I’m not entirely positive but I believe this is the first album from Danny and Paul Janz. It is possible there was an earlier one as the church they attended did have their own record company so they may be earlier work. This album however is the first album they did that was released in both Germany and Canada. I also found a reference that it was released in the United States but I am unable to confirm this. Anyway the album was released in Germany first with 8 German language tracks and 3 English tracks. Each version has 2 tracks that aren’t shared between the 2 versions. There are also some differences in the mix between the two. The English version was released by Image VII and Word and it sounds like they reworked the mix on most of the mutual tracks. As for the album it has a seventies folk sound and wasn’t really much of a hint of what was to come from the brothers.
Tracklist 1 – Wer Zeigt Mir Den Weg – 2:57 2 – Alleine Schaff Ich’s Nicht – 2:13 3 – Du Bist Mein – 2:43 4 – He’s Always There – 2:32 5 – Kann Jemand Helfen – 3:13 6 – Jesus Liebt Mich – 2:41 7 – Salvation Song – 3:39 8 – Ein Tag Geht Zu Ende – 3:55 9 – Ein Guter Freund – 2:49 10 – Du Bist Schlau – 3:09 11 – Day By Day – 2:35
Credits Bass, Guitar – Wayne Quiring Coordinator – Margitta Paul, Nils Kjellström Drums – Mike Starr Engineer, Photography By – John Dueck Graphic Design – Helmut Mono Keyboards – Paul Janz Producer – Paul Janz
James was a member of supergroup Psalm 150. Of course that supergroup only had one album so to keep the numbers similar this is James only album also. But that said James’s fingerprints are all over the CCM industry. After Psalm 150 he played on several Andrae Crouch albums as well as a studio musician on several other albums. In fact he was very busy throughout the 70’s. He has also written many hit’s for artists and is still working in the industry as recently as 2019 at the age of 68. James really is one of the unsung hero’s of the CCM industry. As for this album it’s a great soul album and very well produced. To be honest I’m very surprised this was his only album as he obviously has a ton of talent.
Tracklist 1 – I Really Love You – 4:05 2 – That’s What It Takes – 3:41 3 – White As Snow – 5:10 4 – Open Up – 4:18 5 – He Is Coming Back Again – 4:15 6 – The Light Of His Love – 5:17 7 – I Don’t Want Much – 4:43 8 – I’ve Been Runnin’ Too Long – 5:10 9 – He’s All That – 3:56 10 – Let’s Reach Out – 3:52
Credits Backing Vocals – Charity McCrary, Howard McCrary, Kristle Murden, Linda McCrary Bass, Guitar – Hadley Hockensmith Bass, Guitar, Backing Vocals, Arranged By – James Felix Drums, Producer, Arranged By – Bill Maxwell Organ – Mike Escalante Percussion – Alex Acuña Piano, Arranged By – Lou Pardini Saxophone – Steve Tavaglione Synthesizer – Larry Williams Trumpet – Allen Gregory, Fletch Wiley
Companies, etc. Record Company – Lexicon Music, Inc.
After living the previous decade as the overtly sexual queen of disco Donna Summer entered the 80s experimenting with a few different musical styles and appeared to have lost herself in the wandering. With return to her roots with more of an 80-‘s pop/rock edge, a ferocious vocal delivery and a new born again spirit Donna Summer released one of the biggest albums in her lengthy career entitled “She Works Hard for the Money.” My little Christian bookstore was probably the second store in the country to carry it after I saw it being sold at Maranatha Village. I grabbed a copy immediately, both out of fascination and also to see if it was something I could convince my bosses to carry. Once you get past the often misunderstood innuendo of the opening cut’s title and realized that it actually is a powerful, woman endorsing tribute the rest of the album was an easy fit. “He’s a Rebel” is clearly a testimonial song about her new found faith in the “rebel” Jesus Christ and has a decidedly more rock edge and clearly influenced by producer Michael Omartian. “Unconditional Love” featured popular reggae sensation “Musical Youth.” The song would later receive a punk remodel when covered by Christian punk/rock band the Altar Boys. Another mainstay in Christian Music circles, Matthew Ward (2nd Chapter of Acts) does a duet on “Love Has a Mind of It’s Own” and, as a result, received some pretty good reception of Christian radio. Summer would continue to add more Gospel tinged lyrics to future releases but would not match the success or create such an overall realized album of Christian content.
Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist 1 – She Works Hard For The Money – 5:19 2 – Stop, Look And Listen – 5:46 3 – He’s A Rebel – 4:22 4 – Woman – 4:19 5 – Unconditional Love – 4:41 6 – Love Has A Mind Of Its Own – 4:16 7 – Tokyo – 4:25 8 – People, People – 4:38 9 – I Do Believe (I Fell In Love) – 4:34
Credits Art Direction, Design – Chris Whorf Backing Vocals – Dara Lynn Bernard, Mary E. Bernard, Matthew Ward, Roberta Kelly Bass – Nathan East Concertmaster – Assa Drori Congas – Lenny Castro Coordinator [Production] – Yvonne Garcia Drum Programming [Simmons] – John Gilston Drums – Mike Baird Engineer [Assistant] – Larry Fergusson, Ross Pallone Horns – Charlie Loper*, Chuck Findley, Dick Hyde, Gary Grant, Jerry Hey Liner Notes – Donna Mastered By [A&M] – Bernie Grundman Mastered By [Future Disc] – Steve Hall Photography By – Harry Langdon Piano, Synthesizer – Michael Omartian Producer, Arranged By – Michael Omartian Programmed By [Synthesizers] – Michael Boddicker Recorded By, Mixed By – John Guess
I know I’m going to get some hate for this review but it’s my opinion and I welcome yours. I’m not really too sure what Carman was trying to achieve with this album. We have spoken tracks, conceptual tracks, theatrical tracks, a rap track, and a couple just regular song tracks. Quite frankly Carman could have done an album of nursery rhymes and it would have singled on the CCM charts. Actually I’m not so sure he didn’t do that. Anyway I truly believe that Carman was trying a little of everything in his quest to appeal to youth but the simple fact is that he was liked by our parents not us. At least that was what was happening in my circle. Carman also released a VHS of himself performing the album and I’ve seen bits and pieces of it and quite frankly it’s just bizarre. On a positive note the album did have 3 singles on the CCM charts and also won the Dove award for the Long Form Music Video of the Year for the aforementioned VHS release. Anyway that’s my take on this very bizarre album.
Tracklist 1 – God’s Got An Army – 4:24 2 – I Got The Joy – 4:30 3 – A Witch’s Invitation – 6:45 4 – Get Your Business Straight With God – 3:58 5 – This Blood – 5:29 6 – Saved, Delivered And Healed – 5:40 7 – Jesus Is The Light – 4:53 8 – The Resurrection Rap – 4:05 9 – Shine Through Me – 4:34 10 – Revival In The Land – 6:30
Credits Carman – Songwriter, Vocals Susan Ashton – Background Vocals Kym Barger – Gang Vocals Shirley Bereal – Background Vocals Ronnie Brookshire – Engineer Curt Butler – Gang Vocals Jacquetta Carr – Background Vocals Steve Charles – Assistant Engineer Christ Church Choir – Choir Vocals Tina Clark – Background Vocals Dan Cleary – Executive Producer Ashley Cleveland – Background Vocals Ed Crippen – Platoon Vocals Eric Darken – Percussion Willie Davis – Choir Director, Hammond B-3, Gang Vocals Wendell DePrang – Platoon Vocals John Destito – Gang Vocals Barry Dixon – Assistant Engineer Mark Douthit – Saxophone Dave Ecrement – Platoon Vocals David Felty – Platoon Vocals Kim Fleming – Background Vocals Nick Froome – Engineer Roy Gamble – Assistant Engineer Steve Gannon – Platoon Vocals Landy Gardner – Choir Director and Conductor Andrae Hammond – Gang Vocals Mark Hammond – Drums, Percussion Programming Vicki Hampton – Background Vocals Chris Harris – Background Vocals Mike Haynes – Trumpets Mark Heimermann – Background Vocals Tom Hemby – Guitars Higher Dimensions Sanctuary Choir – Choir Vocals Sgt. Penny Hollenbeck – Platoon Vocals Ron Huff – Orchestra Conductor Bobby Jones – Gang Vocals Dan Keen – Platoon Vocals Brent King – Engineer Pamela Lee – Background Vocals Paul Leim – Drums Stephen L. Lyman – Gang Vocals David McCune – Platoon Vocals Chris McDonald – Horn Arranger, Trombone Donna McElroy – Background Vocals Shawn McLean – Assistant Engineer Jerry McPherson – Guitars James Michael – Bass Marvin Moore – Gang Vocals Todd Moore – Production Assistance, Assistant Engineer, Platoon Vocals Farrell Morris – Percussion Dave Murphy – Assistant Engineer Phil Naish – Producer, Arranger, Keyboards Nashville String Machine – Strings Gary Paczosa – Assistant Engineer Carlton Pearson – Guest Vocals Monica Pearson – Background Vocals Mary Ann Peterson – Background Vocals Denny Purcell – Mastered John Ricroft – Platoon Vocals Chris Rodriguez – Background Vocals Maurice Carlton Scott – Gang Vocals Jimmie Lee Sloas – Bass Carry Summers – Assistant Engineer Brian Tankersley – Producer, Engineer, Mixed, Programming Keith Thomas – Producer, Arranger, Songwriter, Synthesizers, Synclavier and Drum Programming, Percussion George Tidwell – Trumpets Jo-Nathan Watkins – Gang Vocals Bill Whittington – Engineer, Mixed Daire Winston – Assistant Engineer Don Wyrtzen – Choir and Strings Arranger
I’ll be honest that I had long lost interest in CCM by 1993 so I had never heard this album before processing it for upload to YouTube. I read some reviews and most of them sort of had a ho hum attitude towards the album. I on the other hand quite enjoyed the album. I hear a few tracks that have some of that old early 80’s feel but yes most of them were highly mixed tracks that they were doing in this era. Strangely the entire album music wise was apparently written by Bass player Roy Montroy. That definitely gives the album a different feel but there’s nothing wrong with this album. On their next album their would be quite a turn but this album is a solid piece of work.
Tracklist 1 – Heart’s Desire – 3:50 2 – If Your Love Grows Cold – 3:22 3 – Numbers – 2:31 4 – Sunrise – 4:02 5 – Dead To The World – 4:23 6 – Reach Of Love – 6:04 7 – Land Of Stolen Breath – 4:07 8 – Mannequin’s Dream – 1:30 9 – Empty Hearts – 3:17 10 – Thought I’d Never Love Again – 4:09 11 – White Lies – 3:58 12 – On My Dyin’ Bed – 4:55 13 – Heart’s Desire (Reprise) – 1:03
Credits Bass, Keyboards – Roy Montroy Drums – John Herrin Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Stu Heiss Engineer – Ed Bialach, Roy Montroy Engineer, Mixed By – Roger Heiss Mastered By – Steve hall Producer – REZ Producer, Mixed By – Tom Cameron Vocals, Backing Vocals – Wendi Kaiser Vocals, Backing Vocals, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Slide Guitar, Harmonica – Glenn Kaiser
Companies, etc. Recorded At – Tone Zone Recording Mixed At – Tone Zone Recording Mastered At – Future Disc
The band here is actually Writz but they had to do a name change for their U.S. release due to a conflicting band name. Now everything after this is up for debate as I’ve read a few different stories of how this album came to be. Apparently some time in 1981 Bev Sage and Steve Fairnie joined up with David Hewson to form the Techno Twins. Apparently this album had been recorded but not mixed or even accepted by the record company. There’s some back biting and accusations involved but I’m not going to repeat them. Simply enough I will explain it as, it’s Rock & Roll. Anyway apparently Steve Rowles had possession of the album and it found it’s way on to the internet. I tend to believe that this is a pre-production mix as it just has that feel. Anyway if you liked Writz then this should be a treat for you. I really liked it but it does suffer from a poor mix but who cares, it’s bonus music.
I really can’t find much about Donn. This was his first album but he had to have done some work before this. His singing style is very similar to Andraé Crouch and he would have fit in perfectly with that group of singers but I can’t find any record of him working with them. So that leaves us with this his first album and what a great album it is. Soul is not really my preferred genre but even I can appreciate how great this album is. The album contains the song “A Shield About Me” which has been covered many times but probably the most significant a cover by Tom Howard in 1985. Something rather odd is that we were searching for this album and we found several copies. They were all in horrible condition. I suspect that is was a poor pressing as that’s a little too coincidental.
Tracklist 1 – Live Wires – 3:57 2 – God’s Love (Is What The World Needs) – 4:04 3 – Not Now Doesn’t Mean Never – 4:17 4 – Walking With My Father – 4:32 5 – Oh My Livin’ Brother – 5:14 6 – Soul’d Out – 3:13 7 – A Shield About Me – 2:19 8 – Can’t Make It Without You, Lord – 4:34 9 – You Got Me Through – 4:22 10 – Soul’d Out – Reprise – 1:23
Credits Alto Saxophone – Dave Boruff Backing Vocals – Bob Carlisle, Carol Rogers, Denise Hunt, Donn Thomas, Elicesia Wright, Lillian Tynes, Steve Hunt Design Concept [Cover Concept] – Garry Whitlock, Harry Langdon Design, Layout – Dennis Hill Engineer [2nd] [Davlen] – Ernie Sheesley, Jeff Borgeson, Steve Crimmel Flute – Dave Boruff, Jim Coile Lead Vocals – Donn Thomas Mastered By – Steve Hall Mixed By – Bill Bottrell Photography By – Harry Langdon Producer, Arranged By – David Diggs Recorded By – Christopher Banninger Strings – Doug Cameron String Section Tenor Saxophone – Gary Herbig, Jim Coile Trombone – Alan Kaplan, Bill Reichenbach Trumpet – Charles Davis, Danny Ackerman, Jerry Hey, Terry Winch
In my quest to find all things Iva Twydell I stumbled across this album that he produced. This is essentially the band that backed Iva on his “Secret Service” album. This is the only album we got from these guys though there was another UK band with the same name who released another album in 1986 but none of the members were the same. Anyway this is a great Pop album that definitely feels like ATF and or Iva Twydell in many spots. It’s another one I would have loved to have heard in the 80’s but I missed it due to it’s UK only release.
Tracklist 1 – King’s Business 2 – Open Door 3 – Misty Skies 4 – Smiling People 5 – Speak To Me 6 – Prayer 7 – Feet On Solid Ground 8 – City Of Gold 9 – Sleep In Your Eyes 10 – What Can I Do For You? 11 – Countdown 12 – Take A Little Interest
Credits Backing Vocals, Producer – Iva Twydell Guitar, Vocals – Andy Balmer Synthesizer, Piano, Vocals – Dave Balmer Drums, Backin]g Vocals, Art – Tim Burgess Bass, Crowd Vocals – Pete Dillet Engineer – Bryan Smith
Companies, etc. Label – Rio Records, BANANA 500, Banana Records
This is Paul’s second solo album. His first album was released almost worldwide but not in the United States. As he’s Canadian that’s where his main audience was though he also did well in Germany where he has also lived and produced music. This album was released world wide including the U.S. Strangely A&M Records decided to take the most successful single from his first album and put it on this album. I am guessing the thinking was that it would re-single in the U.S. market. The album was not selling well but the record company decided to release “Believe In Me” as the final single and it caught making it to #26 on the Canadian Charts and #25 on the U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary chart but that was it for U.S. chart success. It did much better in Canada with 3 other top 100 singles. All in all it’s a solid pop album and as I grew up in Canada it is an album I remember and still quite like.
Tracklist 1 – One Night (Is All It Takes) – 3:42 2 – Electricity – 3:51 3 – I Won’t Cry – 4:45 4 – We Touch – 4:50 5 – I’ll Be Your Eyes – 3:57 6 – Send Me A Miracle – 3:51 7 – Believe In Me – 4:46 8 – I Go To Pieces – 3:29 9 – Angel – 5:00 10 – Alien – 4:39 11 – One Last Lie – 3:51
Credits Art Direction – Richard Frankel Bass – Bob Press Design – Melanie Nissen Drums – Michael Root Engineer – Dave Slagter, Mike Fraser Guitar – Tim McKenzie Lead Vocals, Keyboards, Percussion – Paul Janz Mastered By – Doug Sax Mixed By – Greg Ladanyi Photography – James O’Mara Producer – Paul Janz
Through the 80’s Charlie spent a lot of time in the studio cutting tracks that wouldn’t get released In 1989 Sparrow decided to release these tracks on series of 3 albums. While lots of artists have songs on the cutting room floor they are not this quality. This is not a bunch of B side junk. These are great tracks and this volume actually includes my favourite track from Charlie, “My Mind Played A Trick On Me”. These tracks were recorded in 86/87 and have that mid eighties sound and feel. This is a must listen to set of albums so start out here with volume 1.
Tracklist 1 – This Is How The Work Gets Done – 3:49 2 – Come On, Come On – 3:15 3 – Hot Night Downtown – 3:23 4 – One Thing – 4:25 5 – Tears Falling Down – 3:01 6 – The Last Hurrah – 3:42 7 – The Way Of Love – 3:45 8 – I Will Listen – 3:02 9 – Hiring A Worker – 3:49 10 – Big Man’s Hat – 4:22 11 – My Mind Played A Trick On Me – 4:40 12 – Only Love Will Hold Fast – 4:56 13 – Whole Lot Different – 7:13
Credits Bass Guitar – Daryl Anders Drum Programming – Bruce Spencer, Charlie Peacock Drums – Bruce Spencer Engineer [Overdubs] – Steve Griffith Guitar – Jimmy Abegg Layout – Wendy McFadden Mixed By – Charlie Peacock, Daryl Zachman Painting, Art Direction – Jimmy Abegg Performer – John Weber Photography By – Mark Tucker, Patrick Johnson Producer – Charlie Peacock Programmed By [Keyboards, Bass] – Charlie Peacock Recorded By – Charlie Peacock, Daryl Zachman, Steve Griffith Saxophone – Jon Skinner Vocals – Annie Stocking, Jan Eric, Jimmy Abegg, Mark Tootle, Vince Ebo Written-By – Bongo Bob Smith, Bruce Spencer, Charlie Peacock, Jimmy Abegg, John Weber
