Ray Mansfield – Page 9

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

R.K. Fraser – Heroes – 1985

I can not find very much information about R.K. Fraser. I do know this was his only Christian album though he did have 2 albums in the 70’s that I have not listened to yet. The album was on Bright Star Records which was a division of Kerygma Records, Kerry Livgren’s label. The album was also associated with the American Coalition of Traditional Values (ACTV). Fraser was a Vietnam vet serving in 1969 and 1970. This fact helps explain the rather odd album cover which makes sense once you realize he was wearing face camouflage as was done in Vietnam. The album contains a pretty good cover of John Denver’s Annie’s Song. The album is a pretty easy listening pop album that was probably more oriented at our parents than us. Anyway it’s a pretty good album and while little known those who did have it seem to have great memories of it.

Tracklist
1 – Knockin’ At Your Door
2 – In God We Trust
3 – All Roads Lead To You
4 – Galilee
5 – Heroes
6 – Cold Cold Night
7 – Annie’s Song
8 – Light Up The Sky
9 – I Wish I Was Home

Bride – Snakes In The Playground – 1992

Snakes in the Playground is the fifth studio album from Bride. Strangely many of the reviews for this album say “it was their breakthrough album”. I am assuming most these reviewers actually had no idea about Christian metal. Bride was well established and already revered as one of the best Metal acts of the period. That said it was a great album and I think everyone recognized that including the Dove Awards who gave it 2 nominations for “Hard Music Recorded Song of the Year” which they won for 1992 (Rattlesnake) and 1993 (Psychedelic Super Jesus). Interestingly the album featured several guest musicians, Peter Furler and John James from the Newsboys, Rick Florian from White Heart for backing vocals, Greg Martin from the Kentucky Headhunters, Rick Elias, and Derek Jan from Novella for some solo guitar spots. As for the naming of the album Dale Thompson gave us the story “We were in the beginning stages of recording, and took a break to drive to the store. A large reptile was lying beside our car sunbathing on the pavement. In my attempts to chase the snake away, I chased it under the car. To make matters worse, the effort to move the snake from under the car drove it up into the fender wells. We spent the next hour and a half trying to get the snake to come out. We sprayed it with the water hose, poked at it with a broom handle, even shook the car, but it would not come out. Finally, when we thought we would just have to let the snake have the car, it crawled out and back into the wooded area next to the studio.” If you were living on the moon in 1992 and missed this album it is a must listen.

Tracklist
1 – Rattlesnake – 4:34
2 – Would You Die For Me – 3:35
3 – Psychedelic Super Jesus – 4:18
4 – Fallout – 4:03
5 – Saltriver Shuffle – 0:38
6 – Dust Through A Fan – 3:08
7 – I Miss The Rain – 3:52
8 – Don’t Use Me – 4:01
9 – Picture Perfect – 4:21
10 – Love, Money – 3:48
11 – Some Things Never Change – 4:09
12 – Goodbye – 5:20

Credits
Art Direction – Toni Thigpen
Bass – Rik Foley
Design, Layout – Tufts Design Studio
Drums – Jerry McBroom
Edited By [Digital Editing] – Alan Douches
Executive-Producer – Dez Dickerson
Guitar, Mandolin, Acoustic Guitar, Cello, Viola – Troy Thompson
Illustration – Todd Tufts
Mastered By – Denny Purcell
Photography By – Russ Harrington
Producer – Salvatore Giglio
Recorded By, Mixed By – Salvatore Giglio
Vocals, Backing Vocals, Tambourine, Shaker – Dale Thompson

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Star Song
Copyright © – Star Song
Recorded At – The Saltmine
Recorded At – West West Side Music
Mixed At – The Saltmine
Mixed At – West West Side Music
Mastered At – Georgetown Masters
Published By – Dawn Treader Music
Published By – Plink Publishing
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus, Virginia

The Wall Brothers – Walk In The Sunshine – 1975

This is the first album from The Wall Brothers. It was initially self released as a self titled album but it looks like Greentree Records picked it up the following year and released it with a new cover and title. I still can find anything out about these guys. I have discovered that before this album they were known as The Chancellors and had a couple albums with the Lefevre family. I can’t find either of those two albums but they look like they were more praise oriented. As for the album I really liked the opening track but it should never have been chosen as an opening track. The rest of the album is a little dull but if you like 70’s Jesus music you might like it. When I say dull I mean, typical. It is a typical 70’s light rock Jesus music album but not a bad one.

Tracklist
1 – Two Hands – 3:45
2 – Walk In The Sunshine – 2:42
3 – Jesus (He Is The Son Of God) – 4:55
4 – Jesus Got Ahold Of My Life – 4:10
5 – More (Than You’ll Ever Know) – 4:04
6 – Which Way The Wind Blows – 4:59
7 – Follow The Man With The Music – 3:18
8 – Praise The Lord, He Never Changes – 3:48
9 – Didn’t He? – 5:12
10 – If My People Pray – 3:39

Credits
Acoustic Guitar, Rhythm Guitar – Greg Wall
Arranged By, Keyboards – Lari Goss
Art Direction – Bob McConnell
Bass – Roni Goss
Cover – Michael Harris
Drums, Percussion – Buster Phillips
Electric Guitar – Kenny Mims
Photography – Dill Beaty
Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Rhythm Guitar – James Goss
Steel Guitar – Glynn Andrews

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – The Sound Pit
Mixed At – The Sound Pit
Mastered At – Masterfonics

Copious – Neo-Fusion – 1986

We have about 100 or 200 albums in reserve for this project. This is one of those albums that I have NO idea why or how we have it. I see it was on Fortress/Refuge Records so my best guess is that I grabbed it because of that. Of course the next step is for me to actually listen to the album and I have no idea why I chose it but I did. This is a one album group out of the U.S. or South Africa. I’m not really too sure as I’ve seen it both ways. The album was recorded and mixed in South Africa, we do know that. They have this Jazz Fusion Progressive Rock thing going on and to be clear this is NOT my style of music. In fact I really dislike this style. That said this is a spectacular album that I should really dislike but I loved it. Now let me tell you about the band. They might be from South Africa. That’s it, that’s all I could find. This is their only album and I can’t find that any of the band members were involved in any other Christian projects. I’ll be honest wasn’t even sure this was a Christian project as it’s instrumental and the song titles aren’t very descriptive but the Thank you on the back cover settled that issue for me, it is. Anyway if you like your Rock Progressive and with a bit of Jazz Fusion this is a MUST listen.

Tracklist
1 – Monix – 3:53
2 – Slapper – 5:32
3 – Copious – 6:14
4 – On Target – 3:48
5 – Logo-Motif – 6:13
6 – Creation – 5:43
7 – Seasons – 6:47

Credits
Bass – Greg Brown
Drums – Roy Schoombie
Engineer – Tully McCulluch
Guitar – Barry Swan
Keyboards – Gabby LeRoux

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Refuge Music Group
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Fortress Records
Recorded At – Spaced Out Sound Studios

Youth Alive – Totally Radical Live Worship – 1988

Youth alive is actually Youth Alive NSW out of Australia. It is an organization formed in 1986 to minister to kids and this is a recording of one of their concerts. The organization is still active today and is still ministering to kids across Australia, a cause I love. So we have a fun little live concert here. Don’t expect anything rising to Dove awards level but it’s a fun album and the band is tight. No one in the band had a stand out name for me other than John Waller from Avion on drums. Was great to see him involved with the group. A few other members appeared on Hillsong albums. Anyway a simple but fun live album that I enjoyed listening to.

Tracklist
1 – God Didn’t Give Me A Spirit Of Fear
2 – The Gates Of Hell Shall Not Prevail
3 – King Of Kings
4 – God Has Not Given Us
5 – Rise Up
6 – Speaking [Pat Mesiti]
7 – I Delight In The Lord
8 – Holy Holy Holy Lord (Hosanna)
9 – Open Worship [Spontaneous]
10 – The Spirit Is Falling
11 – Speaking
12 – Blessed Be The Lord My Rock
13 – He’s My Roof Top
14 – We Will Not Bow To The World
15 – Jesus Is The Rock (And He Rolls My Blues Away)
16 – This Joy That I Have
17 – Amen
18 – Youth Alive

Credits
Artwork – Damien Lange
Bass – Ian Fisher
Brass – Cathy Byrne, Paul Stiles, Ray Price
Coordinator – Jonathon De Jong, Peter Laughton
Drums – John Waller
Engineer [Concert Sound] – John McConnell
Guitar – Chris Falson
Keyboards – Brian Shirtliffe
MC [Worship Enthusiast] – Pat Mesiti
Percussion – Peter Kelly
Producer, Piano – Geoff Bullock
Recorded By – Wyn Wynyard
Vocals – Chris McKinnon, David Reidy, Gerard Keehan, Lucy Fisher, Ruth Grant

Companies, etc.
Record Company – Refuge Music Group
Distributed By – Spectra Distribution
Mixed At – Albert Studios
Recorded At – Hordern Pavilion

Petra – Wake Up Call – 1993

I think I’m safe to say that this was Petra’s most successful 90’s album. It won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album and the Dove Award for Rock Album of the Year. Personally I struggle with Petra’s 90’s albums. They are very well done and I’m not being critical of their talent but I think I am so stuck in the 80’s I don’t appreciate their 90’s work. They stepped away from the Elefante brothers as producers for this album and went with Brown Bannister and you can tell. The album is much more mellow than their previous few and well quite frankly, just dull in spots. I respect Bannister but he was well known for leaving too many out right boring songs on an album. That said the album was hugely successful so what do I know. If you drifted away from Petra in the 90’s and missed this one I would suggest giving it a listen, I think it deserves that but I wouldn’t get excited based on the hype. I simply don’t think it’s that level of an album.

Tracklist
1 – Midnight Oil – 3:17
2 – Good News – 4:29
3 – Strong Convictions – 3:53
4 – He’s Been In My Shoes – 4:22
5 – Praying Man – 4:25
6 – Underneath The Blood – 3:30
7 – Sleeping Giant – 5:28
8 – Believer In Deed – 4:06
9 – Marks Of The Cross – 4:35
10 – Just Reach Out – 4:28

Credits
A&R – Lynn Keesecker
Art Direction – Diana Barnes
Backing Vocals – Bob Carlisle, Chris Eddy, Dale Thompson, Gordon Kennedy, Jimmie Lee Sloas, Joe Pizzulo, Judson Spence, Michael Black, Nanette Britt, Robert White Johnson, Ron Hemby, Tommy Funderburk, Vicki Carrico
Bass – Ronny Cates
Design – Gabrielle Raumberger
Drums – Louie Weaver
Engineer [Additional] – Steve Bishir
Engineer [Assistant] – Martin Woodlee, Rory Romano, Wayne Mehl
Engineer, Mixed By – Jeff Balding
Guitar – Bob Hartman
Keyboards – John Lawry
Lead Vocals – John Schlitt
Mastered By – Doug Sax
Mixed By [Assisted] – Greg Parker, Jeff Demorris, Pete Martinez
Photography By – Michael Llewellyn
Producer, Engineer [Additional] – Brown Bannister
Production Manager [Coordinator] – Tracy Sterling
Typography – Dylan Tran

Companies, etc.
Manufactured By – U.S. Optical Disc
Produced For – RBI Productions
Recorded At – Power Station
Recorded At – The Dugout
Recorded At – Ocean Way Recording
Mixed At – Ocean Way Recording
Mixed At – Sixteenth Avenue Sound
Mastered At – The Mastering Lab

Steven Soles – The Promise – 1980

Soles is well known as a member of Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Review. Us in the Christian music scene probably know him best as a member of The Alpha Band. When the Alpha Band broke up in 1979 Stephen started a solo career. This album is the first of two solo albums from him. I’ll be honest when I sat down to listen to this one I wasn’t very excited about listening to it. The opening track “Touch The Power” really sucked me in and got me excited. I would say the album is evenly split between up tempo and low tempo tracks. I actually really liked this album and I didn’t expect to. Fellow Alpha Band member David Mansfield provides electric guitar for the album and if you want to hear his skills and hear the best track on the album listen to “Shake The Dust”. It has a great 70’s Dylan feel. Anyway this is a definite must hear. If your likes lean very early 80’s I’m pretty sure this one will enter your regular rotation.

Tracklist
1 – Touch The Power – 2:34
2 – The Healer – 3:50
3 – Lead Me To Water – 3:21
4 – The Witness – 3:49
5 – The Promise – 3:59
6 – Shake The Dust – 3:07
7 – Can I Get An Amen – 2:33
8 – Heartbroke And Happy – 5:23
9 – I Found A Love – 2:58
10 – If You Believe – 2:14

Credits
Acoustic Guitar, Vocals – Steven Soles
Backing Vocals – Jude Johnstone, Wendy Matthews
Bass Guitar – Jerry Scheff
Drums – Ron Tutt
Guitar, Violin, Dobro – David Mansfield
Percussion, Handclaps – Geoffrey Hales, Jude Johnstone, Larry Hirsch, Ray Vaughn, Wendy Matthews
Photography By – Ray Vaughn
Producer – Steven Soles
Recorded By, Engineer, Mixed By – Larry Hirsch

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Sangre Productions
Copyright © – Sangre Productions
Copyright © – Specific Gravity Music
Published By – Bug Music Group
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Recorded At – City Recorders Studios
Recorded At – Reggie Fisher Recording Studio
Recorded At – Paramount Recording Studios
Mixed At – Paramount Recording Studios
Lacquer Cut At – Kendun Recorders

Various – California Metal – 1987

To say this is a legendary sampler is an understatement. It was 1987 and metal was really catching so Regency put this sampler out. They lured you in with Barren Cross and then fed you some of California’s best Metal bands. Many of these tracks weren’t even released elsewhere for 20 more years. Also included on the album was the unreleased band Hero that people loved. I have detailed below where you can find these songs outside of this sampler. If you had this one in 80’s you know how special it was.

Tracklist
1 – Barren Cross – Deadlock – On 1988 album “Atomic Arena
2 – Guardian – Marching On – Unreleased until 2009 on “First Watch” re-release as a bonus track
3 – Neon Cross – I Need Your Love – Unreleased until 2001 on “Neon Cross” re-release as a bonus track
4 – Hero – I Surrender – Unreleased Band
5 – Deliverance – A Space Called You – Unreleased until 2008 on “Deliverance” re-release as a bonus track
6 – Mastedon – Wasn’t It Love – Unreleased until 2009 on “It’s A Jungle Out There” re-release as a bonus track
7 – Guardian – Spiritual Warfare – Unreleased until 2009 on “First Watch” re-release as a bonus track
8 – Deliverance – Attack – Unreleased until 2008 on “Deliverance” re-release as a bonus track
9 – Hero – Sing It Out – Unreleased Band
10 – Neon Cross – Son Of God – Unreleased until 2001 on “Neon Cross” re-release as a bonus track

Tracklist
1 – Barren Cross – Deadlock – 4:33
2 – Guardian – Marching On – 3:38
3 – Neon Cross – I Need Your Love – 3:08
4 – Hero – I Surrender – 3:47
5 – Deliverance – A Space Called You – 3:51
6 – Mastedon – Wasn’t It Love – 4:42
7 – Guardian – Spiritual Warfare – 4:13
8 – Deliverance – Attack – 3:44
9 – Hero – Sing It Out – 3:02
10 – Neon Cross – Son Of God – 4:15

Credits
Executive-Producer – David Malme, John Moore
Illustration – Helane Freeman
Lacquer Cut By – Eddy Schreyer
Producer, Engineer – Bob Beeman, The Pakaderm Company

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Regency Records
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Regency Records
Copyright © – Larana Music
Copyright © – Amgine Music
Copyright © – Reescott Music
Copyright © – Uncle Pits Music
Mastered At – Capitol Mastering
Pressed By – Specialty Records Corporation

The Brave – Trust – 1994

I absolutely loved the first Brave album so I was really looking forward to this one and I was not disappointed. This album has a little less of the blues style Rock and is more arena rock style and the Elefante brothers nailed the production on this one. I can not help but to think these guys were just about 8 years too late from being a huge deal. Let’s face the world had moved to grunge and this style just wasn’t “in”. That said these guys were good, really really good. Unfortunately this album would be the shut down of the band but they resurrected in 2014 and I’m looking forward to listening to their newer albums from this century unfortunately with a new vocalist as Randy Roberts apparently passed in 2007. Only have time for one track? “The River” is the one for you.

Tracklist
1 – The River – 4:22
2 – Rage Of The Age – 4:46
3 – Following You – 4:15
4 – Dirty Water – 4:53
5 – Tomorrow – 5:03
6 – Don’t – 5:13
7 – Long Way To Heaven – 4:14
8 – Can’t Let The Devil Win – 4:31
9 – When You’re Alone – 5:29
10 – Trust – 3:16

Credits
Artwork – David Bach
Backing Vocals [Additional Musician] – Jeff Gunn, Larry Worley, The Brave
Bass [Additional Musician] – J.R. McNeely
Bass, Vocals – Steve Irwin
Drums [Additional Musician] – Jamie Wollam
Engineer – J.R. McNeely
Guitar, Vocals – Freddie Tierra, Stayce Roberts
Keyboards [Additional Musician], Producer – John Elefante
Lead Vocals, Guitar – Randy Roberts
Producer, Engineer, Mixed By – Dino Elefante

Companies, etc.
Mastered At – Georgetown Masters
Recorded At – Pakaderm Studios
Manufactured By – Word Records & Music
Distributed By – Word Records & Music
Distributed By – Nelson/Word, Vancouver BC
Distributed By – Nelson/Word, UK
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Pakaderm Records
Copyright © – Word Entertainment