This sampler is relatively unremarkable in that all the songs on it were very well known. The only thing that stood out about the release was that the album cover was 3D and the album came with 3D glasses so you could enjoy it.
Tracklist
1 – Leslie Phillips – Put Your Heart In Me (Beyond Saturday Night) – 4:00
2 – Randy Stonehill – The Glory And The Flame (Between The Glory And The Flame ) – 3:10
3 – Imperials – How Can You Live (Stand By The Power) – 3:46
4 – Maria Muldaur – Keep My Eyes On You (There Is A Love) – 4:01
5 – Kenny Marks – He’ll Finish What He Started (Follow Him) – 3:11
6 – Amy Grant – Too Late (Never Alone) – 3:15
7 – White Heart – You’re The One (White Heart) – 3:56
8 – David Edwards – Anything But Love (Get The Picture) – 3:34
9 – Dion – I Put Away My Idols ( I Put Away My Idols) – 3:08
This was the first album from Swedish Metal band Leviticus. It was originally released in Sweden in Swedish in 1983. The band redid the album in English for a European and North American Release. Leviticus played the Greenbelt festival in England in 1984, and 1985 in support of this album. This album has a bit of a symphonic feel that disappeared in the bands later releases. The engineering on this album was not the best in my opinion as it appeared the producer/engineer were going for the “wall of sound” feel which never works well on a Metal album again in my opinion. The album was re-released in 2000 on CD with bonus material.
Tracklist
1 – I Shall Conquer
2 – Let Me Fight
3 – He’s My Life
4 – Doubt
5 – Action More Than Words
6 – All Is Calm
7 – Day By Day
8 – Strive Forwards
9 – Psalm 23
Credits
Bass – Håkan Andersson
Drums – Kjell Andersson
Guitar – Björn Stigsson
Lead Vocals – Håkan Andersson
Percussion – Kjell Andersson
Vocals – Björn Stigsson
Adam Again is a solid example of 1970s pop with an overall easy listening approach reminiscent of 1970s radio. There are some sounds reminiscent of James Taylor and Billy Joel. This album has a smooth sound that foreshadows the polish he brought to artists like Christopher Cross.
Michael may be more famous for his work producing albums for stars like Christopher Cross, Michael Bolton, Whitney Houston, Rod Stewart, Donna Summer, Billy Joel, Jerry Garcia, John Lennon, Steely Dan, Shania Twain, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Keith Urban, Quincy Jones, Tim McGraw, and a lot of others..
Michael Omartian had a few solo albums through the 70s and 80s as well as some with his wife billed as “Michael & Stormie Omartian.”
From Michael’s website bio:
Michael Omartian has contributed his talents to over 350,000,000 albums and CD’s sold worldwide as a producer, composer, arranger, artist or musician. He is the first record producer to chart #1 hits in three consecutive decades. With seventeen Grammy nominations including Producer of the Year, Album of the Year and Gospel Album of the Year, Omartian is a multiple Grammy Award winner. Additionally, Michael has been recognized by The Recording Academy (NARAS) as Keyboard Musician of the Year and is a Yamaha sponsored artist.
Topical for the 1970s, “Whatchersign” warns against the cultural obsession with the zodiac. “Annie The Poet” is a strong storytelling piece that would have fit very well on a Billy Joel album. “Alive and Well” is a high energy song reminding us that Satan is alive and well and offering us everything we think we want.
Tracklist
1 – Ain’t You Glad – 2:52
2 – No Matter What Shape You’re In – 3:16
3 – See This House – 3:53
4 – Whachersign – 3:30
5 – Annie The Poet – 3:58
6 – Telos Suite (Prelude) – 1:31
7 – Telos Suite (Alive And Well) – 4:44
8 – Telos Suite (Adam Again) – 4:59
9 – Telos Suite (Here He Comes) – 6:00
Credits
Alto Saxophone [Solo] – Ernie Watts (tracks: A3)
Backing Vocals – Ann White, Carolyn Willis
Bass – David Hungate (tracks: B2, B3), Lee Sklar (tracks: A5), Scott Edwards (2) (tracks: A2, A4), Wilton Felder (tracks: A1, B4)
Concertmaster – Sid Sharp & The “L.A. Super Strings”
Drums – David Kemper (tracks: A1, A5, B2 to B4), Ed Greene (2) (tracks: A2, A4), Michael Omartian (tracks: A3)
Engineer – Tommy Vicari
Guitar – Dean Parks (tracks: A1, A2, B4), Larry Carlton (tracks: B3), Lee Rittenaur (tracks: A2, A4, B2, B4), Richard Bennett (tracks: B2, B3)
Guitar [Solo] – Larry Carlton (tracks: B4)
Horns – David Duke, Don Menza, Ernie Watts, Paul Hubenon, Vince DeRosa
Lyrics By, Backing Vocals – Stormie Omartian
Percussion – Victor Feldman (tracks: B2, B3)
Photography By – Harry Langdon
Producer, Arranged By, Vocals, Keyboards, Percussion, Music By – Michael Omartian
Synthesizer – Michael Omartian (tracks: A3, B1)
Trumpet [Solo] – Paul Hubenon (tracks: B2)
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc.
Recorded At – Sound Labs, Hollywood
Mastered At – The Mastering Lab
Published By – American Broadcasting Music, Inc.
Published By – Holicanthus Music
Published By – Landers-Roberts Music
Published By – April Music Inc.
This album was the worlds introduction to Liberation Suite. Originally from Texas they actually moved to the United Kingdom after signing with Myrrh Records. This album, was released in 1975 and their careers took off. In support of this album they toured with Malcolm and Alwyn, Barry McGuire, and Jamie Owens. I remember first hearing this album in the early 80s and was surprised by the Rock and Roll sound on some tracks. Though the band was known as a Jesus Music band they actually leaned to Rock & Roll on several tracks on this album. The thing that stands out on this album to me is the use of a horns section. At times you would swear your listening to the “Tower of Power” but nope it’s just the guys in the band. This album may be my favourite use of a horn section in CCM music.
Tracklist
1 – Led To Roam – 2:48
2 – Run, Run, Lucifer – 4:43
3 – My Lord Is A Remedy – 3:06
4 – Oh Lord, You Know (That I Feel So Fine) – 4:07
5 – Reachin’ For The Sky – 4:18
6 – More Than A Matter – 3:58
7 – Presence Of The Lord – 4:21
8 – Hearken – 5:52
9 – I Wanna Be With You – 3:59
Credits
Bass Guitar, Alto Saxophone, Vocals – David Bynum
Coordinator [Album Co-ordination] – Miles McKee
Design [Cover Design] – David Casey (3)
Drums, Congas, Vocals, Cover [Cover Concept] – Randy Hill
Engineer [Engineered By] – Gerry Kitchingham
Guitar [Guitars], Keyboards, Synthesizer [Moog And String Synthesizers], Vocals – Barry Bynum
Instrumentation By, Arranged By – Liberation Suite
Photography By – John Leigh (2)
Producer [Produced By] – John Pantry
Trombone, Harmonica, Vocals – Howard Lyon
Trumpet, Flute, French Horn, Vocals – Paul Lyon
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word Music (UK)
Copyright (c) – Word Music (UK)
Recorded At – R.G. Jones Studios
Printed By – Garrod & Lofthouse International Ltd.
Made By – Garrod & Lofthouse International Ltd.
Brent Lamb was an accomplished song writer before he started his singing career. This album was a follow up to his Tug Of War album. This album has a very strong tech feel but maintains a Rock & Roll base. If I had to describe it I would say it’s Sweet Comfort Band on steroids. All in all it’s a pretty good album and makes me want to hear more from him.
Tracklist
1 – One Man
2 – Destination Home
3 – The Seasons Of My Soul
4 – A Dime A Dozen
5 – Ambush
6 – Line Of Fire
7 – I Love You Anyway
8 – Crazy Mad Man
9 – Tell My Why
10 – All That I Can Be
Credits
Arranged By, Producer – Phil Naish
Backing Vocals – Brent Lamb, Gary Pigg, Marty McCall
Bass – Mike Brignardello
Drum Programming [Machine] – Gary Lunn
Drums – Mark Hammond
Engineer, Mixed By – Jeff Balding
Guitar – John Goin
Guitar [Additional And Solos] – Dann Huff
Keyboards – Phil Naish
Programmed By [Synthesizers] – Jeff Balding, Phil Naish
This was the one and only album from World Theatre. The lead vocalist and apparent leader of the band Tim McAllister was also in a band called Flock 14 who released an album in 1987 with a similar sound and feel. That sound is solidly New Wave. I hate to do this but you should be hearing The Cure in most of their work. This is an album I didn’t listen to until this year (2019) and I’m sad I missed it when it came out.
Tracklist
1 – If I Stumble – 4:34
2 – This Talk – 3:53
3 – Gently Down (Last Thursday) – 3:48
4 – Water Spill – 3:29
5 – Dream It’s Safe – 4:52
6 – Monday – 4:22
7 – 10 Tears – 4:14
8 – Takes So Long – 3:24
9 – Pain, Desire, Faith – 5:14
Credits
Guitar – Gary Egger, Jim Abegg
Lap Steel Guitar, Vocals – Paul Stewart
Mixed By – Gene Eugene
Piano, Bass Guitar, Keyboards – Linford Detweiler
Producer – Tim McAllister
Snare, Hihat, Bass, Cymbal, Tom Tom – Bill Bullock
Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Drum Programming, Bass – Tim McAllister
Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Sparrow/Star Song Distribution
This has to be the worst sampler in the history of Christian music. It’s not the songs that are bad, they are great songs from great artists. It’s what they did with them that is the problem. Let me explain. This album is constructed as follows. The opening, ending, and all odd number songs are studio dance beats attributed to non existent bands. All of the even songs are well known songs by well known artists BUT they have been “remixed and extended”. Now first of all this album came out in 1989 and the secular music scene was done with cheesy two bit extended dance tracks. But for whatever reason Word Records chose at this late time to jump on a bandwagon that had already left the building. So here we go. Every song we have heard of before on this album is an “extended remix”. I use the term “extended remix” term loosely as these are without a doubt the worst remixes I have ever heard. So what we have here is the business idea of re releasing the same content over and over again only this time they pretended to dress it up as something new. What a disaster. OK listen to the album once and forget about it, that’s what I did.
Tracklist
1 – Rakim D. & The Garden Beats – Prologue – 2:03
2 – Imperials – Fallin’ – 4:18
3 – Bunny Whop And The Hip Hop – Baow Baow Baow – 1:06
4 – Philip Bailey – Thank You – 5:29
5 – Randy McNally & The Road Dogz – Rappin’ Detail – 1:12
6 – Amy Grant – Wise Up – 6:28
7 – Billy B. & The Beez Nees – No Bout Adoubt It – 1:11
8 – Steve Taylor – Svengali – 5:46
9 – Billy B. & The Beez Nees – Doutout – 0:57
10 – Kim Boyce – I Just Want To Celebrate – 5:16
11 – The Nerf Wilson Ensemble – Tee Vee Whiz – 0:51
12 – Ideola – Jericho – 4:28
13 – The Nerf Wilson Ensemble – Gee Tee Vee – 1:12
14 – Russ Taff – I’ve Come Too Far – 5:39
15 – Snappo Schultz – BBBBBeatitudinal – 1:16
16 – Sheila Walsh – Ship Of Love – 7:00
17 – Snappo Schultz – BBBBBeatitudinal – Part II – 1:01
18 – Randy Stonehill Cold Rock The Groove – 4:35
19 – Rakim D. & The Garden Beats – Epilogue – 0:42
Credits
Art Direction, Design – Bradley Grose
Compilation Producer – Leon Mulczk
Coordinator [Cover] – Laurie Fink (2)
Executive-Producer – Tom Willett
Music By [Link Music By] – Lee Cahuenga (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19)
Remix [Re-mixes], Edited By [Edits] – Lee Cahuenga
Written-By [Links Written By], Producer [Links Produced By] – Linx, Inc. (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19)
Companies, etc.
Record Company – Word, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Word, Inc.
Distributed By – Word Records Limited
Distributed By – Word (UK) Ltd.
Manufactured By – Word, Inc.
This was the one and only album from Zion though there was a release in 2007 by Retroactive Records that I know nothing about. The band seemed to revolve around Rex Scott who joined X-Sinner after this project. This album really dances back and forth between Heavy Metal, Arena Rock, and Hard Rock. This dance however does not hurt the album. It is actually quite good and has a nice rhythm and is a good representation of Rex Scott’s various vocal skills.
Tracklist
1 – Who Pulls The Strings
2 – Kick In The Gates
3 – Is It A Crime
4 – Help Me
5 – Thrillseeker
6 – Sold You A Lie
7 – Roll The Rock
8 – Less Of Me
9 – He Loves You
Companies, etc.
Produced At – Extra Sensory Productions
Recorded At – Extra Sensory Productions
Produced At – MacDonald Recording
Mastered At – Motown Recording Studios
Copyright (c) – Image Records (11)
Copyright (c) – Rock For Eternity Music
Manufactured By – American Helix – E6726
Credits
Arranged By, Guitar, Vocals – Rex Scott
Art Direction, Design – Alex Van Amerongen
Bass – Jeff Johnson (tracks: 1 to 6, 9)
Bass, Backing Vocals – Marlin Saner
Drums – Tommy ”Gun” Bozung
Edited By [Digitally] – Jason Brown
Engineer, Orchestrated By – Charles Meserole
Executive Producer – Dorn Reppert, George Peper III
Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals – David Moore
Mastered By – John Matousek
Other [Additional Backing Vocals] – David Schueller, Joe Bolock Jr., Joe Bolock Sr., Paula Meserole
Photography By – Doug Reichert
Producer, Arranged By – David Zaffiro
You would swear this was going to be David’s pivot into a comedy career. David is a great entertainer, and as talented as he is musically he obviously loves to tell stories.
This is his 6th of 12 albums and it is an enduring one just for the fun it comes with. The epic story of “Mother, Muffler, Mozart & The Beatles” was one I heard at more than 1 or 2 youth group nights.
Even with all the story telling and entertaining, he manages to fit in 8 of his biggest songs up to that point. The live energy he brings to this performance brings all of them to an even higher level than the original studio recordings.
Track Listing: Heaven Knows 2:35 Jesus 4:31 Rattle Me, Shake Me 4:30 Mother, Muffler, Mozart & The Beatles (6:28) (Mozart Sonata A Minor 1st Movement) (Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band) All The Time 4:14 Never Gonna Serve Anyone Else But You 2:40 Gospel Train 3:05 Comin’ Back 3:12 Crucifixion (15:56) (There Once Lived A Man) (Intermezzo) (Ten Thousand Angels) (The Bystander) (Were You There) (We Are The Reason)
Credits Backing Vocals – Donna McElroy, Glenda Smith White, Kim Flemming Bass – Craig Nelson Design [Album Design] – Barnes & Company Drums – Keith Edwards Engineer – Jack Joseph Puig Engineer [Remix Engineer] – Bob Clark Executive-Producer – Mike Blanton Guitar – Brent Rowan, Jon Goin Horns – Billy Puett, Buddy Skipper, Dennis Solee, George Tidwell, The Nashville Hornworks, Roger Bissell Keyboards, Synthesizer – Shane Keisten Percussion – Farrell Morris, Mark Morris Photography By – Larry Dixon Piano – David Meece Producer – Brown Bannister Recorded By – Malcolm Harper
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Word, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Word, Inc.
Published By – Duchess Music Corp.
Published By – Word Music (2)
Published By – Maclen Music, Inc.
Published By – Lillenas Publishing Company, Inc.
Recorded At – Lincoln Center, Fort Collins, CO
Remixed At – Great Circle Sound
Mastered At – Masterfonics
Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co.
Not only did they change the name from “Lifesavors” to “Lifesavers” on this one, but the band took a sudden turn with this album, sounding a lot more like Flock of Seagulls than like a Cali-punk band.
Smooth production, serious looking photography, and a clean sound make this a pop album. Subsequent releases from Lifesavers all share this mature style but some of them manage to bring the edge back rather than the adult contemporary sound of 80s oldies.
Throughout, they manage to keep thoughtful lyrics and passionate delivery.
The band’s energy comes through again on songs like “Choose To Be True,” a truly catch tune. The classic “Turn Turn Turn” also makes an appearance on this album. It seems to be more an homage to Ecclesiastes than to Pete Seger or The Byrds though.
Tracklist
1 – She’s On Fire – 3:39
2 – I Pray You Pray – 3:34
3 – I Can’t Wait – 3:42
4 – Choose To Be True – 2:28
5 – Highway To Zion – 3:02
6 – Dreamin – 4:20
7 – Love Boy Love Girl – 3:13
8 – Turn, Turn, Turn – 3:39
9 – We Live For The Sun – 3:44
10 – Free Her – 3:18
11 – See Me Fall – 4:48
Companies, etc.
Distributed By – The Benson Company, Inc.
Copyright (c) – Frontline Records
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Frontline Records
Copyright (c) – Broken Songs
Credits
Acoustic Guitar – Michael Knott
Art Direction – Ed McTaggart
Backing Vocals – Kenny Samuels
Bass Guitar – Brian Doidge
Drums – Kevin Lee
Electric Guitar – Doug Doyle, Michael Knott
Engineer – Doug Doyle
Keyboards – Doug Doyle, Michael Knott
Layout – Ed McTaggart
Liner Notes – Craig A.J. Keyzers
Percussion – Kevin Lee, Michael Knott
Photography By – Brian Ray
Producer – Doug Doyle
Saxophone – Allen Palmer
Vocals – Michael Knott
Written-By – Bill Robinson (tracks: 2), Chris Lizotte (tracks: 2), Jim Akin (tracks: 2), Michael Gerard Knott (tracks: 1 to 6, 7, 9 to 11), Pete Seger (tracks: 2)
