Category: Albums

Robin Crow – Seven Seventy-Seven – 1985

This is Robin’s 3rd album and his first on a larger label. Robin was well known for his heavy touring schedule and I’m pretty sure this album increased that schedule. This is a great 80’s pop album but I haven’t heard his previous 2 albums yet so I don’t know if this is the style he was previously doing. The only strange this about the album is that there are 3 instrumental tracks which is rather odd for a pop album. While a lesser known album this is one that deserves a listen.

Tracklist
1 – Titanic – 3:28
2 – God So Loved – 3:04
3 – Starting Over – 3:50
4 – Let The Truth Come Out – 4:32
5 – Lift Up Your Voices – 3:17
6 – Beatitudes – 2:55
7 – Seven Seventy-Seven – 3:15
8 – Quiet Times – 4:26
9 – Third World – 3:05

Credits
Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Producer, Music By, Lyrics By – Robin Crow
Bass – Michael Rhodes
Design [Cover] – Jeff Spencer
Drums – David Lawbaugh
Electric Guitar, Co-producer – George Cocchini
Engineer – Dave Perkins, Doug Sarrett
Engineer, Mixed By – Chris McCollum
Executive-Producer – Ray Nenow
Mastered By – Benny Quinn
Mixed By – Brent King
Photography By – Clark Thomas
Synthesizer – Shane Keister

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Fortress Records
Copyright © – Fortress Records
Distributed By – The Benson Company, Inc.
Published By – Snellsong
Published By – Banamax Publishing
Produced For – Sherwood Productions Inc.
Recorded At – Great Circle Sound
Recorded At – Sound Stage Studios
Recorded By – The Reelsound Remote Bus
Mastered At – Masterfonics

Semaja – Hear My Cry – 1980

This was Semaja’s first album. I does not appear to have been released in North America but instead looks like it was limited to Germany, their home country. I am really surprised that an American label didn’t grab this album. This may be one of the best 70’s sound albums I have heard and I’m not talking about 70’s Jesus music, I mean straight up 70’s rock. I can’t find out much about the band but I know their second album was released in America and was pretty well received. Anyway if you love seventies rock (not Jesus music) this just might be the album for you.

Tracklist
1 – Sometimes – 4:35
2 – Hear My Cry – 4:30
3 – Jeden Tag (Jesaja 55) – 6:45
4 – This Life – 4:12
5 – Jesaja 53 – 7:35
6 – The Wind – 7:35
7 – Big Noise – 5:52

Credits
Artwork – Dirk Pape
Bass, Vocals – Wilfried Herrmann
Design – Peter Klüger
Drums – Harald Nagel
Engineer – Achim Bosch
Guitar, Vocals – Ulrich Plinke
Keyboards – Claus Feldmann
Lead Vocals – Markus Egger
Lyrics By, Music By – Semaja
Percussion – Klaus Hermann
Producer – Manfred Wieczorke

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Wind Music
Manufactured By – Sonopress
Printed By – Sonopress
Recorded At – Spygel Studio
Remixed At – UTV Studio

Jessy Dixon – You Bring The Sun Out – 1979

One of the veterans of The soul Christian music scene is back with his second solo credited album. Let’s be clear however this is actually his 15th album. As I’ve commented before I was completely unaware of the whole soul gospel music scene in the 80’s. Since starting this project I have heard so many great soul albums that I suspect I would have liked in the 80’s and this would have been one of those albums. I would classify it as soul light actually and it has a far more mainstream sound. At times I would classify it as late 70’s pop. I truly believe that anyone who was a fan of the Imperials at this point in history would have also loved this album.

Tracklist
1 – Christ Has Made The Difference – 4:28
2 – He Never Let Me Down Before – 3:53
3 – I Can’t Thank Him Enough – 4:14
4 – Your Love – 4:04
5 – Love Lifted Me – 4:00
6 – You Bring The Sun Out – 4:05
7 – Nobody But You – 4:41
8 – He’s Precious To Me – 3:47
9 – More Than Anything – 4:48
10 – We Praise You – 5:03

Credits
Arranged By [Vocal] – Andraé Crouch, Bili Thedford
Artwork, Design – Thel Arthur
Engineer [@ P. S.] – Danny Leake, Paul Sorrono
Engineer [@ Pumpkin] – Gary Lorizzo*
Engineer [@ Western] – Gordon Shryock
Executive-Producer – Bill Cole
Mixed By – Bill Maxwell, Bob Cotton
Vocals, Producer, Mixed By, Arranged By [Vocal] – Jessy Dixon

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Lexicon Music, Inc. – 1979
Recorded At – P.S. Recording Studios
Recorded At – Pumpkin Studios
Recorded At – Western Recorders
Mixed At – Paramount Recording Studios
Mastered At – Capitol Mastering

Gabriel – Rescued – 1981

Gabriel is Robin Lyle and Jeff Walter. I actually can’t find much info on them which I find odd as they actually had 4 albums. This particular album was self released which I also find odd as it is easily good enough to have been picked up by a label. Tim Sheppard produced the album and did a really good job. The album cover isn’t exactly indicative of the album but I will give them a break as it was self released. It had a nice late 70’s pop feel and I quite enjoyed it though it does lean to easy listening on several tracks. Anyway, if you missed this one in 1981, and I’m guessing you did, give it a listen, it’s actually a pretty good album.

Tracklist
1 – You Rescued Me – 3:45
2 – Alive For A Purpose – 3:40
3 – A Heart That’s True – 3:50
4 – All Like Sheep – 5:00
5 – Now I Can Fly – 3:20
6 – I Found A Friend – 3:40
7 – Alone Tonight – 5:00
8 – Wouldn’t It Be Wonderful – 3:55
9 – How Much Longer – 4:15

Credits
Rohn Bailey – Background Vocals
Bud Guin – Guitar
Robin Lyle – Songwriter, Vocals
Ruby Lyle – Songwriter
Jerry McPherson – Guitar
Bob Peeples – Engineer
Jake Pittman – Associate Producer, Engineer, Bass, Background Vocals
Smitty Price – Piano, Synthesizer
Tim Sheppard – Producer, Engineer, Piano, Organ, Background Vocals
Brad Smith – Drums, Percussion
Bill Tillman – Soprano Sax, Flute
Jeff Walter – Songwriter, Vocals
Hank Williams – Mastered

Crystal Lewis – Beyond The Charade – 1987

This is Crystal’s first solo album. She had previously appeared on albums with the Lifters/Wild Blue Yonder. She was offered this album deal at only 17 years old. It’s a pretty good album though I think it’s a little heavy on the keyboards on a few tracks. That synth pop sound doesn’t really work with her voice in my opinion. The track “Breakdown” best suits her vocals in my opinion. That said her vocals are so good she overcomes some questionable music to make a pretty darn good album. Crystal was one of CCM’s greatest vocalists but never got the recognition she deserved from the industry.

Tracklist
1 – Frustrated – 3:34
2 – Precious Lord – 3:37
3 – Without You – 4:21
4 – Runnin’ – 4:34
5 – Turn Your Heart Around – 3:33
6 – Breakdown – 3:53
7 – One More Heart – 3:46
8 – Special Love – 3:57
9 – Let Them Know – 4:15
10 – Tonight – 4:06

Credits
Backing Vocals – Brian Tong, Dave Jahnsen, Michael Campion, Mike Mac Lane, Paul Daldwell
Drums – Pete Pfiefer
Engineer [Mixing] – Dave Jahnsen
Guitar – Bob Somm, Terence Elliot
Keyboards – Tim Heintz
Producer, Vocals, Backing Vocals, Engineer – Bill Baumgart
Saxophone – Eric Marienthal
Vocals – Billy Hufsey
Vocals, Backing Vocals – Crystal Lewis

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Frontline Records
Copyright © – Frontline Records
Distributed By – The Benson Company

Daniel Amos – Kalhoun – 1991

Kalhoun is the ninth album from Daniel Amos but it was actually released under their moniker dä. The band had taken a break for 4 years while working on other projects. The album was perceived as being rather anti government in the aftermath of the Gulf War but it’s not in your face, it’s rather subtle. Strangely the track “If You Want To” was later rerecorded by the Lost Dogs for their 2004 album MUTT. The album is true to their earlier rock sound and we don’t hear much new wave sounds on the album. I think that makes this album probably the best of their 90’s work.

Tracklist
1 – Big, Warm, Sweet, Interior Glowing – 3:36
2 – If You Want To – 3:58
3 – Kalhoun – 3:20
4 – I Will Return – 4:18
5 – Tracking The Amorous Man – 3:08
6 – Virgin Falls – 4:14
7 – Gloryhound – 4:40
8 – Prayer Wheel – 3:39
9 – Note To Anna – 2:41
10 – Father Explains – 4:32
11 – Gate Of The World – 4:11

Credits
Art Direction – Court Patton, Terry Taylor, Tom Gulot
Bass, Guitar [Additional] – Tim Chandler
Cello – Miles Tackett
Design, Layout – Patton Brothers Design
Drums, Percussion – Ed McTaggart
Engineer – G. Eugene
Film Technician [Film Imaging] – Ed McTaggart
Guitar, Accordion, Organ [B-3], Violin – Greg Flesch
Illustration [Illustrations] – Court Patton
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – Terry Taylor
Mastered By – John Matousek
Mixed By – G. Eugene, Terry Taylor
Other [Organ Donor] – Travis Sheets
Pedal Steel Guitar – Greg Kellogg
Photography – Brian K. Tong
Producer – Daniel Amos, Terry Taylor
Technician [Drums] – Dave Raven
Trumpet – Dave Hackbarth

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Brainstorm Artists International
Copyright © – Brainstorm Artists International
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Produced For – Stunt Productions
Recorded At – The Mixing Lab (2)
Recorded At – Neverland Studios
Mixed At – Neverland Studios
Mastered At – Sound Works West
Published By – Twitchen Vibes Music
Published By – Brainstorm Artists International

DeGarmo & Key – Go To The Top – 1991

This 1991 offering from D&K pretty well followed along form their previous studio album. I have a strange opinion of this album. I think It’s a really good album but I think it was hurt with poor production. Ron W. Griffin mixed and produced the album. He is a very good producer and has produced several excellent D&K albums but I think I actually dislike his mix. Several tracks fade in which is rather odd. I don’t think I know of ay other album that has this many tracks that fade in. All that aside the album was nominated for a Grammy but lost to Russ Taff. Like I said I think this is a great album but not Grammy nomination good. Perhaps if the production had been better I would think different. That said I rarely agree with Grammy decisions so my opinion is tainted. All that aside the best track on the album is no doubt “Ultimate Ruler”. The ZZTopish intro and great riffs make it a favorite rock tune that is on my regular rotation.

Tracklist
1 – I Believe – 1:20
2 – Go To The Top (At The Top Reprise) – 4:09
3 – Against The Night – 5:12
4 – Ultimate Ruler – 5:00
5 – Soul Mender – 4:06
6 – Family Reunion – 4:06
7 – Still At Work – 3:12
8 – Stand, Fight, Win – 3:51
9 – Victory – 4:16
10 – March On – 5:11
11 – The Rest Of My Life – 4:00

Credits
Tommy Cathey – Bass, Bass Arranger, Background Vocals
Eddie DeGarmo – Songwriter, Keyboards, Organ, Lead and Background Vocals
Ron W. Griffin – Producer, Engineer, Mixed
Howard Irving – Assistant Engineer
Dana Key – Songwriter, Lead Guitar, Lead Vocals
Carl Marsh – Orchestral Arranger, Keyboards, Programming
Roscoe Meek – Rhythm and Lead Guitars, Acoustic Guitar
Doug Nightwine – Assistant Engineer
Ken Pennell – Executive Producer
Mark Pogue – Background Vocals
Kevin Rodell – Drum Arranger

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Benson Music Group
Produced For – The ForeFront Communications Group, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – The ForeFront Communications Group, Inc.
Copyright © – The ForeFront Communications Group, Inc.
Copyright © – DKB Music
Published By – DKB Music
Recorded At – Quad Studios
Recorded At – Three Alarm Studios
Mastered At – Mastermix

Real World – When God Spoke – 1990

Real World is Chris Butson, Vicki Powers, Nicole Barlow and Julie Thorpe. Contemporary music specialist/promoter Vic Campbell states: ‘Real World initially involved Chris Butson and her husband Phil writing and recording in their home studio at The Basin, on the outskirts of Melbourne (Australia).’ (On Being, October 1990, page 39) He describes the album as ‘1990’s music with intelligent lyrics.’ Chris’ husband Phil is a producer/engineer who has produced albums for Steve Grace, Rosanna’s Raiders and Shane Howard of mainstream band Goanna to name a few. The song lyrics are far from superficial and have a poetic feel to them. “It’s almost like when Jesus told His parables,” says Chris, “alluding to something where people had to think a bit further. We’re trying to say things in a pictorial sort of way.” Campbell states: “Several songs such as the title track and ‘Idolizing Lies’ were inspired by early chapters of Genesis. …Other tracks deal with tension in relationships between people and the Creator.” Chris says: “’Africa-Cruel Wall’ was written after seeing the film ‘Cry Freedom’.” This is the only track to feature real drums. The drummer on this track is none other than Peter Luscombe of mainstream Australian band The Black Sorrows. Campbell says: “The album sounds are so good that I can almost ignore the fact that only one song features real drums.”

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPcTOx34g9XT3UpdSv3uWJdNsMQEgDW_b

Tracklist
1 – When God Spoke – 4:34
2 – Heart Beat – 4:46
3 – See You Everywhere – 3:42
4 – New Day – 3:33
5 – Angels Sing – 4:12
6 – Idolizing Lies – 4:01
7 – Blood In The Garden – 3:12
8 – White Fields – 4:28
9 – Some Girls – 3:37
10 – Africa – Cruel Walls – 4:43

Credits
Backing Vocals – Phil Butson
Design – Sudden Images
Drums – Peter Luscombe (tracks: 10)
Guitar – Phil Butson, Trevor Reading (tracks: 4)
Illustration – Jeff Spencer
Keyboards – Les Price (tracks: 2, 5), Phil Butson, Rohan Anderson (tracks: 4)
Lead Vocals – Chris Butson
Producer – Phil Butson

Companies, etc.
Produced At – The Basin (2) – none
Produced At – Sing Sing Studios – none
Distributed By – Spectra Distribution, Inc. – none
Distributed By – Mainroads Music Group – none
Distributed By – DTS Records

Terry Talbot – Terry Talbot Sings Stories Of Jesus – 1984

It it’s very difficult for me to talk about Terry’s albums. It’s not because they are bad, it’s because they all sound the same to me. Let there be no doubt that Terry is a great songwriter and musician but if you’re not a fan it all sounds the same from album to album. But that’s my problem and not his problem. Terry was a prolific songwriter and put out albums almost every single year. That is a lot of work and should be respected. Anyway here’s Terry’s offering for 1984.

Tracklist
1 – I Am He – 5:02
2 – I Saw Him – 5:34
3 – The Boat – 3:20
4 – Rose Of Sharon – 3:51
5 – Heights Of A Bended Knee – 3:43
6 – The Way The Truth The Life – 2:50
7 – Come Forth – 3:20
8 – Star Of David – 2:57
9 – Heal Me – 3:51

Credits
Acoustic Guitar – Terry Talbot
Arranged By [Additional] – Terry Talbot
Arranged By [Synthesized Parts] – Denny Bouchard
Art Direction – Stan Evenson Design*
Backing Vocals – Matthew Ward (2), Nelly Greisen, Terry Talbot, Wendy Hofheimer
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Cover, Coordinator – B. Charlyne Hinesley
Design [Lyric Sheet Design] – John Taylor (62), Marlene Bergman
Drums – Bill Maxwell
Engineer [Additional] – Terry Talbot
Engineer, Recorded By – Joe Bellamy, Ron Capone
Liner Notes – Terry Talbot
Mastered By – Ken Pennell, Steve Hall
Mixed By – Ron Capone
Photography By – Phil Fewsmith
Producer – Terry Talbot
Programmed By [Fairlight / Rhodes Chroma] – Rhett Lawrence
Programmed By [Roland Jupiter 8 / Roland MCH] – Denny Bouchard
Synthesizer – Denny Bouchard
Written-By – Terry Talbot

Companies, etc.
Record Company – Sparrow Records, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – The Sparrow Corporation
Published By – Birdwing Music
Published By – Cherry Lane Music Publishing Company Inc.
Recorded At – Easter Song Studios
Recorded At – Westwind Studio
Mixed At – Westwind Studio
Mastered At – Future Disc

Amy Grant – Home For Christmas – 1992

This is Amy’s second Christmas album. In fact I believe it’s the most successful CCM Christmas album of all time. According to Nielsen SoundScan it is actually the eighteenth best-selling Christmas album in the U.S. since 1991. It reaching No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Christian album chart. The album is a combo of traditional Christmas songs along with some originals just for this album.

Tracklist
1 – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – 2:36
2 – It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year – 2:26
3 – Joy To The World / For Unto Us A Child Is Born – 2:33
4 – Breath Of Heaven (Mary’s Song) – 5:29
5 – O’ Come All Ye Faithful – 3:01
6 – Grown Up Christmas List – 5:00
7 – Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – 2:07
8 – Winter Wonderland – 2:17
9 – I’ll Be Home For Christmas – 3:27
10 – The Night Before Christmas – 3:52
11 – Emmanuel, God With Us – 4:56
12 – Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring – 4:47

Credits
Amy Grant – lead vocals
Shane Keister – acoustic piano (4, 10), keyboards (8, 10, 11), string arrangements (10)
Carl Marsh – synthesizer (4), keyboards (11, 12), orchestration (12)
Robbie Buchanan – keyboards (6)
Clare Fischer – acoustic piano (9)
Blair Masters – keyboards (10, 11)
Phil Keaggy – guitars (5)
Tom Hemby – guitar (6, 12), acoustic guitar (10)
Jerry McPherson – guitar (7), acoustic guitar (10)
Dann Huff – guitar (10)
Craig Nelson – bass (7, 9)
David Hungate – bass (8, 10)
Chris McHugh – drums (7)
Steve Forman – percussion (7)
Paul Leim – drums (8, 10), percussion (10)
Harold Jones – drums (9)
Mark O’Connor – violin (12)
Ronn Huff – orchestration (1, 2, 3, 9), choral arrangements (3, 5, 11), conductor
Alan Moore – orchestration (6)
The London Studio Orchestra – strings (1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 12)
Nat Peck – contractor
The American Boychoir (3, 5, 10), directed by James Litton
Chris Eaton – background vocals (2, 7, 11), acoustic piano (11)
Marty McCall – background vocals (2, 7, 10)
Marabeth Jordan – background vocals (2, 7, 10)
Bonnie Keen – background vocals (2, 7, 10)
John Darnall – children’s choir director (10)
Children’s choir (10) – Jessica Owen, Kristina Owen, Carrie Gardner, Lisa Pardin, Asher Larrison, Emily Estes, Bethany Wright, Skyla Carnahan, Katy Dunham and Ellie Bannister
Brown Bannister – producer
Ronn Huff – producer (2, 3)
Amy Grant – executive producer

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – A&M Records, Inc.
Copyright © – A&M Records, Inc.