This is the only album from Fast Forword. The band was from Alta Loma, California and according to Bass player Mike Wood half the songs were recorded in San Francisco at Tecate Studio and the other half in a garage recording studio in Ontario, California. This explains the varying quality of the production. Mike also says they were influenced by Stryper, Motley Crue, Led Zeppelin, etc. The band graduated college and moved on with their respective careers.
Track Listing:
1 – Reach For Heaven
2 – Child Of Society
3 – Trouble In The City
4 – Take Me Away
5 – Message For America
6 – He’ll Never Leave You
7 – Answer The Call
8 – I’ll See You Once Again
Credits:
Thomas Dodd – Guitar
Scott Johnson – Drums
Steve Krepps – Lead Vocals
Michael S. Wood – Bass
Tim Sheppard was “discovered” by Dallas Holm in 1975. This album was the result of that moment. Though it’s a mid 80’s album I didn’t really get a Jesus Music feel. Instead it’s more easy listening 70’s pop. Tim released several other albums including a couple with Dallas Holm.
Tracklist
1 – Joy In The Morning – 4:57
2 – Would You Believe In Me? – 3:39
3 – Sweet Lovin’ Grace – 3:34
4 – Just Because He Loves You – 3:40
5 – “Till I Met The Christ” – 3:36
6 – Psalm 9 – 2:37
7 – Rain Fallin’ Down – 3:42
8 – Soliloquy – 5:00
9 – He’s Coming Back – 3:43
10 – Are You Ready? – 3:24
Credits
Art Direction – Bob McConnell
Bass – Jack Williams
Drums – Kenny Malone
Engineer [Recording And Remixing] – Bob Clark
Guitar – Bobby Thompson, Joe Huffman, Steve Gibson
Keyboards – Shane Keister
Photography By – Dill Beaty
Piano, Written-By – Tim Sheppard
Producer – Phil Johnson
Steel Guitar – Weldon Myrick
After The Fire has a bit of an odd story. By the time this album charted in the U.S. the band had broken up.
Interestingly the album charted in Canada quicker so the band was still together. The album is actually a “Greatest Hits” package and includes the best songs from 3 albums only released in the U.K.
Now that the history lesson is done let’s discuss the album. The album has a strong synth sound but I would describe it as a techno/new wave hybrid.
Of course we all know about the Der Kommissar cover but hey there’s other hits on this album. Checkout “Sometimes” for an upbeat fun song. The band has resurrected itself a few times with different members to tour and cut a few tracks.
Track Listing:
1 – Laser Love – 3:28
2 – One Rule For You – 3:24
3 – Dancing In The Shadows – 3:01
4 – Sometimes – 3:07
5 – Sailing Ship – 3:55
6 – Carry Me Home – 3:22
7 – Frozen Rivers – 3:33
8 – Love Will Always Make You Cry – 3:32
9 – Starflight – 3:46
10 – Der Kommissar – 5:43
11 – 1980-F – 2:32
This album was the second and last album using “AD” as the band name.
This album saw the departure of vocalist Warren Ham. Replacing him was Michael Gleason who had worked with Livgren in the past.
This album had more keyboards so it had a more 80’s techno sound but it wasn’t done too strong. Kerry engineered and produced this album and some reviewers actually criticized his skills in this area but personally I though the production was on par with his other albums.
Track Listing:
1 – All Fall Down – 4:27
2 – Life Of Crime – 4:16
3 – No Standing – 3:56
4 – Exiles – 4:15
5 – We Draw That Line – 3:43
6 – Walking The Wire – 3:44
7 – You Are The Distance – 4:06
8 – Highway To The Heart – 3:45
9 – One Golden Thread – 4:20
Credits:
Art Direction – Jean Hoefel
Backing Vocals – Terry Brock (tracks: A2, A4 to B2, B4, B5)
Bass Guitar – Dave Hope
Design [Jacket Design] – Jim Shanman
Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion – Kerry Livgren
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Keyboards – Michael Gleason
Percussion – Dennis Holt
Producer, Engineer – Kerry Livgren
Written-By – Kerry Livgren (tracks: A1 to B1, B3, B5), Michael Gleason (tracks: A1, B2 to B4 )
Randy Weiss & The Pilgrim Band only had one release that we know of, entitled “Munch Manna Spirit Flakes.”
This unique and wonderful record is the only example I know of a CCM recording by a Messianic Jew. I have to admit that until discovering this album in 1983 I had no idea that Messianic Jews existed.
As a CCM album, this was an independent release that did not seem to gather a lot of attention. Independent releases didn’t garner a lot of attention in general in the 1980s.
The musicianship is good and creative, but hard to put a finger on. It has a certain 60s rockabilly or country-gospel style with a wandering vocal that seems to take it outside that genre.
Subject-wise it seems to fit the traditional praise style of Jesus music.
Buckle in, buckle down, and set your expectations on “whatever happens next.” Get ready for these lyrics:
Pharoah’s dead / God’s people, we are free / And the LORD ain’t out of groceries
Track Listing:
1 – I Don’t Need No Designer Jeans
2 – The Nickel Song
3 – 3 Times Down
4 – Involvement
5 – NonDemumbo-Jumbinational
6 – Munchy Manna
7 – Wander Over Yonder
8 – 5 For A Dollar
9 – Covered By Gods Love
10 – Voices
11 – City Song
12 – My Boys
13 – God & A Mothers Love
14 – Psalm 69
This is John’s 2nd solo album but he had several compilation albums.
He really should have done more solo albums as he really does some great Rock & Roll.
I will admit that there are a few songs with a new wave vibe but generally it’s a good Rock & Roll album. The fact that John is a drummer actually comes through in his music.
I’ve never heard so many songs start with a drum intro on any album. It’s not a complaint however because it works great on this album. Bottom line is that this is a great album that should be in your 80’s collection.
Track Listing:
1 – Hey Landlord
2 – Child of Heaven
3 – Drive Away
4 – Point Of View
5 – Back In Love
6 – Channel 53
7 – Gate Into The Sky
8 – All Of Your Love
9 – Call For Surrender
10 – There Will Come A Time
Credits:
Co-producer – Bill Batstone
Producer – John Mehler
This is a 2 disc CD release that features Alternative Records artists on Disc 1 and Stunt Records on Disc 2.
It is the sister release to “Shirley, Goodness, And Misery”, a sampler from the same labels. Unfortunately it doesn’t even approach the quality of “Shirley, Goodness, And Misery.”
Now I admit there are some great tracks on this album but I personally found a lot of them to be boring. The tracks that were not released on other albums are cutting room floor material.
Quite frankly some songs belong on the cutting room floor. Anyway check out the excellent 77’s tracks and when you have time the others. They’re not as bad as I make out, I’m just being a bit melodramatic.
Track Listing:
1 – Two-Pound Planet – No Room – 3:52
2 – Two-Pound Planet – One Time/Bop Apocalypse – 3:55
3 – 7 & 7 is (77s) – Miserable – 4:07
4 – 7 & 7 is (77s) – Treasure In You – 4:53
5 – Steve Scott – Not A Pretty Picture – 4:07
6 – Steve Scott – Call Of The Wild – 4:16
7 – John Nau – Burn It Low – 3:32
8 – Two-Pound Planet – Sinister Sun [Demo] – 3:51
9 – Steve Scott – Memory Babe (Live) – 3:19
10 – Silver Express – Steel Guitar Rag – 1:28
11 – Daniel Amos (Crime Horse) – Like Lazarus – 3:26
12 – Daniel Amos (Crime Horse) – Stones Of Venice – 3:56
13 – Smokin’ Globes – Roll The Stone Away – 3:33
14 – Mojo Monkeys – Eye Of The Sun – 4:02
15 – Boy-O-Boy – She Makes Love With Her Eyes – 4:40
16 – Boy-O-Boy – That’s What You Get – 3:09
17 – Rob Watson – Wall Around My Heart – 3:39
18 – Rob Watson – The Graylands – 8:15
Credits:
Compilation Producer [For Alternative Records] – Randy Layton
Design, Layout – Patton Brothers Design
Executive-Producer – Randy Layton, Tom Gulotta
Mastered By – Doug Doyle
Tracks 1 & 2 from 2 Pound Planet* – Songs From The Hydrogen Jukebox
Tracks 3 & 4 from 7 & 7 Is* – More Miserable Than You’ll Ever Be
Tracks 5 & 6 from Steve Scott – Lost Horizon
Track 8 is a brand new song, in demo form
Track 9A (1st 3:19 of track 9) is a live version from 1985
Track 9B (last 4:07 of track 9) is a hidden and uncredited song, a sort of a Riverhouse outtake per Randy Layton of Alternative Records
Track 10 is “intermission music”
Tracks 11 & 12 are demos recorded in 1988
Track 15 recorded in 1986 at Whitefield Studio Annex
Track 16 recorded in 1984 at Poeima Studio
Tracks 17 & 18 produced and engineered at Goldmine in Ventura
This is a live album that I believe was from the tour to support Atomic Arena. It was recorded at the International Ballroom, Pico Rivera CA. There are 6 songs from “Rock for the King”, 6 from “Atomic Arena”, and there are also 2 “concert tunes”. I’m going to go out on a limb here and give my thoughts on why this album exists. It was released after theit third album “State Of Control” but was obviously the support tour for “Atomic Arena”. The recording is poor as if it wasn’t actually recorded for release. It is my theory that the label “Medusa Records”, a division of “Enigma Records” simply put it out as a cash grab. The recording just doesn’t have that professionally recorded feel. That said live albums are more for the bands real fans and as such this album will fill that void.
Tracklist
1 – Imaginary Music
2 – Dying Day
3 – Killers Of The Unborn
4 – Close To The Edge
5 – Going Nowhere
6 – Dead Lock
7 – Opus To The Third Heaven
8 – King Of Kings
9 – In The Eye Of The Fire
10 – Rock For The King
11 – Light The Flame
12 – Terrorist Child
13 – King Jesus & Blues Jam
14 – Give Your Life
Credits
Bass – Jim LaVerde
Design – Lisa Sutton (2)
Drums – Steve Whitaker
Guitar – Mike Lee (2), Ray Parris
Guitar [Guest] – Vince Mendoza
Keyboards [Guest] – Christine Whitaker
Management – International Management Group
Mixed By – Robert Feist
Mixed By [Assistant] – Don Tittle
Photography By – Gary Apodaca
Recorded By – Jim Faraci
Vocals – Mike Lee (2)
Vocals [Guest] – Alaysius Collado
This is the only album I have heard from The Robet Case Band.
That said Robert Case’s bio states “he traveled throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia with the Robert Case Band singing and preaching the gospel of grace.
During that time they produced praise/worship albums in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, and Russian.” I am unable to find any of these foreign language albums but I’m sure they are of the same style and quality of this album.
This album was released on the MRC label but it is not their usual type of talent. To be clear this is a worship style album.
The quality of songwriting and production is excellent and I’m actually quite surprised it wasn’t more popular than it was. Robert Case has gone on to be the Head Pastor at the Eastside Calvary Temple in Bellevue WA.
Track Listing: 01 – Bless the Lord – 2:45 02 – I Wanna Be Like Jesus – 3:51 03 – I Love You Lord – 3:52 04 – Psalm 62 – 2:05 05 – Falling – 2:02 06 – Come To Me – 3:46 07 – It Won’t Be Long – 4:13 08 – What is Man – 3:40 09 – Fool For Christ – 3:21 10 – When You’re Hot – 4:10 11 – Make a Noise – 3:20
This was the final album from the Janz family known as Deliverance. Born in Canada of Mennonite descent they actually formed in Germany.
Though this album came out in 1979 it is not Jesus Music. In fact it is a blend of Disco and fusion and actually sounds a lot like the Bee Gee’s to me. Unfortunately this was the last album as there was some sort of a dispute with the record company. Anyway if you only have time for one cut I suggest the title track “Tightrope”.
Tracklist 1 – Foolish Hearts – 5:16 2 – Tightrope – 3:06 3 – Farewell (Bye, Bye, Bye ) – 4:16 4 – Prince Of The Galaxies – 3:01 5 – Leaving L.A. – 2:52 6 – Back Seat Rider – 3:24 7 – Can You Survive – 7:29 8 – Face The Lady – 3:52 9 – Re-Creation – 3:51
Credits Arranged By – Deliverance Arranged By [Horns] – Paul Janz Bass – Guy (Froggy) Roellinger Cover, Artwork – Dieter Ziegenfeuter Design [Graphic] – Marietta Frommberger-Zimmermann Drums – David McSparran Engineer [Assistant] – Curtis Drake Engineer [Mixing] – Jochen Scheffter Engineer [Recording] – Jochen Scheffter, Mal Luker, Zeke Lund Guitar – Jacques Emanuel Belzung Keyboards – Paul Janz Lyrics By – Ken Janz Music By – Paul Janz Percussion – Elmer Louis Producer – Deliverance, Horst Müller Saxophone, Harmonica – Bobby Stern Trumpet – Lee Harper, Scott Newton Vocals – Danny Janz, Ken Janz, Paul Janz
