Category: Albums

Pantano-Salsbury – Hit the Switch – 1977

This album appears to be Ron Salsbury And J.C. Power Outlet without David Edwards. I’m a little unsure how this came about as David was still working with Ron & John on other projects so I don’t think there was any great drama here. Now to be clear this was a Solid Rock/Larry Norman project so who knows when it was actually recorded but I think it’s a good guess in was recorded in 76 or 77. You can definitely feel Larry’s influence on the album especially on “I’m Just A Record” which has Larry written all over it. As was typical for Solid Rock in this time period Tom Howard and Randy Stonehill appear on the album. The album has a seventies feel and I actually really liked it especially “I’m Just A Record”. In typical Larry fashion Side 1 of the album is labelled “Rock” and Side 2 “and Roll.” In 2023 Randy Layton over at Alternative Records re-released this album with a ton of bonus material, and I mean a ton. Depending on when you read this we have already uploaded it or plan to (Dec 2025).

Tracklist
1 – I’m Just A Record – 4:18
2 – Soul Seeker – 6:17
3 – Hold On – 5:37
4 – I Need You – 4:06
5 – People Tend To Forget – 4:50
6 – Lover Of My Soul – 3:39
7 – Magic Of The Moonlight – 5:47
8 – To Be Near You – 4:30
9 – I Don’t Wanna Wander – 5:48

Credits
Arranged By [Strings], Conductor [Strings] – Tom Howard
Backing Vocals [Background] – John Pantano, Larry Norman, Randy Stonehill, Ron Salsbury, Tom Howard
Bass – David Coy
Drums, Percussion – Peter Johnson
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Tom Howard
Engineer – Stewart Whitmore
Graphics [Graphic Production] – Liza McDonald
Management [Coorespondence], Booking [Concert Representation] – Street Level Artists Agency
Percussion – Bruce Neal
Photography By, Design [Album Etc.] – Larry Norman
Piano – Jeffrey David Hooven
Producer [Produced By], Arranged By – Larry Norman
Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – Ron Salsbury
Vocals, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica – John Pantano

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Solid Rock Records
Copyright © – Solid Rock Records
Copyright © – King Of Hearts Publishing
Copyright © – Strawbed Music
Produced For – Solid Rock Productions, Inc.
Distributed By – Jubilation Group
Recorded At – Mama Jo’s
Recorded At – Solid Rock Recording Studios
Mastered At – ABC Recording Studios

Michael Omartian – Conversations – 1986

This is an album with strange timing. Right when Michael was at the top of his career they decided that an instrumental album would be perfect. Yes I do know who the market for this type of album was. Musicians enjoy instrumental albums I guess because they enjoy when vocals don’t clutter up the music. That said they are a small portion of the market so I usually don’t understand these instrumental releases and this album is no exception. I listened to this album a few times and, well, I just fond it boring. Yes I recognize that the talent is there and I admit that Michael was one of the best keyboardists of the period but without vocals I struggle to enjoy any music. Now that I have said my piece this album is a good display of Michael’s expertise and while I wouldn’t suggest you buy this one if you aren’t a bit of an aficionado of this genre, I do suggest you give it a listen as it is very good.

Tracklist
1 – Homelands – 5:49
2 – The Soldier – 4:07
3 – The Time Is Now – 2:39
4 – Festival Of The Dance – 4:46
5 – Right From The Start – 1:40
6 – The Desert – 4:12
7 – The Call – 7:07
8 – The Rest – 4:20

Credits
Design [Album Design] – Stan Evenson Design, Inc.
Engineer [2nd] – Laura Livingston
Engineer, Mixed By – Terry Christian
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Photography By – Phil Fewsmith
Programmed By [All Synthesizer], Percussion [Additional] – Erich Bulling
Written-By, Performer, Producer – Michael Omartian

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Reunion Records
Copyright © – Reunion Records
Published By – See This House Music
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Recorded At – Lion Share Recording Studios
Mastered At – Bernie Grundman Mastering
Mastered At – Sheffield Lab Matrix
Pressed By – Allied Record Company

Shirley Caesar – Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name – 1983

CCM music as it was presented to me is a funny thing. I don’t recall seeing a single soul gospel album at my local record store. Now I did live in rural Canada so I’m not overly surprised but why didn’t the big record companies try to get up to listen to people like Pastor Shirley Caesar? The woman had at least 30 albums out by the 80’s so how come I never heard of her. The album we’re featuring today came in 1983 and is probably one of the best soul gospel albums I have ever heard. I do not understand how an artist who has 59 studio albums starting in 1967, 12 Grammy Awards and 18 Doves as well as induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame isn’t better known to me. I do not like to throw around the word racism but I do not understand why no one was trying to sell this music to white kids in the 80’s. Anyway this probably the best soul album I have heard from the era. The title track, just shortened down to “Jesus”, is worth the entire price of admission and “Guilty As Judas” was begging for a Blues Brothers version.

Tracklist
1 – I’ll Keep My Light On In The Window – 4:00
2 – He’s Only A Prayer Away – 4:28
3 – I Don’t Wanna Stay Here – 4:13
4 – Mark Of The Beast – 4:34
5 – No Charge – 3:25
6 – Take It Away From Me – 3:35
7 – I Won’t Let Go – 3:50
8 – Jesus – 3:41
9 – Guilty As Judas – 3:59

Credits
Arranged By [Strings And Horns] – Lloyd Barry, Sanchez Harley
Art Direction – McConnell Graphics
Backing Vocals – Ann Price, Bernard Sterling, Carl Hunter, Charles Obie, Donna McElroy, LeRoy Caesar, Mike Mathis, Ron Meadows, Steve Twyman, The Caesar Singers
Bass – Jessie Boyce, Tom Robb
Drums – James Stroud
Engineer – Ken Corlew, Rick McCollister
Executive-Producer – Ken Harding
Guitar – Larry Byrom, Reggie Young, Steve Buckingham
Horns – The Nashville Hornworks
Keyboards – Lisa Nelson, Mike Mathis, Randy McCormick, Tony Brown
Liner Notes – Carolyn Sanders, Attorney Richard Manson*
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Percussion – Micky Buckins
Photography By – Rick Blumen
Producer – Tony Brown
Strings – The A Strings

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co. – △25970
Recorded At – Woodland Studios
Mixed At – Woodland Studios
Mastered At – Woodland Studios

Marcos Witt – Adoremos! – 1988

People still don’t seem to know how big the Spanish Christian music scene was in the 80’s. So many great artists are completely unknown to us because these albums were rarely marketed in the U.S. This album however was released in the U.S. so we decided to feature it for our Spanish friends. Marcus Witt is probably the busiest Spanish CCM artist of all time. He actually has 45 studio albums and almost all of them have distribution so this isn’t a bunch of self released stuff. This was probably his best selling album of the 80’s so it’s the one we chose to feature. The album itself is great. It has a great 80’s Pop feel and the mix is dead on. I only understand a few words here and there but I do like what I’m hearing. We may feature more of his albums in the future if you guys like this one.

Tracklist
1 – Tengo La Victoria – 4:14
2 – Un Adorador – 4:16
3 – Tu Misericordia – 4:42
4 – Libertad – 4:44
5 – Te Amo – 6:09
6 – Resucitó – 5:04
7 – Mira – 4:19
8 – Yo Soy – 5:50
9 – Adoremos – 4:15
10 – Hoy – 5:07

Credits
Arranged By, Piano, Drums, Bass, Keyboards – David Bell
Backing Vocals – Beatriz Olmos, Christina Garcia, Felipe Witt, Ivonne Murillo, Josefina Rivera, Lorena Warren, Mona Lisa Zeriuche, Nolita Warren
Engineer, Mixed By, Mastered By – Byron Spears
Guitar – Alan Richards, Byron Spears
Mixed By – David Bell
Producer, Engineer, Mixed By, Arranged By, Keyboards, Bass, Drums, Percussion, Effects – César E. Garza
Producer, Mixed By, Backing Vocals, Vocals, Arranged By, Keyboards, Piano, Violin – Marcos Witt
Saxophone – Ricardo Revelez

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – CanZion Producciones
Copyright © – CanZion Producciones
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word Communications Ltd.
Distributed By – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Pressed By – U.S. Optical Disc
Recorded At – Kingdom Productions, San Antonio, Tx

Tata Vega – Time’s So Right – 1988

Tata Vega was a very successful secular artist with several albums as well as a great stage career. Her career slowed in the early 80’s but she returned in 1988 with this European release. This is a fantastic album and I can not fathom how this album didn’t get a North American release. I mean she is a far better vocalist than many of the CCM darlings of the period but we all know CCM music and female artists had difficulties. I know she had some interaction with Myrrh records as she had a song on the 1987 “Voices” sampler but I guess they couldn’t close a record deal. That sampler is how I actually found out about her and subsequently found this album which was released on small Swedish label that I am developing a strong respect for. They seemed to buck the trends of the time with some real quality signings. While a lot of her secular work had more of a soul feel this album is a straight up Pop album with the exception of a rather spectacular cover of James Brown’s “This Is A Man’s Man’s World” The album is a must own for that track alone. So this album falls in that category of a fantastic album you never heard because it never had a North American release. Do yourself a favour and listen to it now. If you feel the need to buy it get the CD as it has a bonus track.

Tracklist
1 – Maybe Tonight – 4:06
2 – Never Let Die – 4:20
3 – Your Love Is Live – 4:19
4 – Ain’t No Such Thing As In Between – 3:36
5 – Just Walk On In – 4:00
6 – It’s A Jungle Out There – 4:48
7 – Living In Paradise – 4:17
8 – Touch Somebody – 4:45
9 – This Is A Man’s Man’s World – 4:10
10 – Jesus Is The Rock Of My Salvation – 2:06
11 – Don’t Turn Away – 5:09

Credits
Executive-Producer – Jeffrey Vander Plate*, Tata Vega
Mixed By – Galen Senogles
Producer – Andrae Crouch, Bill Maxwell, Frank Ådahl, Galen Senogles, Jeff Vander Plate, Lars Kilevold, Ralph Benatar, Tata Vega

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Royal Music Productions
Copyright © – Royal Music Productions
Recorded At – Royal Music Studio
Recorded At – Sheika Studios
Distributed By – Word Entertainment (UK), Ltd.

Pam Mark Hall – Supply And Demand – 1984

This is Pam’s 3rd album and her first with Reunion Records. It continued the Pop sound from her last album and is a really good album. Keith Thomas produced the album and he was is his best form in this period. It had 2 charting singles with the biggest one being “Sparrow Watcher” making it to #10. Now I’m goin to be a little negative here. On that single Reunion brought in Amy Grant and Kathy Troccoli for back up vocals. This wasn’t necessary. Pam is an excellent vocalist just as good if not better than Amy and Kathy. Something about the industry at this moment couldn’t just let a female vocalist me popular on their own. I see over and over again them throwing Amy at an album and then picking that track as a single. To be honest I’m just sick of it. As I said Pam was a fantastic vocalist and didn’t need top level support. Anyway the album is a great Pop album and could stand on it’s own as one of the best albums of 1984.

Tracklist
1 – The Agony And The Glory – 4:29
2 – For The Prize – 4:04
3 – Walk By Faith – 3:38
4 – Hey Child – 4:28
5 – Our God Reigns – 4:12
6 – Find The Glory There – 4:27
7 – Love Supply What Love Demands – 4:37
8 – Reach Out And Love Again – 3:59
9 – Sparrow Watcher – 3:40

Credits
Jeff Balding – Engineer
Brown Bannister – Songwriter
Michael Blanton – Executive Producer
Mike Brignardello – Moog Bass, Bass
Don Cobb – Additional Engineer, Mix Assistant
John Darnall – String Arrangements
Mark Douthit – Saxophone
Dave Durham – Background Vocals
Lynn Fuston – Additional Engineer
Randy Garmon – Additional Engineer
Mark Gersmehl – Songwriter
Jon Goin – Guitars
Amy Grant – Duet Vocals
Greg Guidry – Background Vocals
Mark Hammond – Drums, Drum Programming
Dan Harrell – Executive Producer
Chris Harris – Background Vocals
Tom Hemby – Guitars
Denny Henson – Background Vocals
Danny Hilley – Engineer, Mixed
Dennis Holt – Drums
Greg Jennings – Guitars, Slide Guitar
Ted Jensen – Mastered
Robert White Johnson – Background Vocals
Bonnie Keen – Background Vocals
Candi Long – Songwriter
Pam Mark Hall – Songwriter, Background Vocals, Vocals
Terry McMillan – Percussion
Rich Mullins – Songwriter
Clarke Schleicher – Additional Engineer, Mix Assistant
Penn Singleton – Engineer
Michael W. Smith – Songwriter
Keith Thomas – Producer, Songwriter, Keyboards, Drums, Programming, Background Vocals
Kathy Troccoli – Duet Vocals, Background Vocals
Wendy Waldman – Background Vocals

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word Records Limited
Distributed By – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Reunion Records
Copyright © – Reunion Records
Recorded At – The Bennett House
Recorded At – Hummingbird Studio, Nashville, TN
Recorded At – Goldmine Studio, Brentwood, TN
Recorded At – Morningstar Recording Studio, Hendersonville
Mixed At – The Bennett House
Mastered At – Sterling Sound
Designed At – Thomas Ryan Design

Michael Peace – RRRock It Right – 1987

This is the first album from Rap artist Michael Peace who was one of the very early Rap artist in the Christian genre. I’m actually a little confused with this album because strangely it was produced and arranged by Michael Blanton and Dan Harrell who worked on all the Amy Grant albums of the day. Rap was an up and coming music style so I think Reunion Records wanted to get ahead of this trend. Inexplicitly they chose Michael Blanton and Dan Harrell to work on the project but neither of them had any experience with Rap or even with a black artist for that matter. As a result we have a great artist and idea for an album with horrible execution. I seriously wonder if they even listened to a Run DMC album before they worked this album. I will give them credit for one thing and that is that they had to be the enablers for Michael’s cover of “Wise Up” which is actually pretty darn good. My real problem with the album is that everything is thin. The music tracks, which I really really like, have no feel, no soul, and just feel like backing tracks. There is absolutely no effects on Michael’s voice with the exception of a bit of echo here and there. This was just the wrong team to work on this album and I know Rap isn’t only in black culture but that’s where it came from and other than Michael I don’t even see a black person involved with this album. Now that I’ve said that I do think this is a good album, there’s tons of talent here but the album just feels unfinished. I just wonder what it would have sounded like if someone like Rod Hui had a shot at the album.

Tracklist
1 – Heart Trouble – 4:25
2 – Rock Your World – 3:48
3 – J-E-S-U-S – 3:53
4 – Wise Up – 3:44
5 – RRRock It Right – 4:12
6 – Automatic Witness – 4:20
7 – No Solution – 3:39
8 – In The Ghetto – 4:52
9 – Rappin’ It Up – 1:14

Credits
Michael Peace – Songwriter, Vocals
Michael Blanton – Executive Producer
Mark Douthit – Saxophone
John Hammond – Drums
Dan Harrell – Executive Producer
Tom Hemby – Producer, Songwriter, Arranger, Synclavier, Keyboards, Guitar, Bass, Percussion
Wayne Kirkpatrick – Songwriter
Ken Love – Mastered
Jeff Moseley – Songwriter
Brett Perry – Synclavier Programming
Billy Simon – Songwriter
Tricia Walker – Songwriter
Bill Whittington – Engineer

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Reunion Records
Copyright © – Reunion Records
Published By – Word Music
Published By – Edward Grant, Inc.
Published By – River Oaks Music Co.
Published By – Meadowgreen Music Co.

Abraham – Underground – 1987

As near as I can find this was the last album from The Watchmen aka Abraham & The Watchmen Band, aka Abraham. Their last 2 albums are self released and in my humble opinion their best 2 albums. I simply don’t understand how a respected recorded band with a strong history couldn’t get these 2 albums released on a proper label. There’s probably more to the story but it is what it is. While I think I prefer “Anti-Sin” I really really like this one too. Unfortunately our copy of this album simply isn’t the best and I really wish I could get my hands on the original tracks so I could give it a modern professional remaster. Hint hint guys. As for the album it has a pop rock feel with some tracks leaning a little more synth oriented and some leaning more Rock oriented. All around this is a great album for 1987 and probably would have sold well.

Tracklist
1 – Choose To Refuse – 3:18
2 – Think About Me – 3:05
3 – Never Give Up – 4:55
4 – Fightin’ Against The Tide – 4:05
5 – Overture – 1:14
6 – Can’t Wait – 2:25
7 – I Am Not Ashamed – 3:49
8 – Freedom In Jesus – 3:52
9 – If You Could Only See My Heart – 3:39

Credits
Bass Guitar, Vocals – Loren Greene
Drums – Ken Abraham
Lead Guitar – Pete Strayer
Lead Vocals, Guitar – Skip Addington
Producer – Dave Wagner, Stan Arthur, Tink Abraham
Technician, Sound Designer – Eric Abraham
Vocals, Keyboards – Tink Abraham
Vocals, Percussion – John Abraham

Various – Voices – 1987

I previously referred to this album as a sampler but it’s not really a traditional sampler. It is not a sampler of songs but instead a sampler of artists. Myrhh brought some of their best artists into Pakaderm Studios to record this album and almost all of these tracks are unreleased elsewhere even today. That makes this album a much listened to album from the day. The odd artist on the album is Tata Vega who was a secular artist but she did tons of work on several Christian albums of the period. This is a must listen to album of almost secret tracks from some of your favorite artists.

Tracklist
1 – Tata Vega – In Your Light – 3:50
2 – Bob Carlisle – Heaven Is Waiting – 4:29
3 – Bryan Duncan – Come As You Are – 4:32
4 – Matthew Ward – Light Of The World – 4:30
5 – Howard McCrary – In Your Presence – 4:23
6 – Kim Boyce, John Elefante – Helpless – 3:28
7 – Rick Riso – Heaven Must Have Sent You – 3:48
8 – Bob Carlisle – Teach Me How – 4:29
9 – Benny Hester – Then You Call My Name – 3:19
10 – Tommy Funderburk – Lift Up My Voice – 4:14

Credits
Arranged By – John Schreiner
Arranged By [Backing Vocals], Backing Vocals – Bob Carlisle
Arranged By [Strings] – John Andrew Schreiner
Art Direction, Design – Rhonda Jesson
Bass – John Pierce, Michael Hodge
Drum Programming, Overdubbed By – Mannie, Mike Mierau, Rick Thomson
Drums – Rick Thomson
Engineer [Assistant] – Mannie, Paul Abajan
Guitar – Dino Elefante, Michael Hodge, Randy Thomas, Terrance Elliot
Guitar [Solo] – Randy Thomas, Terrance Elliot
Horns – The Martin Brothers
Keyboards – James Raymond, John Andrew Schreiner, John Elefante, Tim Heintz
Mastered By – Doug Sax
Mixed By – Dino Elefante, Mike Mierau, Steve Ford
Orchestrated By, Conductor – Bill Kilpatrick
Producer – John Elefante, Mike Mierau, Rick Thomson
Recorded By – Mike Mierau
Saxophone – David Hlebo, Warren Ham
Strings – Andrew Byers, Liane Mautner, Marilyn Hutz, Steve Seharf
Synth [Bass] – John Andrew Schreiner

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Made By – Discovery Systems – 1FF0100A
Recorded At – Pakaderm Studios
Mixed At – Mama Jo’s
Mixed At – Pakaderm Studios
Mastered At – The Mastering Lab
Published By – Word Music
Published By – Sherea Music
Published By – Noone Music
Published By – Uncle Pitts Music
Published By – Enchanted Dance

TRB (Toni Rossi Band) – TRB – 1992

This is the one and only album using the TRB (Toni Rossi Band) moniker. After Daniel band Toni Rossi did a few projects and all of them were excellent. I’ve not heard anything from him I didn’t like and this album is no exception. While in a way it’s typical Toni on the other hand it is somewhat distinctive. I don’t really know who was involved in the project other than Frank Catrambone on drums. Frank was also involved with the obscure Canadian Christian band Ammi who had 2 singles neither of which I can find but I hear they are good. Anyway as I said, other than Frank I don’t know who was helping out with this project but they were pretty tight and the album meshed really really well. The album is the typical Rossi hard rock and is probably my favourite work from him outside of Daniel Band.

Tracklist
1 – Edge-U-Cate – 4:00
2 – Are You Listening – 3:34
3 – End Of Time – 3:42
4 – Love Survives – 4:27
5 – It’s Who You Know – 3:51
6 – Son Comes Down – 4:30
7 – The Answer – 4:05
8 – Take It – 4:27
9 – Chickens – 0:20
10 – Down By The River – 4:24
11 – Stay – 5:04

Credits
Drums – Frank Catrambone
Guitar, Mandolin, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Producer, Composed By – Toni Rossi

Companies, etc.
Mixed At – Phase One Studios