Category: Albums

Philadelphia – Search And Destroy – 1985/2000

Philadelphia were one of the early Christian metal acts starting out in 1982 though they had been together previously as a secular band called Survivor. This is their second album and was about as poorly as their first which wasn’t good. That reception was not due to the quality of the music, it was due to the early fear of heavy metal music in the Christian genre. Personally I think the album was perfect for the era and I’m surprised it wasn’t better accepted. The original vinyl and cassette are very rare but no numbers were published. Lucky for Philadelphia fans the album was re-released for the first time in 2000 by Millenium Eight Records. This release was limited to only 1500 copies and included 5 new tracks. “Please My Love” and “Kids in America” were recorded during a reunion in 1999, while the 3 live songs, “Warlord”, “Razor’s Edge”, and “One Way Out” were recorded at the Cornerstone Christian music festival in 1986. This playlist includes those tracks. The album was again re-released in 2019 on Roxx Records. This release had reworked album art which is a huge improvement over the original poor art.

Tracklist
1 – Search And Destroy – 6:02
2 – Bobby’s Song – 3:51
3 – Oh My Boy – 5:10
4 – Judgement Day – 3:51
5 – Mirror Man – 3:08
6 – Fastrack – 4:32
7 – Showdown – 4:27
8 – Decision Time – 5:56

2000 CD Release Bonus Tracks
9 – Please My Love – 5:22
10 – Kids In America – 3:55
11 – Warlord – 7:26
12 – Razor’s Edge – 5:57
13 – One Way Out – 5:06

Credits
Bass, Vocals – Brian Clark
Drums – Brian Martini
Executive Producer – Bill Bafford
Guitar – Paul Scholling, Ronn Flowers
Layout, Design – Scott Waters
Mastered By – Rob Colwell

Aunt Bettys – Aunt Bettys – 1996

Of all of Mike Knott’s multiple incarnation, Aunt Bettys is by far the most puzzling, controversial and utterly brilliant. Mike Knott should be a rock star and the Aunt Bettys should have been the vehicle to deliver him to that status. Combining the most frenetic writing, best of his previous work and a band recording live in the studio to create a loud and passionate rock and roll project. Not as pop and sweet as the Lifesavers, or as dour and dark as LSU, Aunt Betty’s took the best of Jane’s Addiction and kicked it in the ass. Much of the debut is made up of previously recorded or written songs from Mike’s repertoire, but here the versions seem faster, heavier, wilder. Many struggled with this release and the “not-so-sanitized” versions of some songs. “Jesus” still ranks among the best of Knott’s career. “Rock and a Bomb” is just a great song…period! But this is a rock and roll record and songs like Addict make it a 90’s classic. The version of Double is great, though here is the one time I would choose the original. The band would release other material but the flight to the bright lights never took off. Suffice it to say that no matter the incarnation, Knott is utterly brilliant and deserved much more than he received from the industry.

Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com

Tracklist
1 – Jesus – 3:36
2 – Mother Trucker – 3:00
3 – Star Baby – 1:48
4 – Skinny Bones Jones – 3:35
5 – Lush – 3:31
6 – Feel – 3:48
7 – Rocket & A Bomb – 4:47
8 – Addict – 2:06
9 – Speeder Mode – 2:53
10 – Kitty Courtesy – 3:06
11 – Little Fighter – 3:36
12 – Suicide Sex Doll – 2:09
13 – Jane – 3:11
14 – Cruel – 1:37
15 – Double – 3:25
16 – Rock And Roll – 2:17

Credits
Art Direction – Jennifer Roddie
Band, Bass, Backing Vocals – Brian Doidge
Band, Drums, Percussion – Chuck Cummings
Band, Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals – Andrew Carter
Band, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – Michael Knott
Engineer [Additional Engineers] – Bob Moon, Kevin Leonard
Executive-Producer – Lara Hill
Illustration – Tim Okamura
Management – Cahn-Man
Mastered By – Brian Gardner
Photography By – Jon Gipe
Producer, Engineer, Mixed By – Gene Eugene, Mark Rodriguez, Michael Knott
Written By – Michael Knott

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Elektra Entertainment Group
Copyright © – Elektra Entertainment Group
Recorded At – The Green Room
Mixed At – The Green Room
Mixed At – Sound Kitchen
Mastered At – Bernie Grundman Mastering
Published By – Almo Music Corp.
Published By – Stormie Lane Music
Pressed By – Specialty Records Corporation

Love Chapter Band – City Of Refuge – 1980

Since we uploaded the last album from this band I have learned a little bit about them but still not very much. As I understand it the band was lead by Bard and Doug Buss. They were BC (Canada) Christ’s Ambassadors and part of the Ambassadors in Mission (AIM) program of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. This was their second album on a Praise Records label with this one Being on Tunesmith. But again there I am out of information. I know they did tour across Canada appearing at several PAOC churches but they never made their way to our little town. As for the album it’s another 70’s style album and as usual from them it’s excellent.

Tracklist
1 – It’s Your Friends – 5:23
2 – Don’t Get Caught – 3:32
3 – What Does It Take – 3:12
4 – Don’t Pull That Trigger – 5:00
5 – Just When – 2:49
6 – Stepping Stones – 3:23
7 – Give It Up – 3:36
8 – Learn To Lean – 3:17
9 – City Of Refuge – 7:03

Credits
Lead Vocals – Bard Buss, Doug Buss, Ken Torrance, Dave Russell
Background Vocals – Tracy St. Laurent, Donna Mae Henkel, Barb Buss, Doug Buss, Ken Torrance, Dave Russell, Trev Lindberg
Guitars – Ken Torrance
Bass – Doug Buss
Piano, Synthesizer – Barb Buss, Bob Buckley
Drums – Ed Liu
Percussion – Ed Liu, Tom Wilkstrom, Ken Torrance
Sound Man – Tom Wilkstrom
Master – Bernie Grundman

Companies, etc.
Recorded, Mixed – Little Mountain Sound Co.

Jeff Fenholt – Jesus – 50’s – 1992

A fun 50’s themed project here from Jeff. Like most of his work this was self released and really there’s no way a record label would have touched this album anyway as many of the tracks sound very very familiar musically. That said I love all things 50’s so I love this album. It’s not Lifters level good but it is good nonetheless. I notice that the drummer is Jeff Olson. I don’t now if this is the same Jeff Olson from Trouble but if it is this is quite the style change for him. Rex Delong is on piano. He was in a great 60’s group called The Rumblers so he brings some authenticity to the project. Anyway as I said this is just a fun album that doesn’t take itself too seriously and is real easy to listen to.

Tracklist
1 – Jesus (Rocked My Soul) – 1:58
2 – Praise The Lord Tonite – 2:48
3 – Jesus The Lord – 4:16
4 – Everybody – 1:50
5 – Jesus, My Savior, My Lord – 3:37
6 – Jesus Is The Rock – 2:55
7 – I Got Saved – 2:11
8 – Jesus, You’re So Wonderful – 3:43
9 – I’m In Love – 2:16
10 – Jesus Loves Me – 1:12

Credits
Jeff Fenholt – Vocals, Producer, Arrangement
Larry Hernandez – Guitar
Rex Delong – Piano
Robert Nance – Upright Bass
Jeff Olson – Drums
Rick Balentine – Synthesizer, Producer, Arrangement
Glen Meyercough – Sax

Companies, etc.
Published By – Messiah Music
Published By – Heartwarming Music
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus, Virginia
Recorded at – Asaph Recording Studio

Magdallan – Big Bang – 1992

Magdallan’s “Big Bang” is the audio definition of an album that was hurt by too many delays in its release. Delayed well over a year (maybe two?), the album would have been the best album in its genre in 1989, but two or so years later and the whole music world changed. but even taking that into consideration, when one considers the album exclusively on its merit it cannot be denied as truly great work. The title may also be a track on the album, but it is also an adequate description of the totality of the album. It is BIG. Really, really big! Production is over the top with literally hundred of vocals layered on top of another and blazing guitar solos that are simply unmatched in CCM. I had lunch one day with Ken Tamplin and he spent the entire time talking about Hal Lindsey and the soon coming end of the world. I was really into the topic at the time and was fascinated. My ideology has shifted drastically in the past 25 years, but even though the album comes across like a track for the Pre-Trib Rapture theory, I cannot deny the unequaled quality of the album. The theme is so interwoven throughout the project that it becomes inescapable. the lead track is called “End of the Ages” and the content lyrically should be clear without any discussion. But what shines here though is some thoroughly enjoyable late 80’s guitar god, over-the-top solos. Though Tamplin was the lead vocalist for the project and primary songwriter, it should be noticed that the band really belongs to Lanny Cordolla. The famed House of Lords guitarist enlisted the help of his former band mates to round out the rest of the band. The high level of musicianship sets the record a[part from the rest of its contemporaries. This is shown in the diversity of arrangements and some of the greatest drumming on any arena rock album. Other stand outs include the title track, Radio Bikini (about the American nuclear bomb testing around WW2) and the ballad Wounded Heart. Despite a Dove Award nomination, the album never met sales projections though it was the best selling album for Intense Records (Frontline) of all time. Radio wouldn’t touch the ballads and the musical direction of rock radio had gone toward grunge and alternative.

Tracklist
1 – End Of The Ages – 6:12
2 – Radio Bikini – 4:41
3 – Shake – 3:50
4 – Wounded Hearts – 5:34
5 – Love To The Rescue – 5:07
6 – Old Hard Line – 4:31
7 – Dome Of The Rock – 4:47
8 – Big Bang – 4:51
9 – House Of Dreams – 4:17
10 – Cry Just A Little – 4:57
11 – Heartbreak Woman – 4:08
12 – This 1’s 4U – 2:46
13 – End Of The Ages (Reprise) – 0:34

Credits
Art Direction – Ed McTaggart
Bass, Acoustic Bass – Brian Bromberg
Co-producer, Engineer [Mixing], Engineer [Tracking] – Mick Guzouski
Cover [Painting “The Last Judgement”] – Michelangelo Buonarroti
Design – Brian Godawa
Drums – Ken Mary
Engineer [Second] – Eric Rudd, Pat Woehl
Engineer [Tracking] – Kim Bullard
Engineer [Tracking], Engineer [Second] – Gil Morales, Kevin Becka
Keyboards – Kim Bullard
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Ken Tamplin
Management – Mike Slarve, Nicki Slarve
Orchestrated By – Roger Mielke
Producer, Written-By – Ken Tamplin, Lanny Cordola
Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Sitar, Banjo, Mandolin – Lanny Cordola

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Ocean Way Recording, Mama Jo’s, The Lighthouse, The Barn, Los Angeles, CA
Mixed At – The Lighthouse, The Village Recorder, Mixing Lab A
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Intense Records (10)
Copyright © – Intense Records, Ken Tamplin Music, Cordman Music
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus, Virginia

Debbie McClendon – I Can Hardly Wait – 1985

Considering how relatively famous this lady is I can’t find anything about how ro where she got into music. Unfortunately it seems like every bio on her starts out when she met and subsequently married writer producer Scott V. Smith. Many of her bio’s don’t even mention this 1985 album. As this isn’t my genre of choice maybe this album was unknown and I just don’t know about it. That said I have listened to this album and it is fantastic for this style of soul. Strangely I keep hearing her style referred to as urban contemporary gospel. I’m not too sure what that is but I guess this is an example of it. To me it’s just a great soul R&B album. Like I say most people don’t even mention this album so maybe you haven’t heard it so here it is. If this is your genre, this is your kind of album. I guarantee it.

Tracklist
1 – Keeper Of My Heart – 4:18
2 – I Can Hardly Wait – 3:04
3 – When I Get In His Presence – 5:44
4 – Hiding In His Love – 4:09
5 – Worship The King – 4:02
6 – No No Doubts – 3:18
7 – I’m Free – 5:07
8 – I’d Rather Be Walking With You – 5:18
9 – When You’ve Got Nothing Left But Love – 6:08

Credits
Arrangments – Harvey Lyon, Scott V. Smith, Howard McCrary
Backing Vocals – Debbie McClendon, Howard Smith, Marietta Waters, Edythe Lyon, Gene Miller, Harvey Lyon
Bass – Leon Gaer
Choir – Bart Smith, Debbie McClendon, Edythe Lyon, Gene Miller, Harvey Lyon, Howard Smith, Julie DeSilva, Marietta Waters, Myrna Rochelle, Rene McClendon, Rod McNeil, Wilma Gibbs
Drums – Bill Maxwell
Drum Programming – Scott V. Smith
Engineer – Chris Desmond, Christomer Banninger, Todd Van Etten, Win Kutz
Executive-Producer – Mike Murdock
Flugelhorn – Charles Davis, Larry Hall
Graphic Design – Rhonda Jesson
Guest Vocals – Howard Smith
Guitar – Dean Parks, James Harrah, Jonathan DuBose
Keyboards – Harlan Rogers
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Mixed By – Christopher Banninger
Percussion – Willie Ornelas, Bill Maxwell
Photography By – Harry Langdon
Producer – Scott V. Smith
Synthesizer – Michael Ruff, Scott V. Smith
Synthesizer Programming – Bill Pearson, Scott V. Smith, Rhett Lawrence, Harvey Lyon
Technician – Mike Wanbsgans
Trombone – Andy Martin
Trumpet – Charles Davis, Larry Hall
Woodwind – Kim Hutchcroft
Written-By – Debbie McClendon, Harvey Lyon, Scott V. Smith, Howard McCrary, Mike Murdock

Companies, etc.
Produced For – Win-Way Productions, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Win-Way Productions, Inc.
Copyright © – Lexicon Music, Inc.
Recorded At – Mama Jo’s
Mixed At – Mama Jo’s

Steve Grace – Liberty Road – 1994

This is Steve’s third studio album and this one really started to set the Christian music market in Australia on fire. I am still entirely bewildered at why he wasn’t promoted more in the North America. This album did get a North American release but R.E.X. Music struggled with non heavy metal releases on their Storyville label. I am sure with proper promotion this guy would have been huge. The quality of songwriting is very very good and I feel his folksy sound would have been very well received though I do admit he has a strong Australian twang that hasn’t traditionally done well in the American market. To this day Australia has their own country music that does very well at home but not in America. Anyway onto the album. I feel his songwriting had really matured at this point. These songs aren’t just simple choruses and basic verses, instead these are real story telling songs. The score is much more basic but it should be for this style. So if you missed this one due to geography give it a listen now, it’s great.

Tracklist
1 – Liberty Road – 4:42
2 – Song For America – 4:52
3 – Droughtland Rain – 4:34
4 – Living For Love – 3:47
5 – Texas – 3:36
6 – Burning Town – 4:02
7 – Somebody – 4:05
8 – Things That Really Matter – 4:04
9 – Crazy Road Of Life – 3:32
10 – Waiting For You – 3:35
11 – Long Live Your Dreams – 4:16

Credits
Accordion – Jen Anderson
Acoustic Guitar – Phil Butson, Steve Grace
Arranged By [Vocals Arrangements] – Rose Bygrave
Backing Vocals – Andy Sorenson, Chris Butson, Dee Shannon, Jay McNeil, Kathy Johnston, Kerrie Simpson, Marcia Howard, Phil Butson, Rod Davies, Rose Bygrave, Shane Howard, Steve Grace
Bass – Steve Hadley
Drums – Peter Luscombe
Electric Guitar – Jeffrey Burstin, Phil Butson
Engineer [Additional Engineering] – Kaj Dahlstrom
Fiddle – Jen Anderson
Guitar – Tommy Emmanuel
Guitar [Wah Wah Guitar] – Phil Butson
Harmonica – Steve Grace
Keyboards – Chong Lim
Mandolin – Jeffrey Burstin
Mastered By – Don Bartley
Mixed By – Doug Brady
Music By – Phil Butson, Steve Grace
Organ [Hammond] – James Black
Piano – James Black, Jen Anderson
Producer, Engineer, Mixed By – Phil Butson
Resonator Guitar [Dobro] – Tommy Emmanuel
Saxophone – Joe Camilleri, Rob Burke
Slide Guitar – Joe Camilleri
Violin – Jen Anderson
Words By – Steve Grace
Words By, Music By – Tim Hill

Companies, etc.
Mixed At – Metropolis Audio
Mixed At – Sing Sing Studios
Mastered At – EMI Studios 301

Mark Heard – Second Hand – 1991

I am sure as I type this that I am going to regret placing this album “too low” and even more I will probably regret admitting that Second Hand is actually one of my personal least favorite Mark Heard albums. That being said I also understand what a tremendous record it is despite my personal likings. Perhaps its that the album is a bit more “folky” than others and less rock oriented that sways my opinion. But one thing I do know, that it is not about the songs. In fact, when these same songs are performed by others with different arrangements they become personal favorites. When Pierce Pettis (who I totally made a mistake not including) did “Nod Over Coffee” I was instantly in love with the song. Same with the cover of Lonely Moon. There are some songs though that no one can touch Heard’s version: The first is “Worry Too Much.” What an amazing performance by heard here and is a personal favorite from the album. “I Just Wanna Get Warm” is another highlight with great mandolin and violin work. But one must remember that even a “least favorite” Mark Heard album is still better and more enjoyable than 95% of the rest of the music I own!

Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com

Tracklist
1 – Nod Over Coffee – 4:38
2 – Lonely Moon – 4:54
3 – Worry Too Much – 4:13
4 – Look Over Your Shoulder – 3:29
5 – She Don’t Have A Clue – 3:47
6 – Talking In Circles – 4:05
7 – Love Is Not The Only Thing – 4:58
8 – I Just Wanna Get Warm – 3:53
9 – Another Good Lie – 5:39
10 – All Too Soon – 3:57
11 – It’s Not Your Fault – 3:23
12 – I’m Looking Through You – 3:40
13 – What Kind Of Friend – 2:42
14 – The Ways Of Men – 5:07

Credits
Acoustic Bass [Acoustic Bass Guitar], Electric Bass – Bill Batstone
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Organ [Hammond], Vocals, Accordion, Mandolin, Harmonica – Mark Heard
Artwork – Mark Heard
Backing Vocals – Pam Dwinell-Miner
Chapman Stick – Fergus Jemison Marsh
Double Bass [Stand-up], Electric Bass – Glen Holmen
Drums – David Raven, Steve Hindalong
Engineer [Second] – Buddy Miller, Joel Russell
Executive-Producer – Chuck Long
Fiddle – Doug Atwell
Mastered By – Eddy Schreyer
Pedal Steel Guitar, Dobro – Greg Liesz
Percussion – David Baker
Photography By – Joel Russell
Producer [Associate] – Dan Russell
Producer, Recorded By, Mixed By – Mark Heard
Written-By – Lennon-McCartney, Mark Heard, Steve Padgett

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Fingerprint Recorders
Mixed At – Fingerprint Recorders
Recorded At – Neverland
Mastered At – Future Disc

PowerSource – Shelter From The Storm – 1986

This album has an interesting history. The album was released by a “band” that was heavily associated with a music ministry known as Gospel Workshop for Children that essentially put out children’s music. This album is partly oriented to children as partly at an adult audience. Not really the best album idea which is probably why it was self released and not on a label. Okay now onto why this album is pretty famous. The track “Dear Mr. Jesus” is a child (Sharon Batts) singing a song all about child abuse. This song ended up getting played in 1987 around Christmas time on Tampa radio station WRBQ-FM. It took off from there and reached all the way to #61 on the Hot 100 in January 1988. This all occurred at the time of the story of Elizabeth “Lisa” Steinberg, a 6-year-old New York girl beaten to death by her adoptive father Joel Steinberg in November 1987, became national news. The original release of the album had very limited numbers but several re-releases have occurred so people could get their hands on a copy. The band was smart enough to keep control of the song through all this and I hope they did well from it’s fame. Now my critique of the album. The adult oriented tracks are pretty good and “Lil’ Rebel” went right into my regular rotation. Like I said the album doesn’t make a whole lotta sense to me but I’m overly critical of this sometimes. If for no other reason this album should be listened to for it’s historical value.

Tracklist
1 – Only Child – 2:48
2 – Lil’ Rebel – 4:38
3 – Dear Mr. Jesus – 3:59
4 – Little Lambs – 2:50
5 – Jesus On My Side – 3:23
6 – Champion – 3:35
7 – Jesus I Heard You Had A Big House – 2:59
8 – Jesus Hears – 3:11
9 – God’s Little People – 3:34
10 – I’ll Never Stop – 4:20

Credits
Drums – Gene Glover, Gregg Bissonette
Bass – Bruce Lett
Piano – Bert Ligan
Guitar – Richard Klender, Larry Rolando, B. James Lowery
Banjo & Steel Guitar -Brian Thomas
Percussion – Gene Glover, Richard Klender, Bruce Lett
Disc Mastering – Wally Teaugott
String Arrangements – Dana Charles, Kevin B. Cleary

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Gospel Workshop For Children, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Gospel Workshop For Children, Inc.
Produced At – Richard Klender

Walter Hawkins And The Love Center Choir – Love Alive – 1975

Walter started his music career as a member of a family band fronted by his brother Edwin. The family band was the house band for the Northern California State Youth Choir of the Church of God in Christ. They actually had a major hit with their cover of “Oh Happy Day” in 1969. Walter Hawkins left the Edwin Hawkins Singers in the early 1970s to establish the Love Center Church and choir in Oakland, California. He also had great success with this arrangement releasing several albums. This is the first of that series of albums though it is actually his second solo album as he had a previous release without the choir. Also appearing on the album is his wife Tramaine Hawkins who was very successful Gospel singer on her own. One of the stranger things about this album is that Walter continued calling most of his albums “Love Alive” just adding a release number. I guess his thinking was don’t mess with a successful thing. This particular album was re-released several times over the years which is a testament to its popularity. I was not a follower of this genre in the 80’s but I wish I had been as the soul side of CCM had some great music and fantastic artists such as Walter Hawkins. Unfortunately Walter passed away in 2010 at the young age of 61 from cancer.

Tracklist
1 – Follow Me – 3:56
2 – Dear Jesus, I Love You – 4:03
3 – I Love The Lord – 6:17
4 – Changed – 8:01
5 – Changed (Reprise) – 2:23
6 – I Won’t Be Satisfied – 4:45
7 – God Is – 7:06
8 – I’m Not The Same – 4:11
9 – Goin’ Up Yonder – 9:40

Credits
Arranged By – Walter Hawkins
Cover [Design] – Thel A. Eichmann
Drums – Joel Smith
Engineer – Phil Edwards
Liner Notes – Andraé Crouch
Organ – Danny Hawkins
Photography By [Cover] – Tina Farley
Piano – Edwin Hawkins
Producer – Walter Hawkins

Companies, etc.
Published By – Lexicon Music, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Lexicon Music, Inc.
Copyright © – Lexicon Music, Inc.
Record Company – Light Records
Recorded At – Ephesian Church, Berkeley, CA
Recorded By – Wally Heider Recording
Pressed By – Abbey Record Manufacturing Co., Inc.