Category: Albums

Dwayne Omarr – Holy Rock – 1985

Often it is said “I wish a secular label would have picked up a Christian artist. Well here is a time that did happen. This album is on a secular label. Critique wasn’t the largest label but it was an established secular label. Now if the cover isn’t a tell to the style of this album it’s best described as Rick James meets Prince. Now this is not a style of music I know a lot about but I thought this album was actually OK. It actually caught my attention. The single from the album was “Save The Children” which received some airplay but was really more of a cult favourite. This was the only album from Dwayne until 2011. Anyway I think it’s a pretty good album in a style that was rare in the Christian music scene.

Tracklist
1 – Holy Rock – 3:58
2 – Rockin’ For J.C. – 3:15
3 – Annointed One – 4:00
4 – Devastating Revelation – 3:00
5 – Would You Marry Me – 3:56
6 – Save The Children – 4:20
7 – God Bless America – 4:30
8 – Latter Days – 3:20
9 – Baby, Baby, Baby – 4:27
10 – New Superstar – 4:44

Credits
Arranged By, Producer, Written-By, Instruments, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Dwayne Omarr
Engineer – Jack Pinard, Pat Costa
Executive-Producer – Carl Strube
Producer [Production Assistant] – Richie Kraby

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Critique Records, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Critique Records, Inc.
Published By – Solid Smash Music
Recorded At – Eastern Sound Studios
Mixed At – Eastern Sound Studios
Mastered At – Sterling Sound
Pressed By – Hub-Servall Record Mfg. Corp.

Charizma – Rock The World – 1985

Charizma originally started out as a punk band named “High Voltage”. With the change to hard rock/metal the name changed. In 1985 they were lent $15,000 to cut their first album. This is that album. The studio production was not the best which is a pity because these guys are pretty good. The album leans more hard rock than metal on most tracks and I took a liking to “God Bless Rock’N’Roll” but it is a little repetitive. It’s a song that was begging for a good cover version. This album has some interesting history. It was released in Poland immediately and that version of the album has a different cover. The original Swedish pressing was on white vinyl which is a little odd for a first release. The CD version of the album wasn’t released until 1990 by Magdalene Records who specialized in re-releasing previous hard rock/metal vinyl albums on CD. The CD featured two bonus tracks and they are included in this playlist.

Tracklist
1 – The Knights – 4:44
2 – Free From The World – 4:54
3 – Make Up Your Mind – 5:04
4 – Rock The World – 4:45
5 – God Bless Rock’N’Roll – 3:07
6 – Try It (Feel The Love) – 4:20
7 – On Your Own – 4:25
8 – Won’t Let Me Down – 4:12
9 – Where Do You Stand – 5:02
CD Bonus Tracks
10 – Turn Me On – 4:15
11 – Guardian Angels – 5:36

Credits
Artwork [Cover Painting] – Micke Arwidson
Bass, Lead Vocals – Bosse Nikolausson
Design [Cover Design] – Hakan Isefjord, Janne Nikolausson, Micke Arwidson
Drums, Vocals – Janne Nikolausson
Engineer – Janne Apelholm
Guitar, Vocals – Göran Nikolausson
Keyboards [Special Guest] – Hasse Engström
Photography By – Gunnar Swärd
Producer – Hasse Engström

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – OAL Studio
Distributed By – EMI
Lacquer Cut At – Cutting Room
Pressed By – Audiodisc AB

Graham Kendrick – Fighter – 1978

When I picked up this album to listen to I was somewhat optimistic based on the album cover. Wow was I wrong. This is a very easy listening album. Now lets be clear, It’s a good album but not an album I would normally listen to. I was unfamiliar with Kendrick’s work but I think I have a good understanding of it now. This album has a “fight” theme. I don’t think I’ve ever listened to an album as heavily themed as this one. The songs are good and apparently several of Kendrick’s song have made their way into hymnals. Sheila Walsh also recorded the title track and had some success with it. Apparently some of the releases of this album were produced on a translucent vinyl which when held to light looked deep red. I am assuming this was supposed to represent blood.

Tracklist
1 – On The Frontline
2 – Sleeping In Gethsemane
3 – The Reluctant Disciple
4 – Night Comes
5 – Make It Soon
6 – Victory Is The Only Song I Know
7 – Often When The World Crowds
8 – The Story’s Just Begun
9 – God Put A Fighter In Me
10 – Battle Hymn

David and the Giants – Step In My Shoes – 1979

This was the third album from David and the Giants after their conversion to Christian music in 1977. They departed from their previous sound to a more subdued Jesus Music style for this album. This style did not sell well and this album was considered to be a bit of a failure. I will admit that it is not my favourite album by them but I really don’t consider it a failure. It’s just a bit of a different attempt by them. I think it’s well done and the songs are well written but I guess it just wasn’t quite the right time for this sound.

Tracklist
1 – I Love Him More Today (Than I Did Yesterday) – 4:16
2 – San Francisco – Help Is On His Way – 3:50
3 – Gonna Take A Ride – 4:25
4 – Israel – 5:15
5 – I’m In Love With Love – 4:02
6 – If You Ain’t Living For Jesus (You’re Just Dying) – 3:31
7 – He’s Got The World In His Hands – 4:22
8 – It’s Not A Dream – 0:45
9 – Lift Up Your Eyes – 4:27
10 – Step In My Shoes – 4:04
11 – The End Of Time – 5:14

Credits
Bass Guitar, Vocals – Clayborn Huff
Drums – Owen Hale
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Cymbal [High Sounding Cymbal], Piano, Synthesizer [Arp], Vocals – David Huff
Engineer – David Huff, Rayborn Huff
Keyboards [Fender Rhodes], Synthesizer [Arp, Korg, Polykorg], Organ, Vocals – Rayborn Huff
Mixed By [Re-Mixed By] – David Huff
Piano, Synthesizer [Arp], Vocals – Gerald Hagan
Producer – David And The Giants

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Huff Recording Studios, Laurel, MS
Pressed By – Houston Records – LH-18463
Pressed By – Houston Records – LH-18464

Bertil Edin – Cross The Border – 1985

This is one of the Edin’s from Edin-Ådahl. In 1984/85 both Bertil Edin & Simon Ådahl put out solo albums. This was not due to a break up of the group as the group continued on putting out albums. I’m guessing they both just got that solo album itch. Bertil actually did another solo album in 1994 but I haven’t listened to it yet. This album is slightly different than his Edin-Ådahl offerings but the vocals are easily recognizable. This is a good pop album with my only complaint being that the lyrics struggle a bit but that’s normal as these songs were usually written in Swedish and then translated for the English release. That said this album was released in Sweden in English but does not appear to have been released in Swedish.

Tracklist
1 – Cross The Border – 3:06
2 – Keep The Love Around – 3:20
3 – Don’t Turn Your Back On Me – 3:00
4 – Rainy Weather – 3:56
5 – Like A Motion Picture – 3:08
6 – Soulhealing – 4:07
7 – I Can’t Lose – 3:42
8 – Time To Get Ready – 3:20
9 – Fancy House – 3:18
10 – I’m Waiting For You – 3:35

Rez Band (Resurrection Band) – Silence Screams – 1988

Resurrection Band billed themselves as “Rez” during this phase of their highly influential career in Christian Rock. They were one of the first out of the gate to define the hard rock genre within CCM.

1988’s Silence Screams introduces a new band member, Roy Montroy on bass, replacing original member Jim Denton. Roy gets writing credits for the music on six of the ten tracks on the album, paired with Glenn’s lyrics. He obviously fit right in, easily making this band his home.

One of the things that always set Rez Band apart was the lyrical depth. Eight of the ten songs on this album were written by an Glenn Kaiser, an ordained minister with a heart for social issues. Lyrics and messages were never an afterthought for this band, and they never skimped on the content there.

This record started a new tradition that carried on for the next three studio albums. Namely, they started doing mainstream cover songs. Eric Clapton’s “Presence of the Lord” gets the Rez treatment here, which is their typical hard edged Chicago blues rock. This is probably my favourite version of this song.

 

Tracklist
1 – Silence Screams – 4:11
2 – You Got Me Rockin’ – 3:13
3 – Someone Sleeps – 5:18
4 – Waitin’ On Sundown – 4:04
5 – Presence Of The Lord – 4:33
6 – Light / Light – 3:43
7 – Rain Dance – 5:03
8 – Every Waking Hour – 4:05
9 – Three Seconds – 4:36
10 – You Get What You Choose – 4:30

Credits
Artwork [Cover Art By] – Dick Randall
Band [REZ Is], Bass, Keyboards – Roy Montroy
Band [REZ Is], Drums – John Herrin
Band [REZ Is], Guitar, Vocals – Glenn Kaiser
Band [REZ Is], Lead Guitar, Keyboards – Stu Heiss
Band [REZ Is], Vocals – Wendi Kaiser
Design [Cover Design], Photography By – Cornerstone Graphics
Engineer [Engineered By] – Ed Bialach, Roger Heiss, Roy Montroy
Guest, Keyboards – Percy Bady (tracks: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6)
Mastered By – Steve Hall
Producer [Produced By] – REZ*, Tom Cameron

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Grrr Records
Copyright (c) – Grrr Records
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Engineered At – Tone Zone Recording
Mastered At – Future Disc
Published By – Rez Band Music
Published By – Unichappell Music, Inc.

Daniel Band – Straight Ahead – 1983

The second album from Canadian Band Daniel Band continues their Hard Rock style. The album was able to avoid the “Metal” tag by sticking to normal vocals and strong guitar rifts. I found the album to be slightly harder than their introductory offering but not to excess. The songs are again well written and have themes a lot of us identified with us at the time. Included in the playlist are two bonus tracks only available on the 2006 CD re-release. These two songs are actually available on their previous album but these are Demo versions. I personally found the version of I’m Sorry to be better.

Tracklist
1 – Power Of Love – 3:26
2 – You’re All I Need – 4:19
3 – Straight Ahead – 3:35
4 – Here I Am – 3:03
5 – T’ank You – 5:00
6 – Lustful Illusions – 4:25
7 – Reality – 3:06
8 – Come Into My Life – 3:50
9 – Comin’ Home – 4:00
10 – In My Mind – 4:06
CD Bonus Material (2006)
11 – Free From Sin (1980 Demo) – 4:06
12 – I’m Sorry (1980 Demo) – 4:31

Credits
Acoustic Guitar – Tony Rossi
Bass – Dan McCabe
Bass [Fretless] – Dan McCabe
Cover – Neil Dellandrea
Drums – Matt DelDuca
Engineer – Mark Wright
Keyboards – Bill Findlay
Lead Guitar – Tony Rossi
Lead Vocals – Dan McCabe, Tony Rossi (tracks: A3,A5,B5)
Mastered By – George Graves
Mixed By – Mark Wright
Noises [Jungle Noises] – Allen Coffey
Orchestrated By – Réné (Boucher) Brossard (tracks: B5), Tony Rossi (tracks: B3, B5)
Percussion – Matt DelDuca
Percussion [Salt Shaker] – Bill Findlay
Photography – Ian Ellis
Producer – Daniel Band
Rhythm Guitar – Bill Findlay, Tony Rossi
Synthesizer – Bill Findlay
Vocals – Bill Findlay, Dan McCabe, Tony Rossi

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Refuge International
Copyright (c) – Refuge International
Distributed By – The Benson Company, Inc.
Recorded At – Phase One Studios
Mixed At – Phase One Studios
Mastered At – The Lacquer Channel Limited
Mastered At – Masterfonics

Emerald – Armed for Battle – 1986

Emerald were a Metal group out of Southern California. They formed in 1978 but didn’t get a recording out until this EP in 1986. Somehow the band were able to save up (or were gifted) $13,000 to record this EP. The result is actually quite stunning for that budget. The album measures up to any Metal album of the time. In fact it is much better than many label based Metal albums. Normally I am terrified of self produced albums but not this one. But it’s not just the production that is good but these guys are really really good. As far as I can tell the album was self published and distributed. The number of pressings appears to be a matter of argument but suffice to say it was small with copies of the original pressing fetching in excess of $500 at the time of this writing. Luckily there has been several re-pressings and a CD version is available now. If you like Metal and you’ve never heard this EP you need to give it a listen. You won’t be disappointed.

Tracklist
1 – Armed For Battle – 4:10
2 – Teenage Suicide – 7:45
3 – We Attack – 3:52
4 – Look To The Stars – 5:07
5 – Winds Of Doom – 7:09
6 – Judgement Day – 4:14

Credits
Arranged By, Producer – Emerald
Bass – Joe Palma
Drums, Synthesizer – Kyle Morrett
Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Dave Enos
Lead Vocals – Larry Philips

Barren Cross – State Of Control – 1989

This is the third album from Barren Cross. The lineup was the same as their previous album Atomic Arena. This album is a well polished album with excellent production but with higher quality songs. The lyric quality was much better on this album as the band was obviously maturing. John and Dino Elefante stepped in again to provide production so the quality is there. A music video was produced for “Cryin’ Over You” but I personally didn’t think it was very good. Speaking of not very good the album cover was also questionable in my opinion. This playlist includes the CD bonus track “Escape In The Night”.

Tracklist
1 – State Of Control – 3:53
2 – Out Of Time – 4:09
3 – Cryin’ Over You – 4:53
4 – A Face In The Dark – 3:56
5 – The Stage Of Intensity – 6:36
6 – Hard Lies – 4:18
7 – Inner War – 4:09
8 – Love At Full Volume – 2:28
9 – Bigotry Man (Who Are You) – 4:42
10 – Two Thousand Years – 7:10
11 – Escape In The Night – 3:54

Credits
Art Direction – Regis Patoff
Bass Guitar, Synthesizer [MIDI Synthesizer Pedals], Backing Vocals – Jim LaVerde
Cover – Alex Remlin
Drums, Backing Vocals – Steve Whitaker
Engineer – Dino Elefante, John Elefante, Mike Mierau
Keyboards, Vocals [Additional] – John Elefante
Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – Mike Lee
Mastered By – Eddy Schreyer
Mixed By – Dino Elefante, Mike Mierau
Photography By – Jodi Summers
Producer – Dino Elefante, John Elefante
Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals – Ray Parris

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – The Benson Company, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Enigma Records
Copyright (c) – Enigma Records
Recorded At – Pakaderm Studios
Mastered At – Capitol Studios
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus, Virginia

Chris Christian With Whiteheart – Live At Six Flags – 1986

When I started working on this album I was looking forward to it as I thought it was Whiteheart at Six Flags. FULL STOP!! It’s not. This is “Chris Christian” with Whiteheart – Live At Six Flags. I wonder how many people bought this album by mistake believing it was just Whiteheart. The album came out the same year so the confusion could be understood. If they did make the error I can only imagine their horror at what they had bought. Now this isn’t a bad album, in fact it’s a very good album but it’s just that it’s a more easy listening oriented album. Not anything at all you would expect from Whiteheart. I’m guessing it was recorded at the same concert as the Whiteheart album. This rather odd pairing came from the fact that Chris Christian did not have a regular band so I am guessing he talked Whiteheart into backing for him. Whiteheart were on the label that Christian owned, Home Sweet Home Records. Anyway, as I said it’s a good album best described as a slightly up tempo Easy Listening album.

Tracklist
1 – Put Your Trust – 3:18
2 – Make A Joyful Noise – 2:28
3 – Love Them While We Can – 3:26
4 – Mountain Top – 3:27
5 – Gospel Medley – 5:59
6 – Satisfaction Guaranteed – 2:57
7 – Praise The Lord – 3:05
8 – Second Chance – 3:12
9 – Look How Far You’ve Come – 3:03
10 – Pop Medley – 7:03
11 – Sail On – 2:28
12 – Get Back To The Bible – 4:45
13 – Why Does The Devil Have All The Good Music – 3:53