Paul Clark & Friends – Good To Be Home – 1975

If ever the added artist inclusion of “friends” even meant anything it was on Paul Clark’s classic rock and roll album “Good to Be Home.” The Phil Keaggy factor is HUGE here including his inclusion as the lead vocalist on the opening track. Keaggy’s guitar work is also all over the album. And it’s some of Phil’s rockier work as in comparison to his own albums released at the same time. For 1975 this was pretty progressive. Hammond organ riffs jettisoning back and forth with Keaggy’s fantastic fret work. Also included amongst the friends are Jay Truax and John Mehler from Love Song. They all collaborated on this album and the “band” feel really shows. “Unveiling” may be one of Clark’s most impressive and compelling songs. Clocking in at just under seven minutes this song truly allows Keaggy to shine, not just in the fancier fret work or scorching leads but in creating ambiance and atmosphere for this epic. This may have been CCM’s earliest foray into progressive rock sounding like a more jazz influenced Kansas number. I once asked several “Jesus Music” experts if they could only own one of Paul Clark’s classic albums, which one would it be. The response was unique in that many stated that though they didn’t believe “Good to Be Home” to be Clark’s finest work, the majority stated it would be the one to own. That says a lot about how often in Jesus Music and CCM the heart of an album can impact ones perception as much as the artistic value.

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

Tracklist
1 – Holding On To You – 2:30
2 – Which One Are You? – 4:11
3 – All Your Ways – 3:51
4 – Unveiling – 6:42
5 – For My Children – 3:15
6 – It’s All Waiting – 3:25
7 – Good To Be Home – 2:51
8 – Under His Grace – 3:15
9 – Abide – 3:05

Credits
Artwork By [Cover Design] – Ted Stone
Artwork By [Cover Illustration] – Gary Pycior
Backing Vocals – Sandy Dryden
Bass, Vocals – Jay Truax
Engineer – Bob Cotton
Guitar, Vocals – Phil Keaggy
Organ – Stew Langer
Percussion – John Mehler, Lanny Hansen
Photography – Eben Fowler
Piano, Guitar [Acoustic], Vocals – Paul Clark
Piano, Vocals – Bill Speer
Producer – Paul Clark, Phil Keaggy
Saxophone, Flute – Barry Kelsey
Written-By – Paul Clark, Phil Keaggy

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Word Records
Record Company – Seed Records
Copyright © – Seed Records
Published By – Seed Records
Printed By – Press & Post Ltd.
Made By – Press & Post Ltd.
Lacquer Cut At – Master Room

Crashdog – Humane Society – 1990

Wikipedia annoyingly states that Crashdog were “one of the first Christian punk bands” Obviously those of us who followed the industry know that isn’t true but I do think they may have been one of the first recorded bands that did what I refer to as angry punk. Punk crossed many styles over the years but these guys were definitely one of the first to do this style successfully. There isn’t much information about how the band came to be but we do know that they were part of the Jesus People U.S.A. movement in Chicago. They must have had some connection with REZ as this album is the first on REZ album on REZ’s label Grrr Records. The band does a real mix of social commentary songs along with straight up Christian songs on this album. While I’m not the biggest fan of what I call angry punk I do quite like this album. The music is fantastic and the lyrics are good and this must have been a refreshing change of sound at the time. These guys were together for a further 4 albums which means they were doing something right.

Tracklist
1 – Progress – 2:30
2 – Brainfill – 1:18
3 – Numbered By Color – 3:13
4 – Electric Drug – 2:41
5 – Distorted View – 1:36
6 – Never Again – 3:28
7 – Bloody Lane – 3:20
8 – End Of The Rope – 3:30
9 – American Dream – 2:45
10 – Your Ugly Face – 2:44
11 – Injustice – 2:07
12 – The Cold Within – 2:36
13 – Midnight Ride – 2:42

Credits
Bass – Brian Grover
Drums – Greg Jacques
Engineer – Ed Bialach
Engineer [Assistant] – Roy Montroy
Guitar – Andrew Mandell
Vocals, Harp [Mouth Harp] – Spike Nard

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Tone Zone Recording
Pressed By – Disctronics USA

The Lonely Now – Original Intentions – 1987

Yet another The Lonely Now album that sounds like it was recorded on a potato. Again we have done everything we can to improve the sound and I think we did pretty good on this one. This is their second album and it pretty well picks up where their first album left off. Again we have a strong new wave album but maybe a little more goth oriented this time. Think The Cure. Here is another album that I obviously missed out on in the 80’s. Independently released albums from California never quite made their way to rural Canada. I really wish i had heard these guys because this was my favourite style of music in the mid 80’s. My favourite track is probably “The Few” which has an early U2 musical sound with an Ultravox vocal style and just hits it right. I’ll say it now, this album will likely end up being in my top 50 from the 80’s.

Tracklist
1 – Original Intentions – 3:28
2 – Fall Again – 5:00
3 – If I Could – 2:47
4 – Tomorrow Is Today – 4:30
5 – Sanctuary Lasts – 3:20
6 – The Few – 3:42
7 – Have You Seen – 3:34
8 – Make It Happen – 3:35

Credits
Engineer – Fred Eichel
Photography – Lee Schugar
Producer – The Lonely Now
Vocals, Bass Guitar – Phil Watson
Vocals, Drums – Kevin Reimer
Vocals, Guitar – Greg Sostrom
Vocals, Guitar, Violin – Masaki Liu
Written-By – Greg Sostrom

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Narrowpath Records
Designed At – Klein Graphics and Communications

David Diggs – Realworld – 1983

This is actually David’s 6th album. All the time he was making albums with Sweet Comfort, Richie Furay, Barry McGuire, and Candle (to name very few) he had a parallel career going. I knew of David but I had no idea he was putting out albums himself. His sound is kind of jazz infused easy listening style. These albums were released in the secular market but I bet their were a lot of Christian buyers. As for the album it’s great. The track “Come On” might have singled with a slightly different mix and a completely different intro. It’s an excellent track but needed a bit of love to be radio ready. Oh and it was cowritten by Richie Furay which fits perfectly when you hear it. Now David didn’t do any vocals on this album so he had Bob Carlisle provide the vocals on the few tracks with vocals. Anyway this is a great album and I was excited to find a “new” artist to enjoy.

Tracklist
1 – Gentle Thoughts – 4:04
2 – The Red Balloon – 2:52
3 – Come On – 3:09
4 – Cloud Shepherd – 3:36
5 – Welcome To The Real World – 2:23
6 – Window Of A Child – 4:43
7 – Love’s Inception – 3:44
8 – Bluebird – 3:20

Credits
Alto Saxophone – Tom Kubis
Alto Saxophone, Flute – Dave Boruff, Joe Roccisano
Art Direction – Herb Wong
Bass – Leon Gaer
Concertmaster [Strings] – Doug Cameron
Design – Chuck Walker
Drums – Ed Greene
Engineer – Don Holden, Jack Joseph Puig
French Horn – Ken Wiley
Guitar – Paul Jackson Jr.
Harp – Paulette Miller
Keyboards, Guitar, Percussion – David Diggs
Mastered By – Steve Hall
Mixed By, Engineer – Billy Taylor
Photography By – David Cavagnaro
Producer – Bob Edmondson, Ron Peters
Producer, Arranged By, Conductor – David Diggs
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Jim Coile
Trombone – Bob Edmondson, Doug Wintz
Trumpet – Danny Ackerman, Jerry Hey
Vocals – Bob Carlisle

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Palo Alto Jazz
Copyright © – Palo Alto Jazz
Recorded At – Mama Jo’s
Recorded At – Hit Man Studio
Recorded At – Sound Castle Recorders, Los Angeles
Mastered At – Future Disc
Lacquer Cut At – Future Disc

Mortification – Break The Curse 1990 – 1994

This album is partially a rerelease of the 1990 Lightforce demo Break The Curse. It includes 4 other tracks from the period as well as a bonus track. I read a few reviews of this album and it appears to have been well received. One of the stranger things I read said “The album focuses on Mortification’s thrash metal style rather than their later death metal.” I have to be completely honest and say that I don’t even really know the difference. In fact I just have no knowledge of this genre at all. I can definitely hear some talent on this album especially the guitar work of Cameron Hall. I read the lyrics are pretty good too but unfortunately my ears are just not tuned to this style of music. Anyway the album is well liked by people who like this style so if you are a thrash kind of person this is one you should give a listen to.

Tracklist
1 – Blood Sacrifice – 3:35
2 – Brutal Warfare – 4:02
3 – Impulsation – 4:29
4 – Turn – 0:57
5 – New Beginning – 2:37
6 – Break The Curse – 2:38
7 – Illusion Of Life – 4:56
8 – Your Last Breath – 3:24
9 – Journey Of Reconciliation – 4:27
10 – The Majestic Infiltration Of Order – 1:08
11 – Butchered Mutilation (Bonus Track Recorded 1993) – 4:46

Credits
Bass, Vocals – Steve Rowe
Drums – Jayson Sherlock
Executive-Producer – Markus Staiger
Guitar – Cameron Hall
Producer, Engineer, Remastered By – Doug Saunders

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – SPV GmbH – CD 077-140832
Pressed By – Pilz Compact Disc – K 40303 A
Remastered At – Toybox Studios
Recorded At – Timbertop Studios

Darrell Mansfield Blues Band – Live On Tour – 2000

Here we have another live album from Darrell. It contains most of his favourites that we see pop up on most of his later live work. Half the album was recorded in Los Angeles and half in Holland with 2 different bands not that you can really tell. Anyway I don’t have much more to say as there are plenty of live Darrell recordings and they are all excellent.

Tracklist
1 – Let’s Work Together – 4:08
2 – There’s Gotta Be A Change – 5:39
3 – Tell The Truth – 5:21
4 – Walk With Me Jesus – 5:35
5 – The Mission – 4:45
6 – Nobody But You Lord – 4:53
7 – Boom Boom – 7:12
8 – Stand By Me – 9:05
9 – Time To Go – 9:18
10 – People Get Ready – 7:10
11 – Swing Low, Sweet Chariot – 7:12

Morris Chapman – Lately – 1984

This is Morris’s 4th album and his last with Myrhh before heading to Maranatha! Music. While his albums aren’t my preferred style I really thought this one was pretty good. It has a very easy listening feel with a dash of soul. This album also had his first charting CCM single with “No More Night” making it to #33. Not a stunning result but hey, this guy was a 40 year old janitor in Las Vegas just a few years previous. Pretty good result if you ask me. Anyway I quite enjoyed this album even if there is no screaming electric guitar.

Tracklist
1 – Lord I Surrender – 3:57
2 – It Feels So Good To Be Free – 3:48
3 – Worthy Is The Lamb – 4:17
4 – I’m So Thankful – 3:44
5 – No More Night – 4:30
6 – I Feel The Rain – 3:23
7 – Be Bold Be Strong – 4:08
8 – I May Not Always Be There – 3:43
9 – Broken Things – 3:41
10 – Lately – 3:49

Credits
Hank Williams – Mastering Engineer
Jim Baird – Engineer
Mike Poston – Remastering Engineer
Morris Chapman – Composer, Primary Artist
Neal Joseph – Producer
Niles Borop – Composer
Randy Hammel – Producer
Randy Holland – Engineer
Stephanie Boosahda – Composer
Walt Harrah – Composer

Electrik – Love Buzz Harmony: The Retroarchives – 2004

Electrik started in the late 80’s in Los Angeles. They actually did things a little different than others in that they actually didn’t care about their JPM and instead sang about regular topics with a Christian overview. Unfortunately this obviously winning formula just didn’t work for the CCM industry as obviously the bands JPM would be way too low for them. They released their first 3 track EP in 1989 and it was well received. They continued to play in California and as I said were well liked even appearing at Cornerstone in 1991. In 1993 they self released a 7 track album and again it was very well received but not by the CCM industry. Instead the bands popularity remained “underground” and centered in the Los Angeles area. Luckily in 2004 Retroactive records released the album we have here today. It included the 7 track album, their 3 track demo EP and 2 newly recorded tracks. Obviously I never heard this album before today and that’s a real pity because I love these guys. They are an excellent hard rock band but the real stand out to me is the quality of the writing in these songs. These guys did what I was begging the industry to do in the mid 80’s. That was write songs for youth to help them understand the issues that effect them everyday with a Christian overview. If you want to hear what I mean simply listen to the track “Good Thing”. It is an excellent track with an excellent message to teen boys. Anyway this is the album the industry needed but never wanted. Thank goodness Retroactive Records made it available for us.

Tracklist
1 – Krush My Groove (Make A Wish) – 4:51
2 – Good Thing – 4:05
3 – She Loves – 4:53
4 – Never Too Much – 4:03
5 – Show Me Your Soul – 3:55
6 – Blindman’s Holiday – 3:54
7 – Nu Style – 3:03
8 – Under A Rainbow – 4:50
9 – Have U Ever? – 5:04
10 – Shine Candy Shine – 3:48
11 – Daisy – 4:40
12 – Count It Joy – 4:44

Credits
Bass Guitar, Vocals – Eddie Krystal
Drums, Vocals – Michael Kei
Guest, Bass Guitar – Tracie Ferrie
Guitar, Vocals – Jett Stevens
Lead Vocals – Benjamin Leigh
Performer – Electrik
Written-By – Electrik

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – BGK Records
Copyright © – BGK Records
Manufactured By – Retroactive Records

D-Boy Rodriguez – Plantin’ A Seed – 1989

This album starts the sad story of D-Boy Rodriguez. If you don’t know he was murdered but we will cover that when we listen to his last album. For this album we will cover his rise. D-Boy Rodriguez (Danny Rodriguez) was raised in the church by parents that had a keen interest in teens lost on the streets. Though they had a church in PA they often preached on the streets of New York. That interest in street teens led to Danny’s interest in the music of the streets. Danny’s sister also became interested in the street sound and went on to have a couple albums after Danny’s passing. I don’t understand much of the story of how this project started but somehow Tim Miner was able to talk Frontline Records into taking on Danny. A subsequent visit to the studio which included Tim Miner and Tommy Sims and this album was born. While yes there were other Christian rap albums out at the time This one had a more mainstream sound than the others. As such it did quite well and Frontline was happy to release a second one. In my opinion the highlight of the album is “Church Hoppers” which touches on a topic I don’t think anyone else has ever covered. The track is hilarious and may be the first Christian track to use a sample of secular song. In fact it might be the first sampling in the industry period. Sampling just wasn’t big yet in secular or Christian markets. The album actually peaked at No. 35 on Billboard’s CCM album charts but needless to say Christian radio was not ready for this sound in early 1991 so it received almost no radio play. Here again we have an album that is not in one of my favourite genres but it is a great album. Even if you don’t like rap I think you should give this one a listen.

Tracklist
1 – Plantin’ A Seed – 3:47
2 – Church Hoppers – 3:55
3 – Pick Yourself Up – 3:53
4 – When I Strut – 4:36
5 – Doggin’ The Devil – 3:30
6 – King David – 3:56
7 – It’s A Disease – 3:40
8 – G.O.D.S. Possee In Effect – 5:30
9 – Stompin’ Satan – 2:54

Credits
Art Direction – Ed McTaggart
Backing Vocals – Cindy Cruse, Ronnie V.
Engineer – Brent Jeffers, David Ebensberger, John Wirtz
Other [Grooming] – Kimberlee Couts
Photography By – Michael Seeley
Producer, Engineer, Bass, Recorded By, Mixed By, Keyboards [Keys], Drum Programming, Guitar, Backing Vocals – Tommy Simms
Producer, Engineer, Bass, Recorded By, Mixed By, Keyboards [Keys], Guitar, Backing Vocals – Tim Miner
Written-By – D-Boy*, Tim Miner, Tommy Simms

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Frontline Records
Copyright © – Frontline Records
Distributed By – The Benson Company
Published By – Broken Songs
Published By – Pretty Mondo Stuff
Published By – Birdwing Music
Produced For – Blade Productions
Recorded At – Knightlight Studios
Mixed At – Knightlight Studios
Mastered At – Nimbus

Koinonia – Koinonia – 1989

This is the last album from Koinonia. They had a fantastic run and it’s hard to believe there were only 4 albums and only 3 of them were studio albums. I think we can all agree that Koinonia were bigger than there discography shows. I noticed this album actually leans more towards easy listening than their previous jazz fusion sound and as such it’s not quite as good. I still think it’s a good album but the sound on several tracks is not really them per se. I don’t know if this had anything to do with the fact this is their last album but obviously the band was leaning towards a change. Anyway all the members of the band over the years went on to successful studio careers but none of them had a particularly successful headliner album again.

Tracklist
1 – Talk About It – 4:50
2 – We Know The Way By Heart – 3:54
3 – Alegria – 4:01
4 – Is It Too Late – 5:01
5 – Mistral – 4:56
6 – We’re All In This Together – 4:17
7 – Come Share My World – 4:29
8 – You Are My Love – 4:24
9 – Straight To Paradise – 3:51
10 – Lyn – 2:52

Credits
Backing Vocals – Alfie Silas, Brenda Eager*, Jean Johnson, Jeff Pescetto, Lou Pardini, Patti Henely, Rose Banks
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – Bill Maxwell
Engineer – Richard McKernan
Executive Producer – Jerry Levin
Guitar – Dean Parks, Michael Landau
Guitar [Acoustic] – Abraham Laboriel
Keyboards – Harlan Rogers, Lou Pardini
Lead Vocals – Lou Pardini
Percussion – Michael Fisher
Producer – Jerry Hey

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – De La Hey Music
Copyright © – Geffin Music
Copyright © – Guidum Music
Copyright © – Harlan Rogers Music
Copyright © – Margarine Moon Music
Copyright © – Monotone Music
Copyright © – Pardini Music
Copyright © – Reed Vertelney Music
Copyright © – Royal/Dale Music
Copyright © – S.S.K. Blackwood
Copyright © – Screen Gems
Copyright © – Sunhill Music
Published By – Word (Uk) Ltd.