Category: Albums

The Crosstones – The Singles Collection – 1977 to 1982

Some of you may know about the Little Bobby Emmons And The Crosstones album I Remember. What you may not know is that The Crosstones actually released several singles over the years both Christian and mainstream. As I listened to all these songs I decided it was time to put together a collection of the best 10. Of course selecting the best 10 is very subjective but I have taken what I think are the best of their 70’s and 80’s releases. The band actually started out as Bobby and the Discounts then were The Last Generation before settling on The Crosstones. So here you go for your 50’s loving ears are my picks for their best songs.

Tracklist
1 – Doreen (Bobby & the Discounts) – 1977
2 – One Way (The Last Generation) – 1977
3 – Oh Jesus (The Last Generation) – 1977
4 – My Song To Jesus (Last Generation) – 1977
5 – (I’ve Got A) Crush On You – 1982
6 – Dream Girl – 1982
7 – Joanne – 1982
8 – Since Love’s Been Knockin’ – 1982
9 – Bye Bye Baby – 1982
10 – Look My Way – 1982

Credits
Vocals – Bobby Emmons, Fred Pope, Terri DeLorenzo, Mary Grace Shar, Josh Shar
Musicians – Terri DeLorenzo, Bobby Emmons, Janet Pope, Fred Pope, Tom Pope, Mike Nicolose, Peggy Andreev, Richie Malfitano.
Producer, Arranged By – Bob Emmons

Angelica – Angelica – 1986

Guitarist Dennis Cameron from Ontario had a choice early in his career. He could join Holy Soldier, or Bloodgood, or go his own way. He chose to go his own way and this is the result. It is the first of four albums he made as Angelica and most consider this to be the best one. Now for the strange story of this album. Cameron had chose Andy Lyon as the vocalist but something went wrong and Andy left very early in the sessions. Now he was faced with finding a replacement and of the people offered to him by the studio one was Bob Rock. I think it goes without saying that Bob was chose pretty quickly as even at the time he was already legendary. The album is a mix of light metal and arena rock and does what it does well. As I said earlier most consider this to be Angelica’s best album, and in my opinion it’s in no small part because of the vocals of Bob Rock. Bob did not go on to work on the next or subsequent albums.

Tracklist
1 – There’s Only One Hero – 4:05
2 – Are You Satisfied – 3:30
3 – I Believe – 3:45
4 – Danger Zone – 3:42
5 – Shine On Me – 3:05
6 – Only A Man – 3:40
7 – One Step At A Time – 3:31
8 – Will I Ever Learn – 3:20
9 – Take Me – 3:32
10 – Ahh! – 3:00
11 – S.O.S. – 3:50
12 – Face To Face – 3:23

Credits
Art Direction – Ed McTaggart
Backing Vocals – Ken Tamplin
Bass – Robert Pallen
Drums – Scott Ernest
Engineer – Dave Jahnsen, Eric Kibby
Guitar – Dennis Cameron
Illustration – Jeff Foster
Keyboards – Marc Hugenburger
Photography By – Michael Seeley
Producer – Dennis Cameron
Vocals – Andy Lyon (barely)
Vocals – Bob Rock (uncredited)

Silverwind – Silverwind- 1980

Silverwind’s self-titled debut album in 1980 was sometimes billed as “the Christian Abba” due to the sound they put out on the lead track “Taking The Narrow Street” and several of the others. The distinctive sound of two female lead singers in harmony is what makes it for Silverwind. John Rosasco helped ensure success for this album by producing the band’s debut. John also made records with City Limits, Rick Cua, Joe English, Stormie Omartian, Steve Camp and others.

 

Tracklist
1 – Taking The Narrow Street – 2:35
2 – When I Looked Into Your Eyes – 3:42
3 – Your Love – 2:43
4 – Give Him Your Heart, Child – 3:11
5 – I Don’t Worry – 2:20
6 – I Am In Love – 2:42
7 – Ode To A Lost Innocence – 4:02
8 – Never Had A Reason – 3:08
9 – Walking This Road – 2:58
10 – I Will Bless The Lord – 4:24

Credits
Bass – Leon Gaer
Drums – Paul Leim
Guitar – Bill Walker, Hadley Hockensmith
Keyboards, Synthesizer – John Rosasco, Larry Muhoberac
Percussion, Steel Drums – Vince Charles
Piano – Larry Muhoberac
Producer – John Rosasco, Tony Salerno

Connie Scott – Hold On – 1987

This is Connie Scott’s third solo album. For this one she moved to Vancouver based Image 7 Records after leaving Sparrow. The president of Image 7 (aka Image VII) Gerry Scott.

Connie shows up for this one with a Modest-Madonna look and a Dionne Warwick sound. Roy Salmond produces on this album, making it a high quality all-Canadian affair.

 

Tracklist
1 – You’ll Never Know – 4:42
2 – You Never Leave Me Longing – 3:20
3 – Run To The Light – 4:10
4 – Don’t Curse The Darkness – 4:10
5 – Lost Affections – 3:15
6 – Hold On – 5:40
7 – Heartsound – 4:30
8 – Love Is All That Matters – 3:17
9 – Heaven Is My Home – 4:30
10 – More Love – 2:03

Credits
Arranged By – Roy Salmond
Design, Layout – Stan Buchanan
Photography By – Francis Cheng
Producer – Roy Salmond

Companies, etc.
Record Company – Image 7 Records Inc
Manufactured By – Word Records Limited
Recorded At – Inside Trak Studios
Mixed At – Inside Trak Studios
Recorded At – Profile Sound Studios

Altar Boys – Gut Level Music – 1986

The Altar Boys are back with their 3 album and their best up to that point. It is a rockin album with no silly ballads to spoil it. Of interest is the Donna Summer “Unconditional Love” cover. Whoever had this idea nailed it. The song works fantastic in their style. I actually went back to listen to the Donna Summer version and it was actually pretty good too but this version tops all other versions. Strangely the song was originally written by Michael Omartian who I guarantee never imagined a version like this. Probably the best track on the album was You Found Me and it was a staple on most mixed tapes of the period.

Tracklist
1 – You Are Loved – 4:12
2 – G.L.M. (Gut Level Music) – 4:04
3 – I’m Not Talking About Religion – 3:58
4 – I Question It – 2:45
5 – You Found Me – 3:42
6 – Unconditional Love – 3:33
7 – There Is A Love – 4:18
8 – Calling To You – 3:12
9 – Final Hour – 2:56
10 – Life Begins At The Cross – 4:09

Credits
Bass – Ric Alba
Drums – Jeff Crandall
Engineer [Original Release] – Doug Doyle
Executive-Producer – Gregory Hays
Guitar, Lead Vocals – Mike Stand
Producer [Original Release] – Terry Scott Taylor
Producer [Original Release], Engineer [Original Release] – Rob Watson
Remastered By – Keith Sorrells

Joe English – Held Accountable – 1982

This was the second album from Joe and he turned it up a bit for this one. There’s a couple good tunes with likeable guitar riffs courtesy of George Cocchini. One of the things that stands out to me is that Joe credited 13 songwriters including himself. That’s an awful lot of writers for a 10 album song but I have read that Joe loved to work with lots of people so maybe that’s the reason. Outside of a couple tracks this album falls right in with West Coast AOR style of the time. The single First Love reached #9 on the charts hanging around for 21 weeks.

Tracklist
1 – Best Things – 3:09
2 – We Live When We Die – 3:15
3 – My Strength Is In The Lord – 4:55
4 – First Love – 3:53
5 – Voice Of Triumph – 3:48
6 – Wake Up – 3:53
7 – Learn To Celebrate – 2:40
8 – Where You Gonna Run – 3:29
9 – Thief In The Night – 4:28
10 – The Best Is Yet To Come – 3:42

Credits
Songwriter, Guitar – Paul Brannon
Songwriter – Jay C. Coble, Jr.
Guitar – George Cocchini
Songwriter – Tom Douglas
Songwriter – James Isaac Elliott
Producer, Songwriter, Drums, Vocals – Joe English
Songwriter – Linda Lang
Keyboards – John Lawry
Songwriter – Fred Lewis
Songwriter – Will McFarlane
Executive Producer, Songwriter – Ray Nenow
Songwriter – Don Rogers
Songwriter – Scott Roley
Songwriter – Roddy Smith
Producer, Songwriter – John Rosasco
Songwriter, Bass – Tim Smith

Saint – Warriors Of The Son – 1984

This was the first release from Saint. The first issue was very limited and generally sold at their live shows. They did a tour warming up for Stryper and this is when the majority of these first issue EP’s were sold. The EP was immediately re-released on Morada records and this is the release most vinyl owners have. The album has been re-released on CD a few times with various remastering attempts. The original recording is a little rough around the edges so the remasters aren’t all that good. In my opinion that rough sound suits them well. This is a great Heavy Metal EP from what became a legendary Christian Metal Band.

Tracklist
1 – Plan 2 – 6:23
2 – Legions Of The Dead – 4:22
3 – Abyss – 4:11
4 – Warriors Of The Son – 3:56
5 – Vicars Of Fate – 3:53
6 – Time’s Wasting – 4:36

Credits
Bass – Richard Lynch
Drums – Tim Lamberson
Engineer – Dee Harrington, Richard Lynch, Tom Nunes
Engineer, Cover, Layout – Jason Carter
Guitar – Dee Harrington, Jerry Johnson
Music By – John Mahan (tracks: 3, 5, 7, 8), Richard Lynch
Producer – Richard Lynch
Vocals – Josh Kramer
Words By – Gene McClendon (tracks: 4), Richard Lynch

Mass – New Birth – 1985

While not a Christian album Mass were Christian musicians. This 1985 release from them had a cult following and was in fact re-released in 2007 by the Christian record company Retroactive Records. I had never heard this album before so this was my first exposure to them. Upon hearing it I am surprised that it was not better received. There are definitely 3 radio singles here and as an 80’s secular DJ I would have played the heck out of a few tracks. That said the reasons the album didn’t make it are as follows in my opinion. First of all the album was produced by Tony Platt who has also produced Uriah Heep, AC/DC, Motorhead and Iron Maiden so the production is good but here’s where it all went wrong. RCA released “Do You Love Me” as the first single and it was not the right first release. It was a second or 3rd release single. The first single should have been “Watch Her Walk” or “Too Far Gone” As a DJ I would have played Watch Her Walk very heavily. All that said my one only other suggestion would have been “More Cowbell” and no I’m kidding.

Tracklist
1 – Too Far Gone – 3:56
2 – Crying Alone – 4:25
3 – Time – 3:44
4 – Back To Me – 4:24
5 – Do You Love Me – 3:40
6 – New Birth – 3:49
7 – Left Behind – 2:55
8 – Voyager (Look For The Edge) – 4:07
9 – Day Without You – 4:23
10 – Watch Her Walk – 3:40

Credits
Vocals – Louis D’Augusta
Guitars – Gene D’Itria
Bass – Kevin Varrio
Drums – Joey “Vee” Vadala
Producer, Engineer – Tony Platt

Bruce Hibbard – Never Turnin’ Back – 1980

This was Bruce’s second album and perhaps his most popular. It has that West Coast Easy Listening sound that was/is referred to as Adult Oriented Rock (AOR). It has a jazz/funk feel and the vocals are excellent with Bryan Duncan and Randy Thomas from Sweet Comfort Band providing harmonies. The single was “Never Turnin’ Back” which peaked at #14 with 25 weeks on the CCM charts. That said the real single should have been “Straight And Narrow” which had apparently played well on Christian Radio but was way to uptempo for the CCM charts in 1980.

Tracklist
1 – Never Turnin’ Back – 3:14
2 – Calling – 4:21
3 – You’ll Never Let Me Go – 4:17
4 – It’s A Shame – 3:18
5 – You’re So Good To Me – 4:36
6 – Forgiven – 3:07
7 – Straight And Narrow – 3:15
8 – All Of Me – 3:44
9 – Love Will Always Make A Way – 4:13
10 – We Are All His Children – 4:34

Credits
Backing Vocals – Bryan Duncan, Judy Cotton, Kelly Willard, Randy Thomas
Backing Vocals, Bass, Guitar, Producer – Hadley Hockensmith
Bass – Chuck Fiore
Drums – Bill Maxwell, Keith Edwards
Guitar – Dean Charts
Keyboards – Harlan Rogers
Lead Vocals – Bruce Hibbard
Percussion – Alex MacDougall
Saxophone – Glen Myerscough

Truth – On The Road – 1977

The choir/group known as Truth regularly toured churches through the 70’s to support and sell their albums. This album was recorded over 3 concerts in Dallas, Memphis, and Mobile. This album is extremely easy listening which I guess is to be expected considering the setting at the time.

Tracklist
1 – I Just Feel Like Something Good Is About To Happen – 3:15
2 – Greater Is He That Is In Me – 2:42
3 – I Want Jesus More Than Anything – 3:17
4 – Give Them All To Jesus – 4:03
5 – I Lost It All To Find Everything – 4:11
6 – Love, It Comes In All Colors – 3:00
7 – Amazing Grace – 1:32
8 – Would You Believe In Me – 3:24
9 – The Church Triumphant – 5:34
10 – A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Hell – 3:25
11 – Didn’t He Shine – 3:30
12 – Whatever It Takes – 3:52
13 – Jesus, I Heard You Had A Big House – 3:23
14 – Thank You (Medley) – 8:53
15 – The Lord Is My Light – 3:33
16 – If My People Will Pray – 3:26
17 – It Is Well – 3:57
18 – It Is Finished – 4:54
19 – He’s On His Way – 3:00
20 – Get All Excited – 2:30

Credits
Art Direction – Bob McConnell
Engineer – Lee Hazen, Warren Peterson
Photography By [Cover photos and production assistance] – Greg Golden
Producer – Bob MacKenzie (2)
Recorded By [Live Recording By] – Lee Hazen Recording Service, Prestige Recording Service
Remix – John Thompson*, Warren Peterson