Comedian and singer Mark Lowry is back with his 7th album and his first on Word records. At this point in his career Mark was also in the Gaither Vocal Band as the baritone. I can not imagine how busy his life was at this time. He was a very popular member of the Gaither Vocal Band as his sense of humour went over very well with their audiences. This album is a mix of worship songs, humorous songs, and spoken word. As near as I can tell this was the first of his albums that was released outside of the U.S. (though only to Canada) which surprises me as I think his humour would have had worldwide acceptance.
Tracklist 1 – I’m Here To Tell You – 3:04 2 – Noah – 3:16 3 – Feelings Or Faith – 1:13 4 – Alarm Clock – 5:34 5 – You Can Be Sure – 3:51 6 – The Church Brat – 0:48 7 – Psychiatric Help – 4:15 8 – Wrestling In The Kitchen – 1:03 9 – Mama Had “Enough” – 3:44 10 – Miss Barth – 4:31 11 – Summacum Laude – 1:49 12 – Living Love – 4:31 13 – His Love Says – 3:23 14 – Bedtime Stories – 5:24 15 – The Greatest Story Ever Told – 7:53 16 – What A Savior He Is – 4:11
One of the best debut albums in CCM history, Out of the Gery’s self-titled released was so “out of the ordinary” for mainstream CCM as to make one wonder how why they signed to such a major label as Sparrow. Husband and wife duo Christine and Scott Dente made a great career of thoughtful, intelligent and stirring music. Scott is a very underrated guitar player (acoustic or electric) and Christine’s voice is both diverse and consistent. I saw Scott play with Phil Keaggy and Scott did more than just hold his own with the legend. Christine’s voice will sometimes (especially here) draw comparisons to Over the Rhine and The Innocence Mission, with less lilt and more punch. The pop and radio friendly songs are very good, but it is on the more adventurous tunes that the depth and creativity really shows. “Write My Life” has the previously mentioned Innocence Mission feel and matches vocal and music perfectly. Remember this continues to sound fresh and He Is Not Silent is nothing short of brilliant. Literally one could make a mention of every song here and find something worthy to discuss. there is not one forgettable song with only “Dance” not quit fitting with the rest of the album, though it is a good song on its own. Their career has not kept up the steam the debut built up and there has not been a new recording in several years, but one should not think they are not making music or out of the industry. Both continue to appear of friends’ albums and Scott’s guitar work can still be heard on occasional releases. That all should not discount just how great an initial release this album is.
Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist 1 – Wishes – 4:58 2 – Write My Life – 4:11 3 – Remember This – 4:31 4 – The Dance – 3:36 5 – He Is Not Silent – 4:00 6 – Better Way To Fall – 4:31 7 – Time Will Tell – 3:21 8 – Perfect Circle – 5:00 9 – The Only Moment – 3:15 10 – The Deep – 3:21
Credits Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Vocals – Scott Denté Art Direction, Design – Heather Horne Backing Vocals – Vicki Hampton, Vince Ebo Bass – Tommy Sims Booking – Jeff Roberts & Associates Drums – Chris McHugh, Steve Grossman Electric Guitar – Jerry McPherson Engineer [Additional Engineering] – Kevin Twit Engineer [Assistant] – Buzz Leffler, Garrett Rockey, Jonathan Beach Executive-Producer – Peter York Mastered By – Ken Love Mixed By – Bill Deaton, Craig Hansen, Rick Will Mixed By [Assisted By] – Graham Lewis Percussion – Eric Darken Performer [Out Of The Grey] – Christine Denté, Scott Denté Photography By – Chris Carroll Piano, Keyboards, Programmed By – Charlie Peacock Producer, Arranged By – Charlie Peacock Programmed By [Additional Programming], Engineer – Craig Hansen Programmed By [Sampling] – Blair Masters Tambourine – Rick Will Vocals – Christine Denté Written-By – Charlie Peacock, Christine Denté, Scott Denté
You probably know Gary more because of his second album but this is his first album which is far more worship oriented. Gary was one of those kids who was a musician from an early age. His first group was The Crimson Bridge who had an album back in 1971. He went unrecorded for many years but in 1981 Milk & Honey records released this his first solo album. As I said this is more of a worship oriented album but is very good for that style. Gary always struggled with the Christian music industry as he wanted to sing about current affairs in the world but the record companies wanted him to just sing about Jesus and keep his JPM count as high as possible. This album doesn’t really show that struggle but it was his first album and on a persons first album you pretty well have to do what the record company wants.
Tracklist 1 – Family Of Love – 3:12 2 – Isaiah 58 – 3:00 3 – You Have Turned My Sorrow Into Dancing (Psalm 30:11) – 2:27 4 – Let Justice Roll Down (Amos 5) – 3:29 5 – Time Of Jubilee – 3:02 6 – Break That Ground (Hosea 10:12) – 3:04 7 – Psalm 146 – 2:05 8 – Pass The Peace – 2:25 9 – Communion Song – 1:31 10 – Narrow Way – 2:53 11 – Psalm 121 – 2:20
Credits Acoustic Guitar, Piano – Gary Rand Bass – Andy Rae Drums – Keith Edwards Engineer – Brian Tankersley, Larry Goode, Rick Thigpen Guitar – Jerry McPherson Keyboards, Synthesizer, Engineer – Paul Mills Percussion – Russell Dunlap Producer, Arranged By, Flute, Synthesizer – Fletch Wiley Saxophone – Larry Slezak
Eternal Rock were a band out of the Netherlands that you have likely never ever heard of. This is their only album and it leans rather 70’s with a mix of male and female vocals. It was released on Eurosound which was the in house label for Eurosound Studio’s. The album does have some interesting tracks with covers of 2nd Chapter Of Acts’ “Mansion Builder”, Larry Norman’s “I Wish We’d All Been Ready”, which they strangely named “I’ve Wish We’ve All Been Ready”, and finally a version of Bill Withers “Lean On Me” which they reworded as “Lean On Him”. All in all a pretty good effort and maybe with a little more work they could have released a mainstream album outside of the Netherlands.
Tracklist 1 – Life Can Be Hard – 3:44 2 – Mansion Builder – 3:20 3 – I’ve Wish We’ve All Been Ready – 3:40 4 – Blinded By Science – 4:09 5 – Lean On Him – 2:39 6 – Love Is… – 4:19 7 – Threshold – 4:21 8 – You Can Change – 2:30 9 – The Way I Feel – 2:57 10 – Guess Who’s Coming? – 3:10 11 – Show Me The Way – 4:23
Credits Bass – Hans Roman Design – Leon Limpens Drums – Klaas Den Hollander Engineer, Recorded By – Don Vonk Executive Producer – Wim Sanders Guitar – Norbert Schmidt Lead Vocals – Susanne Sanders Organ [Fender Rhodes], Organ, Synthesizer, Lead Vocals, Strings – Peter Roman Producer, Recorded By – Norbert Schmidt Tenor Saxophone – Jan Kuipers, Jurrie Eisinga Vocals – Meineke Roman Vocals, Strings – Veronica Roman Written-By – Peter Roman, Susanne Roman
Companies, etc. Recorded By – Eurosound Mobile Recorded At – Plahadima Recorded At – Eurosound Mobile
In 1987 Cross self released this demo album. 1987 was a big year in Christian metal and many bands appeared on the scene. Cross unfortunately was pretty short lived as they broke up the following year so this is all we got from them. The album is very Guitar heavy and borders on thrash occasionally. As far as metal goes it’s okay I guess. Nothing here really stood out to me but poor production didn’t help the situation much. However the people who enjoy this genre will likely enjoy this one. In 2006 Steel Legacy Records rereleased the album on CD and vinyl along with 3 very very poorly recorded live tracks. As they are so poor we chose not to release them.
Tracklist 1 – Sign Of The Cross (Instrumental) – 4:46 2 – Metal From Above – 8:01 3 – The Final Journey – 10:35 4 – Deliverance – 4:35 5 – The Ascension – 6:16
Credits Bass – Mike Cano Drums – Steve Cano Guitar – Henry Chavez, Tommy Salas Lead Vocals – James Sanchez
This is Bryn’s 4th album and while his previous album “Grand Arrival” was released in the U.S. I can’t find any record of this one being released outside of Europe and Japan. I was a big fan of Bryn in the 80’s but where I lived the only album available to us was “Pass It On” and “The Gap”. It is great that all these years later I can listen to his other work. This is a rather atypical album from Bryn and falls in line with most of his work. As such there aren’t any real outstanding track but I found Bryn’s version of the Righteous Brothers’ Unchained Melody pretty good but he did it as an instrumental and I think he should have done the vocals too.
Tracklist 1 – Keep The Ball Rolling – 4:02 2 – First Time – 3:52 3 – Let Me Love You – 4:22 4 – Standing On The Rock – 3:59 5 – City Boy – 6:00 6 – Party Girl – 2:12 7 – Luxury Liner – 3:29 8 – Unchained Melody – 4:02 9 – Unemployment Blues – 3:58 10 – Working For Love – 4:35
Credits Arranged By [Brass] – Lyle Harper Arranged By [Strings] – Ted Astley Baritone Saxophone – Bud Beadle Bass – Dave Markee Drums – Henry Spinetti Keyboards – Pete Wingfield Percussion – Simon Morton Producer – Doug Bennett, Jon Astley Saxophone – Jim Cuomo Saxophone, Flute – Mel Collins, Steve Gregory Trombone – Terry Hellyer Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Martin Drover Vocals, Guitar – Bryn Haworth
This is Vicki’s second album though her first one isn’t well known as it was self released. This album was the first of a 3 album deal she had with Giant Records, a label created by David and the Giants. The album is a relatively easy listening project which really focusses on her vocal skills. I understand the album didn’t sell all that well which as me a little confused because this is a very well done album. The production is crisp and on point, her vocals are excellent, and the quality overall is quite high. That said some albums do well and some don’t, often it has nothing to do with quality. Anyway if you’re a fan of easy listening genre of CCM this is a must listen.
Tracklist 1 – You Can’t Stop The Morning 2 – Everlasting Love 3 – Comforter 4 – Whosoever Will 5 – The Mercy Seat 6 – When I’m With You 7 – Always 8 – Prisoner 9 – I’d Trade A Lifetime 10 – All Through The Night
Before this album Then there was four years of silence from Krikorian. He continued to write songs for others and had begun building friendships with many of the “disenfranchised” Christian artists who did not fit the mold of popular CCM like Leslie Phillips, T-Bone Burnett and Mark Heard. He had songs placed on mainstream Christian artists albums like Benny Hester and Burnett and Heard recorded some of his music. In 1985 some close friends of these artist that were working at the Myrrh Los Angeles offices started a sub-label in connection with A&M Records called What? Records. The label’s purpose was to be a home to artist who did not fit the CCM mold and would be a haven for more commercial, mainstream oriented artists with spiritual messages. The label was short-lived but released four of the greatest albums in Christian music including two from Tonio K, Mark Heard’s “iDEoLa” and Dave Perkins’ “The Innocence.” The theme of loves lost and found is not new. But in those silent four years a change took place in Krikorian. The beliefs he had for years became faith. According to the interview I had with him right after of the release of “Romeo Unchained” he had discovered grace for the first time in his life. He had also found love. The real kind. And rather than songs of frustration, anger and revenge, there are songs of grace, commitment and hope. That does not mean that he pushed aside the caustic wit and smart and stinging lyrics. Here the pen is pointed against a world that wants to tear down and destroy the love God has provided. The victim of Tonio K’s previous work are now the ones he defends. The whole album appears to be a picture of the juxtaposition of true love and the facade the world offers. I should also note that “Romeo Unchained” may have one of the best album covers ever. The images of half a man as mannequin, the made up attractive woman and iron display the struggles of modern women and the battle for the real and eternal they seek. All with K-9 (Tonio K.) observing this turmoil. There is a little story about K-9 I will mention later. The album was highly praised in both secular and Christian circles. Rolling Stone Magazine would even rave that it was the best Bob Dylan album since Bob Dylan lost interest in pop music. T-Bone Burnett handled much of the production and cast of LA heavyweights lent their talents in the studio including David Mansfield (Dylan) and David Miner (T-Bone Burnett) and David Raven and Tim Chandler of DA/Swirling Eddies.
Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist 1 – True Confessions – 3:40 2 – Perfect World – 4:12 3 – Romeo And Jane – 3:46 4 – You Belong With Me – 4:50 5 – Impressed – 4:24 6 – I Handle Snakes – 3:36 7 – Emotional War Games – 3:53 8 – Living Doll – 3:44 9 – You Don’t Belong Here – 5:51 10 – You Will Go Free – 6:37
Credits Art Direction, Layout – Tim Alderson Backing Vocals – Rick Neigher, T-Bone Burnett Bass – David Miner, Eric Gotthelf, Phil Chen, Rick Neigher, Tim Chandler Coordinator [Production Coordinator] – Penny Payne Design Concept [Visual Concepts], Photography By – Linda Myers Drum Programming – Rick Neigher, T-Bone Burnett Drums – Burleigh Drummond, Freddy Alwag, Ron Aston Engineer – Billy Taylor, Joe Chiccarelli, Larold Rebhun, Mark Heard, Nick Van Maarth, Rick Neigher Engineer [Assistant Engineering] – Carolyn Collins, Joe Borja, Judy Clapp, Peter Doell, Steve Himelfarb Guitar – Billy Steele, Charlie Sexton, Daryl Caraco, Nick Van Maarth, Peter Banks, Rick Neigher, T-Bone Burnett, Tonio K. Horns – Little Effort, Phil Kenzie Management – Gary Heaton Management Mandocello, Violin – David Mansfield Mandolin [Mandocello], Violin – David Mansfield Mastered By – Bob Ludwig Mixed By – Ed Thacker (tracks: A5, B3, B4), Joe Chiccarelli (tracks: A1 to A4, B1, B2) Other [Assistant Engineering] – Milton Other [Cover Girl] – Lisa Taylor Percussion – Burleigh Drummond, Efrain Toro Synthesizer – Bob Rose, Dave Aston, David Lewis, Rick Neigher Technician [Productive Trouble-Shooting] – T-Bone Burnett Vocals [Featured Vocalist] – Tonio K.
Companies, etc. Produced For – Vogue Productions (2) Recorded At – Lawrence Welk’s Champagne Recorders, Hollywood, CA. Recorded At – Baby’O Recorders Recorded At – Eldorado Recording Studios Recorded At – Cherokee Studios Recorded At – Hitman Studios Recorded At – Fingerprint Recorders Recorded At – Redwing Studios Mixed At – Capitol Studios Mastered At – Masterdisk Pressed By – Electrosound Group Midwest, Inc. Record Company – What? Records Manufactured By – A&M Records, Inc. Distributed By – A&M Records, Inc.
This is Wayne’s third album and was really the one that gave us a glimpse of what was to come for him. While he had a CCM charting single on his previous album this album is where he really broke out with 3 CCM charting singles. “New Lives For Old” made it to #5, “The Sacrifice” to #6, and “People Of God made it to #21. This would be the album that put Wayne on the path to superstardom in the CCM genre. Oh and did I mention he was still producing all The Harvest albums at this point. Pretty good to be producing another bands successful albums while putting out your own and touring. At this point Wayne was certainly one of the hardest working members of the industry. The album continues his easy listening style but that genre of CCM was where most the money was so I don’t blame him.
Tracklist 1 – All The King’s Men – 4:02 2 – The Sacrifice – 4:48 3 – Roll On – 3:09 4 – People Of God – 3:03 5 – Take All Of Me – 3:54 6 – New Lives For Old – 5:19 7 – Never Give Up – 4:05 8 – In Those Eyes – 4:37 9 – The Greatest Is Love – 4:13 10 – Light Of The World – 3:01
Credits Accordion – Jim Alderman Arranged By [Strings], Conductor – Don Wyrtzen Art Direction – Bob McConnell Bass Guitar – Darrell Cook Classical Guitar – Rex Thomas Drums – Keith Edwards, Terry Westbrook Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Jerry McPhereson Engineer [Strings] – Bob Whyley Executive-Producer – Phil Brower Mastered By – JL Percussion – Russell Dunlap Photography By – Ken Kim Piano [Acoustic], Electric Piano – Allen Mesko Producer, Arranged By, Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals – Wayne Watson Producer, Arranged By, Engineer, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals – Brian Tankersley Recorder – Fletch Wiley Synthesizer [Yamaha CS-80] – Paul Mills
Well it’s time for some Jazz infused seventies soul again. I’m still unable to find any background on the band but this album included member Rick Riso who is relatively well known as far as CCM goes. So we will have to stick to talking abut the album. I actually prefer this one to their second album as it seems a little mo0re raw which makes this style sound a little more interesting. If you like your CCM a little funky and pretty soulful this is the one for you.
Tracklist 1 – The New Has Come – 4:01 2 – I Feel Secure – 4:05 3 – Jesus Died For Me – 3:49 4 – I Love My Jesus – 3:39 5 – My Savior’s Love – 4:20 6 – Set Your Mind – 4:03 7 – Take My Yoke Upon You – 3:24 8 – Fill Me With Your Spirit – 3:53 9 – Wings Of Salvation – 3:54 10 – Live In Jesus’ Light – 4:03
Credits Rick Riso – Vocals & Guitars Si Simonson – Keyboards Jim DeLong – Drums & Percussion
Companies, etc. Record Company – Light Records Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Lexicon Music, Inc. Published By – Lexicon Music, Inc. Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Santa Maria Mastered At – Capitol Mastering
