Category: Albums

Ishmael And Andy – Ready Salted – 1973

As near as I can tell this is the first album from both Rev. Ian Smale (Ishmael) and Andy Piercy. As such this is an important album in my After The Fire tentacles project. I read that Andy and Ishmael were very good friends and they did more projects like this at the time. They actually had self released a 45 the year before this album but strangely neither of those tracks made it to this album. This was one of the first releases on Myrrh which was called Myrrh Gold at the time. Side 2 of the album might have been recorded live or perhaps just had applause mixed in I’m not sure. Anyway the album mainly consists of them each on an acoustic guitar. As for style it leans more toward Ishmael’s style with a heavier folk influence. The intro track is also probably the best track on the album. Anyway so here’s where two of my favourite artists started out. Also note that Ishmael re released the album on CD at some point and added a 12th track which we have included.

Tracklist
1 – Salt & Light Company – 3:35
2 – Psalm 139 Vs 6-12 – 4:35
3 – Paddy – 5:00
4 – Son Of God – 2:58
5 – Who Is He? – 4:35
6 – Hallelujah Chorus – 3:07
7 – We Got Jesus,We got Joy – 2:36
8 – Schitzo – 2:57
9 – Charisma – 2:50
10 – All Gods Children – 2:16
11 – I’m So Happy – 4:07
12 – The Lords Army – 1:34

Credits
Design, Photography – Bernard A Cope
Engineer – Lea Nicholson, Nic Kinsey
Engineer [Cutting] – John Wadley
Performer – Andy Piercy, Ishmael, Littlehampton Youth For Christ
Producer – Bobbie Graham

After Eleven – It’s About Time – 1989

Here’s another one of those mystery 80’s cassettes. This one has a great late 80’s alternative feel and sound and is well produced and engineered. This is all we got from them and it doesn’t look like any of the members went on to do any other published projects. So this is one we have to enjoy as a standalone and wonder why we never got more.

Tracklist
1 – You Don’t Know Me – 4:25
2 – Lightning – 3:50
3 – Nothin’ To You – 3:06
4 – Private 1 – 4:02
5 – Overflow – 4:16
6 – Running Out – 3:36
7 – Black And White – 4:05
8 – Nova Huta – 4:39
9 – St. Peter’s Village – 3:34
10 – Beach Tags – 4:48

Credits
Bass, Vocals – T. William Gallagher
Drums, Percussion – Mike Ling
Guitar, Vocals – Doug Davidson

Peter York – Close To The Bone – 1983

Peter had performed as a studio musician in the 70’s and 80’s and in his whole career he appears on over 100 albums. Strangely though this is his only personal album. You may know Peter better as the CEO of Sparrow Records and Capitol Christian Music Group. He was involved with Sparrow records in some form for 37 years and just retired in 2020. Anyway back to the album. It was only released in Australia and only on cassette so I am guessing most people have never heard it. It was recorded in 1983 after Peter was able to find a benefactor to pay for the studio time. Peter put together a pretty good team of relatively unknown studio musicians and the album turned out great. I’m actually quite confused that this album didn’t get picked up as it is really good and as Peter was connected in the industry. Oh well thankfully the album is on the internet for us to enjoy today.

Tracklist
1 – Key To My Heart
2 – I’m Alone
3 – Lovely Smile
4 – It’s All Right
5 – On This Day
6 – Noonkanbah
7 – Close To The Bone
8 – Blow Your House Away
9 – Willie’s Blues
10 – So Good To Be Alive

Credits
Martin Zammit – drums
Duane Mitchell – bass.
Graham McCoy – guitar
Jordie Young – flute, vocals
Les Price – keyboards
Rowan Shinkfield – bass on “Willie’s Blues”
Peter Fiddler – guitar on “Blow Your House Away”

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Just Life
Copyright © – Hedgehog Music
Distributed By – Just Life (Australia)
Recorded At – David Briggs Productions

Jeff Scheetz – Warp Speed – 1988

The story goes that Jeff cut this album/demo in 3 days to demo his guitar work. The story is that it was picked up by a Mexican label and then he got a record deal with Pure Metal records but in reality the timeline doesn’t work so I have no idea how that all worked. I do know that in 2005 this album along with his second album “Woodpecker Stomp” were released as a single CD. As for what we have here is some excellent heavy guitar work. The album is an instrumental which is a little disappointing because there’s some great tracks here but it was recorded as a demo so I understand why. Many people consider Jeff one of the best guitarists in the genre and I have to admit listening to this album will probably support that view.

Tracklist
1 – St. Valentine – 3:46
2 – Warp Speed – 3:44
3 – The Black Cat – 0:42
4 – Tornado Alley – 4:04
5 – Shark Attack – 3:32
6 – Lone Wolf – 5:46
7 – Amazing Grace – 3:38

Credits
Bass – Eddie Pruitt
Drums – Gabriel Anthony
Engineer – Alan Pangelinan
Guitar, Producer – Jeff Scheetz
Keyboards – Eric Greif
Producer – Eric Greif

Zipcodes – Sold Sight Unseen – 1988

While Andy Piercy was off recording his new album Peter Banks and Pete King went into the studio to record this rather excellent album. Even though it was recorded and mixed in Peter’s home studio it sounds radio ready to me. I am assuming they shopped the album around but like all things After The Fire the record labels didn’t want it. I will try to not go off on a tangent again about how After The Fire and subsequent member recordings were treated but I just simply can’t understand how this didn’t get picked up. Anyway it lived on a shelf until Pete King’s death in 1987 when Peter took it back out to try to get it released in memory of Pete. Lucky for us Christian label Plankton Records picked up the ball and released the album. Unfortunately it looks like it was only released on cassette and of course it had a tiny distribution so most of us never heard it but here it is. This is yet another excellent 80’s sounding album that we should have been able to hear at the time.

Tracklist
1 – Got My Reasons – 3:46
2 – Making It Tougher – 2:58
3 – I Won’t Go Home – 2:34
4 – Hold Me Tight – 3:38
5 – Where Are You Now – 3:36
6 – Let It Go – 3:38
7 – Hold On – 2:53
8 – Never Let It Be Said – 3:37
9 – Nothing You Can Say – 3:22
10 – Found You Out – 3:04
11 – Call Me Up – 4:22
12 – Something special – 3:28

Credits
Peter Banks
Peter King
Stewart Van Blandameyer
Elana Harris
Mark Pearson
Colin Pye
Keith Smith
Dave West
Simon Wilkinson

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Rondor Music (London) Ltd.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Plankton Records

Andy Piercy & David Clifton – Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow – 1993

In 1993 Andy got together with David Clifton and recorded a “worship album” and it is without a doubt my favourite worship album of all time. Now you may be wondering who David Clifton is as did I but I can bet you’ve probably heard him. He is a prolific studio guitarist who has appeared on a ton of album and done a ton of tours. He actually started out his recording career in a band called Sensible Jerseys who had a couple of really good singles you’ve probably never heard but you should. As for this album the songs are all very worship oriented BUT the arrangements are not. The arrangements are very contemporary and it really works. Now you know I love Andy’s music and this album may have my favourite track by him. “Precious In Your Eyes” has a fantastic sound and I can sense a touch of Elvis Costello but let’s give Andy and David all the credit. It is a fantastic track. This album was first released on Cassette in 1993 with a CD release in 1994. It has been re-released a few times since with a few tracks added here and there but this is the original.

Tracklist
1 – Praise God – 4:09
2 – God Is Our Refuge – 3:58
3 – Oh How I Love Your Law – 3:58
4 – Come Let Us Sing – 3:01
5 – I Need A New Heart – 2:04
6 – Thank You – 2:25
7 – Father In Heaven – 3:25
8 – Holy Holy – 4:34
9 – Precious In Your Eyes – 5:01
10 – Name High Over All – 3:00

Credits
Andy Piercy: vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion
David Clifton: vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin and mandola
Dudley Phillips: bass guitar
Terl Bryant: drums and percussion
Martin Neal: drums and percussion
Steve Creese: drums
Pete Sainsbury: keyboards
Holly Coward, Jess Rudolf, Ellen Holly & Laura Piercy, Benj, Barny, Kirsty & Josh Lee: backing vocals
Produced by Andy Piercy & David Clifton

Solid Rock – Real 2 Reel – 1985

Third and final LP from Oklahoma group Solid Rock. They are best known for their progressive 70’s rock sound and this album they continue that but give their music a more 80’s sound and feel. They did a great job of adjusting their music to changing times. The problem of course is that niche CCN bands had an even smaller audience. Too bad because these guys were very good and did this style very very well. Only time for one track? Check out “Time Goes By”.

Tracklist
1 – Uncommon Valor – 3:38
2 – Plastic Love Affair – 3:36
3 – Open Your Eyes – 3:30
4 – No Substitute – 2:48
5 – Time Goes By – 4:08
6 – Blind Lead The Blind – 2:45
7 – Wheel Of Fortune – 2:35
8 – Alien – 4:46
9 – Where Are The Banners – 4:16
10 – Right Road – 3:09

Credits
Bass, Vocals – Kevin Bartel
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Larry Percy
Guitar, Vocals – Stan Mathis
Keyboards, Vocals – Scott Jay
Lead Vocals, Keyboards – Jerry Johnson

Companies, etc.
Copyright © – Interdesign Music

Brighton – Promise Of Love – 1991

Brighton was fronted by David Brighton. On bass was Mark Robertson who would go on to be in several bands including Altar Boys, The Stand, and Rich Mullins to name a few. Drummer Steve Latanation was and has also been in a ton of bands but none of them Christian that I can tell. Guitarist Dave Wronski and Keyboardist Denny Bouchard rounded out the band. This is a 90’s band that I think would have fit better in the 80’s. That is not a negative comment because I absolutely love their sound. I first heard these guys through a live clip recorded at the 1991 Flevo festival and knew I had to find and upload the album. This is a great Rock/Pop album with the standout track being “(Doesn’t Sound Like) Love To Me”. Also of note is Boulevard which has a pretty good early 90’s rock feel. The novelty track on the album is “Anytime At All” which is a Beatles cover and the band does a pretty good cover which is very much like the original. This is the only album we got from them though they did have a demo before this with the same name and many of the same tracks. If we find it we will post it. The Elefante brothers must have liked what they heard in the demo and signed them for a deal on Pakaderm records which generally had more hard rock oriented bands but I still think these guys were a good fit for the label. So in closing if you missed this one in the 90’s you really should give it a listen.

Tracklist
1 – Promise Of Love – 4:13
2 – On Any Sunday – 3:40
3 – Wash Me In The Rain Again – 4:05
4 – I Would Die For You – 3:55
5 – And You Know – 3:30
6 – Anytime At All – 2:07
7 – (Doesn’t Sound Like) Love To Me – 3:40
8 – Run Through The Flames – 4:10
9 – Boulevard – 3:12
10 – Cursing The Night – 3:50

Credits
Art Direction, Design – Terry DeGraff
Backing Vocals – J. Elefante, Linda Elias
Bass, Vocals – Mark Robertson
Booking – Street Level Booking Agency
Design Concept – Jeff Michaels
Drums, Vocals – Steven W. Latanation
Engineer – Randy Thomas
Engineer [Assistant] – Jeff Simmons
Engineer, Mixed By – Mike Mierau
Executive-Producer – John Elefante
Executive-Producer, Engineer, Mixed By, Guitar – Dino Elefante
Guitar – Dave Wronski
Keyboards – Denny Bouchard
Photography – Karen Brighton
Producer – The Pakaderm Company
Vocals, Guitar, Producer, Design Concept – David Brighton

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Manufactured By – JVC
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Published By – Word Music
Published By – MacLen Music
Recorded At – Pakaderm Studios
Recorded At – Allies Recording Studio
Mastered At – Future Disc

Zion (OR) – Cry Out – 1987

There are several “Zion”s in the CCM market. This is the one from Jacksonville, Oregon. They were an excellent Pop Rock band that released two self financed albums. This is the second one of those albums. I’m a little mystified how these guys didn’t get a record deal. They are really good in my opinion. The vocals are shared between Dave Day and Linda Holt Morrison. I’m a big fan of Dave’s vocals but I struggle with Linda’s. That said I think it could be fixed in post production but what do I know. I don’t like Sandie Brock from Servants vocals either so I think it comes down to personal preference. My other small criticism is that the tracks are a touch long but again that would be fixed in post production. But lets toss all that aside because this is a great album and it’s pretty well engineered. The credits say it was mastered by Steve Hall. I don’t know if it’s THE Steve Hall but if it is wow, he’s one of the best. Anyway this is a great Pop Rock album and there are a couple tracks here that are going on my playlist for sure.

Tracklist
1 – Cry Out – 5:10
2 – The Edge – 4:03
3 – Kidz – 5:31
4 – Take My Life – 5:46
5 – Heaven Help Us – 6:17
6 – Rad – 4:16
7 – Love You To Life – 4:43
8 – I’ll Be There – 5:57

Credits
Bass, Vocals, Guitar – Larry Wick
Drums, Percussion – John Scott Armas
Guitar, Lead Vocals – Dave Day
Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals, Producer – Jeff Bates
Lead Vocals – Linda Holt Morrison
Mastered By – Steve Hall

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Starlight Recording, Applegate, Oregon
Mastered At – Future Disc
Published By – Crosstalk Music
Published By – D-Day Music

Split Level – Sons Of Liberty – 1987

This is the second album from Split Level and what a great album it is. Their first album was released on a label I’ve never heard of and can’t find any record of, Big Feet Records. I also can’t find a copy of the album. The band went into the studio with Andy McCarroll who was about to produce his first album. Reportedly when the album came out the band said the album didn’t sound like them. I just watched a live cut of them and I think it did represent them well. Maybe the band wasn’t used to a studio album toning down the rawness that band has live. From the one track I saw live the album is a pretty good representation. Anyway the album was popular and the band kept on touring and playing gigs where they thought they could reach people who wouldn’t normally listen to Christian music. It should be noted that the released album track order was not the same as the album label. I have no idea if this was intentional or a gimmick but here we’ve presented the tracks in to order on the record label. Word only released the album in the U.K. and why they did that is beyond me. I’m sure this album would have done well in the North American market.

Tracklist
1 – Land Of Freedom – 3:45
2 – Peace Of Home – 3:02
3 – I Will Live – 3:25
4 – Into The Fire – 3:40
5 – It Won’t Be Long – 4:27
6 – Sons Of Liberty – 3:58
7 – View Of A World – 3:48
8 – Desertland – 3:21
9 – God Is – 4:13
10 – Dove – 3:54

Credits
Design – James Kessell
Keyboards – Brian Jones
Keyboards, Programmed By [Engineering Programming] – Enda Walsh
Mixed By – Neil Costello, Pat McCarthy
Photography By – Jim Loring
Photography By [Additional] – Branka Jukić
Producer – Andy McCarroll
Vocals, Bass Guitar – Derek Currie
Vocals, Drums – Barry Kennedy
Vocals, Guitar – Adrian Thompson

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Gap Music
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word (UK) Ltd.
Mixed At – ICC Studios
Recorded At – Homestead Studios
Copyright © – Word (Uk) Ltd.
Copyright © – Gap Music (2)
Printed By – Shorewood Packaging
Made By – Shorewood Packaging
Mixed At – Windmill Lane Studios