This is the second album from U.K. band Triumph. There is not much info out there on these guys or perhaps their is but due to their choice of names it’s impossible to find. The album was produced by Norman Barratt and because of this I couldn’t wait to listen to it. This is an excellent album. It leans new wave with hints of progressive rock think The Cult light perhaps. The unfortunate part of this 80’s CCM project is that I have to listen to many many albums that just aren’t my style or preferred genre so I get pretty excited when I find a new to me album that I like. This is one of those albums. I’m a little unclear if this album was released in North America but I don’t think it was. Feel free to correct me though.
Tracklist 1 – Run With The Wind – 3:51 2 – Son Of Man – 3:50 3 – I Am Waiting – 4:17 4 – It Is Finished – 5:09 5 – Paid On The Nail – 5:36 6 – Cry Freedom – 4:36 7 – Never Trust A Stranger – 3:21 8 – Take My Life – 4:52 9 – Liberty – 4:00 10 – I Will Rise – 5:25
Credits Jim Ritchie – Lead vocals, bass, percussion Gordon Cowan – Keyboards, backing vocals George McConnachie – Drums, percussion Murray McEwen – Guitars Andi Tooth – Drums, percussion Norman Barratt – Producer Ted Blakeway – Producer
Pat Terry entered the music game early in life. He started a band at age 12 that they say stayed together until he finished high school. But after high school it was time to play the game a little more seriously. This is probably the Pat Terry album you’ve never heard. Before the success of The Pat Terry Group Pat actually self released this solo album to very little fanfare. I would assume however that this album led to his deal with Myrrh records the next year. The album has a pretty typical seventies sound though it leans a little more rock than common Jesus music of the era. I say leans towards Rock, not Rock & Roll as this is mainly a pretty soft rock album. I really can’t find much info on this album so I can’t tell you much more. Anyway you probably missed this on so give it a listen and you can hear the origins of The Pat Terry Group.
Tracklist 1 – If You Listen/Power/Introduction – 3:59 2 – Same Sweet Song – 3:54 3 – Iris – 3:36 4 – Seen It Now – 3:34 5 – That’s The Way – 3:24 6 – I Can’t Wait – 3:22 7 – I’ve Been Waiting To Tell You – 2:59 8 – Jesus – 2:44 9 – I Did It – 2:34 10 – Just For You – 2:33 11 – Never Pay The Price – 2:28
Credits Backing Vocals – Sonny Lallerstedt, Stan Ruffin Bass – Randy Bugg Design [Logo] – Joe Estes Engineer – Stan Dacus Guitar – Pat Terry Lead Guitar – Sonny Lallerstedt Mellotron – Tony Shannon Percussion – Stan Ruffin Photography By – Tim Terry Piano – Pat Terry Synthesizer – Pat Terry Vocals – Pat Terry Written-By – Pat Terry
This is the first album from Sammy Hall and his 2 sons using the band name Horizon. I don’t know who played what instrument as Sammy didn’t document it on the album information. This album is made up of secular cover tracks with the exception of Amazing Grace. We have here the following covers;
Hold On Tight to Your Dream originally by ELO In My Life originally by The Beatles Back to Paradise originally by 38 Special Some Gave All originally by Billy Ray Cyrus To Love Somebody originally by Bee Gees Against the Grain originally by Garth Brooks Homeward Bound originally by Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water originally by Simon & Garfunkel
I’m guessing this was just a fun project for Sammy and his sons as they just self released it and if they took it too serious it would have been licensing nightmare. But remember this was 1993 and the record companies hadn’t lost their minds over licensing yet. Horizon would go on to record several more self released albums similar to this one.
Tracklist 1 – Hold On Tight to Your Dream – 3:04 2 – In My Life – 2:25 3 – Back to Paradise – 3:46 4 – Some Gave All – 4:08 5 – To Love Somebody – 3:41 6 – Against the Grain – 2:21 7 – Homeward Bound – 3:17 8 – Bridge Over Troubled Water – 4:46 9 – Amazing Grace – 1:03
I do believe the only artist on this list to be officially “knighted” is Cliff Richard. Not bad for a pop star and teen heart throb from the 1950’s and 60’s. Then again John Lennon was a fan and he is said to be the first real “rock star” from Great Britain. Sir Cliff Richard has also been a devoted Christian and has recorded several Gospel themed albums. The one in question here is the very best as it is simply a pop album with Gospel themes rather than a Gospel album that tries to sound pop. The album is also unique in that it also generated a comeback of sort for the artist in his native land after several years of unsuccessful pop albums. NYSMNYD went Gold in England and had several radio hits on both side of the Atlantic. Released in 1982 Christian music was constantly gravitating toward “pop stars” who professed a Christian belief (Bob Dylan, Joe English), but this album never saw Christian distribution and many missed this great album. Thief in the Night is much heavier song musically than the normal Richard bubble gum and is the center piece to the whole project. It rocks and like the rest of the albums sounds like it was influenced by Mark Williamson and Chris Eaton. The album has a bit of an Ambrosia feel with silky, pop driven rockers and big ballads meant for radio consumption. But the rockers stand out like the previously mentioned Thief in the Night and the bombastic Son of Thunder. “Little Town” Chris Eaton arranged version of O Little Town of Bethlehem would also be recorded by Amy Grant and Michael W Smith. Richard’s version would be the best. One last song of note is the song Christian radio gravitated to; Water is Wide is a stunningly beautiful remake of the traditional tune. Simply, if not a bit over-produced, the song would chart on CCM radio and be Richards only real CCM hit. He would later do a duet with Van Morrison that would also hit CCM radio.
Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com
Tracklist 1 – The Only Way Out – 3:20 2 – First Date – 3:33 3 – Thief In The Night – 3:50 4 – Where Do We Go From Here – 2:53 5 – Son Of Thunder – 3:58 6 – Little Town – 4:03 7 – It Has To Be You, It Has To Be Me – 4:17 8 – The Water Is Wide – 3:50 9 – Now You See Me, Now You Don’t – 3:00 10 – Be In My Heart – 4:38 11 – Discovering – 4:50
Credits Autoharp – Craig Pruess Bass Guitar – Andy Pask, Mark Griffiths, Mo Foster, Paul Westwood Bells [Sleigh Bells] – Craig Pruess Design – Cream Drum Programming – Craig Pruess Drums – Dave Mattacks, Graham Jarvis Electric Piano – Graham Todd Electric Violin – Paul Hart Engineer Assistant – Tony Richards Engineer – John Kurlander Engineer – John Walker Engineer Assistant – Steve Cook Engineer [Strawberry] – Keith Bessey Guitar – Bill Roberts, John Clark, Mart Jenner Harmonium – Craig Pruess Mastered By – Gordon Vicary, Keith Bessey Mixed By – Keith Bessey Mixed By [Assisted By] – Howard Gray Photography By – Brian Aris Piano – Craig Pruess, Graham Todd, Peter Skellern Producer – Cliff Richard, Craig Pruess Saxophone – Mel Collins Sequenced By – Craig Pruess Synthesizer – Craig Pruess, Dave Cooke Vocals, Backing Vocals – Cliff Richard Wind Chimes – Craig Pruess
Companies, etc. Marketed By – EMI Distributed By – EMI Manufactured By – EMI Phonographic Copyright ℗ – EMI Records Ltd. Printed By – EMI Services Benelux B.V. Recorded At – Abbey Road Studios Recorded At – Strawberry Studios Mastered At – The Town House Mixed At – The Town House
This is the first of 2 solo albums from Reneé. I first saw this album posted in our Facebook group and found it in the stack so gave it a listen. It was described in that post as the “CCM Madonna”. While I generally don’t agree when people compare artists on this one I feel the poster was correct. This album has a definite Madonna pop dance style sound but quite frankly Reneé’s vocals are better. Honestly though I was never a fan of Madonna’s vocals. Anyway a little back ground on Reneé is that she was born in Indiana and moved to Nashville in her mid 20’s. She actually sang backup on several Amy Grant tours before this album so she had some good exposure in the industry. Chris Eaton produced the album and he is well known for “finding” a lot of his projects but I don’t know if this project was his idea or the record companies. Anyway this is a great album and really should have been much better known but perhaps it was just a little late in 1987 for this sound.
Tracklist 1 – More Than Fascination – 4:30 2 – Running From A Legacy – 4:15 3 – I See Love – 5:30 4 – Deepest Love – 6:23 5 – Living In The Vertical – 4:10 6 – I’ve Got My Eye On You – 4:20 7 – The Bounce – 3:57 8 – Imagination – 4:35 9 – I Want To Be Used For You – 4:27
Credits Administrator [Covert Operations] – Terry Hemmings Art Direction – Bill Brunt Designs Backing Vocals – Chris Eaton, Mark Williamson, Reneé Garcia Bass [Fretless] – Steve Greetham Cymbal [Additional] – Lang Bliss Drums, Bass, Programmed By [Percussion], Keyboards – Chris Eaton Engineer – Laurence Burrage, Steve Boyce-Buckley Engineer [Additional] – David Holmes, John Revenhall, Jon Sweet Executive-Producer – Dan Harrell, Jeff Moseley, Michael Blanton Guitar – Neil Costello Lead Guitar – Peter Brooks Mastered By – Glenn Meadows Mixed By – Glenn Tommey, Raine Shine Photography By – Peter Nash Producer – Chris Eaton Programmed By [Additional Keyboards] – Richard Osborne Rhythm Guitar [Additional] – Richard Osborne Saxophone – Martin Green
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
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
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.
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’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
