This was the last gasp for Found Free. They had a one record deal with Greentree but this album appears to have been self released. I’m a little unsure who was in the band at this point and the liner notes are a little fuzzy. We do know that Greg Sparks and Rebecca Ed were there, but I don’t believe they were married yet and also Keith Lancaster. These 3 would go on to form Bash-n-The Code so I’ve seen it said that this version of Found Free was an early version of Bash. I can’t tell you much more about the history of this album so lets turn to the music. The album is very well produced has a great funk/soul sound. The album is heavy on the harmonies which it hurts it a little in my opinion because there isn’t a stand out vocalist. The album would have been better if they had just let Rebecca sing. Anyway I quite like the album though I don’t think there’s anything here to go in my regular rotation.
Tracklist 1 – It’s So Good – 4:15 2 – Hope – 4:21 3 – Front Lines – 3:59 4 – I Need You Lord – 4:00 5 – Just Like a Child – 3:43 6 – Individually Wrapped – 4:12 7 – Don’t We Need To Know – 4:44 8 – Hold On To Me – 3:21 9 – Sing Solo – 3:25 10 – Miracles – 3:25 11 – It’s So Good (Reprise) – 0:54
Credits Band – Greg Sparks Band – Rebecca Ed Band – Keith Lancaster Art Direction, Cover – Randy Rogers Engineer – David Starobin, Glen Barrett, Travis Turk
This is Connie’s 7th album and probably one of her best. In the Canadian market she was at the top of the female CCM vocalist market. She returned to the studio with Roy Salmond as her producer. At the time of producing this album Roy was working on two other albums so I am assuming the studio was pretty busy. Many of the same studio musicians are on all three albums and I have spoken with someone who was in the studio at the time and said it was a very positive experience. This album is a great pop album that really displayed what Connie was capable of vocally. It’s easily as good if not better than what was being released in the Canadian market at the time. I do have one small criticism of the album though. It features a cover of Dylan’s forever young which was also chosen as the title track and I simply do not like the arrangement. I know Connie had nothing to do with it and I’m pretty sure it was Roy’s idea but it just doesn’t work for me. I may be biased because it is one of my favourite Dylan tracks but I just think the arrangement needed a little more edge. But my opinion has never made a successful album so I’ll leave it to Roy. The album was only released in Canada and Australia so it appears Sparrow records had abandoned Connie at this point. Too bad because I think this album would have done well in the U.S. market.
Tracklist 1 – Wild Horse Running – 4:20 2 – The World’s Last Night – 3:51 3 – Who Do You Give Your Heart To – 4:22 4 – Will You Follow – 3:48 5 – All That He Wants – 5:27 6 – The Longest Road – 4:49 7 – Cover Feelings – 5:16 8 – When Morning Gilds The Skies – 3:04 9 – The Coming Dawn – 4:32 10 – Forever Young – 3:27
Credits Chris Cooke – Children’s Chorus Connie Scott – Vocal Arrangement, Vocals, Vocals (Background) Daryl Bennett – Cymbals, Percussion Dave Deviller – Guitar, Guitar (12 String Acoustic), Guitar (Rhythm) Dave Pickell – Piano Dave Slagter – Mixing Donny Hackett – Composer Doug Edwards – Bass Gary Tole – Engineer, Mixing Grant Saip – Executive Producer Gregory Ström – Choir/Chorus Harris Van Berkel – Guitar Jim Woodyard – Guitar (12 String Acoustic), Guitar (Acoustic) Ken “Hiwatt” Marshall – Assistant Engineer Larry Mah – Assistant Engineer Mark Gersmehl – Composer Michael Hart – Dobro, Dulcimer Miles Hill – Bass Nancy Yeasting – Art Direction, Design Nichole Taylor – Children’s Chorus Peter Wisstoff – Choir/Chorus, Composer, Vocals (Background) Phil Robertson – Cymbals, Drums Roy Salmond – Arranger, Choir/Chorus, Composer, Drum Programming, Guitar (Acoustic), Keyboard Programming, Producer, Programming, Vocal Arrangement, Vocals (Background) Sherie René Scott – Choir/Chorus Tom Baker – Mastering Tom Howard – Piano, String Arrangements, String Conductor, Strings
Charlie And Jill LeBlanc are a husband and wife team that have made many albums but I never heard of them. They have self released some where in the area of 10 albums. That’s pretty impressive when you think about it. Most bands might put out the money for one or two albums but not this many. That shows real dedication to the their work. They are still making music and ministering and they “specialize” in grief ministry now unfortunately because of the loss of their son in 2009. As for the album it’s a easy listening offering and honestly I was quite surprised at the quality. This was their first full length album and it’s really good. It’s not my particular style of music but I listened to it a couple times today in the background and found it very soothing. If you want to learn more about their ministry and especially if you’re struggling with grief head over to their webpage – https://charlieandjill.com/
Tracklist 1 – Always Faithful – 4:22 2 – Listen To His Heart – 4:28 3 – If God Be For Us – 3:50 4 – O Give Thanks – 4:14 5 – One With The Lord – 6:38 6 – Keep Pressing On – 3:52 7 – Crucified With Christ – 3:58 8 – Seeing By Faith – 5:08 9 – Born Again – 4:40 10 – Rest In The Lord – 6:06
Credits Artwork – Bob Levine, Mark Illig, Mark Wiseman, Wiseman Design Backing Vocals – Charlie And Jill LeBlanc Bass – Jay Hungerford Co-producer – Charlie And Jill LeBlanc Drums – Carl Albrecht Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – John Hayes Engineer – Curt Taipale, Tom Brooks Keyboards, Synthesizer – Tom Brooks Photography By – Rick Meoli Producer – Tom Brooks Saxophone – Mike Karpowicz
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
