Category: Albums

Bruce Cockburn – Stealing Fire – 1984

Stealing Fire is probably Bruce Cockburn’s most “commercial” and accessible project in an illustrative career spanning four decades. That’s not to say it is in any way hit radio ready. It remains, though, one of Cockburn’s most influential and memorable projects. Even Christian radio in some circles picked up some of the songs for regular rotation. After a trip to Central America Cockburn returned with a world music influence and a suitcase full of songs of passion, pain, anger and grace. All that poured out into this wonderful record. The album is most noted for the semi-hit “If I Had a Rocket Launcher.” The always peace-minded Cockburn was so distraught over the victims of war in Central America that even he would cry out in anger against the perpetrators. Many were offended by the final of the song in which Cockburn exclaims that if he had a rocket launcher, “some sonofabitch would die.” Lost in the violent outburst was the fact that in circumstances as evil as those he was experiencing, even the most peaceful of man would be driven to this sort of outburst. Brilliant song! The first track, “Lovers In a Dangerous Time,” should have been a radio hit and was later covered by Barenaked Ladies. One line in particular inspired U2’s Bono would would add it the song “God Part II” in which he says “I heard a singer on the radio late last night/Says he’s gonna kick at the darkness ’til it bleeds daylight.” That line is one of the my favorite and most memorable Cockburn lines. Bono is not the only fan of Cockburn as many consider him one of the great songwriters of this generation. “Making Contact” made it’s way onto some more daring Christian radio station. The world music influenced melody worked well on radio and the chorus was utterly unforgettable. On a dark and difficult album this one light moment clearly stands out. “Making contact/Swimming in an ocean of love.” It is hard to ignore Cockburn’s far left political stand. It is also hard to ignore the truth, grace, passion and purpose with which he writes and performs. On Stealing Fire that is a wonderful blend of all of these and more and for the uninitiated, it’s one of the two or three best places to start.

Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com

Tracklist
1 – Lovers In A Dangerous Time – 4:06
2 – Maybe The Poet – 4:53
3 – Sahara Gold – 4:31
4 – Making Contact – 3:46
5 – Peggy’s Kitchen Wall – 3:42
6 – To Raise The Morning Star – 5:52
7 – Nicaragua – 4:47
8 – If I Had A Rocket Launcher – 4:59
9 – Dust And Diesel – 5:24

Credits
Art Direction – Bart Schoales
Bass, Chapman Stick [Stick] – Fergus Marsh
Drums – Miche Pouliot
Engineer – John Naslen
Engineer [Assisted By] – Ron Searles
Guitar, Voice – Bruce Cockburn
Keyboards – Jon Goldsmith
Management [Direction] – The Finkelstein Management Company Limited
Mastered By – Mike Reese
Painting [Cover] – Blair Dawson
Percussion – Chi Sharpe
Photography By – George Whiteside
Producer – Jon Goldsmith, Kerry Crawford
Words By, Music By – Bruce Cockburn

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – High Romance Music Ltd.
Copyright © – High Romance Music Ltd.
Manufactured By – CBS Records Canada Ltd.
Distributed By – CBS Records Canada Ltd.
Published By – Golden Mountain Music Corp.
Copyright © – Golden Mountain Music Corp.
Recorded At – Manta Sound
Mastered At – The Mastering Lab
Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Don Mills, ON
Printed By – Shorewood Packaging Corp. Of Canada Ltd.
Lacquer Cut At – The Mastering Lab

The Living Sacrifice Band – A Call To Brokeness- 1980

This is the third and last album from The Living Sacrifice Band out of Spokane WA. Apparently they went through a few name changes starting out as Last Call of Shiloh, then Living Sacrifice, and finally as Living Sacrifice Band. They also released one album as The Last Call Of Shiloh. They released this album on Shekinah records which was a micro label out of Oceanport, NJ. The album has a progressive seventies Rock sound and feel and features the multiple instruments you would expect on a progressive album. Side one is more Rock oriented while side 2 is a little more mellow. Pretty good album here that you have probably never heard of due to it’s obscurity so if that 70’s progressive style is your thing this one is for you.

Tracklist
1 – Hallelujah
2 – Resurrection
3 – Woman At The Well
4 – Marriage Supper Of The Lamb
5 – Ezekiel 38 & 39
6 – Armegeddon
7 – Raging Sea
8 – A Call To Brokeness

Credits
Rob Neuschwander – drums, vocals, bass
John Murray – vocals, harmonica, guitar, bass
Diane Murray – vocals
Doug Houser – vocals, flute
Heidi Nelson – vocals, piano
John Rosenberry – vocals, guitar

Charles Johnson & The Revivers – There Is A Guarantee In Jesus – 1986

Charles Johnson might have been better known as a member of soul gospel group The Sensational Nightingales who actually started up in the 40’s. This is another group that was huge in the soul side of the industry and unknown on the rock side of the industry. Charles started up this group after he left The Sensational Nightingales in the early 80’s. This album has been classified as Soul but really it had more of a 50’s feel than soul but admittedly sometimes those 2 genres melt together. Anyway needless to say I never heard this one before finding it in our stack which is really too bad because this is a great album with a fun 50’s feel.

Tracklist
1 – There Is A Guarantee In Jesus – 4:45
2 – I’ve Been Sealed – 4:10
3 – I’ll See You In The Rapture – 4:25
4 – It’s Time To Go Back Home – 3:39
5 – My Friend Jesus – 4:32
6 – I Can’t Even Walk – 4:33
7 – Giving You A Warning Sinner – 3:45

Credits
Bass Guitar – Richard A. Luster
Drums – Mark Williams
Keyboards – Roger Fortner
Lead Guitar – Darrell Luster
Producer, Engineer, Mixed By – Tim Greene
Rhythm Guitar – Charles Johnson

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Mountain Top Studios

Imperials – Songs Of Christmas – 1998

This is the Imperials 2nd Christmas album. While their first one was very very popular, this one, not so much. In part it is because they self released it so it probably only sold through their mail order program. This was a period that the Imperials were struggling with record labels. The album is traditional Christmas songs done in a very traditional quartet style. It’s not even in the same ballpark as their first album but I don’t think they wanted it to be.

Tracklist
1 – Sleigh Ride
2 – White Christmas
3 – Silent Night
4 – O Come, O Come Emmanuel
5 – I Have Seen The Light
6 – The Christmas Song
7 – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
8 – Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
9 – What Child Is This
10 – Hark The Herald Angels Sing

Evie – Come On, Ring Those Bells – 1977

This album probably contains the biggest CCM Christmas song ever. The title track was written by Andrew Culverwell and suited Evie’s vocals perfectly. The album also received a nominated for Grammy Award for best Contemporary Gospel performance. The album is mainly traditional material but Lennart Sjöholm did many of the arrangements. The album has a country feel and is one of the most loved CCM Christmas albums still to this day.

Tracklist
1 – Come On, Ring Those Bells – 3:02
2 – Away In A Manger – 2:37
3 – No Room/Have You Any Room For Jesus? – 3:42
4 – Mary’s Boy Child – 2:45
5 – Silent Night – 3:34
6 – O Holy Night – 3:45
7 – What Child Is This? – 3:35
8 – Some Children See Him – 1:43
9 – One Small Child – 3:04
10 – A Thousand Candles – 2:39

Credits
Backing Vocals – Janie Fricke Singers
Bass – Jack Williams
Drums – Bill Harris, Jerry Carrigan
Guitar – Billy Sanford, Jerry Shook, Pete Bordinella
Harmonica – Charlie McCoy
Keyboards – Lennart Sjöholm, Randy Goodrum
Oboe – Bob Taylor
Percussion – Farrell Morris
Recorder, Clarinet – Billy Puett
Steel Guitar – Weldon Myrick
Strings – Shelly Kurland Strings

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – The Sound Lab, Nashville
Remixed At – Europa Film

Russ Taff – A Christmas Song – 1992

This is Russ’s only Christmas album and I don’t have much to say about it. It is a collection of traditional Christmas carols with very traditional arrangements. Often these albums they lay down the music track with studio musicians then the singer comes in and does the vocals and it’s off to the stores. But credit to Russ here, he used his band for the album and the engineering/production group is his usual team. That makes me respect this album a little more though it’s still not my style. This one is for people looking for traditional songs with traditional arrangements and stand out vocals.

Tracklist
1 – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – 4:34
2 – Angels We Have Heard On High – 2:57
3 – The Christmas Song – 2:19
4 – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – 4:01
5 – I’ll Be Home For Christmas – 4:01
6 – Let It Snow, Let It Snow – 2:39
7 – White Christmas – 3:51
8 – What Child Is This? – 2:41
9 – It Came Upon A Midnight Clear – 4:07
10 – What A Wonderful World – 2:27

Credits
Bass – Byron House
Conductor [Strings Conducted By] – John Darnall
Drums, Bells [Sleigh Bells] – John Hammond
Executive-Producer – John Huie
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Piano, Vibraphone [Vibes] – Matt Rollings
Producer, Arranged By, Guitar, Backing Vocals, Recorded By, Mixed By – James Hollihan, Jr.
Recorded By [Strings Recorded By] – Lynn Fuston
Saxophone – Mark Douthit
Strings – The Nashville String Machine
Trumpet – Mike Haynes

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – The Sparrow Corporation
Copyright © – The Sparrow Corporation
Produced For – Russ Taff Productions
Recorded At – Interociter Studio, Nashville, TN
Mixed At – Interociter Studio, Nashville, TN
Mastered At – Mastermix
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus, Virginia

Various – Noel – 1995

If you do not own this album, you are truly missing out on not only one of the great Christmas albums of all time (Christian or secular) but on one of the great albums. This album was initially listed in the Top 100 before the decision to remove the seasonal albums. Years before “City of a Hill,” short lived Via Records released this brilliant acoustic collection of original and classical holiday favorites. Artists include Derri Daugherty (The Choir), Michael Pritzl (The Violet Burning), Jerry Chamberlain (DA), Kevin Smith (DC Talk), Jenny Gullen (Hoi Polloi), Brent Bourgeois, Riki Michelle (Adam Again), Julie Miller and more. Simply brilliant from first to last and years ahead of the time.

Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com

Tracklist
1 – Derri Daugherty & Riki Michelle & Steve Hindalong – Babe In The Straw – 3:32
2 – Michael Pritzl & Jenny Gullen – Silent Night – 3:36
3 – Jerry Chamberlain & Sharon McCall & Riki Michelle & Derri Daugherty – I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day – 2:57
4 – Kevin Smith – In The Bleak Mid-Winter – 3:15
5 – Jenny Gullen & Derri Daugherty – Bring A Torch Jeannette, Isabella – 2:52
6 – Stephen & Jenny Gullen – O Holy Night – 4:26
7 – Brian Whitman – Carol Of The Birds – 3:00
8 – Brent Bourgeois & Carolyn Arends & Derri Daugherty – What Child Is This? – 4:30
9 – Riki Michelle & Jerry Chamberlain & Sharon McCall – O Come, O Come, Emmanuel – 2:53
10 – Buddy & Julie Miller – Away In A Manger – 2:57
11 – Carolyn Arends & Stephen Murray & Jenny Gullen – Angels We Have Heard On High – 4:43

Art Garfunkel & Amy Grant – The Animals’ Christmas By Jimmy Webb – 1986

This is a rather odd Christmas album. While popular in Chrisn circles due to Amy’s involvement the album actually flopped but is highly regarded by music reviewers and many describe it as one of the best Christmas albums ever. Personally I don’t fall in that group. I just don’t like the album. It does not compliment Art or Amy’s vocal style. That said I really like the concept and many of the songs are really good. The concept is that these are the stories/songs of the animals on Christmas day. The songs are well written and actually I think they are some pretty good songs. They were written by Jimmy Webb who is one of the greatest lyricists of all time. My complaint is the arrangements. I just don’t feel the whole choir and orchestra thing and I wish so much that someone else had made the production decisions for this album. However as I said the songs are excellent and many people love the arrangements and I respect their opinion. For many people this album is a Christmas staple.

Tracklist
1 – The Annunciation – 2:38
2 – The Creatures Of The Field – 2:31
3 – Just A Simple Little Tune – 2:54
4 – The Decree – 3:25
5 – Incredible Phat – 4:56
6 – The Friendly Beasts – 3:23
7 – The Song Of The Camels – 2:44
8 – Words From An Old Spanish Carol – 3:43
9 – Carol Of The Birds – 1:58
10 – The Frog – 5:15
11 – Herod – 4:20
12 – Wild Geese – 3:32

Credits
Art Direction – Christopher Austopchuk
Banjo, Acoustic Guitar – Eric Weisberg
Bass – Joe Osborn
Cello – Peter Presser
Choir – Kings College School Choir
Conductor – Carl Davis
Directed By [Choir] – Michael Jenkins
Drums – Steve Gadd
Electric Guitar – Elliott Randall
Engineer – Geoff Emerick, Jon Kelly, Roy Halee
Engineer [Assistant] – Stuart Breed
Illustration – Abby Levine
Mastered By – Greg Calbi
Orchestra – The London Symphony Orchestra
Organ – Paul Halley
Percussion – Gordon Gottlieb
Piano – Jimmy Webb
Producer – Art Garfunkel, Geoff Emerick, Jimmy Webb
Remix – Art Garfunkel, Geoff Emerick, Nicole Graham, Stuart Breed
Saxophone – George Young
Synthesizer – Rob Mounsey
Vocals – Amy Grant, Art Garfunkel
Vocals, Soloist – Declan Costello, Jonathan Jenkins, Nicholas Dykes, Stephen Bayly

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – CBS Inc.
Copyright © – CBS Inc.
Manufactured By – Columbia Records
Pressed By – DADC – DIDP 70178

Centerpoint Featuring Jeff Johnson – Poetry & Music For Christmas – 1990

This is Jeff’s first Christmas album. He has actually done several Christmas albums over the years. This one is spoken word of poetry by Keith Patman with a musical score written by Jeff. I’m not usually a fan of spoken poetry but I quite enjoyed this album. Maybe I’m getting soft in my old age or maybe it’s just that good. The poetry is pretty good and as usual with Jeff the music score is fantastic. This might be one you may want to add to your Christmas rotation.

Tracklist
1 – O Come, O Come Immanuel – 1:18
2 – Another Mystery I Pose – 0:48
3 – A Gallery Carol – 3:00
4 – The Bondage Of Corruption – 1:40
5 – While Shepherds Watched – 5:10
6 – Snow – 3:54
7 – Lord Of Green And Red – 1:43
8 – Judah’s Lion / Carol Of The Bells – 3:43
9 – Centerpoint – 2:04
10 – Oregon Carol – 2:14
11 – Inversion – 2:52
12 – The Heavens Declare / Wexford Carol – 3:08

Credits
Acoustic Guitar – Paul Chasman
Artwork By, Photography By – Kathy Hastings
Bass [Fretless] – Rick Crittenden
Flute – Brian Dunning
Percussion, Sound Designer [Ambience] – Roger Hadley
Producer, Keyboards, Music By, Arranged By, Recorded By, Mixed By – Jeff Johnson
Read By – Dallas McKennon
Written-By [Poetry By] – Keith Patman

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Ark Records
Copyright © – Sola Scriptura Songs
Mastered At – K Disc Mastering
Distributed By – Sparrow/Star Song Distribution
Recorded At – The Ark, Camano Island, WA
Recorded At – The Ark Mobile
Mixed At – The Ark, Camano Island, WA

Asight Unseen – Circus Of Shame – 1991

Here’s everything I know about this band. They were out of Garden Grove, California, and this is the first of 3 albums they released. That’s it, that’s all I got. So let’s talk about the album. This is a fantastic album. It was released on New Breed which was a sublabel of Frontline. It was produced by Chris Wimber (The Lifesavors) and mixed by Jeff Dykehouse. These two gentlemen nailed this album. The mix is perfect and final production dead on. This may actually be one of the best produced albums I have heard in the Christian genre. The tracks vary in sound from, well, everything. There’s hint of rockabilly, and grunge but mostly the album is straight up Rock & Roll. Guest appearing on the album is Chris Lizotte with some harmonica and background vocals. Also appearing is Rob Watson on keyboards. Strangely HM Magazine rates this album as #99 on their Top 100 Christian Rock Albums of all time. I agree this is a good album, even great, but #99 of all time? No sorry it’s simply not that good but it is very good. There are definitely a few tracks going into my regular rotation especially Jimi Jones Boogie which is actually a very well written song highlighting the difference between religion and following Christ.

Tracklist
1 – Road To Bonoa
2 – The Purging
3 – The Gimmick
4 – Feel Fire
5 – Psychic Babylon
6 – Back Door
7 – Circus Of Shame
8 – Jimi Jones Boogie
9 – Raucous
10 – Electric Angel Blues
11 – Screamin’ For Glory
12 – God’s Ways

Credits
Artwork By [Dove Logo] – Dan Newmire
Bass – John Oliveira
Bongos – Shawn Tubbs
Design – Bob Payne
Drums, Cymbal, Percussion [Gadgets] – Bert Sanchez
Guitar, Vocals – Mike Longridge
Guitar, Vocals [Yelling], Slide Guitar [Pick Slides], Words By – Derek Bell
Harmonica, Backing Vocals – Chris Lizotte
Keyboards – Rob Watson
Lead Vocals, Whistle, Words By – Jason Lohrke
Mastered By – Steve Hall
Mixed By – Jeff Dykehouse
Music By – ASight Unseen
Painting [Cover] – Trevor Lohrke
Producer, Engineer – Chris Wimber
Slide Guitar [Pick Slide] – Glen Schroder
Trombone [T-Bone] – Mike Johnson
Trumpet – Frank Lendejas
Vocals – Alexandria, GeeGee, Stacey Berardino

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Vineyard Ministries International
Copyright © – Vineyard Ministries International
Distributed By – Frontline Distribution
Recorded At – Vineyard Studios
Mixed At – Vineyard Studios
Mastered At – Future Disc