matkosky, Mike Lawler, Nick Glennie-Smith
Keyboards, Backing Vocals – David Mullen
Management – Mike Atkins
Mastered By – Bob Ludwig
Percussion – Scott MacLeod, Steve Brewster
Photography By – Chip Simons
Piano – Phil Kristenson
Producer, Mixed By, Guitar, Keyboards, Maracas, Percussion, Shaker, Backing Vocals – Justin Niebank
Slide Guitar, Soloist – Phil Keaggy

Companies, etc.
Record Company – Word, Inc.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Recorded At – Digital Recorders
Recorded At – Masterfonics

Vector – Temptation – 1995

This was essentially the final album from Vector though they did do a reunion album in 2021. They continued their style of very light evangelical lyrics giving the album a low JPM like their previous work. It is pretty strong New Wave which was really falling out of favour by 1995 which is probably why it wasn’t a very popular album. That said I love New Wave so it was a nice treat for me in 1995. The CCM genre didn’t have very many good New Wave bands in my opinion but these guys were one of them.

Tracklist
1 – The Power of Love – 5:27
2 – It Comes Down to You – 5:04
3 – All I Need – 4:41
4 – When It All Stops – 4:47
5 – Watch Over Me – 4:49
6 – I Can’t Get Enough of You – 5:48
7 – Let It Slide – 4:53
8 – Mr. Color Wheel – 5:06
9 – Rhythm of Life – 4:58
10 – Temptation – 5:05
11 – Why Did We Wait So Long – 5:10
12 – 10,000 Wishes – 5:33
13 – My Own Eyes – 6:31
14 – She Won’t Say Goodbye – 4:18

Credits
Jimmy Abegg – Songwriter, Guitars, Mandolin, Vocals
Steve Brewster – Drums, Percussion, Loops
Dave Frank – Keyboards, Percussion, Background Vocals
Steve Griffith – Producer, Mixed, Songwriter, Bass, Drums, Percussion, Loops, Vocals
Phil Madeira – Hammond B3, Blues Guitar Solo
Stephen Murray – Background Vocals
Davia Vallesillo – Vocals

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Liquid Disc Records
Copyright © – Liquid Disc Records
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Gigantic Planet, Inc.
Copyright © – Gigantic Planet, Inc.
Distributed By – Diamante Music Group
Distributed By – CMC Distribution
Produced For – Gaga Productions (2)
Recorded At – Gaga Studios, Franklin TN
Mastered At – Mastermix
Published By – Gigantic Planet Music
Published By – Grilled Fish Music
Published By – Twin Angels Music
Pressed By – Disctronics USA – 130331

Whitecross – Love On The Line – 1988

Whitecross released this EP shortly after releasing their first album. I’m not entirely sure what the strategy was here as 2 of the tracks from this EP are actually on that first album. If I had to guess I think they probably wanted this to be released before their first album but something went wrong along the way and it was delayed but that is strictly a guess. As I said the album contained 2 tracks from their first album the other 2 tracks wouldn’t appear on an album until much later. Anyway this must have been a treat for Whitecross fans and with 2 unreleased tracks it must have been a must own. Interestingly it was only released on vinyl and cassette with the same four tracks simply repeated on the flip side.

Tracklist
1 – Love On The Line – 6:00
2 – I Believe – 3:52
3 – No Way I’m Going Down – 4:12
4 – Enough Is Enough – 4:04

Credits
Bass – Jon Sproule
Drums – Mark Hedl
Engineer – Dan Rudin
Executive Producer – Gavin Morkel
Guitar – Rex Carroll
Producer – Rex Carroll
Vocals – Scott Wenzel

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Grand Slam Studios

Bruce Carroll – Richest Man In Town – 1988

This was Bruce’s second album and wow was it a success. His first album was passed over by most people but this album got noticed. It had 4 top 40 hits with “Above And Beyond” making it to #4 and “Driving Nails” making it to #11 as well as two other hits at #24 and #31. It was produced by Bubba Smith who really nailed this album. The album is an AOR genre style but there are a few tracks that lean more towards Rock. I’m actually a little surprised how well it did. I’m not saying it’s not good, it’s just that like I said it has a couple Rock tracks and we know that the CCM chart people usually shied away from albums like this. But all that aside this is an excellent album and I really enjoyed it. There’s at least 2 tracks that will be making it into my regular rotation.

Tracklist
1 – Cross Your Heart – 2:24
2 – Above And Beyond – 3:13
3 – When He Reigns He Pours – 3:20
4 – Fight To Be Weak – 3:00
5 – The Richest Man In Town – 3:42
6 – Only You – 3:29
7 – Song For You – 3:41
8 – It Is Finished – 3:11
9 – He’s Always There – 4:09
10 – Forget It – 3:44
11 – Something Good Is Bound To Happen – 3:47
12 – Let Go Let God – 2:53
13 – Driving Nails – 3:36

Credits
Bruce Carroll – Songwriter, Vocals
Russ Barenburg – Guitars
Phil Barnhart – Songwriter
Eddie Bayers – Drums
Mark Casstevens – Guitars
Mark Douthit – EWI
Stuart Duncan – Fiddle
Terri Gibbs – Songwriter
Carl Gorodetzky – Strings
Lloyd Green – Steel Guitar
Buddy Greene – Songwriter, Harmonica
Chris Harris – Background Vocals
Mark Heimermann – Background Vocals
Gary Janney – Background Vocals
Bill Kenner – Mandolin
Brent King – Mixed
Barbara Kinnamon – Songwriter
Bruce Koblish – String Arranger
Bob Krusen – Engineer
Larrie Londin – Drums
Phil Madeira – B-3 Organ
Kenny Malone – Drums, Percussion, Tambourine
John Mays – Executive Producer
Jerry McPherson – Guitars
Duncan Mullins – Bass
Nashville String Machine – Strings
Maura O’Connell – Harmony Vocals
Paul Overstreet – Songwriter, Background Vocals
Don Potter – Guitars
Kelly Pribble – Engineer
Gary Prim – Keyboards
Matt Rollings – Piano
Brent Rowan – Guitars
Jerry Salley – Songwriter
Bubba Smith – Producer, Castanets, Claves, Tambourine
Paul Smith – Songwriter
Bob Souerv – Songwriter

Semaja – Semaja Live – 1985

This is the last stuff we would get from Semaja as they unfortunately split up even before this album was released. If you were a fan of theirs then this was certainly a nice way for them to go out as many artists in this genre never even put out live albums. As for the band, Markus Egger has become leader of a missions society in Germany called Inter-mission, Claus Feldmann has got an recording studio, and Ulrich Plinke is working in the addictions field. The other members have moved on with normal jobs and from what I understand most of the members are involved in a church called Koinonia Calvary Chapel in Hannover.

Tracklist
1 – Dawning – 4:40
2 – Pilo – 5:03
3 – Wilderness – 6:00
4 – Baby Huey – 4:45
5 – Jesaja 53 – 6:00
6 – Come To Jesus – 4:50
7 – Big Noise – 10:50

Credits
Bass, Vocals – Wilfried Herrmann
Drums – Harald Nagel
Guitar, Vocals – Ulrich Plinke
Keyboards – Claus Feldmann
Lead Vocals – Markus Egger

Stephanie Boosahda – Fearless To Follow – 1984

This is Stephanie’s 7th and final studio album. It sounds like her previous work and I get the feeling that she was struggling with finding an updated 80’s sound. I’m not faulting her but female vocalists were changing in the 80’s and Stephanie’s work was better oriented to late 70’s praise music. That said it’s … Continue reading “Stephanie Boosahda – Fearless To Follow – 1984”

This is Stephanie’s 7th and final studio album. It sounds like her previous work and I get the feeling that she was struggling with finding an updated 80’s sound. I’m not faulting her but female vocalists were changing in the 80’s and Stephanie’s work was better oriented to late 70’s praise music. That said it’s an excellent album for it’s style and there are some upbeat tracks but for the main part this is a worship oriented album.

Tracklist
1 – Who Do You Say That I Am? – 3:19
2 – Signs And Wonders – 4:11
3 – Fearless To Follow – 4:30
4 – I Will Rejoice In Him – 3:21
5 – How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place – 3:40
6 – Bless The Lord, O My Soul – 3:49
7 – He Will Not Let You Fall – 3:52
8 – On The Crest Of A Wave – 4:41
9 – A Child Is Born – 3:07

Credits
Arranged By [Strings] – Alan Moore
Backing Vocals – Bonnie Keen, Jackie Cusic, Marty McCall, Melody Tunney
Bass – Mike Brignardello
Design Concept, Art Direction – Bill Barnes
Drums – Larrie Londin, Mark Hammond
Engineer [Assistant] – Tom Harding
Engineer, Mixed By – Ed Seay
Executive-Producer – Michael DeMonico
Graphics – Barnes & Company
Guitar – Jon Goin
Keyboards – Shane Keister
Keyboards [Additional] – Keith Thomas, Phil Naish
Lacquer Cut By – GM
Mastered By – Benny Quinn
Percussion – Farrell Morris, Terry McMillan
Photography By, Design – Matt Barnes
Producer – Greg Nelson
Strings – Carl Gorodetzky, Nashville String Machine
Written-By – B. Batstone, David Stearman, Stephanie Boosahda

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Singspiration Music
Copyright © – Singspiration Music
Recorded At – Treasure Isle Recorders
Mastered At – Masterfonics
Pressed By – Electrosound Group Midwest, Inc.

Mark Farner – Wake Up – 1989

This is Mark’s second Christian release. It’s not quite as Rock & Roll as his first but it is still pretty good. Mark handled most of the instruments on the album and also produced it. Personally I feel the sound is a little hollow in places but I’m always overly critical on production and engineering. The tracks are well written and Mark really started to shine as a song writer on this album. Other than that there’s not a lot to say about the album other than give it a listen.

Tracklist
1 – Wake Up… – 4:23
2 – Into The Light – 3:59
3 – New Age – 3:22
4 – Come To Me – 3:58
5 – In Your Sight – 5:23
6 – Upright Man – 3:30
7 – Rocco – 3:48
8 – If It Wasn’t For Grace – 3:53
9 – Love Power – 4:00
10 – Role Model – 5:54
11 – Like I Was Before – 3:52

Credits
Backing Vocals [Background Vocals], Drums, Percussion – Mike Maple
Bass, Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Lawrence Buckner
Engineer – Bradley Jones
Engineer [Assistent Engineer] – Dave Jahnsen, Don Pushies
Keyboards – Mark Farner
Keyboards, Backing Vocals [Background Vocals] – Michael Blair
Lead Guitar – Arnie Vilches
Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar – Gordon vanEkstrom
Percussion – Mark Farner
Producer – Mark Farner
Rhythm Guitar – Arnie Vilches
Vocals, Backing Vocals [Background Vocals], Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar – Mark Farner

Companies, etc.
Manufactured By – Fun House Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Frontline Records
Copyright © – Frontline Records
Recorded At – Alliance Recording Co.
Mixed At – The Mixing Lab

Saint Attack – The First – 1989

This is the first of 2 demo’s from Saint Attack though I am completely unable to confirm the second one titled “First Watch”. So in the end this may be all we have from Saint Attack. They never went on to record an album and I can only find info one one member. Vocalist Frank Schepp went on to sing with Chryztyne on their one and only album. Other than Frank the 2 bands don’t appear to have anything in common so I don’t believe it was a rename. OK now onto the demo. It’s a metal album and is actually really well produced and mixed. As they were a German band I wonder why no record deal. I believe it was easier for metal bands to get record deals in Germany and that’s why we have all these oddball German metal releases. Anyway they never did an album and this is all we get form them. If your a metal head this one is for you. I predict you will really like it.

Tracklist
1 – Co’mon – 2:59
2 – Confession – 5:08
3 – Mama Doesn’t Know – 4:41
4 – Pleasure’an Pain – 3:20

Credits
Frank Schepp – Vocals
Walter Moch – Guitars
Gerhard Schlinck – Guitars
Uwe Uher – Bass
Ralf Rumpf – Drums

The Rance Allen Group – I Feel Like Going On – 1980

This was actually the 7th album from The Rance Allen Group. I will forgive you if you have never heard of them because they were in that segment of Christian music that some of us were never exposed to. There seems to have been a whole parallel Christian music industry specializing in soul gospel music. As I researched this side genre I discovered that it was actually huge with several large labels. That said in the early 80’s these two industries started to cross over. This album was before those days so this album is on a soul gospel label. Anyway these guys were huge but I never had any exposure to them. This is a pity because they are really good. I don’t know if I would have bought any of their albums but it would have been nice to have heard them. As for this album it is an excellent soul album and you may have missed it in the day so you should give it a listen now.

Tracklist
1 – Where Did I Go Wrong – 4:45
2 – Some People – 4:50
3 – I’m Coming Back To You – 6:12
4 – Can’t Get Enough – 3:27
5 – God Can Do The Impossible – 5:10
6 – I Will Forever Lean On You – 5:23
7 – Believe In Yourself – 4:32
8 – I Feel Like Going On – 3:35

Credits
Arranged By – Johnny Allen
Art Direction – Phil Carroll
Backing Vocals – Brandye
Bass – Billy Sumler
Design – Kris Johnson
Drums – Jerry Jones
Engineer – Warren Woods
Executive-Producer – Toby Jackson
Guitar – Bruce Nazarian, Cecil Womack, Rance Allen
Horns – Eli Fontain
Keyboards – Rance Allen, Ronnie McNair
Mastered By – José Rodriguez
Percussion – Butch Small, James Griswold
Photography By – Phil Bray
Producer, Arranged By – Rance Allen, Ronnie McNair
Recorded By, Mixed By – Mark Calice
Strings – Betty Metzker, Carl Austin, Charles Everette, Edouard Kesner, Max James Bourbonnais, John Ronai, Marguerite Deslippe, Meyer Shapiro, Morris Hochberg, Nicholas Waselowich, Richard Piippo, Umberto Primo

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Fantasy Records
Recorded At – The Sound Suite Detroit
Mixed At – The Sound Suite Detroit
Mastered At – Sterling Sound
Published By – Stora Music Co.
Published By – Roxatlanta Lane
Published By – Tight Squeeze Music
Published By – Dark Star Music
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Stax Records