Category: Albums

Pat Terry – Humanity Gangsters – 1982

After nearly a decade of writing, performing and touring with a group bearing his name, Pat Terry found himself working as o solo artist in the early 1980’s. While the Pat Terry Group was a Southern Rock/Country (with the emphasis on a mellower country feel). Pat Terry the solo artist sported an Americana rocker drive similar to Tom Petty and apparently positively influenced by producer Mark Heard. There is an eerie similarity in Terry’s singing and writing to Mark Heard’s Domino and Victims era and that is not a complaint. Like Heard, there are also touched of Lindsey Buckingham present as well. While the tow later Heard produced albums (Film at Eleven and The Silence) feature longer, darker and more “difficult” songs, Humanity Gangsters is filled with hope, passion, doubt and a commercial bent that is both immediately likable and transcendent. The Right Place welcomes the listener in with a hand of fellowship despite their current circumstances. Terry creates an air of acceptability for those longing for truth and acceptance. Too Many Voices sounds like a song lifted from Heard’s “Victims of the Age” thematically with the description of a man whose life is filled with too many voices clamoring for his attention and response. The ballads are less sweet and radio friendly than one might expect from a Jesus Music pioneer, with “Sounds So Simple” being the perfect example. In an evangelical world where easy answers are offered on Church marquees Terry laments the lack of transparent honesty offered by modern Christendom. Personal favorite and album highlight is “Don’t Take It So Hard.” Expanding on the previous songs lamenting of easy answers, here the Springsteen like Terry explores how the world (radio, newspapers, TV) adds to the easy answer dilemma and how the pain of not having the personal contact with those around us makes sharing the real truth so difficult. The two closers from each side would stand as the only real radio releases (though at the time radio was not ready for the content). In the vein of Stephen Bishop and James Taylor “Steal away” and “Nothing I Say” are beautiful ballads, simple, honest and poignant. The latter will remind listeners of Heard’s Appalachian melody. This album was such a revelation of songwriting, musicianship and personal expression at the time. Even now as I listen again to write this review I am swept away into a wonderful work that deserved greater appreciation and response. It also amazing me how truly relevant it sounds, both musically and lyrically, some 30 years later.

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

Tracklist
1 – The Right Place – 3:46
2 – Too Many Voices – 3:02
3 – Sounds So Simple – 3:16
4 – Don’t Take It So Hard – 5:02
5 – Steal Away – 3:55
6 – Open The Door – 4:23
7 – Can’t Be Satisfied – 3:58
8 – I’ll Come Back To You – 5:19
9 – Nothing I Say – 3:08

Credits
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Slide Guitar, Guitar, Soloist, Harmonica, Lead Vocals, Synthesizer, Written-By – Pat Terry
Backing Vocals – Mark Heard, The Strat Brothers
Bass – Billy Batstone, Mark Heard
Congas – Alex MacDougall
Drums – John Mehler
Electric Guitar – Mark Heard
Engineer – Bill Cobb, Mark Heard, Chris Taylor
Handclaps – Mark Heard
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Mixed By – Mark Heard, Pat Terry
Organ [Hammond B3] – Carl Pickhardt
Percussion – Alex MacDougall
Photography By, Layout – Mark Heard
Piano – Carl Pickhardt (tracks: A4), Pat Terry
Producer – Mark Heard, Pat Terry

Companies, etc.
Record Company – Word, Inc.
Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co.
Recorded At – Poiema Studios, Whitefield Studios
Mixed At – Wilder Bros. Studios, Los Angeles
Mastered At – A&M Mastering Studios
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Published By – Word Music

Rhythm House – Rhythm House – 1991

Well here’s a one off album from a group of relatively unknown group of artists. It was produced by Tommy Sims (Whiteheart) and financed by Tom Willett. The members had a few other projects but for the main part this was their biggest and or first project. There is very little info out there on this “group” so I really can’t ell you too much. I suspect that this was a group of studio musicians thrown together for a project by the executive producer but I could be worng because they don’t appear to have done that musch studio work. So let’s talk about the album instead. It has a cool Pop sound with a top 40 goal. The mix is a little heavy on the drums in my opinion but it works okay and the album is definitely fun. I have no idea whether the album was successful or not but give it a listen and you tell me.

Tracklist
1 – I Believe – 4:08
2 – One By One – 4:12
3 – The Promise – 4:32
4 – Make It Right – 4:40
5 – Time – 4:40
6 – The Other Side – 4:00
7 – Keep On Runnin’ – 3:28
8 – I Choose The Man You Are – 3:56
9 – Hold Me – 4:49
10 – Big Book – 4:49
11 – That’s The Day – 4:35

Credits
Backing Vocals – Bob Carlisle, Jimmy Marks, Mark Pogue
Bass, Backing Vocals – Keith Emerson
Drums, Backing Vocals – Marvin Sims
Engineer – Bill Gable
Engineer – Dan Garcia
Executive-Producer – Tom Willett
Executive-Producer Assistant – Holly Benyousky, Mike Scanland
Guitar – Kevin Sowers
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Jeff Pummill
Management, Booking – Street Level Artists Agency
Mastered By – Howie Weinberg
Mixed By – Csaba Petocz
Musician – Tommy Sims
Organ [B-3], Keyboards, Vocals – Charlie Hueni
Organ [T-3 Organ] – Charlie Hueni
Photography By – Russ Harrington
Piano, Keyboards – Dave Innes
Producer – Dan Posthuma, Tommy Sims
Recorded By – Steve Bishir
Recorded By [Assistant] – Jeffrey Mingle

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Pressed By – DADC – DIDX 011751
Produced For – RBI Productions
Designed At – Stan Evenson Design, Inc.
Recorded At – Groove Masters
Recorded At – Roman Foods Studio
Recorded At – The Dugout
Recorded At – Kaleidoscope Sound
Recorded At – Quad Studios
Mixed At – Sound Chambers, North Hollywood
Mastered At – Masterdisk

Billy And Sarah Gaines – Billy & Sarah Gaines – 1986

Billy and Sarah Gaines met and began singing together in 1974. They married in 1977 and played churches and coffeehouses across Virginia. From 1977 to 1980 they also sang in a group called Living Sacrifice and got an appearance on The 700 Club in 1978. In 1985 they moved to Nashville where Billy took a job as a Security Job until he got a contract for his songwriting. Shortly after Benson records offered them a recording contract and this album was recorded and released. Though they were better known for the R&B style Benson decided they were better suited for a more easy listening sound that would sell more broadly. Luckily they would return to that R&B sound in a couple albums but Benson was right about this sound at this point as the album was hugely successful. It had 4 CCM charting singles with one of them making in into the top 10. As for the album it is a little too easy listening for me but I know quality when I hear it and this is some quality music.

Tracklist
1 – He’s Risen In Me – 3:23
2 – You Are Faithful – 3:50
3 – I Am Convinced – 2:45
4 – The Part That No One Sees – 4:29
5 – In His Eyes – 3:40
6 – Turned My Mourning Into Dancing – 2:30
7 – No Greater Love – 3:34
8 – Glory To God In The Highest – 3:09
9 – Come Drink At My Table – 4:39
10 – Then The World Will Know – 3:55

Credits
Billy Gaines – Vocals
Sarah Gaines – Vocals
Jon Goin – Guitars
Mark Hammond – Drums
Marty McCall – Background Vocals
Greg Nelson – Producer

Al Denson – Al Denson – 1989

This is Al’s third or fourth album. The history is a little unclear as his previous albums were all self released so there aren’t well known. This album however is what most people think of as his first album as it was the first one on a label and with proper distribution. Al was one of those people that played music his whole life wit his first public performance at age 5 where he played “Bridge Over Troubled Water” on piano. At age of 18 Al played piano for Bob Hope’s USO tour as well as Kenny Rogers. That’s some pretty good history right there. In 1981 he released a 7″ single with 2 tracks that I am completely unable to find but it appeared to be secular judging from the song titles. He provided music at Southern Baptist Youth Conventions conferences and obviously became a hit with the youth movement and in this time as I said he release 2 or 3 albums. He then signed with Benson records which brings us to this album. I would say it’s a softrock album but there’s a couple tracks that pop his sound pretty good. The album had 3 CCM charting singles with “Peace Be Still” doing the best at #12 but it was his next album that really took off. I’m looking forward to hearing that one next.

Tracklist
1 – Reckless Heart – 3:15
2 – Love Is Taking Hold – 4:57
3 – Heaven Knows My Name – 3:34
4 – Right Where You Are – 5:08
5 – On The Upbeat – 3:45
6 – Strong Love – 3:29
7 – It Takes The Strong To Surrender – 4:08
8 – Warm Place In A Cold World – 4:29
9 – Faces And Names – 3:56
10 – Peace Be Still – 4:03

Credits
Backing Vocals – Chris Harris, Don Nalle, Ed Nalle, Gary Janney, Guy Penrod, Mark Heimermann, Mike Eldred, Michele Wagner, Rob Neal
Bass – Jackie Street, Lee Jones
Design – Joel Anderson
Drums, Percussion – Mark Hammond
Engineer – David Murphy, John Yandell, Keith Compton, Ronnie Brookshire
Guitar – Mark Baldwin, Tim Norris
Keyboards – Phil Naish
Producer, Executive-Producer – Dan Cleary
Trumpet, Soloist – George Tidwell

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – The Benson Company, Inc.
Copyright © – The Benson Company, Inc.
Distributed By – The Benson Company, Inc.
Distributed By – Mitchell Family Books, Inc.
Recorded At – Great Circle Sound
Recorded At – The Doghouse
Recorded At – Omni B
Recorded At – Hummingbird Studio, Nashville, TN
Recorded At – 21st Street Recording
Mixed At – Johnny dB’s Basement
Mastered At – Mastermix

Darrell Mansfield Band – The Vision – 1983

This was Darrell’s 5th album (his first was with Gentle Faith). Most people believe “Revelation” was his breakthrough album but I would argue this one is. This one established his blues rock sound that many people we’re hungering for in the mid 80’s. The album also contains a new version of his Gentle Faith song “Jerusalem”. This is a song that Darrell is very proud of and has reworked several times over the years and there’s even a music video for it out there. I guess the big hit of the album would have been “Radio” which Darrell played religiously at his live shows through the 80’s and 90’s. Personally I am not the biggest fan of the production of this album and I’ve changed it up slightly to a bit of a fuller sound. This is one album that we spent hours listening to back in 1983 and it’s one we love to this day.

Tracklist
1 – Lay Down This World – 1:07
2 – No More Blues – 3:40
3 – Hard Times – 3:26
4 – The Vision – 5:05
5 – Radio – 3:52
6 – Walk Across Heaven – 4:14
7 – Empty Hearts – 4:05
8 – Can’t Do Nothin’ Without Jesus Love – 3:55
9 – Jerusalem – 3:42
10 – Have You Been Listenin’ – 1:25

Credits
Art Direction – Alex MacDougall
Backing Vocals – Anthony Dean, Jeff Nicholson, Rosemary Butler, Tom Howard, Virgil Beckham
Bass – Abraham Laboriel, Charlie Souza, Jeff Nicholson, John Patitucci
Design [Album Design] – Gary DeLacy, Rick Griffin
Drums – Bill Lordan, Billy Maxwell, Paul Angers
Engineer – Brook Johnson, Chris Taylor, Linda Schaffer, Willie Harlan
Guitar – Anthony Dean, Dennis Carothers, Don Gerber, Eric Turner, Hadley Hockensmith, Jerry Swallow, Steve Kara, Virgil Beckham
Keyboards – Dave Garland, Harlan Rogers, Tom Howard
Lead Vocals, Harmonica [Harp] – Darrell Mansfield
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Percussion – Alex Acu a
Photography By – Linda Baily, Scott Lockwood, Valerie Sutter
Producer – Darrell Mansfield, Tommy Coomes, Virgil Beckham

Companies, etc.
Distributed By – Word, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – A&S Records
Copyright (c) – A&S Records
Recorded At – Rocshire Studios,I.A.M. Studios, Irvine, Whitefield Studios
Mixed At – Rocshire Studios,I.A.M. Studios, Irvine
Mastered At – A&M Studios

4HIM – Face The Nation – 1991

4HIM followed up on their wildly successful first album with this wildly successful second album. It pretty well follows the same recipe as their first album but with a little more sizzle. The album had 4 CCM charting singles with 3 of the 4 making it into the top 10. “A Man You Would Write About” mad it up to #2 and was followed by “Over The Horizon” which only made it to #12. The next two singles “Why?” and “He Never Changes” made it to #1 and $4. 4HIM was probably Benson’s biggest selling artist and they did a great job of promoting them. So if you liked their first album your likely going to love this one too.

Tracklist
1 – He Never Changes – 4:28
2 – Puzzles – 4:40
3 – Why? – 4:54
4 – When The Walls Come Down – 4:20
5 – Chisel Meets The Stone – 4:49
6 – Face The Nation – 4:35
7 – Over The Horizon – 4:01
8 – A Man You Would Write About – 4:53
9 – When I Get Home – 3:56
10 – Every Reason To Believe – 3:35
11 – Take Me To The Place – 4:41
12 – When I Get Home (Reprise) – 2:29

Credits
Art Direction – Connie Harrington
Backing Vocals [Additional] – Billy Simon
Bass [Upright] – Craig Nelson
Contractor – Kristin Wilkinson
Design – Red’s Catfish
Drum Programming, Programmed By [Bass] – Gary Lunn
Drums – Kenny Malone, Mark Hammond, Gary Lunn
Edited By – Bret Teegarden
Engineer – Bret Teegarden, Rick Will, Ronnie Brookshire, Steve Pinkston,
Executive-Producer – Andy Ivey
Guitar – Dennis Dearing, Jerry McPherson, Tom Hemby
Keyboards – Don Koch, Mark Heimermann
Mandolin – Tom Hemby
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Mixed By – Andy Ivey, Bret Teegarden
Orchestra – Bob Mason, Carl Gorodetzky, Craig Nelson, David Angell, David Davidson, Dennis Molchan, Jim Grosjean, John Catchings, Kristin Wilkinson, Laura Molyneaux, Lee Larrison, Mary Kathryn Vanosdale, Pamela Sixfin, Ted Madsen
Orchestrated By – Russell Mauldin
Photography By – Russ Harrington
Piano – Reed Arvin
Producer – Chris Harris, Don Koch, Reed Arvin
Programmed By [Synclavier] – Reed Arvin
Recorded By – Lynn Fuston
Vocals [Additional] – Chris Harris, Mark Heimermann

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Benson Music Group, Inc.
Copyright © – Benson Music Group, Inc.
Distributed By – Benson Music Group
Pressed By – DADC – DIDX-009882
Recorded At – Quad Studios
Recorded At – OmniSound Studios
Recorded At – Hummingbird Studio, Nashville, TN
Recorded At – Casa De Pepe Music
Mixed At – Duckworth Studio
Edited At – Duckworth Studio
Mastered At – Mastermix

Manna – Manna – 1972

So if you think Denny Correll was, well, a little boring here is the proof he could actually rock. Denny was still doing some secular work after he joined Love Song and this is one of them and while this is not an overtly CCM album there is a common Christian theme throughout the album. The band also included guitarist Anthony Dean who worked with Darrell Mansfield for years. This is a great 70’s style Rock & Roll album that had a worldwide release and I’m a little surprised it’s not better known. The single of course was “Good Old Rock And Roll” which was picked entirely based on it’s name because it’s probably the weakest track on the album. There are many better tracks that could have been chosen and then perhaps we would have heard of this album. So here’s a little known piece of Denny Correll history that deserves to be listened to.

Tracklist
1 – Good Old Rock And Roll – 2:45
2 – Tell Me Why – 3:25
3 – Save The Country – 3:05
4 – What Ya Gonna Do? – 3:03
5 – We Can Make It – 3:08
6 – Red Man – 4:45
7 – Southern Bound – 2:39
8 – Clap Your Hands – 2:56
9 – Hold On – 2:47
10 – New Day’s Coming – 4:03
11 – Children Of The Mountain – 4:56

Credits
Drums – Bobby Guidotti
Guitar – Anthony Dean, James Daniel
Vocals – Denny Correll

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – CBS Inc.
Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Pitman

Elias, Schritt & Bell – Awakening – 1982

Although most of the material here isn’t CCM, it is Steve Bell’s early work, which makes it interesting enough for us. “Help Me Lord” is a notable exception but most of the tracks are love songs of one sort or another. It’s a collection of pop-y folk-y songs that sound a little more 70s than 80s. There are plenty of harmonies, and Steve’s strong guitar work is on display here. Elias, Schritt & Bell were a group that Steve played with before starting his solo career, making Christian music for a few decades, and winning a few Juno awards and nominations along the way, as well as various other awards. This was recorded in “Studio 11” at the CBC studios in Winnipeg and released by the CBC. The group did not have any follow up recordings, but did tour locally. Steve released his first solo album in 1989.

Tracklist
1 – Awakening – 3:01
2 – Feelin’ Just Fine – 3:32
3 – Jenny – 2:36
4 – Once In A While – 3:31
5 – Never Too Late – 3:52
6 – Wipe The Tears – 3:32
7 – Kristy – 3:34
8 – So Long – 3:09
9 – Maureen – 1:47
10 – Help Me Lord – 3:15

Credits
Alto Saxophone – John Schritt
Bass – Gary Stefaniuk
Co-producer – Andre LaRiviere, Norm Dugas
Drums – Gord Metcalfe (tracks: Once In A while), Gord Osland
Electric Guitar – Paul O’Neill
Executive Producer – Mark Goldman
Flute – John Schritt
Guitar – Steve Bell, Tim Elias
Keyboards – Norm Dugas
Percussion – Paul Cerilli
Vocals – John Schritt, Steve Bell, Tim Elias

Companies, etc.
Produced For – Radio Canada International
Published By – R.E.S.B. Publishing
Recorded At – CBC Studio 11, Winnipeg

Paul Clark – A New Horizon – 1981

This is Paul’s 8th album but it had a first for him. The album had his first CCM charting single with “Tell Them All” making it to #18. Paul certainly had many great songs before this but finally CCM saw fit to put him on the charts. As usual however the charting single is not the best track on the album. That would be “Here To Stay” which is an excellent duet with Kelly Willard. It’s a much better track that should have singled. The album has a Soft Rock sound with a jazzy feel in places and is pretty good but a little repetitive in places. While a good album this is not his best work as his 70’s work was phenomenal but his 80’s work was more mainstream.

Tracklist
1 – Tell Them All – 3:12
2 – Breakaway – 4:54
3 – Broken Fool – 3:12
4 – One You Love – 3:45
5 – He’ll Use Me – 3:33
6 – Every Breath – 3:54
7 – Here To Stay – 3:48
8 – Hold On – 4:09
9 – Distant Shore – 3:17
10 – More Than Survivors – 5:06

Credits
A&R – Neal Joseph
Acoustic Guitar, Guitar, Electric Guitar – Curt Bartlett
Artwork, Design – Paul Gross
Bass [Fretted], Bass [Fretless] – Lee Jones
Design [Inner Sleeve] – Dennis Hill
Drums, Percussion – Jim Delong
Engineer – Bobby Cotton
Engineer [Additional] – Bill Maxwell, Chris Bauer, Peter Haden
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Photography By – Scott Hensel
Piano, Electric Piano, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Producer, Engineer, Written-By – Paul Clark
Saxophone, Flute, Synthesizer – Dan Mardock

Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Word, Inc.
Copyright © – Word, Inc.
Recorded At – Sound Recorders, Omaha
Recorded At – Paramount Recording Studios
Mixed At – Paramount Recording Studios
Mastered At – A&M Mastering Studios
Pressed By – Monarch Record Mfg. Co.

Fernando Ortega – In A Welcome Field – 1991

Fernando was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico but spent parts of his youth in Ecuador and Barbados as his father was employed by the United States Department of State. He attended University of New Mexico and received his bachelor’s degree in music education. Some of you are saying, hey this album came out in 2000. Actually this album was first released in 1991 on small Christian label Urgent. As his popularity grew the album was rereleased in 2000 on Discovery House Music. Though Fernando is an accomplished piano player the album does not concentrate on his piano playing and is instead a full instrument suite album. It leans to easy Listening but is enjoyable and musically sound. As for Fernando he would go on to record many more albums as well as serve as worship leader at Anglican and Evangelical Churches. He is active and touring today and you can find out where he’s playing next on his website.

Tracklist
1 – Through The Fire – 4:46
2 – Night Of Your Return – 4:41
3 – Walking On The Water – 4:40
4 – Father Of My Heart – 4:10
5 – A Son Of Your Love – 4:30
6 – Into The Morning – 4:43
7 – In A Welcome Field – 4:23
8 – Chimayo – 3:41
9 – ‘Til I Reach My Home – 4:52
10 – Lord, I Want To Be Like Jesus – 3:48

Credits
Ben Rodgers – Engineer, Mixing
Eddie Ashworth – Engineer
Fernando Ortega – Composer, Primary Artist
Gordon Garrison – Engineer
Herb Schucher – Drums
John Schreiner – Composer, Producer
Mike Reese – Mastering
Phillip Sandifer – Executive Producer